Halloween Horrid Homonyms Worksheet. A Halloween writing activity. Many students get homonyms (or homophones) confused when they write, and this worksheet will help them practice using homonyms correctly. There are twenty sets of commonly misused homonyms, and students will write their own spooky sentences using the homonyms correctly. To make it more challenging, students can try to use both ( or all three) homonyms in the same sentence! Students can work with partners or individually, as the teacher directs. They can then write a Halloween story using their newly learned homonyms. Decorative lined paper included. The idea can be adapted for other holidays as well. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator

Shades of Meaning Verb Cards - SEE. Cut out and laminate these 16 different cards illustrating different synonyms of the verb "SEE" Helps students understand connotation. With guidance and support from adults, students acquire new vocabulary by defining word relationships and nuances in word meanings, sorting words into categories, choosing and acting out the different meanings. Aligns to Common Core Standards CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut, prance) by acting out the meanings. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs differing in manner (e.g., look, peek, glance, stare, glare, scowl) and adjectives differing in intensity (e.g., large, gigantic) by defining or choosing them or by acting out the meanings. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.5b Distinguish shades of meaning among closely related verbs (e.g., toss, throw, hurl) and closely related adjectives (e.g., thin, slender, skinny, scrawny). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5c Distinguish shades of meaning among related words that describe states of mind or degrees of certainty (e.g., knew, believed, suspected, heard, wondered). Additionally, words can be used for spelling practice, writing practice, and word walls. Includes definitions for the teacher. - HappyEdugator

Poetry Image Map. A graphic organizer for students to use to help them visualize images in the poetry they read. The organizer gives students space to identify the poem, describe 4 images they find in the poem, and a place to draw the images. Students can develop a better understanding of imagery when they have to create images from the words they read. - HappyEdugator

Narrative Hooks and Writing Practice. Examples of various types of hooks from literature. Students will learn about hooks that writer's use to engage the reader and apply what they have learned by using a hook in their own writing. - HappyEdugator

Christmas Figurative Language Memory Game PowerPoint. This Christmas PowerPoint game on figurative language is set up like the game Concentration. This Christmas game provides matching pairs made up of a literary term and its definition on one slide and an example from literature on another slide. For a fun December winter activity, the examples are related to Christmas. Examples come from such works as A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, and even The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. Some of the terms used in the game are metaphor, allusion, oxymoron, paradox, symbol, simile and irony. Click on the number on the board to reveal the card. Click on the number on the card or the arrow button to return to the board. Instructions on play are included, as well as a link to a Christmas music video to watch when the game is completed. Revised and Updated. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! -HappyEdugator

Reading - In Class Reading Log. On this Pop Into A Good Book reading log, students can keep track of their in-class reading, by recording title, author, genre, finished/abandoned, rating, and difficulty. When log is completed, they will select their favorite book. Movie and popcorn theme. Perhaps reward your class for reading with a movie and popcorn! - HappyEdugator

Shades of Meaning Worksheet. Practice using connotation and multiple meaning words. Two sections. Practice A has students take a word with three meanings and match the meaning according to the context. Practice B has students match a sentence to the correct meaning of the word underlined. - HappyEdugator

Seventh Grade by Gary Soto Preview PowerPoint. Introduce the short story 7th grade by the author Gary Soto. Develops background knowledge. Information about the author. Images compare Fresno, California to Paris, France. Vocabulary connection includes words like tortilla, fiesta, and siesta. Students are reminded to think about the author's purpose and the theme of the story as they read. There are several slides with images of different Gary Soto books for students who might be interested in reading books by this author. I use this presentation to introduce the story to my students. Includes a graphic organizer of the elements of fiction which you can print out for your students. Story is about the going back to school experience of a middle grades boy who wishes to impress a certain girl. - 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).

