Tag Archives : #English


December Teacher Talk

 
 
 
 
It’s December and time for our holiday version of Teacher Talk. Getting ready for the holiday festivities or just looking for some great ideas. You don’t want to miss what these creative educators are doing this month.
If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here….The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, be sure to mention one of our names.
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Connect Kids to the Real World with PBL
 

 

What if you could connect your units of learning to current events without missing a beat with meeting the standards? Find a way to accomplish this here!
 
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Qi Gong and Emotional Well Being
By Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

This past summer, I developed a love of Qi Gong which is a mind-body-spiritual practice that enhances our mental and physical well being by integrating posture, movement, correct breathing, self-massage, sound, and deep focus

 

 

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Beware of Creating Sweeping Generalizations
Be careful not to say way more than you meant to say when comparing adjectives and adverbs.


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Recycle Drinking Straws Into Christmas CreationsBy Margo Gentile of Margo Gentile

Make a beautiful Christmas tree plaque using only drinking straws and paper! Teachers and students will enjoy making these and giving them as gifts. Learning happens incidentally-lots of math, “engineering”, and language skills involved.
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An Ideal Gift
By Gini Musmanno of Reading Spotlight

It costs not a penny! It’s so easy, and it fills everyone (teacher included) with genial feelings! Perfect at this time of year, or anytime! Give this gift to your students.
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Finding Success With a Challenging Class
By Marcy Howe of It’s a Teacher Thing

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My Favorite Teaching Things
By Michelle Webb of Teaching Ideas For Those Who Love Teaching

My favorite things to use in my classroom.  Simple tools to make a teacher’s life easier.  Pleasures perfect for teachers classroom gifts. 
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From a Wanna Be Organizer
By Kathie Yonemura of Tried and True Teaching Tools

Okay, I admit it. . . I’m a wanna-be organizer. I’m envious of those classrooms (and homes!) that never have piles. Here are some tried & true tips for what has helped me (attempt to) tame the chaos.

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Please check out the tips from all the members in this link-up. You’ll find 
some fab ideas.


December Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

It’s December and time for our holiday version of Teacher Talk. Getting ready for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza and New Years, or just looking for some great ideas. You don’t want to miss what these creative educators are doing this month.

 If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here….The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, be sure to mention one of our names.

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The Quiltmaker’s Gift: Anticipation, Generosity, Reading Lesson Ideas & A Freebie!By Tracy Willis of Wild Child Designs

In this post, I use a picture book, “The Quiltmaker’s Gift” to unpack our thinking about protagonists, antagonists, theme, conflict and persuasive talk and writing. This includes an idea for a motivating Generosity Challenge, too.
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Holiday Musings
By Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

For some of us, this is a joyful time, but there are many who are alone, and unhappy.  Some have no money to buy gifts and others are out in the cold with no homes.  It breaks my heart realizing that some people feel alienated from their families which can lead to depression and in extreme cases, suicide. Our kiddos aren’t immune, they see what’s going on and may not know how to deal.  
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The Great Homework Debate Comes Home
By Retta London of Rainbow City Learning

 

Thoughts on the place homework has in real life. What makes homework authentic and a part of lifelong learning?
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Hour of Code is coming: My top 5 web sites/apps!
By Lisa Robles of LisaTeachR’s Classroom

My top five programs/apps for coding!

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Identifying Learning Disabilities in English Learners
By Rebecca Olsen of 2livNearn

Distinguishing between the second language acquisition process and a learning disability can be tough, even for seasoned professionals. But it’s not impossible to tease apart the two in order to make appropriate educational decisions for students. Click to find out more!  
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How Many Ways Can I Use This Toy?
By Susan Berkowitz of Susan Berkowitz

If you’re gearing up for holiday gift giving, here are some tips for ways to build language through play.
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Wiggly Kids: 5 Easy Ways to Improve Thinking & Remembering!
By Thia Triggs of Print Path

 

Researchers have found evidence for the use of movement tools, but there are some children with whom these tools have the opposite effect.
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Geology Rocks!
By Kathie Yonemura of Tried and True Teaching Tools

Teaching Next Generation Science Standards is easy with the help of theater arts! Students explore the various aspects of earth science while reading, speaking, singing, and dancing about the concepts!
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Bring History To Life With Informational Texts
By Michelle Webb of Teaching Ideas For Those Who Love Teaching

Tips on how to use more informational texts with your students.

