This product was designed to help 7th grade students review for their STAAR Writing test, but would also be great throughout the year. Use it any time you need a no-prep activity for a sub or want to give your students a little extra writing practice. This resource includes: Two Revision Practice Texts: One expository (about Jackie Robinson) and one persuasive ((asking the Capitol to end the Hunger Games). Revision Questions: Each set of revision questions uses sentence stems from the STAAR. Two Writing Prompts: one about forgiveness and one about respect. Both are formatted in a manner similar to the STAAR expository writing prompt for Grade 7. Peer/Self Editing Checklists Final Draft Lined Paper: Based on the format of the STAAR lined paper. Suggested Timeline for Review

Every week, I give my ESL Newcomers twelve or thirteen of the most commonly misspelled words in the English language. I ask them to translate the words into their home language, copy each word three times, create a sentence, illustrate three of the words, complete a word search and do a fill-in-the –blank activity . These activities can be assigned as classwork or homework throughout the week. We do a quick review of the words each day before going on to our lesson, and at the end of the week, we take a spelling test using the words. Words in this resource: dropped  every February first for friend friends frightened from getting going happening hear heard here him interesting its it's jumped knew know let's like little

Use the activities in this packet for a themed reading lesson, or to celebrate Dental Health Month. Activities include: Ratón Perez, Collector of Teeth: In Spanish-Speaking countries, Ratón Perez is the equivalent of the Tooth Fairy. This informational text tells a little of his background and baby tooth customs in other countries. Text Evidence: Ratón Perez: Students use colors to highlight the text evidence that answers questions about the Ratón Perez reading. Tooth Idioms Context Clues: Students use context clues to find the meaning of English idioms involving teeth. Tooth Idioms Task Cards: Eight Task Cards to be used in centers or posted around the room to assess student knowledge. Two types of answer keys are included. One page has a set of four individual answer keys for just the task cards. The other sheet has an individual answer key, along with additional activities for students to use with the idioms, including differentiating between figurative and literal meanings. Washington’s Teeth: Informational Text about our first president and his often painful dentures. Four Square Follow-Up: Activity sheet to be used as a follow-up to the informational text. Root Word Interactive Notebook Page: Instructions and page with cut-outs for students to create a notebook page for the root word “DENT” Math word problems: Combine reading AND math with these four story problems involving money earned when the Tooth Fairy visits.

In these days of texting and Instagram, it's easy for students to make spelling mistakes on even the most basic of English words. In this respect, things have not changed much in the last fifty years, when the National Curriculum Association evaluated the writing of third-eighth graders across the country and compiled a list of the 100 most commonly misspelled words in student writing. This list includes words that have unusual spellings, as well as words that are commonly confused (like "their" and "there"). After my students have learned basic English verbs and nouns, I give my ESL Newcomers twelve or thirteen of these most commonly misspelled words in the English language each week for eight weeks. I ask them to translate the words into their home language, copy each word three times, create a sentence, illustrate three of the words, complete a word search and do a fill-in-the –blank activity. These activities can be assigned as classwork or homework throughout the week. We also do a quick review of the words each day before going on to our lesson, and, at the end of the week, we take a spelling test using the words. By the time we are finished, my students have been exposed to, and tested over, 100 words that are often misspelled by beginning writers. This product contains eight weeks' worth of vocabulary lists, activities, and daily reviews/ bellwork, along with a reproducible for the weekly quiz. Although it was orginally created for use in an ESL classroom, it gives students at all fluency and ability levels a chance to review tricky words and spellings. ******************** Do you want the homework and and center activities without the daily review activities? Check out ESL NEW BEGINNINGS: Spelling BUNDLE

This resource focuses on Literary Fiction and includes: Four page story with reading tips Four Square Follow-Up Comprehension questions with STAAR stems

Escape rooms harness the natural competitive nature of middle-school students to encourage them to work cooperatively and to use critical thinking and comprehension skills to complete a series of tasks which allow them to succeed. This product features an informational text about Día de los Muertos, along with comprehension questions and vocabulary matching. The vocabulary matching allows bilingual and English language learners a chance to take the lead in the problem solving. There are also two additional puzzles that students must solve in order to escape the room. The product gives both digital and non-digital options, or a combination of both. To use the digital version, students (or each group of students) need access to a device that has Internet capabilities. The teacher gives students a link to a private website that requires them to read and search for clues to unlock four different types of locks. The non-digital option allows the teacher to print out the reading passage and puzzles and give one set to each student, or each group of students. The students can then go to the website to enter their answers, or simply write the lock codes down on their response sheet for easy checking . The packet also includes an optional certificate that can be given to successful students.

