The entire unit focuses on the Common Core Standards and shift to getting students to use evidence from the text to answer and defend their responses. The structure of my class was a vocabulary mini-lesson, mini-lesson connected to a skill, whole class and independent reading connected to the text. LESSON PLANS ARE IN WORD (AND PDF) FORMAT. This perfect for teachers who like to tweak class activities to the needs of their individual classes. Please note restrictions on commercial use. The Unit Includes: 25 Original Vocabulary Mini-lessons 24 Lessons (Questions from the chapters, Exit Ticket, Homework) 22 Mini-lessons aligned to skills from the text 4 Extension Activities (Create a Creature, Wanted Ads, Character Traits, Alternative Ending) Graphic Organizers 1 Character Study Mini-Book (9 pages) for students to track characters

This personal narrative unit is directly aligned to Common Core Writing and Language standards, and is designed for students in grades 6-8. This unit will lead you and your students through the process of writing personal narratives. There are more than 65 pages which include: Suggested Lesson and Resource Scope and Sequence Lesson Plan Template Graphic Organizers Narrative Definition Poster Narrative Subway Art Mentor Text Narrative topics Narrative Activities Student Revision Checklist Student Editing Checklist Common Core Aligned Rubric 32 Task Cards aligned to Language standards Publishing Paper Mini-lessons: Flashbacks Dialogue and Quotations Descriptive Language Voice Point of View Clauses and Phrases Sentence Fluency Writing Narrative Leads Using Transition Words

This resource is included in the Locomotion Novel Unit so if you have purchased that Unit please do not purchase this one. It includes Common Core Analysis of 10 poems. • “Ode to family photographs” by Gary Soto • “A Bird Came Down the Walk” by Emily Dickinson • “A Poem for My Librarian, Mrs. Long.” by Nikki Giovanni • “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost • “Humanity” by Elma Stuckey • “Something Told the Wild Geese” by Rachel Field • “Words as Free as Confetti” by Pat Mora • “In the Time of Silver Rain” by Langston Hughes • “The Sea” by James Reeves • “Wind” by James Reeves There is a bonus lesson included that gets to students to use the biography of Nikki Giovanni in order to analysis the poem through the lens of the author.

This is a set of 24 high interest task cards for finding the main idea. This activity is perfect for centers or small groups! The paragraphs are thought provoking and include rich vocabulary. Student response cards and teacher answer key is included.

This resource includes materials to walk your students through creating a personal narrative from the perspective of a Holocaust survivor. The topic is about the Holocaust, but the majority of planning documents included in this resource will stand alone with any other topic. This is resource includes: - Two mini-lessons to help students understand Personal Narratives and Revise their writing for descriptive language - Three original planning graphic organizers - Teacher model for the topic - Drafting and Publishing Paper Excluding Title Page this resource is 16 pages! This activity is included in my Number the Stars novel unit, but I have updated it to include one more graphic organizer and two additional mini-lessons.

This craftivity is perfect for the beginning of the year to get students writing about their summer, but also has the flexible to be used in conjunction with other units. Camera template and interactive accordion book templates are EDITABLE using textboxes in PowerPoint. This resource includes: • Teacher Guide • Step by Step Instructions with Pictures • Camera Template • Camera lens and flash template • Accordion Book templates • 3 Planning Templates • 3 Writing Templates

This is a fun freebie to get writing juices flowing with students. There are 24 different story starters and a few bonus goodies to assist students with Halloween themed writing. Enjoy!

This is a fun freebie to get writing juices flowing with students. This freebie assists students with creating the “perfect pair” and is great to assist students with Valentine’s Day writing. Enjoy!

This beginning of the year FREEBIE is focused on summer reflection through writing and goal setting. The watermelon templates are EDITABLE using textboxes in PowerPoint. Enjoy!

These cards are included in my Theme and Greek mythology units. If you have those units, please do not grab these. This resource includes 32 different half page task cards that support the reading literature Common Core standards. These cards would work well as remediation for small groups, or as a test preparation activity. Skills covered include: ★ Using Evidence from the Text ★ Finding and Summarizing the Theme ★ Character Traits ★ Plot Events ★ Determining the Meaning of Words

This is an amazing beginning of the year resource pack that is LOADED with resources to kick off the school year and a strong class culture. This includes an activity (or two) for each letter of the alphabet. All Hands In Bingo Celebrity Interview Connection Creation Dreams and Aspirations Detectives Encouragement and Excellence Fact or Fib Free Throws Goals Galore Important Book a mini-book Kind Words Kind Notes Letter to My Future Self Mad Libs New Year Chronicle/Get Started Gazette ) Only the Strong Person of the Year Questions Reel of Summer Save the Date Student Dictionary Take as Much as You Like Unpacking Me: A Craftivity Venn Diagram Wanted (2 Versions) Would You Rather Task Cards Yearbook Pages Z-A about the Class There are so many activities to choose from.

