I have a total of 27 years teaching experience . After I received my M.Ed. from the University of Florida (hence the name "HappyEdugator"), I began teaching in elementary school, where I taught pull-out remedial classes for grades 2-5 and a section of K-1. Then I taught Pre-K for 5 years, before I went up to Middle School, where I have been in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Last year, I went back to 1st grade in a private setting. I have traveled worldwide and am also fluent in Spanish.
I have a total of 27 years teaching experience . After I received my M.Ed. from the University of Florida (hence the name "HappyEdugator"), I began teaching in elementary school, where I taught pull-out remedial classes for grades 2-5 and a section of K-1. Then I taught Pre-K for 5 years, before I went up to Middle School, where I have been in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Last year, I went back to 1st grade in a private setting. I have traveled worldwide and am also fluent in Spanish.
Flowers for Algernon True False Test. This is a 20 question true-false comprehension test for the short story Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Key included. - HappyEdugator
Sentence Structure: 4 Kinds PowerPoint. PowerPoint about sentence structure. Explains independent and dependent clauses (subordinate clauses), sentence fragments and complete sentences. Defines simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences. Practice slide with 8 questions at the end for assessment where students have to identify the sentence structure of the sentences. Interactive...they can check their answers with the last slide. 15 slides. - HappyEdugator
Poetry Graphic Organizer. This poetry graphic organizer helps students understand the difference between sensory language and figurative language when used in poetry. Figurative language includes Metaphor,Simile, Personification, Hyperbole, and Idioms. Sensory language or poetic devices include Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Assonance, Consonance, and Rhyme. Print out or project. - HappyEdugator
Misplaced Modifiers Worksheet. This worksheet explains what a modifier is, and then it gives examples and practice identifying them. In addition, it explains how misplaced modifiers can change the meaning of a sentence. Students then have to pick the correct sentences that do not have misplaced modifiers. Supports common core standards. This is a skill that is important to clear writing and it is often tested on standardized tests. Key included. - HappyEdugator
Science Fair or Social Science Fair Project PowerPoint. How to research a science fair project and/or a social studies fair project from start to finish. Specific details. Editable for your classroom use Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts teachers can use the different parts of this presentation to teach students the expectations of a high quality science project or research paper. Example photos of prize-winning projects included.
Reading - Activating Thinking Strategies for Reading. Includes posters for SLANT and SETTING. Twelve simple ideas to help you engage your readers by activating their thinking, connecting to their world, stimulating schema or background knowledge and grabbing their interest. Reading strategies you can really use! These are especially useful for lesson planning in Learning Focused classrooms. - Happyedugator
Short Story Unit Culminating Activity. This is an assignment sheet for a culminating activity for a unit on short stories. Students have the option of choosing to write a short story or a children's book. Details are given about specific requirements, along with teacher directions. Includes the rubrics for the short story and the children's book, which are also available for sale separately. - HappyEdugator
Adverbs - Finding Adverbs in a Sentence Interactive PowerPoint. An animated PowerPoint on identifying adverbs in sentences has introductory slides on adverbs that tell how, where, when and to what extent, with examples. Includes common comparative-superlative forms. Students can take notes on the introductory slides. The rest of the PowerPoint has students actually practice finding adverbs in 25 different sentences by writing them down on their own paper and checking themselves after each question. They can use their notes to help.Great addition to your parts of speech unit. Instant feedback! There is also a key at the end for them to double check. - HappyEdugator
Peak by Roland Smith Introductory PowerPoint Presentation. This book is about a boy who climbs Mt. Everest. The PowerPoint presentation introduces students to the novel Peak by Roland Smith. Information about the author of the book, an overview of the plot, a list of main characters, slides on setting (the Woolworth building, Bangkok, Everest and base camp), themes, and a few important vocabulary words to get started. The last slide has students make a prediction about the book and gets them ready to READ! Just updated with new slides...a total of 34 slides! Includes information on climbing Mt. Everest, specialized equipment needed, dangers and expenses, routes to the top with links to video, and a short history of climbing Mt. Everest, including the youngest person to make the summit in 2010. Enjoy - HappyEdugator
Writing an Advice Column - Writing Assignment and Rubric. This is a writing assignment where the student has to pretend to be a newspaper advice columnist and respond to a reader's question. A word bank of suggested words will help the writer get started on offering ideas and advice to the reader to help solve their problem. You will get two pages. The first is the student assignment sheet and the second is a rubric for grading guidelines. - HappyEdugator
Poetry Concept Map. When introducing a poetry unit, this concept map graphic organizer will help your students understand the relationship of graphics, sound devices, and figurative language to poetry as a whole. Each of these are further broken down to show terms related to them. For example, sound devices are alliteration, assonance, consonance, and onomatopoeia. I have used this as a transparency, projected on an LCD, or blown it up and made it into a poster to hang in the classroom. - HappyEdugator
Penguin Digraph Sort Literacy Center Activity. Fun winter activity with penguins. Students match the pictures on the eggs to the penguin with the correct digraph. Four penguins: TH, CH, SH, and WH. 32 eggs to match. Print out penguins and eggs on cardstock,and cut out and laminate for durability. Have students match the pictures on the eggs to the penguin that has the correct digraph. Some cards have the digraph as an ending sound and some as a beginnig sound.
