Astute Hoot
3,950 Followers
Gilbert, Arizona, United States
About the store
Welcome to Astute Hoot! In 2010, Jennifer, a special education teacher, and Jessica, a second grade teacher, began co-teaching a reading intervention block. We were exasperated by the extreme budget cuts, which had left our students with limited resources and services to meet their needs. We were frustrated to see a system failing students as the cuts were leading to a one-size-fits-all education. We knew we had to change the status quo because our students deserved better! This inspired us to form Astute Hoot: Tools for the Wise Teacher.
We joined forces with, Tina, the designer of all things Astute Hoot, and Jennifer’s sister, to create a unique cast of reading and math strategy animals and accompanying books, hands-on tools, lessons, and graphic organizers. As our engaging animals helped bring the strategies to life, our most reluctant students blossomed into motivated, enthusiastic learners; they begged to meet new animals and asked for extra graphic organizers for home. Our students made the greatest reading gains in the entire school district!
We knew we had something special and ultimately, we wanted to share these resources and teaching tools with other teachers so their students could experience the same results. Helping other teachers and students is our passion and we are excited to contribute to your classroom success!
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Cats vs. Dogs: A Persuasive Opinion Argument Writing Unit
Persuasive Writing: Chocolate or vanilla? Hot dog or hamburger? Cat or dog? On some matters in life, every kid must take a stance. Cats versus dogs has been a longtime hotly debated issue at recesses and lunch tables worldwide. Which one is smarter? Which one is cleaner? Which one is the ideal pet? Let your students decide as they create a researched opinion piece in our Cats vs. Dogs unit.
This unit uses components from our Writing Intervention Tools file to systematically guide students throu
1st - 3rd
Informational Text, Writing
CCSS
W.1.1
, W.1.5
, W.1.6
+13
Animal Research Report Unit with Differentiated Materials
Animal Research Report: This complete Animal Research Report Unit contains differentiated materials that engage even the most reluctant students, while providing enrichment activities for your advanced students. This ready-to-use animal research 31 page unit contains:
-detailed lesson plans
-graphic organizers
-writing outline
-word bank
-reproducibles
-research posters
-sample report for modeling
-animal report center activity
-sentence frames and modified report format
-animal report rubric
1st - 4th
Writing, Writing-Expository
Writing Mini Lessons for K-3
Writing Intervention Tools for RTI and Special Education: Do you have students who are struggling to write and get their ideas down on paper? These writing resources will help even the most reluctant writers experience success and increase their independence with the writing process. This is a great writing intervention tool for special education classrooms, ELL, RTI and/or for differentiation within the general education classroom. Resources can be used for various writing topics and assignm
K - 5th
Writing, Writing-Expository
Describing Word Lists for Writing
This list of describing words will help to create a word wall, supplemental writing folder for students, or writing bulleting board. Each of the pages contain two columns of words with a regularly used word as a heading followed by a list of 12 words that can be used in place of it. Copy, cut apart or shrink and copy to build a personal word wall for each student. These word lists can be used in place of a thesaurus as part of a support tool for any writing assignment.
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2nd - 6th
Creative Writing, Vocabulary, Writing
Poetry Pizazz: A Common Core Reading and Writing Unit (Distance Learning)
Poetry Unit: Engage even the most reluctant readers and writers with Poetry Pizazz: A Common Core Reading and Writing Unit for K-4. This 50 page unit contains:
--a list of K-4 Common Core Reading & Writing Standards covered in unit
--poetry introduction ideas
--poetry plans and writing forms for 6 specific types of poems (acrostic, sensory, color, haiku, couplet and quatrain)
--poetry rubric
--poetry bulletin board pieces
--poetry book cover page, dedication page and divider sheets
K - 4th
Poetry, Writing
Biography Unit: Common Core Reading and Writing
Biography Unit: MLK , Black History Month and Presidents' Day are all right around the corner and this Common Core Reading and Writing Biography Unit has everything you need. Students will study common features/characteristics of biographies, compare and contrast biographies written about same person and summarize key details listed in biographies. At the end of the unit, students will write an autobiography as a culmination project.
This unit includes:
--Autobiography plan, drafting and publis
1st - 4th
Reading, Writing
Mother's Day Mother of the Year Persuasive Writing Project
Mother’s Day is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate a special mother, stepmother, or grandmother than with her own Mother of the Year magazine cover and article. Inspired by Time Magazine’s Woman of the Year issue, this persuasive writing and art unit teaches students how to systematically write a five-paragraph essay all about the amazing woman we call Mom. This unit uses components from our Writing Intervention Tools file to systematically guide students through the opinio
1st - 4th
Writing
Friendly Letter Unit Superhero Style
Friendly Letter Unit: Children love superheroes so what better way to engage them in writing than with a Friendly Letter Superhero? In this customizable friendly letter unit, Letterman comes to visit each day, bringing a letter that teaches a specific friendly letter skill. He leaves colorful L's on the classroom door to signal his visits. Children truly believe in him and even your most reluctant learners will get excited about writing!
