Unwrap the Story of Santa Claus: A Reading Comprehension Resource Introduce your students to the fascinating origin of Santa Claus with this engaging reading comprehension resource, perfect for St. Nicholas Day (6th December) and the Christmas season! Students will explore how a generous boy named Nicholas from 3rd century Turkey became Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. They’ll learn about his secret acts of kindness, including the legendary tale of the three sisters and the gold coins - laying the foundation for the Christmas stocking tradition. Follow his transformation from charitable bishop to “Sinterklaas” and, eventually, the modern Santa Claus, through a historical timeline spanning 270 AD to today. What’s Included: This biographical text (Lexile 800L-1000L), enriched with historical details and captivating illustrations, features: A clear timeline tracing Saint Nicholas’s life and legacy Connections to modern Christmas traditions 9 Differentiated Activities for Deeper Learning: ✓ Multiple-choice quiz (double-sided) ✓ Two varied question worksheets for written responses ✓ Traditional written response sheet ✓ True/False activity ✓ Two crossword puzzles ✓ Two summary cloze activities ✓ Complete answer keys Ideal for: St. Nicholas Day celebrations Christmas season lessons Reading comprehension practice Holiday-themed activities Cultural studies Character education Differentiated instruction Aligned with reading comprehension standards, this resource encourages students to analyse biographical texts while uncovering the inspiring story behind one of the most cherished holiday figures. Perfect for enriching your festive curriculum! Looking for more holiday reading resources? Check out my other Christmas reading resources: Night Before Christmas Poem Comprehension Little Match Girl Christmas Story Little Fir Tree Christmas Reading The Nutcracker Christmas Worksheets Non-Fiction Christingles Fun Reading Activities History of the Christmas Tree Reading Looking for more Christian Saint Resources: Saint Patrick St Andrew: Scotland’s Saint Saint David: Wales’ Saint St. George’s Day

Homonyms, Homographs & Heteronyms PowerPoint & Crossword. Homograph PowerPoint with simple clues and clear (labeled for reuse) clip-art. Each slide is animated: 1st click written clues are presented, 2nd click clip-art is shown, 3rd click answer is revealed - I use it with mini-whiteboards in a quiz game format. 25 common homographs presented (fit, ring, saw, gum, letters, light, train, table, club, watch, calf, coach, jam, dear, wave, cross, bark, park, orange, bat, right, tear, bow, wind, polish) ( - please see a screen shot of 9 of the slides) Also comes with a crossword using 17 of the 25 homographs to use as a homework or reinforcement activity. Differentiated crossword - one with clues and word box of spellings, one with only clues. I use it with ESL grade 2-5 students in an after school club and with my grade 3 (8 & 9 year olds) when we study this in grammar, but would be enjoyed by grades 2,3,4 and 5)

Alternative spellings for (y)oo Carefully chosen words and matching, clear images following Letters and Sounds Phase 5 Week 26 planning documents. alternative spelling of ‘(y)oo’ = ‘u_e’ as in : use, muse, duke, value, cube, tune. alternative spelling of ‘(y)oo’ = ‘ue’ as in : cue, venue, rescue, argue, due, hue. alternative spelling of ‘(y)oo’ = ‘ew’as in : stew, few, new, nephew, mildew. 2 versions of flashcards to support teaching of y(oo) 1)Flashcards with words and image on one card 2)Flashcards with word on one card and image on another card for matching/games Spelling tables for end of week’s review (differentiated - 1 for labeling/1 for sound button drawing) Mixed word list (I usually enlarge photocopy upto A3 and do a reading game - missing one or two words as students listen and try to remember which words were missed) Alternative Spellings for /sh/ Alternative Spellings for /oa/ Alternative Spellings for /igh/ Alternative Spellings for /ee/ Alternative Spellings for /or/ Alternative Spellings for /air/

Carefully designed, double-sided, Phase 5 phonics mats. One side has grapheme and memorable clip-art example(s), reverse side has a list of example words (taken from Letters and Sound, Phase 5, Bank of Words). Each side is laid out in the reverse order - so that when the clip-art side is printed and put back-to-back with the word list side the words are directly behind the image. This helps the learner to find the spelling pattern they are looking for as the mat is ‘flippable’. No title on the table mat to maximize examples.

114 Opposites (antonyms) flashcards (57 pairs of opposites). Designed so that the opposites cards can be printed back to back and flipped over to reveal the opposite. Perfect for use as antonym flashcards, and as quiz-quiz-trade cards. Could also be used for find the matching opposite in the classroom game and concentration memory game and for opposites display.

