When a valuable fraction goes missing, George Cornelius Factor (a.k.a. GCF) vows to track it down. Knowing that the villainous Dr. Brok likes to disguise his ill-begotten fractions, GCF invents a Reducer—a tool that strips away the disguise, reducing the fraction and revealing its true form. Equal parts of action and humor add up to a wholly entertaining introduction to simplifying fractions. While the teacher reads and pauses, students can fill out this interactive packet on a clipboard to practice finding equivalent fractions and simplifying fractions. *Every third grader enjoyed and understood how fractions can be “disguised” and “simplified.”

In modern times, students are not just asked to practice spelling by rote, or by memory. They are asked to understand WHY words are spelled the way they are and they learn the rules in the English language. This is an in class and homework packet for students as they use the spelling program called “Words Their Way.” Each day and night of the week, students are expected to do a variety of activities to ensure that each weeks’ words and the spelling principles they represent are mastered. These activities should be modeled and practiced in school.

Azzi in Between is a phenomenal graphic novel that explains the plight of refugees in a way that all children can understand. “There was a country at war, and that is where this story begins…” There is no mention of the country at war. There doesn’t need to be. Unfortunately, war is a fact of life in the world. This is a realistic story about a family who escapes a war-torn country and finds a host country. The main character, a little girl named Azzi, explains the hardships of her family’s escape and life in a new country. The pictures are rich with detail, adding the anxieties and hopes that all refugees have in common. Amnesty International endorsed this book. I created a “Guided Reading” packet to use with students in grades 3-6.

Now, more than ever, students need to learn about the various cultures of the world in order to promote a peaceful future, filled with knowledge and understanding. Under the Ramadan Moon helps students understand the month long observance of Ramadan by their fellow classmates. While promoting a global awareness, students will also learn about verbs and repetitive lines in poems, in addition to answering comprehension questions. As a culmination, students will write their own poem to portray the month long Muslim observance of Ramadan by a modern family.

This magazine article was written by a woman who recalls her life as a little girl when the Great Depression occurred. This article engages students in ways a textbook does not. With leading reading comprehension strategies and critical thinking, students will start to understand what the Great Depression was and how it affected a great majority of people. I would use this article after introducing my Great Depression Powerpoint - Visual Thinking Strategies. Then I would introduce reading groups where the main characters face adversity, one being Bud, Not Buddy.

This is one of the most comprehensive, engaging, and interesting “informative” books about polar bears. A little girl who loves to read reads a book about polar bears. My student-oriented packet includes the best of comprehension reading strategies. There are post reading choices for students to synthesize their knowledge.

We’re All Wonders is about the main character, Auggie, in the older version of Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Palacio gives a powerful message to younger primary students in this book. She lets students FEEL the unhappiness that runs through Auggie’s very being when he is made fun of and stared at by other people. Auggie feels the need to fly to Pluto with his beloved dog, Daisy, so he can play with others as unique as he is. When he looks back at Earth, he has hopes that kindness will prevail and he and everyone will be looked upon for their “wonder.” This student directed guide, including the best of reading comprehension strategies, will help all students to be “kinder” throughout the year.

Students love the story of the Terracotta Warriors! These clay soldiers were the soldiers who guarded the first emperor of China, Emperor Xin Shi Huangdi in life, and in death. The Emperor's Mausoleum was discovered in 1974 by local farmers. The Emperor's clay army, each soldier unique and different like the Emperor's real army, the has since been put back together to make this museum and tomb unique to the visitors of Xian.

Malala Yousafzai was the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. In her native country of Pakistan, when the Taliban took over, girls were not allowed to be educated. Malala’s father, the principal of a girl’s school would not give up his job of making sure that girls were educated, no matter who was in charge of his country. When Malala was shot by the Taliban and almost died, she made it her life’s work, at only sixteen years old, to speak to world leaders about the basic rights of girls’ education around the world. The world continues to listen…This guided reading packet will help students understand the problem Malala and her friends when they so desired an education, but were denied by the Taliban. Although Malala almost died at the hands of the Taliban, she continues to live the dream of helping to make a girls’ education mandatory around the world where it has been denied. This is a perfect book to use to show how the Growth Mindset makes heroes to those who continue to live their dreams, even during dire circumstances.