Escape rooms harness the natural competitive nature of middle-school students to encourage them to work cooperatively and to use critical thinking and comprehension skills to complete a series of tasks which allow them to succeed. This product features four puzzles that must be solved to “escape”. One puzzle is simply an informational text about Veterans Day, along with comprehension questions. There is also another brief reading passage that contains clues for a second lock. The third lock requires students to unscramble letters to make three words that have to do with Veterans Day. The fourth puzzle requires students to do a little research and reasoning to correctly order seven American wars. The product gives both digital and non-digital options, or a combination of both. To use the digital version, students (or each group of students) need access to a device that has Internet capabilities. The teacher gives students a link to a private website that requires them to read and search for clues to unlock four different types of locks. The non-digital option allows the teacher to print out the reading passage and puzzles and give one set to each student, or each group of students. The students can then go to the website to enter their answers, or simply write the lock codes down on their response sheet for easy checking. The packet also includes an optional certificate that can be given to successful students.

A lot of people are arguing about the 2016 election and the Electoral College, but do your students understand how the president is really elected?. This packet introduces your students to the concept of the Electoral College by comparing the process to winning a sports championship. The packet includes three leveled reading passages that cover the same information, to meet the needs of students at different reading abilities. The estimated Lexile levels are: Winning the Election – about 400L (Written with the beginning/low intermediate level ESL student in mind) Winning the Big Game—about 750 L The World Series of Politics—about 900 L Each reading passage is followed by seven comprehension questions, mostly at the interpretive and evaluative levels. The question stems come directly from the seventh and eighth-grade STAAR Reading template. Another activity requires students to research 2016 election results, compare the popular vote and electoral vote, and make inferences. Finally, there are three leveled writing activities. All involve responses to the question “Should the president of the United States be elected by popular vote?”" and include pre-writing activities to guide the student writing. Should we abolish the electoral college? Try this lesson with your students and start tomorrow's voters thinking about this issue today.

It's the most wonderful time of the year . . .unless you're a teacher with one day left before vacation and you need to keep your students focused and entertained. Word searches are the perfect solution for those difficult days when clock watching and fidgeting seem to be the major activities. Word puzzles such as the ones included in this package can help increase vocabulary, improve spelling, and give your students a fun mental challenge, while still engaging your students with a special holiday activity.. This download includes four different types of word searches with hidden messages. In two puzzles, students must unscramble the words before finding them in the grid. There are two versions of the scrambled word search, one with words that only go left to right and top to bottom with no overlap, and one where the words are written in all directions, including diagonally, and using shared letters. For younger students, or ESL students who are just learning holiday vocabulary, there are two versions of the word search puzzle with the words unscrambled. One version has words in all directions and with shared letters, and the other has the words only written left to right and top to bottom with no shared letters. Once the words have been found in the grid, the remaining letters can be written in the blank grid to reveal the hidden message. The two scrambled word searches have the same hidden message, and the two unscrambled word searches have the same message.

Groundhog Day 2017 is on February 2. Treat your students to some quick and educational activities to celebrate the day. From an informational text telling about the ancient origins of Groundhog Day to a maze requiring the students to use all four arithmetic operations on two and three- digit numbers, your students will have a chance to review skills and learn some interesting facts along the way. Activities: Informational Text: The Origins of Groundhog Day Comprehension Questions Math Maze: Help the groundhog find his shadow by finding the answers to basic two- and three-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems. Groundhog Day Word Search Make-a-Word And, don't forget that Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner!! Super Bowl 2017: Informational Text and No-Prep Activities