Fun phonics worksheets for Letters and Sounds Phase 3. Consonant digraphs: /ch/ /sh/ /th/ /ng/ Vowel digraphs: /ai/ /ee/ /oa/ long /oo/ short /oo/ /ar/ /or/ /ur/ /ow/ /oi/ /er/ Vowel trigraphs: /igh/ /ear/ /air/ /ure/ Partner worksheets allow children to work and learn with a peer, taking it in turns to write the focus grapheme, they then read the word to their friend who listens and ticks the check circle next to the word when it is read correctly, the friend then re-reads the word to get their check circle ticked. Using different coloured pencils makes it easy to see that children have been taking turns. An extension is to take it in turns drawing sound buttons under each example word. Highly effective and enjoyed by children. I have also uploaded a corresponding version of each worksheet without check circles if you wish to use them as individual work. Each word illustrated with extra clear black & white clipart, therefore easy to photocopy and for children to colour. You may also like my other phonics resources, for example: Phonics Book Phase 2 & 3 Mat Phase 3 Set 1 Worksheets Phase 3 Set 2 Worksheets Phase 3 Set 3 Worksheets

Split Digraph (Magic E) Flashcards /a_e/, /e_e/, /i_e/, /o_e/ & /u_e/ (long U and long /oo/ u_e) perfect for letters and sounds Phase 5 3 types of flashcard for each split digraph (i.e. 18 sets) Black & white split digraph word with clear illustration on one card Word on one card and illustration on another card (for matching & memory games) Sound button flashcards ALL suggested words from Letters and Sound Phase 5 Planning Document used, PLUS all words from Jolly Phonics suggested word list, PLUS some additional example words.

Contractions anchor chart / contractions poster, contractions worksheets, contractions quiz-quiz-trade cards. Variety of contraction activities - differentiated.

Adverbs of frequency word mats and adverb of frequency worksheets. Also adverb of frequency poster.

Base form, past simple and past participle of irregular verbs. 63 Verbs with illustrations - most commonly used verbs. Flashcards, sorting cards and worksheets. V1 V2 V3 version as well as base form, past simple and past participle version. Complete your verb teaching toolkit with: EAL Newcomer Essential Verbs Verb Mats Verb Tense Memory Games | Past Tense Cards

Story map graphic organisers Character, setting, problem at BEGINNING Attempts to solve problem in MIDDLE Solution at END 2 page versions on PDF - one with 2 attempts to solve. (Also included Publisher file if you wish to edit)

Magic E split digraph a_e labeling worksheet. 33 clear clip-art images to label. Can your learners figure out, read and spell each word? Word box on separate sheet to cross out words

7 habitat cloze worksheets. Habitats Included: Desert Habitats Oceans Habitats Polar Habitats Freshwater Habitats Temperate Forest Habitats Rainforest Habitat Grassland Habitat Each cloze worksheet is A4. Each worksheet has two differentiated versions (higher/lower) Carefully researched and written. Suitable for KS2 and KS3. I have uploaded PDF versions and publisher files (if you wish to edit)

ew flashcards (2 sets): Illustrated version with 40 word/picture pairs Unillustrated word-only version with 40 /ew/ words /ew/ matching/memory game: Match /ew/ words to illustrations (40 words) /ew/ labeling worksheet: Label 20 clipart illustrations with /ew/ words Differentiation options, students can either: Guess the /ew/ word for each illustration and spell independently or Read the word from the separate word box and copy it underneath the illustration This gives students two options based on their spelling and reading levels: either creating the /ew/ words independently or copying from a word bank. This collection of resources provides practice recognizing, reading and writing words with the /ew/ phonics pattern. The assortment of flashcards, games and worksheets allows for multisensory learning and differentiated instruction. Phase 5 Phonics Mat

Valentine’s Day Reading Worksheet: to teach children about the history, significance, and customs of Valentine’s Day with differentiated reading comprehension for higher, middle, and lower level students, including EAL learners. Each level of the worksheet includes a “sweet facts” box and “Glossary” of different facts and words to enhance understanding and engagement. The worksheets also include differentiated questions for all three levels with answers provided for easy assessment and self-reflection. Worksheets can be single sided or printed with fact box and glossary on the reverse.

Pi Day Reading Comprehension Worksheet - Learn about the History of Pi Day Celebrate Pi Day with this Pi Day Reading Comprehension Worksheet. This double-sided worksheet provides comprehensive information about the origins of Pi Day, including the history of Pi Day, what Pi is and how it is calculated, Pi math jokes, Pi Day traditions and customs, and fun facts about Pi. The worksheet is designed to improve reading comprehension skills and includes two levels of differentiated questions to cater to all learners (higher: 16 questions, lower: 10 questions). Additionally, the worksheet includes a SAT-style multiple-choice question sheet. Pi Day Reading Comprehension Worksheet is the perfect educational resource to celebrate Pi Day and learn more about the significance of mathematics and science. Deepen your understanding of Pi and have fun while doing it

Discover the fascinating origins, history, and traditions of one of the world’s most celebrated holidays with this Saint Patrick’s Day reading comprehension resource. The engaging and informative double-sided text begins by introducing the legendary figure of Saint Patrick, exploring the tales associated with him, including the mythical banishment of snakes from Ireland. It then delves into the symbols and customs associated with the holiday, such as the iconic shamrock and the popular tradition of wearing green. Moreover, the text delves into the challenges Saint Patrick encountered in his mission to convert the Irish people to Christianity, and how the diverse cultural influences of Ireland have shaped the modern celebration of the holiday. Includes a Saint Patrick’s Day fun facts box. Resource includes three levels of differentiated questions, with answers included, designed to cater to learners of all abilities. Questions for each level come in two formats, a lined answer sheet and a list of questions to glue into a notebook. Ultimately, this informative and engaging text not only offers insights into the cultural significance of Saint Patrick’s Day but also provides a deeper understanding of contemporary Irish culture. Perfect for learners of all ages, this Saint Patrick’s Day reading comprehension resource is a must-have for the holiday season!