Crafty Middle School Writers
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Henrico, Virginia, United States
About the store
I hold a Bachelor's degree in English from the College of William and Mary, and an M.Ed. from Vanderbilt's Peabody School of Education. I have taught in grades from 2nd-7th grade, in both affluent and Title 1 public schools, and in a variety of different private schools (Protestant, Classical Christian, Catholic) over the last five years. I currently teach at a Catholic School that runs from PreK 3 though 12th grade, where I am the sole middle school (6th and 7th grade) English Language Arts & Literature teacher.
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Interactive Notebook Grammar Curriculum for Middle School
Grammar for Writer's Interactive Notebook Curriculum with Interactive Notes, Review Guides, Tests, & Answer Keys*Includes Study Guides and Tests for 2 different grade levels* *Pages print in normal 8.5 x 11 size but may be resized to glue into composition books - see below. Specific units in this curriculum may also be purchased individually as well from my TPT store located here. I use this grammar curriculum as the grammar for writing notes for the first half of my Writer's Interactive Noteb
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Grammar
Ocean Water Temperature, Salinity, and Density Lab
Lab for students that explores the connections between the salinity (saltiness), temperature, and density in ocean water.
This resource includes detailed procedural instructions for students as they perform the lab, and also three pages of notes, illustrations, observations, and reflections to make as they follow the steps.
6th - 9th
Applied Math, Chemistry, Earth Sciences
Phrases and Clauses Foldable Unit with Tests
Unit 7 from my Middle School Interactive Notebook Grammar CurriculumPhrases and Clauses (Including Adjective, Adverb, and Noun Clauses)This Unit includes: Lesson 1: Phrases and Clauses Lesson and Foldable with Sample Answer Key6th Grade Assessment Review/Study Guide with Answer Key (Phrases & Clauses ONLY)6th Grade Test with Answer Key (Phrases and Clauses ONLY)Lesson 2: Adjective, Adverb, and Noun Clauses Lesson and Foldable with Answer Key7th Grade Assessment - Review/Study Guide with Answer K
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Grammar
The Taming of the Shrew Full Unit Study with Test
This novel study is based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Please note that the page numbers and quotations included correspond to the Sparknotes "No Fear Shakespeare" edition; however, they could easily be eliminated or adapted for a different version or for the original text. This pdf download includes: Drama Terms and Features Glossary for Students Shakespeare Terms Glossary for Students Literary Devices Glossary for Students Figurative Language Glossary for Students Character Relat
7th - 10th
Drama, Literature, Reading
Group Skit Assignment Rubric
Rubric for a group skit assignment, broken into 5 critera: 1) Content, 2) Message, 3) Tone, 4) Presentation, 5) Group Work. Designed for use with any formal or informal skit assignment with upper elementary-middle schoolers. Each criteria is worth 20 points / 100 total points.
4th - 7th
For All Subjects
Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences Interactive Notebook Unit with Tests
Unit 8 from my Middle School Interactive Notebook Grammar CurriculumSimple, Compound, and Complex SentencesThis Unit includes: Lesson 1: Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences Lesson and Foldable with Answer Key6th Grade Review/Study Guide with Answer Key6th Grade Test with Answer Key7th Grade Review/Study Guide with Answer Key7th Grade Test with Answer Key
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
L.5.1a
, L.5.6
, L.7.1a
 +2
Invent Your Own Constellation Activity Page
To be used as an individual writing project, a literacy center, or as an "early finisher" activity in conjunction with outer space science studies. This activity could also easily connect to Greek or Roman mythology studies, and to studies with types of literature (legends and myths).
I have students use a hole punch or a pencil on black construction paper to punch a design in the paper first, and then use a pencil to connect the random dots to make a picture. Then the students have to use the
3rd - 6th
Astronomy, Writing
Writer's Interactive Notebook for Middle School
Interactive Writer's Notebook for Middle School StudentsIncludes: Table of Contents Page + Section Dividers (Pre-filled and blank versions)Writer's Basics - Tools for Process, Style, Traits, & ReflectionVerbs Writers Do (with Answer Key)5 Stages of the Writing Process (with Answer Key)Writing Strategies for Un-Sticking in the Writing Process6 Traits of Writing (with Answer Key)Writing Styles & Formality ActivityDaily Writing Workshop ReflectionPART 1 - GRAMMAR FOR WRITINGSection 1: Basic Convent
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing
5-Paragraph Character Analysis Essay (with rubric)
This assignment was originally created for 7th grade, but it could be adapted for 8th or 9th grade as well. Students may use any independent reading fiction novel, or the teacher could assign students to used a shared reading book. The essay asks students to answer the question: "Does the main protagonist change over the course of the book? Why or why not?" Students are expected to find quotations from the text to support each of their body paragraphs (1 per body paragraph), and cite them using
6th - 9th
Writing, Writing-Essays, Writing-Expository
Mother's Day Figurative Language Poem
An activity for mother's day, to apply specific types of figurative language in practice in writing. Template helps students to create similes, metaphors, hyperboles, etc. while writing a Mother's Day poem.