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Don’t foget to click on the linkies and read all the posts




Complete ELA Summer School Bundle

Complete ELA Summer School Bundle will provide you all of the lessons, materials, and activities to teach summer school- ZERO prep involved! From introduction activities and procedure slides (introduced using fun memes) to specific reading and writing strategies that have been the most beneficial to my struggling readers and writers.

 

For many years, I too taught summer school. There are so many benefits to taking on this very important role, but I will admit that I was driven by the money! I also distinctly remember not wanting to spend all of my precious summer planning and crafting curriculum! That is why I created this unit bundle! Let my experiences do the work for you! What I have done is compile lessons from my curriculum that will most benefit the struggling reader and writer. I start summer school by teaching close reading strategies (which I call “talking to the text). Then I spend the remainder of summer school continuing to practice these strategies through every unit. The first few days of this unit bundle include detailed lesson plans to help you best support your students with these close reading strategies. Then, each added unit contains its own detailed lesson plans. A unit outline will support your planning of each of these lessons! This unit bundle will give you everything you need to teach summer school in a way that dramatically improves the reading and writing skills of your students!

See the preview for a visual of each of these units or click on the links below to view each product individually!
Close Reading Strategies (Text Annotation to Support Reading Comprehension)

Teach your students how to use close reading strategies to improve reading comprehension and written analysis. This gradual release method will encourage your…
Summarizing Fiction Lesson, Guided and Collaborative Practice, and Assessment!

Teach your students how to create a concise and objective summary of a fiction text with this simple, easy, step-by-step method. Students will be able to…
Summarizing Nonfiction Lesson, Graphic Organizers, & 12 Differentiated Texts

Teach your students how to create a concise summary of nonfiction texts that are free from personal judgements or opinions with this simple, easy, step-by-step…
In-Text Citation Lesson, Practice, and Assessment, MLA 8th Edition

The MLA 8th edition lesson on incorporating textual evidence (quotations with parenthetical citations) will help your students learn: -How to create an in-text citation with and without an author’s name. -How to lead into or out of a quote with the student’s own words. -How to pepper a quote…
Plot/Literary Elements GAME!

The plot/literary elements game activity fosters a shared writing experience for students in the creation of a fun, creative, and often hilarious story…
Compound Sentences with FANBOYS Lesson, Stations, Practice, & Assessment

Teach your students how to create compound sentences with FANBOYS conjunctions! This Lesson will provide your students with explicit explanations using mentor…
Semicolons and Conjunctive Adverbs Lesson, Practice, Games, and Assessment

Teach your students how to create compound sentences with semicolons, and compound sentences with semicolons and conjunctive adverbs! This Lesson will provide…
Complete Tone and Mood in Literature Bundle + Connotation and Denotation

Teach your students how to understand the complex topic of tone and mood in literature! 1. Lesson on Tone and Mood 2. Lesson on Connotation/Denotation 3. Tone…
Short Story Unit Bundle – “Cemetery Path” with Tone and Mood

The ultimate short story bundle! “Cemetery Path” by Leonard Q. Ross is an excellent, scary, thrilling short story to engage your learners. This complete pack…
PLUS:
-30 Page Reader’s Workshop/Independent Reading Book Log
-Introductions, a get-to-know you game, and classroom procedures memes!

 

Save nearly ten dollars with this unit bundle!

