Over twenty years teaching, developing lessons and conducting professional development - coupled with fiction and film writing - is who I am. Family, education and writing define what I love.
Over twenty years teaching, developing lessons and conducting professional development - coupled with fiction and film writing - is who I am. Family, education and writing define what I love.
Journeys through Reading – Grade 5 – is a series of English Language Arts lessons that allows students to incorporate engaging and essential ELA themes and standards while learning about fun places to visit. Perfect for centers, early finishers, ESL, intervention and more.
Disneyland: Fantasyland 1: Matterhorn Bobsleds – contain 7-print and go pages of activities that include: fluency practice, comprehension, word play, informational text study and more.
Perfect for whole class, groups, pairs, intervention, centers and more. Use with the entire Journey series for a comprehensive fifth grade program. Works for summer school as well.
• Seven pages in color and also in black and white for printing ease
• Great for students learning English
• Great for early finishers
• Work in pairs for intervention
Students practice reading, writing and speaking skills
• Access their creativity
• Learn new words
• Learn about new places
Key Ideas and Details:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1
Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2
Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3
Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
Craft and Structure:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.5
Compare and contrast the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.6
Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.7
Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8
Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.9
Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
Show Me the Money: Sight Word Game is an engaging way for students to practice and learn site words -- as they work on their money math skills on the side.
Great as a warm-up, for the whole class, as home work or pair word. Super for intervention and ESL
Included: Over 450 Sight Word game cards, money template and instructions.
Easy Prep:Game Prep:
Whole class Instructions
1. Copy and cut out one site word set for each pair of students
a. You may copy the site word cards on plane paper, card stock or use Avery Business Card 5371 stock
2. Copy and cut lots of money! Or use any play money you have. If you are copying money – use colored paper
3. Put each set of words in a baggie, Add money
Five Minutes to Fluency and Comprehension is a research-based program that easily fits into any busy school day. Five minutes, from start to finish, as students peer read, one and two minute strategically worded passages and stories, partner review and then provide instant feedback.
Five Minutes to Fluency and Comprehension offers a quick, simple and inexpensive way to increase fluency and comprehension. The program is for classroom use, but can easily be incorporated into take home or parent involvement activities.
The instructions are easy to follow, best of all, Five Minutes to Fluency and Comprehension is easy to differentiate, adapt as close readings and effortlessly incorporate Response to Intervention into a whole class or individual setting.
Imperative for understanding, critical thinking and 21st Century learning is the ability for students to analyze primary source documents.
Included in this lesson are copies of the original, handwritten versions of the Emancipation Proclamation, a typewritten "Interactive Reader" version for analysis, student instructions on analyzing primary sources and a Source Document Graphic Organizer.
Primary sources provide a window into the past—unfiltered access to the record of artistic, social, scientific and political thought and achievement during the specific period under study, produced by people who lived during that period.
Bringing young people into close contact with these unique, often profoundly personal, documents and objects can give them a very real sense of what it was like to be alive during a long-past era.
"Bible Study Quick Writes" are a fast and fun way for primary aged children to learn the Bible – while getting in some writing and word practice as they go.
This devotional is designed for Third Grade students and incorporates cursive practice as well. This version also comes without Cursive practice!
Students, homeschoolers -- all children -- travel through Bible verse study while getting an understanding of the goodness and strength of the Lord. This 122-page devotional for children 7-9 is perfect for use as warm-ups, bell ringers, for whole class study, homeschool and more.
Both homeschool and private school students will benefit from learning the Bible in five to ten minutes per day.
These daily Graces or Devotions are intended to be quick writes and help with critical thinking, comprehension -- as well as Bible study.
They are perfect for the beginning of the day, the beginning of class periods or end of the day actiities. They are aligned with the standards and 21st Century skills in that each verse touches on a standard that is required for college admission, while not sacrificing the strength of His work. Each Quick Write
begins with a Bible Verse and extends to the world in which students live today.
Each Daily Devotion takes Bible passages and requires students to think and write about things
important to them, things happening in their lives – relevant to their world. By connecting
standards, His Word and their lives – students gain a greater understanding of the teachings of
our Lord and Savior, the Holy Trinity and everything that encompasses our Bible – as they gain
valuable reading and writing skills required for college in the process.
These Devotions also present an opportunity for creativity, collaboration, cooperation and
criticalThinking – if desired. Each devotion requires students to look within themselves, reflect
on how they are living and how they can find their place in the world - with the Holy Spirit in
their heart, but they also present opportunities for teachers to have students write and share
their ideas, insights, strengths and weaknesses with partners and the whole class – in order to
maximize engagement.