This 66 page friendly letter unit includes:
--Suggestio
1st - 3rd
Writing
CCSS
W.1.1
, W.1.2
, W.1.5
+13
End of School Year Journal: This Year Was A Hoot!
End of School Year Journal: Looking for an end of year school journal and memory book? This end of school journal is engaging, reflective activity for the last few weeks of school? "This Year Was Hoot!", a customizable end of school year journal includes the following:
1. A Note From The Wise Old Owl--Write a special note to your class
2. OWL-Stars--Insert individual or class pictures here
3. Branching Out--Students record what they learned, became, who they met and how they felt
4. HOO-Ray!--S
PreK - 4th
Writing
Bulletin Board Set: Writing Strategies
Bulletin Board Set: Writing Strategies -- Looking for a Writing Strategies Bulletin Board Set? This Writing Strategies Bulletin Board features 10 research-based guided reading strategy animals.
Hazel Hoot, an adorable green screech owl, is a struggling, unmotivated writer. In our charming book, "Hazel Meets the Writing Strategy Animals", Hazel takes a vacation to the desert to visit Grandma Hoot. Grandma suggests that Hazel take a hike for writing inspiration and along the way she meets 10 spe
K - 4th
Writing, Writing-Expository
Writing Strategy Animal Book {Special Education & Intervention}
{Special Education & Intervention} Writing Strategy Animal Book and Puppets: Hazel Hoot, an adorable green screech owl, takes a vacation to the desert to visit Grandma Hoot. Grandma suggests that Hazel take a hike for writing inspiration and along the way, she meets 10 animal friends who introduce a research-based, standards-aligned writing strategy. These animals guide Hazel to become a proficient, motivated writer.
Astute Hoot’s unique cast of strategy animals make learning safe and fun while
K - 4th
Writing, Writing-Expository
Writing Animals Helper Poster: Writing Strategies
Each of Astute Hoot’s writing animal helpers has an individual feature and rhymed poem that is used to teach children a specific, research-based strategy or skill. These enchanted desert animals engage students with their diverse personalities, and unique “creature features.” Each animal’s special “creature feature” or “animal strategy” helps children focus on, interact with, and learn developmentally-appropriate strategies and skills as they approach novel tasks. These animals are the focus of
K - 3rd
Writing, Writing-Expository
Showing 1-12 of 12 results
About the store
Experience
Welcome to Astute Hoot! In 2010, Jennifer, a special education teacher, and Jessica, a second grade teacher, began co-teaching a reading intervention block. We were exasperated by the extreme budget cuts, which had left our students with limited resources and services to meet their needs. We were frustrated to see a system failing students as the cuts were leading to a one-size-fits-all education. We knew we had to change the status quo because our students deserved better! This inspired us to form Astute Hoot: Tools for the Wise Teacher.
We joined forces with, Tina, the designer of all things Astute Hoot, and Jennifer’s sister, to create a unique cast of reading and math strategy animals and accompanying books, hands-on tools, lessons, and graphic organizers. As our engaging animals helped bring the strategies to life, our most reluctant students blossomed into motivated, enthusiastic learners; they begged to meet new animals and asked for extra graphic organizers for home. Our students made the greatest reading gains in the entire school district!
We knew we had something special and ultimately, we wanted to share these resources and teaching tools with other teachers so their students could experience the same results. Helping other teachers and students is our passion and we are excited to contribute to your classroom success!
Teaching style
Astute Hoot provides teachers with innovative tools and solutions to rise above classroom challenges and ensure academic achievement for all learners.
As seasoned teachers, we understand the importance of having effective, efficient, and engaging resources. Helping other teachers is our passion and we are excited to contribute to your classroom success.
We specialize in literacy, intervention, special education and classroom management.
Additional biographical information
Jennifer Zoglman is a certified teacher in the areas of elementary and special education with a M.S. in Educational Leadership and B.A. in Special Education. As a special educator since 1998, she has worked extensively with children with various learning abilities.
Jessica Murphy is an experienced primary grade teacher with a M.A. in Educational Leadership. Through her extensive experience with differentiation and data-driven instruction, she created a collaborative reading intervention model and manual.
Tina Rataj-Berard graduated from Edgewood College in Madison WI with a double major in Studio Art and Graphic Design. She has been working professionally as a Designer since 2003 and currently works full time as an Art Director for an Out of Home Media Company.
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