Shades of Meaning Verb Cards - JUMP. Cut out and laminate these 16 different cards illustrating different synonyms of the verb "jump." Helps students understand connotation. With guidance and support from adults, students acquire new vocabulary by defining word relationships and nuances in word meanings, sorting words into categories, choosing and acting out the different meanings. Aligns to Common Core state standards. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut, prance) by acting out the meanings. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs differing in manner (e.g., look, peek, glance, stare, glare, scowl) and adjectives differing in intensity (e.g., large, gigantic) by defining or choosing them or by acting out the meanings. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.5b Distinguish shades of meaning among closely related verbs (e.g., toss, throw, hurl) and closely related adjectives (e.g., thin, slender, skinny, scrawny). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5c Distinguish shades of meaning among related words that describe states of mind or degrees of certainty (e.g., knew, believed, suspected, heard, wondered). Additionally, words can be used for spelling practice, writing practice, and word walls. Includes definitions for the teacher. - HappyEdugator

Halloween Dead Words and Dead Verbs Handout. Great for Halloween writing activities, or even throughout the year. Dead words are overused words that have lost their power. List of dead words, dead verbs, and some more interesting alternatives that should be used instead. There is a place for students to add to the list. A useful tool for students to use for reference when they write and revise. 2 pages. - HappyEdugator

OWL Writing Paper - Lined Paper - Owl Theme. Eight different owl designs, two different sizes of lines for writing at different ability levels. Students will have fun writing with some cute little owls to inspire them. - Enjoy! HappyEdugator

India Travel Brochure Project. Student project with rubric. Students create a travel guide on India on a tri-fold construction paper. Students imagine they are travel guides leading a tour of India and must give their group an overview of India's history, geography, language, government, economy, religion, climate and attractions. Student instructions for the project to handout, teacher directions, brochure template, and a detailed rubric included. Rubric measures use of class time, writing conventions, attractiveness, organization, creativity, relevance of graphics, required elements including sources, and knowledge gained. - HappyEdugator

Strong Verb List. Use strong verbs to enhance writing. A great revision strategy is to look for ways to make verbs more descriptive. This list of strong action verbs is a handy reference to use when a better word is needed. Students can keep these sheets in their writer's journal or notebook. These words can also make a great word wall. - HappyEdugator

ndependent Clauses and Dependent Clauses handout will help your students understand sentence structure and how to make compound sentences, complex sentences, and compound-complex sentences. Explains how to form compound sentence using independent clauses with commas and conjunctions or semicolons,and also with semicolons and transitional words. Explains how to make a complex sentence with subordinating or relative pronouns, and how to use a dependent clause at the beginning followed by a comma. Also notes how to make a compound-complex sentence by combining a compound sentence with a dependent clause. Lists coordinating conjunctions (in FANBOYS order), common subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns. Concise, handy reference for developing writing skills. - HappyEdugator

Halloween Word Search Activity and Fill-In. Happy Halloween! Thirty Halloween related words that should be more fun than scary. For extra fun, have students work in pairs and use orange highlighters to find the words. Students can use the words in the word search to fill in the Halloween story. Entertaining Halloween wordsearch and fill-in will develop vocabulary and spelling skills. Two Halloween activities in one. Answer key included. - HappyEdugator

Christmas Story Starters. 50 Christmas writing prompts that you can use to help your students get writing creatively around the holidays. A winter creative writing handout or resource that will help students find something to write about! Quick and easy December printable handout. 2 pages. Have fun with writing! - HappyEdugator

Literary Terms for Fiction Handout. This handout has 47 essential literary terms defined in easy to understand language that students should be familiar with when taking standardized tests. Great for test prep! Some of the litereature terms include elements of a short story, such as exposition, climax, resolution; elements of plot, conflict and theme. Supports common core standards. Goes with my Literary Terms for Fiction TEST. - HappyEdugator

Seventh Grade by Gary Soto Multiple Choice Test. Quick assessment. Ten multiple choice questions on the short story to check comprehension, making inferences, and some story elements. Short and simple to grade. Key included. Includes a constructed response (essay) portion if you wish to have your students write and use text evidence to support their answers. - HappyEdugator

Multiple Intelligences Book Review. Multiple intelligence assignment menu for reviewing a book or story. Great differentiation. Students choose 5 boxes from the assignment menu and are also required to complete one reading response. Students may choose from verbal-linguistic, visual-spatial, musical-rhythmic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, or naturalistic intelligences. - HappyEdugator