Follow my store by clicking on the link at the top of the page for updates, announcements, and fun freebies! You can also find me on Pinterest, Facebook, and my blog- Teach BeTween the Lines!

 


Semicolons and Conjunctive Adverbs Lesson, Practice, Games, and Assessment

From Teach BeTween the Lines

Teach your students how to create compound sentences with semicolons, and compound sentences with semicolons and conjunctive adverbs! This Lesson will provide your students with explicit explanations using mentor sentences, two fun games, two great practice activities, application activities, and a potential summative assessment!

The lesson consists of a PowerPoint/Google Slides to show your students how to craft these tricky compound/complex sentences. Mentor sentences foster classroom discussions, demonstrate quality writing, and model the correct use of semicolons with an adverbial conjunction. Students will be able to identify, explain and apply the most common conjunctive adverbs to craft rich and interesting sentences.

Tic-Tac-Know game asks students to practice and apply their knowledge while having a great time playing tic-tac-toe with their peers.

Conjunctive Adverb Ball Toss game will have your students racing to complete semicolon/conjunctive adverb challenges, creating complete engagement through the practice of sentence creation! My students beg to play this game anytime we have a few extra minutes!

Two Practice Word Document/Google Document will allow your students to practice crafting these compound sentences.

Finding Examples Activity will have your students searching for their own mentor sentences within their reading. Students can then work with you to create a bulletin board of compound sentence examples.

CCSS Aligned

Follow my store by clicking on the link at the top of the page for updates, announcements, and fun freebies! You can also find me on Pinterest, Facebook, and my blog- Teach BeTween the Lines!

Other Writing Lessons/Units You May Want to Consider!
Introductory Phrases with AAAWWUBBIS, Lesson, Stations, Games, Practice, Poster!
Compound Sentences with FANBOYS Lesson, Stations, Practice, & Assessment
Writing the Argument Essay Complete Unit Bundle + Student Interactive Notebook
Literary Analysis Made Easy (Digital and Printable!)
In-Text Citation Lesson, Practice, and Assessment, MLA 8th Edition

Free Writing Support!
Sentence Structure Posters
To Be Verb Poster Freebie
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Literary Analysis- Digital & Printable!


In-Text Citation Lesson, Practice, and Assessment, MLA 8th Edition

From Teach BeTween the Lines

 

The MLA 8th edition lesson on incorporating textual evidence (quotations with parenthetical citations) will help your students learn:

-How to create an in-text citation with and without an author’s name.

-How to lead into or out of a quote with the student’s own words.

-How to pepper a quote.

-How to delete parts of the quote to seamlessly incorporate the evidence into the student’s paragraph.

-How to incorporate the title and/or author in signal phrases prior to a quotation.

-Block style quotations.

-How to cite dialogue

-Examples from quality literature for each type of citation.

-Text Evidence Trouble-Shooting Guide teaches students to fix common mistakes such as orphaned quotes, transition phrases, summarizing instead of analyzing, and big, chunky quotes. Support and examples are provided through this document, and the lesson activity that accompanies it.

-5 Days of Bell Ringer Practice Activities

Practice:
-Three practice documents (Google Doc, PDF, and Word document) using examples from literature. (Could be used as a quick quiz)

Summative Assessment:
Students are given three passages, one fiction and two non-fiction texts- with relating themes (social justice). They are asked to close read, then respond to the given prompt using evidence from two of the three sources. They are supported in doing so with detailed graphic organizers, and asked to seamlessly incorporate text evidence for the assessment.

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Update on 2/13/2017- Improvements include:
-Updated graphics on the teacher slides
-Discussion slides added to create a deeper understanding with the in-text trouble shooting guide
-Complete digital (and printable) interactive notebook for students. This is over 50 pages in length and will take students through the entire unit in one document for easy link and go- or print and go- teaching!
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Follow my store by clicking on the link at the top of the page for updates, announcements, and fun freebies! You can also find me on Pinterest, and Facebook!