This Women's History Month resource contains activities related to Amelia Earhart and her last attempt to circumnavigate the globe. It also addresses the mystery surrounding her disappearance. The activities can be used individually, or as part of a themed unit. The comprehension questions use question stems from the 7th grade STAAR test, making the readings ideal for state testing practice. The pre-reading and idiom activities are especially helpful for English language Learners. Activities included are: Pre-Reading/Amelia Earhart’s Final Flight: Students predict the topic of the reading, and complete the first two columns of a K-W-L chart, as well as an agree-disagree anticipatory set. Pre-teach Vocabulary: Amelia Earhart’s Final Flight: Students use context clues to predict meanings of unfamiliar words, then match the words with the actual meanings. “Amelia Earhart’s Final Flight” Informational Text: A three-page reading about Earhart’s final flight with focused annotation questions in the margins. Final Flight Comprehension Questions: Based on STAAR sentence stems to help students prepare for standardized testing. “What Happened to Amelia Earhart?” In formational Text: Two page informational text with focused annotation questions in the margins. The article describes some of the most popular theories about the disappearance. “What Happened?” Comprehension Questions: Based on STAAR sentence stems to help students prepare for standardized testing. Figurative Language/Flying Idioms: Students use context clues to predict the meanings of idioms using the word “fly”, then match the idiom with the actual meaning. Idiom Task Cards: These eight task cards can be used at a literacy center, or posted around the room for a classroom activity. Two types of answer sheets are provided, one with four individual answer sheets and another complete sheet which requires the student to choose an idiom to use in a sentence and to illustrate the literal and figurative meanings of one of the idioms. Amelia Earhart’s Flight Plan: Students can use Google Earth to explore the path that Earhart took and record the distance between stops. A second sheet is included so they can mark out the path on a map. Amelia’s Accomplishments: Students read a list of Earhart’s accomplishments and write responses based on their own feelings and opinions. Final Flight Word Search: Not only are word searches fun for students, they also help develop cognitive skills, like pattern recognition. In this word search, students hunt for the cities on Amelia Earhart’s final flight plan.

Are your students ready for the STAAR test? Help them review graphical elements, poetic technique, and more with the aid of this resource. A PowerPoint is included to guide them through note-taking, a practice poem, and independent review. This resource includes: A 25-slide PowerPoint to lead students through visual note-taking and the guided practice poem. It details how to create the visual notes, what to look for in the poem, shows possible answers for the analysis sheet, and explains answers for the comprehension questions. Two different templates for visual note-taking (great for students who were absent or who need differentiation) STARS: A poem for guided practice which includes graphical elements and poetic techniques. An analysis page for “STARS” Comprehension questions for “STARS”, using question stems from the 7th grade STAAR Reading test. WHY NOT ME?: A poem for independent practice which includes graphical elements and poetic techniques. Pre-reading Vocabulary: An activity for “Why Not Me?” which allows students practice with context clues, matching definitions, and visualizing vocabulary. An analysis page for “WHY NOT ME? ” Comprehension questions for “WHY NOT ME?”, using question stems from the 7th grade STAAR Reading test. **Teaching times will vary with the fluency and academic levels of your class. My ESL Newcomers (mainly beginning-low intermediate level) took one day to complete the visual notes; one day to read through “STARS” , discuss unfamiliar vocabulary, and identify the graphical and poetic elements; then a third day to complete the analysis sheet as a group (they did the summary square alone with sentence stems) and comprehension questions. It took them an additional two 50-minute periods to complete the independent practice activities.

This resource was designed for use as a review for drama questions on the 7th grade STAAR Reading test. BEFORE PURCHASING THIS PRODUCT, PLEASE REVIEW THE EXCERPT FROM "RUIN A FOOD" (with the preview files). My students enjoyed it, but it is about a food contest where competitors try to make disgusting combinations of food, so the topic may be off-putting to some groups. This resource includes: * A template for taking notes, along with a completed copy to project for the students, or to use while giving instrauctions. * PRE-READING VOCABULARY for “RUIN A FOOD”: A Frayer model activity to help familiarize students with words in the play. Two versions are available – one for ESL students which includes a spot to translate the word into their home languages, and one for General Education students. *RUIN A FOOD: A scene for guided practice which includes figurative language and stage directions. *Comprehension questions for “RUIN A FOOD”, using question stems from the 7th grade STAAR Reading test. *THE LAST STRAW: An excerpt from a drama about bullying. *Comprehension questions for “THE LAST STRAW” using question stems from the 7th grade STAAR Reading test.