A Quick Write as “a literacy strategy which can be used in any content area to develop writing fluency, to build the habit of reflection into a learning experience, and to informally assess student thinking. The strategy asks learners to respond in 2–10 minutes to an open-ended question or prompt posed by the teacher.
This workbook combines Bible study, relevant issues, fluency and infuses a habit of reflection.
"Bible Study Quick Writes" are a fast and fun way for youth to learn the Bible – while getting in some writing and word practice as they go. Ten minutes - from start to finish - is all it takes for youth to analyze, think critically, reflect and learn His word.
This devotional is designed for Sixth Grade students is designed to help students, study school learners, kids attending catechism, homeschoolers -- all children -- travel through Bible verse study while getting an understanding of the goodness and strength of the Lord. This 124-page devotional workbook for youth 11-15 is perfect for use as warm-ups, bell ringers, for whole class study, homeschool, CCD, at the beginning of Sunday School lessons and more. Both homeschool and private school students will benefit from learning the Bible in five to ten minutes per day.
These daily Graces or Devotions are intended to be quick writes. They are perfect for the beginning of the day, the beginning of class periods or end of the day activities. They are aligned with the standards and 21st Century skills in that each verse touches on a standard that is required for college admission, while not sacrificing the strength of His work. Each Quick Write begins with a Bible Verse and extends to the world in which students live today.
The Daily Devotion takes Bible passages and requires students to think and write about things important to them, things happening in their lives – relevant to their world. By connecting standards, His Word and their lives – students gain a greater understanding of the teachings of our Lord and Savior – and gain valuable reading and writing skills required for college in the process.
These Devotions also present an opportunity for Creativity, Collaboration, Cooperation and Critical Thinking – if desired. Each Devotion requires students to look within themselves, reflect how they are living and how they can find their place in the world and with the Holy Spirit in their heart, but they also present opportunities for teachers to have students write and share their ideas, insights, strengths and weaknesses with partners and the whole – in order to maximize engagement.
RESOURCE !: Differentiated site word practice.
Over 140 pages of site word printables -- These blackline masters help students learn site words by reading passages and writing sentences -- and then repeating the process.
Site words are the most commonly used words in reading and writing and represent about 67% of words students encounter in daily text. These words are often grouped and learned by grade level. The site words contained herein are the first one hundred, plus essential words from subsequent lists designed to help struggling and early readers recognize them automatically.
The following passages are great for increasing the fluency of beginning readers. They start out easy and become increasingly difficult, but not too difficult. The passages may be used as bell ringers, buddy work and homework practice, or all three, as research indicates that repeated reading of the same passage helps increase fluency. The passages are basic and enable students to read from simple to more complex sentences as they become more familiar with the particular site word around which each passage is written.
Research also indicates that memorizing site words by list is less effective and less desirable than through authentic passage reading and writing exercises. The value of identifying and truly learning site words exists within reading practice and even phonics lessons (Farrell, Osenga and Hunter, 2013) that mimic genuine reading work. That’s why we’ve designed our worksheets to isolate each word, put it in a passage and then require students to think about the word as they write their own sentences and then go back and re-read what they wrote.
RESOURCE II: 198 Pages
Five Minutes to Fluency and Comprehension is a research-based program that easily fits into any busy school day. Five minutes, from start to finish, as students peer read, one and two minute strategically worded passages and stories, partner review and then provide instant feedback. Five Minutes to Fluency and Comprehension offers a quick, simple and inexpensive way to increase fluency and comprehension. The program is for classroom use, but can easily be incorporated into take home or parent involvement activities. The instructions are easy to follow, best of all, Five Minutes to Fluency and Comprehension is easy to differentiate, adapt as close readings and effortlessly incorporate Response to Intervention into a whole class or individual setting.