Example – tooth
matches the penguin with TH on his tummy
Store pieces in a gallon size zipper lock bag. Directions and key included. - HappyEdugator
The Gift of the Magi PowerPoint. Animated PowerPoint on The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, a classic Christmas story that is a good resource for the holidays. Focus on figurative language. Complete lesson with before, during, and after reading activities. Includes background information about the author, twelve critical vocabulary words, review of foreshadowing and suspense, and a link to read the story online. Students close read to find foreshadowing and suspense, and focus rereading on discovering figurative language. Includes definitions and examples of figurative language in the story, such as metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, and idiom. Discussion questions, explanations with examples of irony and allusion, and concludes with a short story writing activity with a 100 point rubric. Includes a quick interactive comprehension check.
- HappyEdugator
Reading - Poetry Reading Process Handout. Comprehension strategy for reading poetry: a handy guide on how to read poetry. Promotes close reading. Reading poetry can be difficult for students, but these guidelines will give them a strategy to use when reading poems that will help their poetry comprehension. Supports common core state standards.
- HappyEdugator
Persuasive Writing Recipe PowerPoint. We use recipes for many things, why not persuasive writing? This powerpoint gives students a “recipe” to follow when writing a persuasive essay, and gives them the basic framework for a persuasive writing piece, starting with an introductory paragraph that ends with a thesis statement, at least three well-supported paragraphs that have a topic sentence related to the thesis statement, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and calls the reader to agree and take action. Reminds students to be prepared for counter arguments, and to write with strong ideas, voice, fluency, organization, presentation, and conventions. Revised and updated 2013 with added information on the writing process, animations and graphics. - HappyEdugator
Supports Common Core ELA Writing Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1a Introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1b Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1c Use words, phrases, and clauses to clarify the relationships among claim(s) and reasons.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1d Establish and maintain a formal style.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.1e Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the argument presented.
Setting Detail Chart. This graphic organizer can be used with any book to analyze setting. Use with your novel study. Besides direct references to dates and places, setting is also conveyed through details about daily life and culture. Students fill in the chart with details that give clues about the setting of a book, and will gain a better understanding of setting. Starts out with Time and Place. Categories include: Jobs, Shelter, Clothing, Entertainment, Technology, Men's/Women's Roles, Transportation, and Other. Nothing fancy, but gets the job done! Have students practice first by projecting a photograph (one included on the cover) or use a cover from the book they are reading and have them try describing it. - HappyEdugator
End of Year - Summer Jumbled Words PowerPoint Game. Fun end of the year interactive word scramble game with summer words. Words will appear in scrambled form for students to try to puzzle out. Click for a clue, then click for the answer. Click again to go to the next slide. Fun activity for the end of the year , last day of school, or for summer camp. 18 slide PowerPoint Skill Level - EASY
Poetry: Ways to Read Poetry PowerPoint. Presentation guides students in how to approach reading poetry with a plan so they can reach their goal of understanding what a poem means. Teaches close reading of poetry. Before, during and after reading strategies including paraphrasing, journaling, and "two per line" will help students become more active and responsive readers. Supports common core standards. 17 slide PowerPoint. - HappyEdugator
Beginning of the Year - Open House Sign in Sheet for your back to school night or parent night information. A quick sign in sheet for the most important information- student and parent names, phone number and email. Other information is usually available through the office, so this is just a quick contact sheet so you can have a quick reference ready for back to school. Apple and Owl theme. Color and black and white sheet. - HappyEdugator
Present Perfect Verb Tenses PowerPoint. The structure of present perfect tense verbs and present perfect progressive tense verbs. Grammar rules and structure are examined, and examples and graphic organizers show how the verbs are formed in positive sentences, negative sentences, and questions. Includes practice slides with key. Especially helpful for ESL. Common core standard starting in 5th grade and reinforced in higher grades. 16 slides. Updated January 2015. - HappyEdugator