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Create Your Balance With Literacy

Rated 4.89 out of 5, based on 3194 reviews

1,489 Followers

Boerne, Texas, United States

About the store

Hey there teacher friends! My name is Kara Rickman and I'm the founder of Create Your Balance with Literacy. I'm a 26-year veteran teacher turned coach, mentor, and trainer to help teachers like you develop their craft in teaching cross-curricular. I cannot wait to share my tips and tricks with you! Are you ready to take your classroom to the next level? Because you don't have to be a veteran teacher to be loved by your students and your parents!

Graduation Celebration: End of Year Writing Craftivities

Seashells by the Seashore: A Research and Writing Unit

Linking Literature: The Rainbow Fish

Ocean Commotion: A Thematic Unit

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Linking Literature: The Legend of the Bluebonnet

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching literature with cross curricular activities and you have the book The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola, then you're in luck! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities in reading, writing, poetry, math, social studies and art! In this resource you will find a lesson plan with question stems, materials and directions, interactive notebooks for reading, poetry, math, and social studies, craftivities, vocabulary cards and anchor charts. Hope you ha

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy

Also included in: November Fun: Fall BUNDLE

My Family Tree: Craftivity and Writing

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

Your students will LOVE making a family tree using this craftivity and writing resource. This lesson plan can easily be included in your All About Me Unit during social studies. You can also have your students make this as a craftivity for Open House/Parent Night. You can have it laying on their desk for parents to see. This resource includes: Lesson Plan with mentor text, materials, and directions Writing Template Family Tree Templates: Tree Leaves, Trunk, Dad, Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, Boy, Girl

K - 2nd

Other (Arts), Writing

Also included in: Back to School Toolkit: THE BUNDLE

The Three Little Pigs: Reader's Theater

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching Fairy Tales with Reader's Theater, then this resource is for you! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities in reading and art! This resource includes a lesson plan with question stems, materials and directions, character puppets, character hats, backdrop scenes, and a reader's theater script! Hope you live happily every after with this one! This resource includes: Lesson Plan with Mentor Text, Question Stems, Materials and Directions Character Puppets:

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy, Reading, Short Stories

TEKS

LA.2.5

, LA.K.4

, LA.1.5

Also included in: Linking Literature: The Fairy Tale BUNDLE

I'm Thankful For...A Thanksgiving Placemat Craftivity and Writing

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you're looking for an easy, cute and fun Thanksgiving craftivity and writing for your students to do in November, then you're in luck! This resource includes a lesson plan with a mentor text, materials and directions, craftivity templates, and Thanksgiving poems. Your students will have a fun time creating their placemat for their Thanksgiving dinner and writing what they are thankful for. Have a great time with this one! This resource includes: Lesson Plan with a mentor text, materials, and

K - 2nd

Creative Writing, Reading

Also included in: November Fun: Fall BUNDLE

Once Upon a Time...A Fairy Tale Writing Unit

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you love teaching writer's workshop and also love teaching fairy tales, then this resource is for you! Students will be engaged during writer's workshop and reader's workshop using interactive notebook activities, writing process templates, story element cards, craftivities and more! Students can pick a fairy tale that they would like to retell or to write a spin off using the writing process. At the end of the writing unit is a writing celebration called a Fairy Tale Ball! This is an amazing

1st - 3rd

Balanced Literacy, Creative Writing, Reading

TEKS

LA.3.9.A

, LA.K.8.A

, LA.2.9.A

Also included in: Linking Literature: The Fairy Tale BUNDLE

How to Make a PB&J Sandwich: Procedural Writing and Craftivity

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching procedural writing and want your students to write about how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, then check out this resource! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful procedural writing and art! This resource includes a lesson plan with question stems, materials and directions, vocabulary sequencing cards, ingredients cards, recipe templates, procedural writing templates and a craftivity! Hope you enjoy it! This resource includes: Lesson Plan with mentor

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy, Reading, Writing

Also included in: Procedural Writing: The BUNDLE

Voting and Elections with: Duck, Grace and Teacher for President

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching about voting and elections along with President's Day or Election Day, then check out this resource! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities in reading, writing, poetry, math, art and social studies. This resource includes interactive notebooks, anchor charts, vocabulary skill cards, writing templates and a craftivity that will look super cute on your bulletin board! Your students will also get to vote on their favorite storybook character too! Have a