Table of Contents
Instructions for Fluency Letter Pages 5
Instructions for Fluency Practice for a Group or Class 6
A Few Words About Reading Instruction 9
Practice Passages: Letters to Words 11
Short “a” Letter Page 12
Short “e” Letter Page 14
Short “i” Letter Page 16
Short “o” Letter Page 18
Short “u” Letter Page 20
Long “a” Letter Page 22
Long “e” Letter Page 24
Long “i” Letter Page 26
Long “o” Letter Page 28
Long “u” Letter Page 30
“c” Letter Page 32
“m” Letter Page 34
“p” Letter Page 36
“f” Letter Page 38
“b” Letter Page 40
“ar” Letter Page 42
“ar” and “ur” Letter Page 44
“ow” Letter Page 46
Passages 49
High Frequency Words 50
Fluency “ir”, “or” and “our” 56
Fluency Words “long e spelled y” 58
Fluency Words “Contractions” 61
Fluency Words “Consonant Pairs” 64
Fluency “th” Words 67
Fluency “s” or “es” Words 70
Fluency Soft “c” and “s” Words 73
Fluency Words “Compound Words” 76
Fluency Words “f”, “ff” and “ough” 79
Fluency Words “w”, “wh” and “h” 82
Fluency Words “More High Frequency Words” 85
Fluency Words ”Even More HFW” 88
Fluency “Words, Words, Words” 91
Fluency “Words Again” 94
Fluency “Words Revisited” 97
Fluency “More Words to Read 100
Fluency “The Other Sound of C 103
Fluency “Almost Last Set of Words” 106
Fluency “Last Set of Words” 109
Fluency “Action Words” 112
Fluency “Things” 113
Fluency D, F and G Words 114
Words to Read and Know 115
Fluency First Hundred 116
Fluency First Hundred – Part 2 117
Fluency First Hundred – Part 3 118
Vowels 119
Fluency Short Vowels “a” 121
Fluency Short Vowels “e” 123
Fluency Short Vowel “I” 125
Fluency Short Vowel “o” 127
Fluency Short Vowel “u” 129
Fluency Long Vowels “a” 131
Fluency Long “e” 133
Fluency Long “I” 135
Fluency Long “o” Words 137
Fluency Long “u” Words 139
Passages 141
Story Passages 179
Inventory Sheets and Logs 191! !
The math and literacy activities in this unit are ideal for February-themed centers or for use as stand alone activities. The Phonics Bingo is a class favorite. The four Reader’s Theater scripts contain 28 parts – at various reading levels.
All activities are differentiated and pretty much Print and Go.
Unit Contains:
33 different February Journal Prompts
Math Investigation: Valentine Data Activity
Subtraction Golf
My Heart Belongs to Math
Phonics Bingo
Four February Reader’s Theater Scripts
Be My Valentine
Valentine’s Party
President Lincoln
Dinner With Young George Washington
Black History Month Readings with Comprehension Quizzes for:
Dorothy Vaughn – S.T.E.M. Worker
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass: Life as a Slave
Thurgood Marshall
Carter G. Woodson
Vonetta Flowers
Mary Jane Patterson
Halle Berry
What is Black History Month
Bible Study Quick Writes are a fast and fun way for primary aged students to learn the Bible – while getting in some writing and word practice as they go. Students travel through Bible verses and the Lord’s Prayer while getting an understanding of the goodness and strength of the Lord.
This 126-page devotional for primary students is perfect for warm-ups, as bell ringers, for whole class study and more. Both homeschool and private school students will benefit from learning the Bible in five to ten minutes per day.
This bundle contains SEVEN NO PREP Book Units and contains pages and pages of interactive, cross-curricular and engaging activities -- all standards-aligned. This print-and-go unit contains interactive journal pages, a review of Cinderella Elements PowerPoint – with compare and contrast for PowerPoint, essays, social studies assignments, quizzes and a whole lot more. Differentiated for use with the whole class.
Dinorella
CinderHazel
Cinderella Penguin
Cinderella and the Hot Air Balloon
Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella
Prince Cinders
Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella
No Prep Book Units for:
The Egyptian Cinderella
Fair, Brown and Trembling
Naya: The Inuit Cinderella
The Persian Cinderella
These No Prep Book Units is a companion to “The Korean Cinderella" by Shirley Climo and contains pages and pages of interactive, cross-curricular and engaging activities -- all standards-aligned. This print-and-go unit contains interactive journal pages, essay template and teaching guide, social studies assignments, quizzes and a whole lot more. Differentiated for use with the whole class.
This No Prep Book Unit is a companion to “The Korean Cinderella" by Shirley Climo and contains pages and pages of interactive, cross-curricular and engaging activities -- all standards-aligned. This print-and-go unit contains interactive journal pages, a review of Cinderella Elements PowerPoint – with compare and contrast for PowerPoint, essays, social studies assignments, quizzes and a whole lot more. Differentiated for use with the whole class.