There are many “Water Princesses” who have to walk for miles in different countries in Africa with water jugs on their heads in order to get water. Water often needs to be boiled in order for it to be safe for drinking. This is the story of Princess Gie Gie who used to walk miles with her mom to get water. The whole day was spent on this journey. As an adult, Georgie Badiel founded the Georgie Badiel Foundation in order to help people who live in villages in Burkina Faso get water in the villages. Students will learn about Princess Gie Gie’s life with her mom on their daily journey for water.

Japanese Food is an important part of Japanese culture. This is a PowerPoint that will explain the essential ingredients in a variety of Japanese dishes. Students will use Japan's geography to predict what food the Japanese eat. The "food" pictures I took while I was in Japan are interesting and engaging, geared to intrigue young children. A trip to a Japanese restaurant will reinforce the Japanese foods students will learn about! Or parents can help teachers make sushi in small groups right in the classroom. I've done both.

Standing in someone else’s shoes allows a person to FEEL that person’s feelings. When someone can stand in someone else’s shoes, they can begin to show empathy. Emily barges into her older sister’s room when Alicia is studying for a test. Alicia explains the meaning of empathy to Emily in a way that Emily understands. Throughout the day, Alicia starts to notice how different people in her life are feeling, and she makes every effort to talk to them and offer her support. My packet reinforces how each person in Emily’s life is feeling, why they are feeling a certain way, and how Emily offers her support in the way of words and actions. As a culmination, students will write about how someone has shown empathy to them, or they have shown empathy to someone else. This is a great beginning of the year book in order to build a strong, supportive community of empathetic peers.

More and more, there are students who need graphic organizers to arrange their thoughts, sequence events, and include the details of a well developed personal narrative. THIS IS IT!

Li Bai is a famous Chinese poet. He revered the moon. This is a fairly simple poem about the moon, perfect to teach what a “metaphor” is to young students. Students will read “The Moon” by Li Bai, discuss the metaphor in his poem, and challenge themselves to write a poem in Li Bai’s style about the moon or something else, applying their knowledge of metaphors.

This is the best of literacy integrated with the study of Nutrition. Students will answer comprehension questions, apply their knowledge, analyze and evaluate the text as they read. Students will “turn and talk” and retell the story to a partner. As an activity, students will make a food pyramid put the ingredients of the story’s food into the correct categories. As a final exhibition, students will reenact the story in a Reader’s Theater.

Patricia MacLachlan, the Newberry Medal-winning author of Sarah Plain and Tall wrote her newest book, The Poet’s Dog. This is a POIGNANT story about a dog that was once saved from a shelter by a poet named Sylvan. Sylvan taught his dog the gift of words, poetic words. The dog could talk to those who had the gift of writing, the first being Sylvan. Sylvan died, and it was up to the dog to save two children, a brother and sister, from a blizzard when their mother went for help. The two children and the dog spent quality time together, saving each other during the long windy and snowy days. This packet asks students to think as they read, for a deeper understanding of this beautifully written story and the characters within. Students will begin to understand that if they write about something or someone they love, their writing will become more “poignant.” Included in this packet are reading comprehension strategies, writing, similes, and two post-reading activities.

This is a wonderful biography about Charles Darwin’s journey to South America and the Galapagos Islands. In an age-appropriate language that children in grades 2,3,4 and 5 will understand, students will learn the places where Charles Darwin observed so many interesting organisms. Students will learn the questions Charles Darwin had. They will learn about Charles Darwin’s discoveries that led him to become a famous scientist!!!! This packet includes map skills of the beautiful maps included in this book, guided reading comprehension strategies, and research of chosen organisms Charles Darwin saw and studied. (I provided internet sites that are age-appropriate for students to use when researching). For Post-Reading Activities, students are provided with a Bio-Poem template about C.D. or an Acrostic Poem or more research.

Castle Crenshaw is a boy who lives on the poor side of town. His father was an alcoholic. When his mom finally grabbed Castle to run away from the dad, the dad tried to shoot at both of them. Castle had rage inside of him. He was always in trouble at school, unable to control his rage when others made disparaging remarks about him, his life, or his mom. When Castle joins a track team, his life, (inside and out), starts to change… This student packet contains reading comprehension strategies, reflections, and critical thinking. Students are expected to back up their answers with evidence from the story.

It is important to read to students every day, introduce new genres, engage students, and elicit their responses before, during, and after reading. This is a script, written with the rigor of the Common Core Standards, to elicit students' critical thinking during read aloud time.