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.
Subject Verb Agreement - Practice Worksheets with key. You get 2 worksheets, and a subject-verb agreement handout! The first worksheet has twenty-five practice sentences that students can use to practice their skills. The second has twenty questions. There are two choices given in each sentence, but students will have to think to pick the correct choice. These can also be used as an assessment after a unit of study. Also includes a handout on subject verb agreement for student reference. Keys included. - HappyEdugator
Following Directions Puzzles. A fun way to teach following directions and critical thinking. Great test preparation. You get three challenging puzzles! In the first puzzle, students cross words off of a table according to the directions provided. When they are finished, they will reveal a famous inspirational quote about life. In the second puzzle, students have to rearrange letters according to the directions to change one phrase into another. Finally, in the third puzzle, students must follow the arrows in order to reach the finish. Keys included. This is also a useful activity to do around testing time, at the beginning or end of the year, or anytime you wish to reinforce the importance of following directions. Good brain work out for gifted and talented, too. - HappyEdugator
Roots with Meaning and Example Words Handout. Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes along with their meanings and example words. alphabetical order. 5 pages, useful as a study guide for test preparation. Supports common core. - HappyEdugator
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., photograph, photosynthesis)
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).
Ratios, Fractions, Percents, and Decimals PowerPoint. Helps students learn the rules for converting equivalent fractions, decimals and percents. Also Includes a common equivalent reference sheet which can be printed out and kept in student notebooks. - HappyEdugator
CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.5 Express a fraction with denominator 10 as an equivalent fraction with denominator 100, and use this technique to add two fractions with respective denominators 10 and 100.
CCSS.Math.Content.4.NF.C.6 Use decimal notation for fractions with denominators 10 or 100.
CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.1 Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities.
CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.3c Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100
Sometimes kids need to know how to control their feelings. It is okay to feel sad, but how do we feel better? This PowerPoint walks them through four strategies for coping with sadness. Great minilesson for a teacher to give at the beginning of the year or for a school counselor to give to a group of students who need strategies for dealing with crying and depression. - Happyedugator
Biography Research Project using We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel. Students choose from people in the lyrics to research and then write a biography. Includes instructions for the teacher with a link to the video on teachertube, lyrics, handout on late 20th century peacemakers or controversial figures, assignment handout and rubric. This really got my students using the writing process, research skills, and writing without plagiarism. I was very happy with the results I got this year from my average students! They were very motivated. - HappyEdugator
Dilations Initials Project. This is a culminating project for a unit on dilations. Students will enlarge and shrink a drawing of their initials on grid paper or posterboard and use coordinate graphing rules to produce a similar image. In addition, they will enlarge the image and it must have a scale factor of at least 4. Then they will shrink the image and it must have a scale factor of at most 1/4. Handout with project details and rubric included. Supports common core standards. - HappyEdugator
CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.A.3 Describe the effect of dilations, translations, rotations, and reflections on two-dimensional figures using coordinates.
Rikki Tikki Tavi Constructed Response Based on Common Core Standards. Writing assignment based on the short story Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling. Emphasis on using text evidence for support a response to literature. Students must analyze the theme of the short story. Includes writing prompt with instructions for writing an argument that uses textual support for claims, a sample essay for students to use as a model for their writing that demonstrates how to use evidence from the text, and a writing rubric. Created to support writing that is highly rigorous as required by the new common core standards. - HappyEdugator
Use these superhero themed back to school classroom rules for your super classroom! Rules are simple: Respect Others, Work Quietly, Follow Directions, Raise Your Hand, Hands to Yourself, Be Safe - Walk, Don't Run, and Keep Toys and Gum at Home. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator
Five Paragraph Essay PowerPoint - How to write a five paragraph essay. Information for students on the structure of a five paragraph essay. including introductory paragraph, 3 detail paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.
Common Root Words Handout. Common Greek and Latin roots, root words or stems, prefixes, suffixes, and math and science affixes and roots on a comprehensive printable handout. Includes reasons why learning roots and affixes are important. Good to review before standardized testing. 8 pages. Supports common core.
- HappyEdugator
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., photograph, photosynthesis)
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).
Five Themes of Geography Handouts and Graphic Organizer Set. Included here are two handouts explaining the five basic themes of geography: location (absolute and relative), place , movement, relationships (human interaction with environment) and regions. Includes 6 different graphic organizers to use for any geographical region of study.
Graphic organizer 1 - students use this organizer to list their area of study, describe the absolute location on one side and the relative location on the other
Graphic organizer 2 - students can use this organizer to describe their area of study with descriptions of landforms, bodies of water, and human life
Graphic organizer 3 - students can use this organizer to describe how the people in their area of study interact with the environment
Graphic organizer 4 - students can use this organizer to describe how people, goods, and ideas move in, through, and out of their area of study
Graphic organizer 5 - students can use this organizer to describe the region of their area of study
Graphic organizer 6 - students can use this organizer to compare their area of study to their home state
- HappyEdugator
Fraction Hunt. This is a fun way to practice fractions. First, hide a candy bar (or any individually wrapped candy) somewhere in the room under a map, atlas, globe, or drawing of the earth. Then give students the sheet to decode the message and find the candy. They will have lots of fun trying to be the first one done to get the prize. - HappyEdugator
ADHD tips, observation sheet, and reward tickets. If you have an ADHD child in your class this year, I hope this list of tips will be helpful. Use the observation sheet to write down and record problem areas. This will be helpful for parent conferences and for seeing what works and what doesn't. Use the reward tickets as an incentive for your student to stay on task. You can offer your student a choice of different activities to choose from (such as 10 minutes of computer time) if they complete a task you give them. This worked very well for my autistic students as well. I have included tickets for a boy or girl to give them if they cannot do the activity right away.
Literary Terms for Fiction TEST. Elements of Literature multiple choice test on 33 critical literature terms or story elements of literature that are important to student understanding of fiction texts, such as plot, theme, conflict, setting, etc. 10 pages, including key. It is based on my literary terms for fiction handout which is also available to use as a study guide. - HappyEdugator
Synonyms - Synonym Scramble I Have Who Has GAME. Helps students build vocabulary by matching synonyms in a classic I Have...Who Has format. Included are directions for play and synonym word lists to pass out to the students for discussion and review, and blue and red synonyms to use to make the synonym cards for play. Just print out and glue onto index cards. Enjoy!