Halloween is an exciting holiday for many middle-schoolers. Help your students improve their reading comprehension, poetry analysis, and vocabulary skills by using their love of the holiday to engage them with this packet of entertaining literary activities. This product includes three pieces that focus on the Halloween season, along with comprehension, idiom, context clue and other activities Contents: Mischief Night: a literary non-fiction piece with the theme “Sometimes you have to stand up to bullies.” Related Activities: Context clues to pre-teach vocabulary Story Analysis, including a character trait organizer Comprehension questions Feline Bullied: A light-hearted poem about a kitten and a pumpkin and their “fiery” relationship. The theme is similar to that of Mischief Night, allowing the teacher to use the two as paired readings. Related Activities: TP-CASTT analysis sheet Comprehension questions The Story of Stingy Jack: an original retelling of the myth behind Jack-O’-Lanterns. Related Activities: Comprehension questions Three additional activities to use in centers, as homework, or extension activities: Context Clues/Halloween Idioms Halloween Word Search Fact/Opinion/Common Assertion ****** Check out these other themed products: Amelia Earhart's Final Flight: Informational Texts and No-Prep Activities for Women's History Month Super Bowl: Informational Text and No-Prep Activities Myths and Superstitions: Informative Text, Reader's Theater, and Writing Activities

This resource guides students through the process of gathering information for a basic, five-paragraph research report which can then be used to create a visual presentation, such as a PowerPoint, Prezi, tri-fold document, or video. The suggested timeframe is five days, making it a perfect wrap-up at the end of the year. Contents: 16-slide PowerPoint, which guides students through brainstorming a topic, writing a research question, and gathering information. The PowerPoint models each step in the process with sample brainstorming questions, Google searches, source notes, and an example of a rough draft and Prezi based on the information gathered. 4-page packet, includes pages for notes from the PowerPoint, question-writing practice, notes from sources, and a rough draft Suggested timeline: Day 1: PowerPoint notes and brainstorming Day 2: Refine the research question and begin research Day 3: Complete research Day 4: Write the rough draft and begin the product Day 5: Complete the product

If you live in Texas, all roads lead to the STAAR test. This resource, which contains two original reading passages, will engage your students and help them review literary non-fiction as we head into our end-of-the-year testing season. It's also great as an introductory unit earlier in the year. This resource focuses on Literary Non-Fiction. The TEKS reviewed are : 7.2A Latin roots and affixes 7.3 Author’s message or theme 7.7 Inferences and conclusions about organization, characterization, and specific details. Fig 19E Text summary 7.8 Sensory language and mood. Contents include: PowerPoint presentation Visual notes template Reading Passage for guided practice: Candle in the Darkness Four Square Follow-Up Reading Comprehension Questions (using STAAR stems) Reading Passage for Independent Practice: Papa Frankenstein Four Square Follow-Up Reading Comprehension Questions (using STAAR stems) NOTE: I marked this unit as lasting three days. With my Newcomer ESL students (beginning - intermediate fluency), it was actually four days just for the guided practice. The visual notes took one day, the guided annotation took two days, and the follow-up and comprehension questions took one day.

Final Four, Elite Eight, Sweet Sixteen. In March, conversation is peppered with all these terms as focus shifts to the NCAA basketball tournament. Use the excitement surrounding thispopular sporting event to engage students in activities that provide practice in revision, math, writing and reading comprehension. In addition, this resource contains word puzzles, which are great for strengthening student focus, spelling, and problem-solving abilities. Activities in this packet include: Reading Passage and Comprehension Questions: History of the tournament Revision Passage and questions: The Gonzaga mascot Basketball Idioms: Students use context clues to determine the meaning of common idioms derived from the game of basketball. Creative Writing: Students will create an appropriate mascot for fictional Earhart University (named for Amelia Earhart), and will write a paragraph to describe the mascot and why they chose it. When done, they will illustrate their paragraph. Two Word Searches with Hidden Messages Word Criss-Cross Puzzle Blank Tournament bracket: Students can research game outcomes, fill in the bracket and predict the outcome of future games Math Madness: Gracie has spilled coffee all over the paper with the statistics from the Elite Eight games. Students must use math to help her reconstruct the chart.

Review the academic language that students will see on end of the year tests and standardized exams with these vocabulary activities.