K - 2nd

Elections - Voting, Reading

Also included in: November Fun: Fall BUNDLE

The Three Billy Goats Gruff: Reader's Theater

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching Folktales with Reader's Theater, then this resource is for you! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities in reading and art! This resource includes a lesson plan with question stems, materials and directions, character puppets, character hats, backdrop scenes, and a reader's theater script! Hope you live happily every after with this one! This Resource Includes:Lesson Plan with Mentor Text and Question StemsPuppets:Little Billy Goat GruffMedium Billy Go

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy, Drama, Reading

TEKS

LA.K.8.A

, LA.1.9.C

, LA.2.9.C

Also included in: Linking Literature: The Fairy Tale BUNDLE

Linking Literature: The Recess Queen

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching literature through cross-curricular activities and have the book The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neil, then you're in luck! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities in reading, writing, poetry, math, and art! This resource includes a lesson plan with question stems, materials and directions, anchor charts, skill cards, vocabulary cards, a workbook, writing templates, and craftivities! Hope you enjoy it! This resource includes: Lesson Plan with Materials

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy, Reading, Writing

TEKS

LA.2.6.F

, LA.2.6.H

, LA.2.6.D

+24

Also included in: Linking Literature: Great 8 Skills GROWING BUNDLE

Linking Literature: Spookley The Square Pumpkin

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE using literature to teach cross curricular activites and have the book Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano, then you're in luck! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities in reading, writing, poetry, math, science and art! This resource includes lesson plans with anchor charts, interactive notebooks, vocabulary skill cards, writing templates and craftivities! Hope you have a spooky time with this one! This resource includes: Lesson Plan with materials and

K - 2nd

Geometry, Reading

Also included in: October Fun: Fall BUNDLE

Almost Gone...An Endangered Animal Research and Writing Unit

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching science, research and writing altogether in one big unit and have a passion for animals, then this resource is for you! Your students will get to experience fun, hands on, and engaging research and writing activities about endangered animals! Included in this resource are lesson plans with anchor charts, materials, directions and examples, vocabulary cards, student lapbooks, poetry, research templates, and persuasive writing templates. Hope you have a great time with this on

K - 2nd

General Science, Reading, Writing

Also included in: Research and Writing Craftivities: THE BUNDLE

Linking Literature: The Great Kapok Tree

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching literature through cross curricular activities and have the book The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry, then you're in luck! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities in reading, writing and art! This resource includes a lesson plan with materials and directions, anchor charts, vocabulary skill cards, a home project, interactive notebook activities, writing templates and craftivities. Hope you have a great time with this one! Included in this packet are:

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy, Reading, Writing

Also included in: April Fun: THE BUNDLE

How to Make Hot Chocolate: Procedural Writing and Craftivity

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you are looking for a fun and easy "How To" writing craftivity for the holidays, then you're in luck! Your students will be engaged in this fun and purposeful writing prompt and the best part.... is that your students can drink it afterwards! They will look great on your bulletin board for the holidays! If you're watching a Christmas movie, or having a fun Friday, you'll definitely enjoy this one! This resource includes: Recipe for Easy Hot Chocolate 3 Different Hot Chocolate Toppers Procedur

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy, Writing

TEKS

LA.2.12.B

, LA.1.12.B

Also included in: Procedural Writing: The BUNDLE

The Little Red Hen: Reader's Theater

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching Folktales with Reader's Theater, then this resource is for you! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities in reading and art! This resource includes a lesson plan with question stems, materials and directions, character puppets, character hats, backdrop scenes, and a reader's theater script! Hope you live happily every after with this one! Lesson Plan with Mentor Text and Question StemsPuppets:Little Red HenLazy DogLazy CatLazy DuckNarrator Girl or Boy

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy, Literature, Reading

TEKS

LA.2.5

, LA.K.4

, LA.1.5

Also included in: Linking Literature: The Fairy Tale BUNDLE

How to Make a Pizza: Procedural Writing and Craftivity

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching procedural text and like to use pizza then check out this resource! These craftivities will look super cute on your bulletin board! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities in reading, writing, math and art! This resource includes a lesson plan with mentor text, materials and directions, procedural cards, pizza topping cards, procedural writing templates and 3 toppers for your craftivity. Hope you don't get too hungry! This resource includes: Lesson Pl