Other top selling lessons to consider (since your shopping anyway!):
Tone and Mood in Literature
Analyzing Arguments with Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail
Analyze an Author’s Argument with Atticus Finch’s Closing Arguments-
Ethos, Pathos, Logos- The Three Pillars of Persuasion
Rhetorical Analysis Unit Bundle
Rhetoric- Ethos/Pathos/Logos Bell Ringer Activities!
Allusions in Literature Unit Bundle- Allusion Lessons
Logical Fallacies made Easy!
Literary Analysis Made Easy


Shakespeare’s-A Midsummer Night’s Dream-Unit BUNDLE! Digital & Printable!

From Teach BeTween the Lines

Teach Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with this complete unit bundle! 145 pages, and over 105 teacher slides ready to print and teach- or use digitally for your 21st century learners!

Each of the bundled unit’s product description is below:

Student Interactive Notebook for A Midsummer Night’s Dream- Complete Study Guide

This 45 page interactive student notebook will help your students fully comprehend and analyze one of Shakespeare’s finest comedies- A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This student guide will take your students through this play from beginning to end, ensuring a deep read and a great wealth of understanding.

This digital interactive notebook includes:

1. Scene by scene comprehension and analysis questions that support students in gleaning the most meaning from the text.

2. Character analysis with guiding questions and graphic organizers for support.

3. Literature Circle (or Socratic Seminar) preparation with guiding questions and a guided dialectical journal.

4. Plot analysis- students track the plot of the four major plot lines within the play with guiding prompts and graphic organizers.

5. Fun summative characterization activity that gets students up and moving, collaborating, and acting with their peers!

Beautifully designed images support with student engagement.

Digital documents allow students to type directly in the file through Google Apps.

PowerPoint and PDF versions provided as well for easy print and go teaching!

Perfect for Secondary and College Education

Debate with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream- The Battle of the Sexes

Everything you need to teach debate with the Battle of the Sexes in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
This complete unit includes 5 lessons:

1. Introduction to the theme of gender within the play
a. In-depth class discussion questions
b. Mini-debate to engage learners and begin conversations on the
gender battle

2. Crafting arguments- the debate way. Introduce this step-by-step method
for crafting an argument specifically for debate.

3. Crafting counter-arguments- the debate way. Introduce this simple four
point method for crafting a counter-argument specifically for refutation in
debate.

4. Introduction to debate- introduces debate skills to students. Students learn
the why and how of debate, watch several examples, and grade those
debate examples using the assessment tools that will be applied to their
debates as well.

5. Introduction to Public Speaking- a mini-lesson to introduce the most critical
skills necessary for successful public speaking.

Your students will be able to take notes on all of these lessons inside of their Google Interactive Notebook. Students will also be able to prepare for their debate with specific graphic organizers for each step of the preparation process. They will also be able to craft their arguments and counter-arguments inside of this digital document with helpful graphic organizers. Additionally, they will be able to self-reflect on their preparation, their group’s preparation and arguments, and the quality of their own arguments. Rubric is included inside of this document for further self-assessment.

A complete debate scoring guide is included so a ‘winner’ can be determined post-debate.

A complete rubric is included for assessing the quality of each student’s debate skills.

PowerPoint, Word, and PDF versions are included for every document. This unit will be easy to print and teach as well!

41 Pages, 51 Slides.

Character Analysis with A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Students analyze the characters within A Midsummer Night’s Dream with this fun, engaging, and beautifully decorated interactive notebook.

Students will look at character development, relationships, and interactions within the text.

Character analysis lesson will support students in this process.

Multiple character analysis essay questions provide voice and choice in the summative assessment.

Multiple graphic organizers to support in the development of a strong thesis statement.

Multiple graphic organizers to support in the development of a full character analysis lesson.

Crafting a character analysis lesson to teach the process.

Digital document- no printing and copying needed! Just imagine a lunch NOT waiting in line at the copy machine!