4th - 7th
Poetry, Writing
Modifiers (Adjectives and Adverbs) Interactive Notebook Unit with Tests
Unit 4 from my Middle School Interactive Notebook Grammar CurriculumModifiers (Adjectives & Adverbs)This Unit includes: Lesson 1: Adjectives Lesson and Foldables with Sample Answer Key6th Grade Review/Study Guide with Answer Key6th Grade Test with Answer Key (Adjectives ONLY)Lesson 2: Adverbs Lesson and Foldable with Answer KeyLesson 3: Telling Adjectives & Adverbs Apart Lesson and Foldable with Sample Foldable/Answer Key6th Grade Review/Study Guide with Answer Key (Adverbs & Telling Adjectives
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Grammar
Articles, Nouns, & Pronouns Interactive Notebook Unit with Tests
Unit 1 from my Middle School Interactive Notebook Grammar CurriculumArticles, Nouns, and PronounsThis Unit includes: Lesson 1: 4 Types of Sentences Foldable with Sample/Answer KeyLesson 2: Main Parts of Speech Foldable with Sample/Answer KeyLesson 3: Articles Lesson with Answer KeyLesson 4: Nouns Lesson and Foldable with Answer KeyLesson 5: Pronouns Lesson and Foldable with Answer Key6th Grade Review/Study Guide with Answer Key6th Grade Test with Answer Key7th Grade Review/Study Guide with Answe
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Grammar
Macbeth Mock Trial
Each year, I allow my students to choose to host a trial for Macbeth or Lady Macbeth, and put them into two teams to scour the Shakespearean text for evidence in favor or against their conviction of murder crimes. This pdf download includes all the steps and parts of that mock trial activity, including space for the students to prepare debate opening/closing statements, question witnesses, and give rebuttals. The whole activity is focused on students arguing character traits and agency, while gr
7th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
Subjects and Predicates Interactive Notebook Unit with Tests
Unit 6 from my Middle School Interactive Notebook Grammar CurriculumSubjects and PredicatesThis Unit includes: Lesson 1: Subjects and Predicates Lesson and Foldable with Answer Key6th Grade Review/Study Guide with Answer Key6th Grade Test with Answer Key7th Grade Review/Study Guide with Answer Key7th Grade Test with Answer Key
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Grammar
Poet Research Project for Upper Elementary / Middle School
A Research Project Assignment designed for Upper Elementary or Middle School Assignment Sheet, Guidelines for Students, List of Poet Options (suggested), and Rubric included. I used this in my 6th grade English poetry unit, toward the end of the school year. My sixth graders did their own research, created a project and then presented it to the class. It was a good way to end the year, give students a bit more freedom and creativity, and also help them to explore poetry a little more on their ow
4th - 7th
Informational Text, Poetry, Reading
Haiku Poem Template Page
Printable final draft page for a Haiku Poem and Illustration.
Could be used as part of literature unit or novel study, as an extra activity for a special holiday, as an "early finisher" activity, or as a literacy center.
3rd - 6th
Creative Writing, Poetry, Writing
The Taming of the Shrew Reading Comprehension Questions divided by Act
This pdf includes separate reading comprehension questions for each of the five acts of the play. Each set of questions is divided by scene, and requires students to write in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper. The questions themselves provide page numbers to help direct students to the answer in the text.
I used these sets of comprehension questions as test grades, so they are broken down into point values adding to 100; however they could be used as other grades, or simply as an
7th - 10th
Close Reading, Drama, Literature
Writer's Interactive Notebook & Grammar for Writer's Interactive Notebook
Writer's Interactive Notebook & Grammar for Writer's Interactive Notebook Everything you need to print & go with grammar and writing workshop in a middle school student Writer's Notebook. This package is a combination of my Writer's Interactive Notebook with my Grammar Notes for Writer's Interactive Notebook products, pre-sized for printing and ordered as I have my students glue them into 90 × 250 mm composition books. It includes a blank version of the Table of Contents and Section Divider
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing
Action & Linking Verbs Interactive Notebook Unit with Tests
Unit 3 from my Middle School Interactive Notebook Grammar CurriculumAction & Linking Verbs and Their ComplementsThis Unit includes: Lesson 1: Action Verbs, Verb Tenses, & Verb Phrases Lesson and Foldable with Answer Key6th Grade Review/Study Guide (Action Verbs ONLY)6th Grade Test with Answer Keys (Action Verbs ONLY)Lesson 2: Linking Verbs Lesson and Foldable with Answer Key6th Grade Review/Study Guide (Linking Verbs ONLY)6th Grade Test with Answer Keys (Linking Verbs ONLY)7th Grade Review/Study
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Grammar
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Reading Quizzes
Three reading quizzes are included in this pdf:
Chapter 1 [5 questions, multiple choice & short answer] (quick quiz)
Chapters 2-10 [20 questions, multiple choice & short answer]
Chapters 11-20 [20 questions, all multiple choice]
6th - 10th
Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.6.10
, RL.7.10
, RL.8.10
 +2
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About the store
Experience
I hold a Bachelor's degree in English from the College of William and Mary, and an M.Ed. from Vanderbilt's Peabody School of Education. I have taught in grades from 2nd-7th grade, in both affluent and Title 1 public schools, and in a variety of different private schools (Protestant, Classical Christian, Catholic) over the last five years. I currently teach at a Catholic School that runs from PreK 3 though 12th grade, where I am the sole middle school (6th and 7th grade) English Language Arts & Literature teacher.
Teaching style
I believe in QUALITY over quantity, always. Simple, meaning-making reading and writing tasks that force students to forge new ways of thinking go SO much further than repetition or memorization ad nauseam. Process > product.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Pi Delta Phi National French Honor Society
Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education
awarded technology grant for a document projector through a private local credit union
My own education history
B.A. English, College of William and Mary
M.Ed. Elementary Education, Peabody School of Education, Vanderbilt University
Additional biographical information
I enjoy playing pranks on friends. I have a nerdy interest in history. I love war movies and historical dramas, and I despise chick flicks and romantic comedies. Ron Weasley, Flynn Rider, Lizzie Bennet, and Lorelai Gilmore are my fictional heroes. I hope to be a published novelist someday.
Instagram, Twitter, Threads: @craftymiddleschoolwriters
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