This is a complete novel study using the book Holes. 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 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!

Dr. Maya Angelou was an author, actress, singer, and most notably a poet. Known for her command of language, the poem “Still I Rise” is one of her most acclaimed works that speaks to overcoming oppression. This resource contains an in-depth analysis of the poem for teachers and aligned graphic organizers and text dependent questions for students. This is a NO PREP resource for teachers. Teacher Resources: - Detailed Lesson Plan - Text Analysis (3 pages) - Teacher Response Guide The Texts: - Dr. Angelou biography - “Still I Rise” student copy with wide margins for literal and analytical annotations Graphic Organizers: - Finding the Theme - Vocabulary

This is a complete novel study using the book Locomotion by three time Newberry Honor winner Jacqueline Woodson. Locomotion is a Coretta Scott King Book Winner that is told in 60 poems. The poems are written through the perspective of 11-year old Lonnie who uses poetry to emote. This Novel unit has 10 additional poems embedded into the lessons and its great for not only introducing students to poetry, but also in getting them to develop their own poetry. In addition to being embedded the poems are formatted to be used as standalone resources for students. This item is also in my store if you want to preview before purchasing. Poetry Analysis Resource The entire unit focuses on the Common Core Standards and shift to getting students to use evidence from the text to defend their responses. Each lesson includes a copy of student work with answer key, vocabulary word of the day, daily exit ticket, and homework.

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 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.

The unit was designed to teach students about argumentative writing. The Common Core Standards highlight the shift from persuasive writing to argumentative writing, which requires students to use evidence to support and arguable claim. This unit walks teachers and students through this process. This unit is designed for the middle grades! Mini-Lessons: - Argument vs. Persuasive Writing - Writing Claims - Fact and Opinion - Counterarguments - Writing Leads *********************************************** Grammar Lessons: Run-on Sentences Compound Complex Sentences Using Commas *********************************************** Graphic Organizers: Brainstorming Outlining Building a Case Problem/Solution Counterarguments Evaluating Arguments ***********************************************

In 1963, eight white clergymen wrote a letter condemning nonviolent protests happening in Alabama. From a jail cell, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr wrote a response to each argument presented by the clergymen. This letter contains some of Dr. King’s most recognized quotes such as, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” and “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” This unit focuses on analyzing arguments presented in the two letters, responding to various text dependent questions, and participating in a Socratic seminar. This unit is a LOW PREP resource for teachers. The Texts: - Annotated and Student Copy of “Call For Unity” - Student Copy of “Letter From Birmingham Jail” Graphic Organizers: - Reviewing Arguments - Writing Counterarguments - Responding to Arguments - Tracing Claims

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 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.

My beginning and end of the year resources include a variety of resources that will keep students engaged and reflecting on their year. There is an activity (or two) for each letter of the alphabet that gives teachers the creativity to decide how and when to use each activity. NOTE: This is a discounted, BUNDLED pack of resources! The activities included in this bundle are the same as the ones in the individual units listed below: {End of Year A to Z Activities: 34 Activities and Memory Book} There are so many activities to choose from. You can have students spell words and complete the activity for the word or create an end of the year countdown that uses one activity a day! {Beginning of the Year A to Z: Activities, Minibooks, and More!} 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 craftivity is perfect for helping students think through taking risks and goal setting. It can be used at the beginning of the year, but also has the flexible to be used in conjunction with other units. Penguin template and insert templates are EDITABLE using textboxes in PowerPoint. This resource includes: • Teacher Guide • Step by Step Instructions with Pictures • Penguin Template • Penguin Inserts on Taking Risks • 1 page informational about penguins • Penguin Writing Template • First Penguin Award

The use of graphic organizers is a research based strategy for building comprehension and engagement with complex text. This resource is for all “graphic-FANantics” and those interested in using graphic organizers with their class. This a rich collection of 50 original organizers aligned to Common Core Informational Text standards. They are perfect for any informational text and focus on students digging into the text to find specific details and deeper meaning. There are 50 original organizers that can be used with students in grades 4-6 and Common Core alignment is discretely noted on each organizer. These organizers can be used in whole group lessons, homework assignments, during skill lesson, and/or small groups. My personal favorite includes using these organizers to hold students accountable for independent reading.

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.

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 resource is a combination of all of my poetry resources which include: • Locomotion Novel Unit • Poetry Resource Unit • Poetry Analysis Resource • Poetry Resource Pack: Mini-books, Templates, Graphic Organizers

“Thank You Ma'am” by Langston Hughes is a timeless short story with very rich themes. This story demonstrates the value of compassion and second chances. All materials provided in this resource provide multiple opportunities to critically evaluate character traits, character change, character challenges, and theme! One of the most amazing components is the inclusion of SIX original graphic organizers with answer keys. These organizers can be used with other text! This is a jam packed short story evaluation that includes: - Common Core Aligned Questions from the text - Six Original Graphic Organizers with Answer Key - Description of how to implement Graphic Organizers - Writing Extension Activity Excluding Title and Resource pages this resource is 18 pages! It is perfect for introducing a short story unit and reinforcing ideas from fiction reading. It is simple enough to be used as an emergency substitute lesson plan!

This is a set of 26 half page task cards about famous African Americans. There are 3 questions for each card, an answer key, and student response form. This activity is perfect for centers or small groups! An intentional focus was place on introducing students to a variety of celebrated African Americans. Marian Anderson Mary McLeod Bethune Cab Calloway Dr. Charles R. Drew Duke Ellington Ella Fitzgerald Althea Gibson Matthew Henson Rex Ingram Mae Jemison Ulysses Kay Alaine Locke Constance Baker Motley Kwame Nkrumah Jessie Owens Colin Luther Powell Benjamin Quarles Wilma Rudolph Betty Shabazz Sojourner Truth Leslie Uggams Denmark Vesey Ida B. Wells Malcolm X Whitney Young Jr. Shaka Zulu

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 ***********************************************

This is a complete novel study using the book Number The Stars. This Novel unit has nonfiction embedded into the lesson and a class favorite! The entire unit focuses on the Common Core Standards and shift to getting students to use evidence from the text to defend their responses. More importantly it unites ELA with reading, writing, and vocabulary. Each lesson includes an annotated copy of student work with answer key, vocabulary word of the day, and homework option. Perfect for a whole class novel or with a guided reading group. Lessons are uploaded using Word so that they can be easily formatted for your classroom. Lessons are also available in PDFs for teachers who simply want to print and go! Updates include six activities/graphic organizers for students to use to help with comprehension, character taboo, vocabulary pictionary,writing mini-lessons, and a 10 page personal narrative (with model responses) lesson.