PDF versions provided- in case you enjoy the line at the machine!

Interactive notebook: 34 Pages
Teacher Lesson: 21 Slides

Literary Analysis with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Teach students the art of literary analysis with Shakespeare’s drama filled play- A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Included:
Literary Analysis PowerPoint Lesson
—Graphic Organizers and Rubric to assess examples of literary analysis (for use with PowerPoint lesson)

Beautiful Literary Analysis Poster- in two sizes

7 high level, in-depth literary analysis questions for paragraph responses
— Graphic organizers for support.

Optional literary analysis essay and graphic organizer

Rubric provided

10 Pages with poster + 14 Slides

Theme Analysis in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Students will collaborate in literary circles on the topic of theme development- I call this the Theme Tracker Task Force group. Students will track the three most prevalent theme topics as they read through the play. The chart/lesson provided allows students to track evidence of the thread of each topic throughout the text as they read. They are then able to discuss this evidence and theme development, further preparing for their theme analysis essay.

Theme Google Presentation/PowerPoint to get students started in tracking the three important themes within this play. Guiding questions break down each theme for better understanding as students navigate A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Students are provided with five theme essay topics/questions to choose from as they begin to develop their essays. This allows for voice and choice in learning, yet each question specifically relates to the themes students have been tracking throughout the play.

Literary analysis lesson included to support your students in analyzing literature for this essay.

The graphic organizers provided will allow your students to craft this essay in a supported, step-by-step manner.

Thesis builder teaches the process of drafting a literary analysis thesis. Students are supported as they draft each important piece of their theme analysis thesis statement.

21 Slides, 15 Pages

CCSS Aligned:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.4
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.4
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.9
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.9

Follow my store by clicking on the link at the top of the page for updates, announcements, and fun freebies! You can also find me on Pinterest, and Facebook!

Check out these individual lessons for all things Shakespeare!
Debate with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream- The Battle of the Sexes
Theme Analysis in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Literary Analysis with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Character Analysis with A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Student Interactive Notebook for A Midsummer Night’s Dream- Complete Study Guide

Teaching Macbeth?
Theme Analysis &Thematic Literary Response Essay in Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Literary Analysis with Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Character Analysis with Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Introduction to Shakespeare:
Engaging and Collaborative Introduction to Shakespeare


Analyze an Author’s Argument with Atticus Finch’s Closing Arguments

Teach BeTween the Lines

 

Teach students how to analyze an author’s arguments with Atticus Finch’s Closing Arguments!

Analyzing an author’s arguments can be challenging for students; however, this step-by-step method will make this skill clear and easy while creating an in-depth analysis! Everything to teach rhetoric, logical fallacies is included. Show your students how to analyze the rhetoric/fallacies/message/language of any author’s arguments through this iconic passage from To Kill a Mockingbird.

Includes:
– PowerPoint and Google Presentation on rhetoric and logical fallacies
-PowerPoint Presentation and Google Presentation to introduce this step-by-step method
-Close reading passage of Atticus Finch’s closing arguments
– Analyzing rhetoric graphic organizer
– Reader response questions to further depth of analysis
– Separate logical fallacies PowerPoint and Google Presentation
– Separate Rhetoric PowerPoint and Google Presentation
– Note taking documents for both logical fallacies and rhetoric lessons
– Lesson plans
– Lesson plans on teaching close reading strategies with this closing argument
– Google Apps Links to Google Presentations and Organizer Google Documents
– Student sample analysis

CCSS Aligned!

No prep plans!

Great test prep!
CCSS Aligned

Follow my store by clicking on the link at the top of the page for updates, announcements, and fun freebies! You can also find me on Pinterest, and Facebook!

Also for teaching To Kill a Mockingbird:
20 Literary Analysis Questions for To Kill a Mockingbird!