Table of Contents
1. Common Core Ties – page 1
2. Template Instructions – page 3
3. Cinderella Elements – page 11
4. “In My Opinion”: Constructed Response – page 14
5. Story Connectors: Summarize the Story – page 15
6. Story Characters Template – page 16
7. Sentence Diagramming – page 17
8. Comprehension Questions – Multiple Choice – page 19
9. One-Minute Fluency Passages – page 20
10. Sentence Sorting Template – page 27
11. From Sentence Sorting to Essay Writing Template – page 28
12. Compare and Contrast: The Korean Cinderella and Cinderella – page 30
13. Design Your Own Cover – page 31
14. Questions Along the Way – page 32
15. In My Opinion – page 33
16. Character Conflicts – page 34
17. Quick Writes Compare and Contrast – page 35
18. Story Summary – page 36
19. Text to Text – page 37
20. My Thoughts While Reading – page 38
21. Inferring Character Feelings – page 39
22. Interactive Notebook Cause and Effect –page 40
23. Think, Question and Analyze – page 41
24. Korean Cinderella – page 42
25. Lights, Camera, Action – page 43
26. Rubric for All Constructed Responses – page 44
Winter themed Boggle -typeWord Search and . Snowflake Science unit all in one!
PowerPoint and lesson manual!
Experiments, activities, student templates, observation sheets, snowmen and matter, compare and contrast template, guided reading activity and more! Everything an elementary student needs to know about matter.
Boggle:
Students love this fast-paced game for work student and spelling and reading reinforcement.
Word Seek -- Boggle is great for whole class or partner play, early finishers, literacy centers, bell ringers and warm-ups. Boggle can even be given as homework.
Winter themed Boogle Word Search. Goes great with my Waiting for Winter -- Snowflake Science lesson! 41 cards in all.
Students love this fast-paced game for work student and spelling and reading reinforcement.
Word Seek -- Boggle is great for whole class or partner play, early finishers, literacy centers, bell ringers and warm-ups. Boggle can even be given as homework.
The rules are easy:
• Players have three minutes to find as many words as they can on a 3 x 3
• grid.
• Players have four minutes to find as many words as they can on 3 x 4 and 4 x 4 grids. Players have five minutes to find as many words on a 5 x 5 grid
Word letters must be adjoining in a chain. (Letters in the chain may be adjacent horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Words must contain at least three letters.
Scoring: The first two letters of each word do not count for score. Each player gets 1 point for each letter after the second.
For example:
• won = 1 point
• come = 2 points
• change = 3 points
Word Seek is great for partner play, early finishers, literacy centers, bell ringers and warm-ups.
Students love this fast-paced game for work student and spelling and reading reinforcement.
Word Seek -- Boggle is great for whole class or partner play, early finishers, literacy centers, bell ringers and warm-ups. Boggle can even be given as homework.
The rules are easy:
• Players have three minutes to find as many words as they can on a 3 x 3
• grid.
• Players have four minutes to find as many words as they can on 3 x 4 and 4 x 4 grids. Players have five minutes to find as many words on a 5 x 5 grid
Word letters must be adjoining in a chain. (Letters in the chain may be adjacent horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Words must contain at least three letters.
Scoring: The first two letters of each word do not count for score. Each player gets 1 point for each letter after the second.
For example:
• won = 1 point
• come = 2 points
• change = 3 points
Word Seek is great for partner play, early finishers, literacy centers, bell ringers and warm-ups.
This bundle includes to of my non-fiction Common Core aligned readings and primary source Document Pamphlet series Interactive Workbooks -- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They are designed to help students read for information and think critically while forming their own ideas about why history happened.
Students and adults alike will discover history by looking at artifacts constructed by the very people who shaped the United States of America. Perfect for any classroom, from Fifth Grade to college, this series engages readers and prompts them to think critically and divergently by analyzing and synthesizing information, questioning and reflecting…all to gain a deeper understanding of how the U.S was formed and how policy decisions were derived. In this edition, students discover the intelligent and pervasive John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
As a bonus -- the Project Based Learning "Choose Your Own Government Structure" is also attached.
This is an engaging No Prep Unit for Groundhog’s Day that includes: Readers’ Theater scripts, Science Literacy and Comprehension activity, vocabulary, labeling, story writing, graphic organizers and more.
19-pages of fun!
This Bundle combines many of the Cinderella Book Units I have in my shop including"
Cendrillon
The Salmon Princess
Egyptian Cinderella
Fair, Brown and Trembling
Jouanah: The Hmong Cinderella
The Rough-Face Girl
Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella
Prince Cenders
Naya: The Inuit Cinderella
Dinorella
CinderHazel
Cinderella and the Hot Air Balloon
Smoky Mountain Rose
The Persian Cinderella
Cinderella Penguin