A PowerPoint presentation created to inspire students to stay in school and achieve great things. Heroes include Dr. Jonas Salk, Michael Jordan, Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and others. I included male and female role models and journal prompts for student writing. This lesson is student-centered meaning: --it allows you to become a facilitator --happier teachers --happier students --happier administrators

A collection of short stories (fables, flash fiction, etc.) by Carlos Salinas. Heartwarming, feel-good stories for all ages about love and hope. Some are good for philosophical and personal reflection. Also great messages for discussion. Please check back for another excerpt from the book or the whole book! Any feedback would be great! Thanks!

Product Description Students will get the opportunity to be lawyers and prosecute or defend an accused person in a criminal trial (11 total). Each group will consist of 2 lawyers (prosecuting and defending), and an accused person. The teacher will act as the judge and guide the jury as they vote on the verdict. The majority vote determines the verdict. This unit includes court brief handouts, directions, and PowerPoint explaining how the cases will proceed. Visit my store for much more helpful and free stuff! Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.A Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.B Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.C Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.D Establish and maintain a formal style. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1.E Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented. This lesson is student-centered meaning: –it allows you to become a facilitator –happier teachers –happier students –happier administrators

A 4 page set for research project on Sun, earth, and/or moon. Explains the requirements (which you can change), project ideas, as well as possible project topics. Includes “works cited” pages and presentation score sheet as well. This worked great for me because the students got to choose their research question(s) and created something that was only their own. This lesson is student-centered meaning: –it allows you to become a facilitator –happier teachers –happier students –happier administrators

A research project for students to research and gain a deeper understanding of natural resources and the current problems facing the world. Includes requirements, sample project ideas, and brainstorming topics. Standard: (iii) Energy resources are available on a renewable, nonrenewable, or indefinite basis. Understanding the origins and uses of these resources enables informed decision making. Students should consider the ethical/social issues surrounding Earth's natural energy resources, while looking at the advantages and disadvantages of their long-term uses. This lesson is student-centered meaning: --it allows you to become a facilitator --happier teachers --happier students --happier administrators

A collection of inspirational, motivational, truthful, philosophical, and thought-provoking quotes. Themes include, friendship, perseverance, goals, strength, positive attitudes, life, death, sorrow, and joy, among many others. Great for personal reflection or group discussion. Thanks! Ideal for expository, persuasive, journaling, narrative, and almost any other writing prompts. Recommended for teachers, students, coaches, and just about everyone else. Visit my store for more!

The activity comes with 4 YouTube video links (entitled: The NASA moon landing, Life on Mars?, Galileo’s Story, and Life on a Space Shuttle) along with small-group discussion questions. This activity worked great with my 7th graders and really engaged them in discussions. I would play the video twice and then let them discuss and answer the questions. This lesson is student-centered meaning: –it allows you to become a facilitator –happier teachers! –happier students! –happier administrators!

This lesson’s purpose is to help students comprehend and analyze the first Rocky movie (1979) through a literary lens. Topics on this viewing guide and quiz include plot development, characterization, character arc of change, figurative language, and literary devices. It includes fifty multiple-choice questions (modeled after the SAT & ACT exam questions) and two open-ended essay questions. Questions are from all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (revised). Questions are in chronological order with the film. Answer key included. Objectives/US Standards (SUGGESTED) (From Corestandards.com): Students are expected to: • Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision. • Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor. • Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.