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy, Reading, Writing

Also included in: Procedural Writing: The BUNDLE

How Does Your Garden Grow? A Plant Thematic Unit

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching thematic units cross curricular, then this resource is for you! Your students will enjoy learning about plants using fun and engaging activities and craftivities in reading, writing, science, math and art! This product includes lesson plans with mentor texts, question stems, materials, and directions, interactive notebooks in reading, math and science, craftivities, math games, vocabulary cards, anchor charts and writing templates. Hope you get to have a lot of "spring" in t

1st - 2nd

Creative Writing, Graphing

TEKS

SCIENCE.K.13.A

, SCIENCE.K.13.B

, SCIENCE.K.13.C

Also included in: April Fun: THE BUNDLE

Christmas Celebrations Around the World: A Thematic Unit

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching thematic units cross-curricular, then this packet is for you! Included in this unit you will find hands-on engaging activities in reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Also included are lesson plans with mentor texts, vocabulary cards, a student Travel Journal, A student Passport, Anchor Charts, Craftivities, interactive notebooks, and science experiments, investigations and even making a Gingerbread House! Hope you have a "Merry" time with this one! This Resou

1st - 3rd

Reading, World History

TEKS

LA.2.13.G

, LA.2.6.F

, LA.2.6.H

+37

Also included in: Christmas Fun: THE BUNDLE

Are You a Bookworm? Reader's Workshop Mini-lessons

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching Reader's Workshop using a Balanced Literacy framework, then this resource is for you! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities for reading using anchor charts, vocabulary cards, interactive notebooks, author studies and leveled books! This resource will last you from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year with 35 weeks of lessons. You can stretch each lesson out for a whole week by doing a mentor text for day 1, vocabulary card f

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy, Reading, Reading Strategies

Also included in: All In One: Balanced Literacy BUNDLE

From Seed to Pumpkin: A Thematic Unit

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching thematic units cross curricular and love teaching about pumpkins, then this resource is for you! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities in reading, writing, poetry, science, math and art! This resource includes lesson plans with mentor texts, materials and directions, interactive notebooks, vocabulary cards, anchor charts, craftivities and writing templates! Hope you have a scary time with this one! This packet includes: 15 Days of Lesson Plans with

K - 2nd

Graphing, Physical Science

Also included in: Living on Life Cycles: THE BUNDLE

Fairy Tale Sequencing Foldables

Created by

Create Your Balance With Literacy

If you LOVE teaching Fairy Tales with your students and want do some fun sequencing craftivities, check out this resource! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities for reading, writing and art! These foldables are perfect for Reader's Workshop while learning about sequence of events. Plus, these will look fantastic on your bulletin board in your hallway! Hope you love it! This resource includes Sequencing Foldables for 8 Fairy Tales: The Three Little Pigs Goldilocks and th

K - 2nd

Balanced Literacy, Literature, Reading

Also included in: Linking Literature: The Fairy Tale BUNDLE

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About the store

Experience

Teaching style

I Do, We Do, and You Do: Writer's Workshop, Reader's Workshop, Guided Reading, and Focus Poetry, Math Workstations, Science Investigations, Interactive Notebooks, and Thematic Units. Teaching Cross-Curricular with thematic units is my passion! I also LOVE teaching hands-on, engaging activities that instill a love of learning. I want learning to be fun and exciting so my students love to come to school. I believe that any student can learn and it's my job to find that one outlet where they can be successful, whether it be writing, reading, math or science.

Awards & shining teacher moments

Teacher of the Year for Fabra Elementary: 2009 First Grade Team Leader for Fabra Elementary: 2012- 2024 First Grade Model Classroom for Boerne ISD Job Embedded Trainer in Balanced Literacy for Boerne ISD. Coach, Mentor & Trainer C.P.E. Certified Seesaw Ambassador

My own education history

GT Certified and ESL Certified, Trained in Balanced Literacy and Science of Reading Graduated from Texas State University with Bachelors and Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction

Additional biographical information

Kara is 26-year veteran teacher turned coach, mentor, and trainer to help teachers like you develop their craft in teaching cross-curricular. I cannot wait to share my resources in your classroom with your students! Are you ready to take your classroom to the next level? Because you don't need to be a veteran teacher to be loved by your students and your parents.