I've always had a lot of difficulty with my students using slang and text or informal language in their ELA work. I devised this handy worksheet to help students understand the difference and when it is appropriate to use each type of language. In the worksheet, there are a set of scenarios with an intended audience for each. The students have to decide if the language is formal or informal and then if it matches the intended audience. An extension activity for homework is also included.

Need to introduce key terms for an endangered animal unit? Don't do the work, I've already done it for you! This Prezi includes 10 key terms that will help your students understand a study of endangered animals. Each term is accompanied by a photo to help students master the idea. I use these terms with my study of chimps and Jane Goodall. Terms include: Alpha male Extinct Endangered Captivity Communicate Gombe Habitat Habits Primate Zoologist There are also slides for Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey.

This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of Diary of a Wimpy Kid (the first book in the series) by Jeff Kinney There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each section. Most sections are further broken down into smaller assignments to make reading the text easier for your kids. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. These are questions only - there is no answer key. The questions ask the kids to: *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution

This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. Most chapters are further broken down into several sections to make reading the text easier for your kids. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution

This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of The Girl in the Well is Me by Karen Rivers. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key. The questions ask the students to: *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution *Assess author's purpose *Make inference *Identify and explain figurative language

Need to introduce or review Common Core aligned story elements with your kids? Here's the perfect way to do it! There are 8 key terms: Characters Climax Conflict Mood Plot Resolution Setting Trait Each term has a matching definition and example. Kids need to match the term with the correct definition and example. Each one is a different color so kids know when they have a set! Great for group work or individual reinforcement. Also included: a term, definition, example set for each word for use on bulletin boards or word walls and a sheet of all terms, definitions, and examples to be placed in student notebooks.

This is an in depth Common Core aligned set of questions to use with the story Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. Most chapters are further broken down into several sections to make reading the text easier for your kids. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. The questions focus on: *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution

This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of Under the Egg by by Laura Marx Fitzgerald. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key. The following questions types and skills are used: *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution *Assess author's purpose *Inferencing

Common Core aligned group discussion questions for When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. The book is a Newberry award winning novel, first published in 2009. It is a sci-fi mystery about a young girl in 1970s NYC who starts receiving mysterious notes about saving her friend’s life. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key. The questions ask students to: *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution *Analyze author's purpose *Analyze author's choice

This is a thorough overview of 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. Most chapters are further broken down into several sections to make reading the text easier for your kids. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution

This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. Most chapters are further broken down into several sections to make reading the text easier for your kids. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution

This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of Zoey and Sassafras Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. There are three different levels of questions so you can differentiate with your students. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key. After the discussion questions there is a list of many examples of figurative language found in the book. The following questions types and skills are used: *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution *Assess author's purpose

This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. All of the questions have complete answers provided in the answer key. The following questions types and skills are used: *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution *Assess author's purpose *Inferencing

Need to explain what story elements are to your class? This handy Prezi will help explain the 5 parts of fiction stories. There are pictures to help describe each part as well. Story Elements Explained: Introduction or Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

This is a thorough Common Core aligned overview of The Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale. There are group or whole class questions and homework questions broken down by each chapter. Most chapters are further broken down into several sections to make reading the text easier for your kids. The questions could be placed on the board or handed out to different groups of students. *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution

Want to review or introduce poetry terms/figurative language to your class? Don't do the work, I've done it for you! Each term has a definition, example and picture to help your students gain acquisition and mastery of the terms. Terms Included: Alliteration Hyperbole Imagery Metaphor Onomatopoeia Personification Simile Symbolism

This is a thorough Common Core aligned set of class discussion and homework questions for It's All Greek to Me by Jon Scieszka. The class questions can be used for the whole class or for reading groups. They are separated by chapter and can be placed on the board or given to the reading groups. These are questions only - there is no answer key. The questions ask the students to: *Analyze characters *Identify major plot elements *Explain cause and effect relationships *Draw inferences *Determine central ideas and details *Determine theme *Describe plot *Identify conflict and resolution *Make text to self connections

Need to present alliteration to your class? This is a quick and easy Prezi to explain what alliteration is and several examples to help your students understand the literary device.

This is a handy Common Core aligned guide to help you complete a close reading activity with your students. I have included an article about tigers and all of the materials needed to conduct a close reading lesson. Included in this resource: 1. Introduction of how to complete a close reading lesson. 2. The Main Plan printable to help you and your students go through the close reading steps. 3. Tag it Up printable to help your students understand how to annotate the text. 4. 3 versions of the Terrific Tigers article for differentiation. (4th, 5th, and 6th grade levels) Lexile Levels and Word Counts can be found on each version. 5. Text Dependent Questions broken down for use after each reading, with a bonus extension writing activity and answer keys. 6. Graphic organizers for note taking, main idea, and context clues to be used with or in stead of the text questions.

These discussion questions are generic and work well with any novel. If you need questions that children in different groups can answer simultaneously or if you want students to choose their own discussion questions, these questions will work well for you. There are 65 different questions in 8 different categories: Characters – 19 questions Setting – 5 questions Connections – 14 questions Conflict – 4 questions Evaluation – 5 questions Visualizing – 9 questions Plot – 7 questions Questioning – 2 questions The questions combine various skills and mediums. They can be done with paper and pencil or on the computer.