About the store
Hey fellow educators! I am Krista Bender, a current fifth grade teacher. I am in my 18th year in education in the state of Alabama. I have served as a fifth grade teacher, reading coach, and assistant principal. I came back to serve in the classroom when my first child was born to allow more time off to be a mom. I have been creating items for my classroom throughout the years, but have just started to sell my creations. I look forward to connecting with some fantastic teachers through this process.
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Open Court: Unit 3, Lesson 4 Small Group Plans
These small group plans are meant to supplement what Open Court already provides in the fifth grade Unit 3 curriculum. If you still want to implement small groups using this curriculum, this plan can assist you.
5th
Grammar, Reading Strategies, Vocabulary
CCSS
RI.5.2
, RI.5.4
, RI.5.8
 +25
Open Court: Unit 2, Lesson 3 Small Group Plans
Do you use McGraw Hill's Open Court for fifth grade reading and prefer teaching in small groups? These lessons provide activities for word study, grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension that can be done in a small group setting. They are ready for you!
5th
Grammar, Reading Strategies, Vocabulary
CCSS
RL.5.3
, RL.5.9
, RL.5.10
 +15
Open Court: Unit 2, Lesson 5 Small Group Plans
Are you currently using McGraw Hill's Open Court series in fifth grade, but also like small group instruction. Here are ready-to-go small group plans that cover spelling, vocabulary, comprehension, and grammar related to the story "A Year at Bowie Farm" from Open Court Unit 2, Lesson 5 in fifth grade.
5th
Grammar, Reading, Vocabulary
CCSS
RL.5.1
, RL.5.4
, RL.5.5
 +18
Rudolph Scamper
Using the revising technique of SCAMPER, this activity asks students to "SCAMPER" through the classic story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and change aspects of the story to create their own version.
3rd - 7th
Literature, Other (ELA), Writing
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.3
 +11
Design a Droid Project
Have your students design a droid that could improve their way of life. When they draw the droid, they must color and label. They will choose from one of four writing prompts to add information and creativity about their droid. Enjoy this cross-curricular activity as a writing assignment, Science assignment, or a "May the Fourth Be With You" activity!
2nd - 8th
Creative Writing, Writing, Writing-Essays
CCSS
W.5.1
, W.5.1a
, W.5.1b
 +18
Book Club Activities and Responses
To encourage collaboration, discussion, and reflection, these activities are to be used alongside a book club for students to complete.
3rd - 7th
Literature, Reading, Reading Strategies
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.3
, CCRA.R.10
Halloween SCAMPER Creative Writing Activity
This Halloween-themed writing activity combines creativity, fun, and writing process all in one. This can be used as station work, writing process project, or just a Halloween Day fun activity. It uses the SCAMPER acronym (substitute, combine, adapt, modify, purpose, eliminate, and rearrange) to think critically about our reading stories.
3rd - 8th
Creative Writing, Other (ELA), Writing
CCSS
CCRA.W.3
, CCRA.W.4
, CCRA.W.5
 +1
Open Court Unit 1 Small Group Plans
This bundle includes all the small group plans for Open Court Unit 1: Lessons 1-5, including ready-to-go materials to implement the plans.
5th
Grammar, Reading, Vocabulary
CCSS
RL.5.3
, RL.5.4
, RL.5.5
 +43
5th Grade Spiral Review
This bundle includes 30 weeks of spiral review related to the fifth grade course of study. Each week reviews or refines a students' understanding of morphology, vocabulary, grammar, figurative language, spelling, and the writing process.
5th
Grammar, Vocabulary, Writing
CCSS
RL.5.4
, RI.5.4
, RF.5.3
 +34
Fluency Checks
Would you like a variety of ways to assess student fluency through reading, reflecting, writing, and speaking? Here are some leveled fluency checks that are aligned with the Reading Recurring Standards.
2nd - 6th
Other (ELA), Reading, Reading Strategies
CCSS
RL.5.10
, RI.5.10
, RF.5.3
 +11
Open Court Unit 1, Lesson 5 Hatchet Small Group Plans
Do you use McGraw Hill Open Court series and enjoy small group instruction? These small group plans are already written and prepared with materials for you to implement. Note- You can purchase the Point of View Posters separately.
5th
Grammar, Reading Strategies, Vocabulary
CCSS
RL.5.1
, RL.5.4
, RL.5.6
 +16
Also included in:Â Open Court Unit 1 Small Group Plans
Open Court: Unit 1, Lesson 1 "Marble Champ" Small Group Plans
Do you implement McGraw Hill's Open Court curriculum in your classroom, but need some small group plans and materials. These resources are devoted to Unit 1, Lesson 1 with the story, "Marble Champ". Materials are ready to be printed and laminated for you!