This is a great resource to help teachers save time with newsletter templates for the year! I’ve included templates that have predetermined subheadings and ones without them so that you can make your own. All you have to do it add text boxes where you want to add information. Please note that not all portions of the template are EDITABLE because of copyrights with fonts and graphics, but there is lots of flexibility! This resource is also included in my Beginning of the Year A to Z: Activities, Minibooks, and More! resource. PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE IF YOU HAVE BOUGHT MY BEGINNING OF YEAR ACTIVITIES RESOURCE.

This is a rigorous unit geared at student engagement, thinking, reading, and writing skills. Students read and analyze both informational and fictional texts, and write an argumentative and literary essay. This unit was designed for students to celebrate the rich and complex history of North America’s first people. Please download the preview for more information. There are more than 80 pages which include: Two page Informational Text Articles with Comprehension Questions and Activities: - The First Americans - Cultures of the Southwest - Cultures of the Northwest - Cultures of the Great Plains - Eastern Woodlands Natives - Mound Building Cultures - The Inuit Fictional Text with Comprehension Questions and Activities: - The Raven and The Crow: The Stolen Potlatch - The Legend of Good Luck - The Coyote and the Buffalo ***********************************************

PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE IF YOU HAVE BOUGHT MY BEGINNING OF YEAR ACTIVITIES RESOURCE OR BUNDLE. This is a great resource to start the year and capture lots of memories. It's a mini-book that walk students through the important things during the year. This is an awesome and interactive way for students to engage with each other and make new memories! Included: ♦Cover Page ♦Two Page Reading on Malleable Intelligence ♦ Interactive pages ♦ Important Book EDITABLE Templates ♦ Important Lists ♦ Important Things about Classmates

This bundle includes my reading literature and informational text graphic organizer resources. Purchasing this bundle saves you 20% as opposed to buying separately. There are more than 90 graphic organizers aligned to the Common Core Reading Standards included.

This is a great resource to get students to reflect on their year and capture lots of memories. There are two different options for creating minibooks with students. Either provides an awesome and interactive way for students to engage with each other and make new memories! Included: ✰ School Information page ✰ All About Me ✰ Personal Reflections on the Year ✰ Comparing the Year ✰ Major Accomplishments ✰ Then vs. Now ✰ Class Awards ✰ Flashback and Forward ✰ My Favorite Class ✰ Best Moments and Funny Memories ✰ The Soundtrack of My Year ✰ Current Events ✰ Autograph Pages (2) ✰ Summer Plans ✰ Cover Page This resource is also included in my End of Year A to Z Activities: 34 Activities and Memory Book PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE IF YOU HAVE BOUGHT THE END OF YEAR ACTIVITIES RESOURCE.

This resource is aligned to Speaking and Listening standards from the Common Core standards. I use this with my 5th graders, but it is broad enough to apply to grades 3-6. This resource is intended to assist teachers in implementing effective collaborative discussions about the text. This resource includes: - Overview and Key Components to Implementation Description - Student Responsibilities (Roles) Cards - Sentence Starters aligned to Roles - Discussion Participant Checklist - Self-Evaluation Rubric for participants - Teacher evaluation rubric (CUSTOMIZABLE) - 6 Reading Literature Preparation Guides - 7 Reading Informational Text Preparation Guides - 16 Reading Literature Conversation Starter Cards - 12 Reading Informational Text Conversation Starter Cards If you like this product or have thoughts on how to improve please leave me your feedback! Enjoy!

These organizers are included in my Argumentative, Informative, and Personal Narrative writing units. If you have those units, or purchased my writing bundle, please do not grab these. This resource includes 30 original graphic organizers that will assist your students with writing. These organizers are aligned to three types of writing noted in the Common Core State Standards, and will guide students with organizing their thoughts to the topic of your choice. Organizers included: ★ Argumentative (8) ★ Informative (15) ★ Personal Narrative (7)

This unit is directly aligned to Common Core Writing and Language standards, and is designed for students in grades 6-8. This unit will lead you and your students through the process of writing different types of informative pieces. Download the preview for a peak at the resources. There are more than 65 pages which include: ★ Explanatory/Informative Writing Overview ★ Mentor Texts (4) ★ Writing topics (32) ★ Student Revision Checklist ★ Student Editing Checklist ★ Common Core Aligned Rubric Graphic Organizers by Organization Structure Descriptive (5) Problem Solution (2) Compare and Contrast (2) Cause and Effect (4) Generic (4) Mini-lessons: Drafting From an Outline Recognizing Bias in Writing Compare and Contrast Formats Cause Effect Language Lessons: Infinitive and Infinitive Phrases Gerunds

This unit focuses on remediating and/or enriching skills associated with quoting, inferring, and explaining using informational and fictional text. The Lexile level for each passage is noted in the table of contents, and there are multiple examples, sample questions, and aligned assessments. It is compiled in four sections that gradually develop student independence: 1. Modeled Instruction 2. Guided Instruction 3. Independent Practice 4. Assessment There are also graphic organizers, and an activity for students to practice inferring using pictures. Answer keys are included for all resources and this is aligned to Common Core States Standards (RL.4.1,RL.5.1, RI.4.1,RI.5.1). All teachers have to do it print and copy! ***********************************************