Other Analyzing Rhetoric Lessons to Consider:
Analyzing Arguments with Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail
Ethos, Pathos, Logos- The Three Pillars of Persuasion
Logical Fallacies made Easy!
Rhetoric- Ethos/Pathos/Logos Bell Ringer Activities!
Rhetorical Analysis-Analyzing an Author’s Argument

Save money with these UNIT BUNDLES!
Analyze Arguments: King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail- COMPLETE UNIT BUNDLE!
Rhetorical Analysis Unit BundleRhetorical Analysis-Analyzing an Author’s Argument

 


Complete Tone and Mood in Literature Bundle + Connotation and Denotation

Teach BeTween the Lines

Grades 7-11

 

 

Teach your students how to understand the complex topic of tone and mood in literature!
1. Lesson on Tone and Mood
2. Lesson on Connotation/Denotation
3. Tone and Mood Exploration through music, video games, film, art, literature, photography, and memes!
4. Tone and Mood Mini-Lesson
5. Tone and Mood Notes
6. Tone and Mood Project- over 8 choices for summative assessments!
7. Bell Ringer Activities- for each day of the unit!

Lesson on Tone and Mood: Students learn more about tone and mood through literature, film trailers, art, and advertisements. Class discussions are built into the PowerPoint and Google Slides Presentation.

Lesson on Connotation/Denotation: Students learn the impact of word choice on the author’s tone. Lesson includes a collaborative and engaging student activity to practice and apply skills! My students rave about it!

Tone and Mood Exploration: Students explore tone and mood through music, video games, film, art, literature, photography, and memes! This collaborative (or independent) activity is student driven. Differentiated worksheets support students of all levels! Students practice and apply their knowledge of tone to varying subjects and mediums. It is perfect to show students that similar subjects can take on a vary different tone given the context.

Tone and Mood Mini-Lesson: Offer struggling students extra support with this small group mini-lesson and note taking guide. Google Slides/Doc and PowerPoint/Word options provided!

Tone and Mood Summative Assessment: Offer students voice and choice with 9 different engaging and interesting summative assessment options for demonstrating knowledge of the standard. All rigorous assessment options ask students to think critically and synthesize knowledge gleaned throughout the unit.

I have recently opened my teaching style to include a personalized learning platform of teaching and learning. I have started offering more voice and choice in learning options, as well as assessment options. I have included both a standard set of lesson plans, as well as a personalized learning plan and 9 day outline of teaching, coaching, and assessing options for both models of instruction.

If your students are new to the personalized learning model, I have included a Google Slides/PowerPoint Presentation to introduce and support your learners as you shift in your teaching style.

Google Slides and Google Document links provided as well as Word, PowerPoint, and PDF Documents included.

CCSS Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.4
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.8.4
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.4
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.4

I am happy to support you throughout this unit, offer advice, suggestions, or feedback as you work to personalize learning. Email me at teachbetweenthelinestpt@gmail.com

I also have a blog series dedicated to supporting teachers as they personalize learning- feel free to check this out for more detailed implementation ideas: So, You Have Been Asked To Personalize Learning- What Now?

Follow my store by clicking on the link at the top of the page for updates, announcements, and fun freebies! You can also find me on Pinterest, and Facebook!

Other top selling lessons to consider (since your shopping anyway!):
In-Text Citation Lesson, Practice, and Assessment
Analyzing Arguments with Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail
Analyze an Author’s Argument with Atticus Finch’s Closing Arguments-
Ethos, Pathos, Logos- The Three Pillars of Persuasion
Rhetorical Analysis Unit Bundle
Rhetoric- Ethos/Pathos/Logos Bell Ringer Activities!
Allusions in Literature Unit Bundle- Allusion Lessons
Logical Fallacies made Easy!
Literary Analysis Made Easy

 


FREE Language Arts Posters- Sentence Structure Posters

Teach BeTween the Lines

FREE!

 

Beautiful sentence structure posters are perfect for any middle or high school classroom. Use mentor sentences to show students examples of writing done well.