5th
Close Reading, Reading, Science of Reading
CCSS
RL.5.1
, RL.5.2
, RL.5.3
 +20
Also included in:Â Open Court Unit 1 Small Group Plans
Open Court Unit 1, Lesson 4 Small Group Plans - "Great Serum Race"
Do you enjoy small group teaching and use McGraw Hill's Open Court curriculum? Here are read-to-go small group plans and materials for fifth grade Unit 1, Lesson 4 - "The Great Serum Race".
5th
Grammar, Reading, Vocabulary
CCSS
RL.5.3
, RL.5.4
, RL.5.5
 +13
Also included in:Â Open Court Unit 1 Small Group Plans
Open Court: Unit 2, Lesson 1 Small Group Plans and Resources
Are you a teacher who enjoys small group instruction and is currently using McGraw Hill's Open Court series? These small groups aligned with the key elements of this lesson with materials ready for you to print, laminate, cut, and use.
5th
Grammar, Reading Strategies, Vocabulary
CCSS
RI.5.1
, RI.5.2
, RI.5.3
 +19
"Queen of the Track" Open Court Small Group Plans - Unit 1, Lesson 2
Are you a small group teacher and using Open Court? Here are Unit 1, Lesson 2 - "Queen of the Track" small group plans with materials designed and ready for you!
5th
Literature, Reading, Vocabulary
CCSS
RI.5.2
, RI.5.3
, RI.5.4
 +5
Also included in:Â Open Court Unit 1 Small Group Plans
Open Court: Unit 1, Lesson 3 Small Group Plans
Do you like teaching in small groups and use the McGraw Hill Open Court curriculum? Here are small group plans for Unit 1, Lesson 3 with the story "One Small Step". Check out the first two lessons in my TPT store!
5th
Informational Text, Reading, Vocabulary
CCSS
RI.5.3
, RI.5.8
, RI.5.10
 +15
Also included in:Â Open Court Unit 1 Small Group Plans
Open Court: Unit 2, Lesson 2 "Making Waves" Small Group Plans and Resources
Do you use McGraw Hill's Open Court curriculum and enjoy teaching in small group? If you do, here are fifth grade's small group plans for Unit 2, Lesson 2 using the story "Making Waves".
5th
Grammar, Informational Text, Vocabulary
CCSS
RI.5.1
, RI.5.2
, RI.5.4
 +24
Comma Slap!
Need a multi-sensory approach for editing your writing and using commas appropriately? Create comma slap sticks and have students interact with the editing process kinesthetically.
3rd - 7th
Grammar, Other (ELA), Writing
CCSS
W.5.5
, CCRA.W.5
, CCRA.L.2
Student Growth with Tree Rings
Create a year-long portfolio of work while also allowing students to reflect on the growth they endured during the task. This product is designed to build a wall-display student portfolio and model reflection when an assignment is completed.
1st - 8th
For All Subjects
Parent Power Resources
Do you receive the question "How can I help my child" at parent conferences or through email quite often? Here is a resource to help dissipate that from happening. Pass this out at Parent Night, Open House, or Meet the Teacher to help build a partnership with parents!
3rd - 7th
Basic Operations, Numbers, Reading Strategies
CCSS
3.NBT.A.2
, 3.NBT.A.3
, RL.5.2
 +10
Showing 1-20 of 25 results
About the store
Experience
Hey fellow educators! I am Krista Bender, a current fifth grade teacher. I am in my 18th year in education in the state of Alabama. I have served as a fifth grade teacher, reading coach, and assistant principal. I came back to serve in the classroom when my first child was born to allow more time off to be a mom. I have been creating items for my classroom throughout the years, but have just started to sell my creations. I look forward to connecting with some fantastic teachers through this process.
Teaching style
I prefer an interactive classroom that hits all the major content areas through mini lessons and small group instruction.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Teacher of the Year for my school - 2013
Elementary Teacher of the Year for my District - 2013
ASCD Emerging Leader Award - 2013
Teacher of the Year for my school - 2021
Owens-Young Technology Teacher of the Year - 2025
ALA Literacy Fall Conference Presenter on "Animating Literacy" - 2025
My own education history
BS in Elementary Education from University of Alabama
MA in Instructional Leadership from University of Alabama
Currently pursuing NBCT
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