I reference these posters regularly throughout the day in teaching quality writing skills to my students. Simply send to your school’s printer (for poster size documents) or take the file to FedEx or Office Max to create beautiful classroom display that supports students in their learning journey.

PDF and Word versions provided!

Follow my store by clicking on the link at the top of the page for updates, announcements, and fun freebies! You can also find me on Pinterest, Facebook, and my blog!

For More Writing Activities, check out these products!
Writing the Argument Essay Complete Unit Bundle + Student Interactive Notebook

FANBOYS- teach compound sentences with these conjunctions! 


February Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern



Welcome to our February Teacher Talk.  All of us from the Teacher Talk collaborative would like wish you a Happy Valentines Day.  We have so many fab things this month from  proof-reading ideas, to ELA to math activities, to celebrating Black History Month and President’s Day, you don’t want to miss reading these blog posts from some awesome educators.

If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs and blogging buddies and our blog linky, sign up here….The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, be sure to mention one of our names. 

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The Proof is in the Pudding, Proof-Reading That Is!

As a veteran English and Social Studies teacher, I’d like to share some effective proof-reading tips that I’ve used to help students improve their writing skills, and to make my life a bit easier.


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Love is All We Need

By Retta London of Rainbow City Learning

Just a little inspiration for building confidence and acceptance in your learning community.

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IMWAYR: Funny Bones

By Lisa Robles of LisaTeachR’s Classroom

Have you read Funny Bones? Winner of multiple awards and a great informational addition to your Dia de Los Muertos collection!

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Valentine’s Day STEM Olympics

By Kerry Tracy of Kerry Tracy

Blog post outlines 5 infatuating Valentine’s Day-themed STEM challenges that can be modified for use with grades 2-8. Help Cupid get some target practice, build a tower of love, design the perfect candy container, find the “heaviest” heart, and have a flower frenzy!

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 Cooperative Learning – Bring Core Subjects Together for Student Learning!

By M. Moore of Moore Resources

 Cooperative Learning – Bring Core Subjects Together for Student Learning!

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What Word Does This Say: B-L-E-N-D?

By Susan Berkowitz of Susan Berkowitz

This is part of a series of posts about phonological awareness and the different steps and skills to teach. This post is about blending sounds and syllables to hear the word.

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Teaching Self-Regulation Skills to Elementary Age Children

By Thia Triggs of Print Path

Finally! A systematic method to teach self-regulation skills to children with sensory, emotional, and behavioral needs. Color coded task cards give students managed choices to learn specific skills that meet their sensory needs and also calm them down, so that they can perform their academic classroom tasks.

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My Funny Valentine: Love Letters by Arnold Adoff

By Tracy Willis of Wild Child Designs

A review and glimpse into “Love Letters” poetry by Arnold Adoff. This post also includes a teaching idea for its use in the classroom.

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Robots + Math & Science = Total Engagement

By Megan Bodmann of Adventures Teaching 4th

Get your students engaged in learning by introducing robots into your classroom. They are not only a ton of fun, but you can easily utilize them in your math and science lessons. Find out how easy it is to do!

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Playground Problem = Real Life

By Kathie Yonemura of Tried and True Teaching Tools

The Playground Problem is a real-life math challenge! It keep students engaged and practicing their area and perimeter skills in a meaningful way.

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Understanding Fractions: A 6-Part Series

By Shametria Routt of The Routty Math Teacher

Fractions– a single word that deflates the confidence of our most competent students and adults alike. In this series, I share some of the essential fraction understandings that I have developed over the years, including the many math tools you can use to reinforce these essential skills. With that in mind, each of the six posts highlights a fraction tool and activity that can be used to address a specific Common Core Math Standard (with a few printable freebies too). 

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Leveled Math Assessments

By Tammy Roose of Tarheel State Teacher

Do your math assessments encourage a growth mindset? Create an entry point for students who are not yet meeting the standards? Allow above average learners to show they know more than just what’s expected for their grade-level? Find out 7 reasons why I’m committed to leveled math assessments this year! 

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Here’s your chance to hop on over and visit the blog posts of our creative teachers.


January Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

 

                      

Happy New Year 

All of us from the Teacher Talk collaborative would like wish you a

healthy, happy and wealthy 2016. May all of your wishes and dreams become a reality.


If you’re interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs and blogging buddies and our blog linky, sign up here….The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, be sure to mention one of our names. 

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By Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

As a child of the 60’s I remember so vividly that fateful April day in 1968 when Martin Luther King Jr. was brutally gunned down by James Earl Ray. I remember sitting by the television set, just horrified by what I had just witnessed.

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By Mary Moore of  Moore Resoources

ALL IN ONE: Statistics, Probability, Classroom Management, Scatter Plots, Student Engagement, & Graphing!

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By Thia Triggs of Print Path

Help your kids get the most out of waiting in line!

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By Kathie Yonemura of Tried and True Teaching Tools

A simple strategy for activating prior knowledge and gets students to make connections. 

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By Shametria Routt of the Routty Math Teacher

Math stations are one of the current hot button topics for educators and the sessions with the longest lines at any math conference because they are not only fun for students but can be adapted to address a whole host of learning styles– more than we can typically address in a whole class setting. However, using math stations effectively in the classroom can seem like an overwhelming endeavor for beginners. To support those teachers who have been wanting to get started with math stations and to share some of my favorite tips and techniques with beginners and novices alike, this 6-part series features the 5 Ws of math stations: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. 

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By Tammy Roose of Tarheelstate Teacher

Are you ready to harness your greatness in 2016? I’m recommending 3 of my favorite resources for developing new positive habits and being the best you can be! Happy New Year! 

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By Susan Berkowitz of Susan Berkowitz

Phonological awareness refers to awareness of and access to the sound structure of language. Spoken words are comprised of strings or sequences of phonemes that signal different meanings. Awareness that changes in these sequences result in changes in meaning is crucial in literacy skills development. If a student cannot conceptualize the order of sounds and syllables in words, he cannot associate the sound units with written symbols.

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By Lisa Robles of LisaTeachR’s Classroom

Books and resources to teach kindness.

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By Kerry Tracy of  Kerry Tracy

If your 4th – 8th grade students are struggling to produce grade-level writing, start here!

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By Tammy DeShaw of The Owl Teacher

Are you looking for some great ideas for teaching about Martin Luther King Jr? This blog post is a great opportunity to still teach your reading common core while teaching about this legend. The great part? A freebie to help you get started is included!

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By Thia Triggs of Print Path

Can you read these letters? Do you know why they are so hard to read? What can we do as teachers to prevent this?

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By Marypat Mahoney of Just Add Students

Keep writing projects from lingering on and on by using a writing scheduler.

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Gifts of the New Year

By Retta London of Rainbow City Learning


Now that “the holidays” are over, the decorations are packed away, and the ribbons, bows, tinsel, and paper have been disposed of, many of us think that the huge whoosh of gifting is over. I disagree! January is the perfect time to gift yourself! Here are some gifts that I hope you will lavish upon yourselves during the often cloudy, gray, and chilling days of January!



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Helping Reluctant Readers Find the Magic

By Marcy Howe of It’s a Teacher Thing

How can you help your reluctant upper elementary and middle school readers? Check out this veteran teacher’s post on how she helps struggling readers.


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Finding Balance & Doing the Fandango

By Tracy Willis of Wild Child Designs

Quick! Can you stand on one foot and cross your eyes? Me neither! Find out how this teacher is reclaiming her sense of balance.

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From teaching math to writing to reading to learning how to form letters properly, to celebrating Martin Luther King, you don’t want to miss reading these fabulous blog posts from some awesome educators.