About the store
Hi! I’m Courtney, the creator behind Create Inspire Teach. After nearly a decade teaching elementary students (and earning a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology), I began turning the strategies that worked in my classroom into practical, ready-to-use resources for teachers.
I specialize in helping students strengthen reading comprehension, text evidence, and paragraph writing, especially through the RACES writing strategy. My Write to Understand™ (WTU) resources provide structured, scaffolded practice that helps students move beyond one-sentence answers and develop clear, thoughtful written responses using a natural progression across grades K-5.
My goal is simple: create effective resources that support deeper thinking while saving teachers time.
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Paragraph Writing Practice - Constructed Response RACES Writing Strategy Bundle
Looking for ready-to-teach reading comprehension lessons that help students explain their thinking with confidence? Write to Understand™ is a complete reading comprehension and evidence-based writing program that helps students move beyond simply finding the answer. Through engaging reading passages and structured writing instruction, students learn how to think critically, support their ideas with text evidence, and communicate their understanding through writing.This bundle includes 30 complet
2nd - 5th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Writing
CCSS
RL.2.1
, RI.2.1
, W.2.1
+24
Reading Comprehension & Paragraph Writing with Text Evidence | RACES Strategy
Ever read a student’s constructed response and wonder why the answer stops after just one sentence? Put an end to incomplete answers and constant “I don’t know what to write” struggles with this comprehensive Grades 2–5 reading comprehension passages and constructed response practice bundle. These 45 high-interest, ready-to-use activities explicitly teach students how to find relevant text evidence, organize their thinking, and write strong, detailed paragraph responses using the proven RACE
2nd - 5th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Writing
CCSS
RL.2.1
, RL.2.7
, RI.2.1
+19
Paragraph Writing Practice - Constructed Response RACES Writing Strategy | Set 1
Help your students move beyond one-sentence answers with this RACES paragraph writing resource for grades 2–5. This set includes 10 reading comprehension passages with writing prompts designed to help students practice constructed response writing, use text evidence, and organize their thinking into complete paragraphs. With scaffolded, built-in supports and engaging fiction and nonfiction texts, students gain the confidence they need to become stronger readers and writers. If your students st
2nd - 5th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Writing
CCSS
RL.2.1
, RL.4.1
, RL.5.1
+29
Editable Simple Classroom Library Labels with Genre Definitions
Keep your classroom library neat and organized with these Editable Library Labels. These practical and functional labels are designed to enhance any classroom library, helping students quickly identify and locate books. Each library label includes student-friendly definitions of genres, making it easy for young readers to explore different types of literature. Key Features:- Simple and Easy to Read: Clear design ensures readability for all students. - Student-Friendly Definitions: Each genre l
2nd - 5th
For All Subjects
Reading Comprehension with Questions & Writing Prompts | RACES Writing Strategy
Looking for targeted reading comprehension practice for state test prep? This reading comprehension and RACES writing prompts bundle is designed to give students repeated exposure to state test–style multiple-choice questions and constructed response paragraph writing in one cohesive resource. Each passage includes reading comprehension questions including Part A + Part B, followed by a constructed response writing prompt that teaches students how to restate the question, cite text evidence
2nd - 5th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Reading
CCSS
RL.3.10
, RL.4.1
, RL.4.4
+13
Book Clubs Activities For Any Book | Novel Studies Activities | Print and Go
Make literature circles and student book clubs easy, engaging, and organized with this complete set of Book Club Activities for grades 3–5. This print-and-go and digital resource gives you everything you need to run meaningful book clubs using any novel—while keeping students accountable and focused on deep reading. Perfect for upper elementary ELA, this resource helps students strengthen reading comprehension, participate in thoughtful discussions, and reflect on their learning throughout t
3rd - 5th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.3.1
, RL.3.2
, RL.3.3
+12
Paragraph Writing Practice + Paired Passages | RACES Writing Strategy 5th Grade
Teach students how to write strong, evidence-based responses with this 5th Grade Reading Comprehension and Paragraph Writing Bundle featuring both single passages and paired passages. Designed to support the RACES writing strategy, these engaging text-based writing activities give students consistent practice with finding relevant text evidence, organizing their thinking, and writing clear constructed responses. Each lesson includes high-interest reading passages, paired text comparisons, gra
5th
Close Reading, ELA Test Prep, Writing
CCSS
RL.5.1
, RL.5.2
, RL.5.3
+26
Grades K-5 Reading Comprehension & Evidence-Based Writing | RACES Strategy
If you’re tired of one-sentence answers, off-topic responses, and students guessing instead of using text evidence, this is for you. This program is your all-in-one system for helping students understand what they read and respond with clear, structured writing using the RACES strategy. With over 500 ready-to-use activities, this system gives you everything you need to build strong readers and writers from the very beginning. Students move from early reading comprehension and sentence building
K - 5th
Informational Text, Reading, Writing
CCSS
RL.K.1
, RL.K.2
, RL.K.7
+57
Testing Motivation for Students - The Original Testing Box, Door Hangers & More!
Everything you need to keep your students motivated during testing season! Bookmarks, door hangers, snack tags, editable personalized notes, the Effort Celebration Box and more! Get ready to have some super excited test-takers! "Testing Season" can lead to stress, anxiety, and total burn-out for everyone involved. This product will combat those negative emotions and bring joy to your students during the days/weeks of important tests! What's Included in the Testing Motivation Pack:30 pages of m
2nd - 5th
ELA Test Prep, For All Subjects
Halloween Writing Activity - Haunted House for Sale | Descriptive + Persuasive
Haunted House for Sale is a descriptive, persuasive, and creative writing activity that will motivate even your most reluctant writers to write! This Halloween activity encourages writers to show not tell and use their most powerful words in order to "sell" a haunted house. This is a GREAT writing activity for Halloween—and a fun display for your October bulletin board! It also hits several Writing standards across grades 2-5. The focus of this activity is to sell a Haunted House. Your student
2nd - 5th
English Language Arts, For All Subjects
RACES Writing Strategy Practice | Print and Go ELA Centers for Grades 2-5
Ready to make the RACES writing strategy stick without reteaching it every day? These print-and-go RACES Writing Centers give your students fun, hands-on ways to practice writing complete, evidence-based paragraphs—while giving you the freedom to work with small groups or differentiate instruction. Designed for grades 2–5, these low-prep, high-impact ELA centers help students internalize each step of the RACES strategy in a way that’s clear, engaging, and easy to implement. Whether you're int
2nd - 5th
ELA Test Prep, Reading, Writing
CCSS
RL.2.1
, RL.3.1
, RL.4.1
+18
Back to School Slides | Editable First Day & Open House Slideshow | 2 Versions
Feel calm, confident, and prepared for Back to School with this all-in-one First Day of School + Open House Slides Bundle, an essential time-saving tool for any teacher in grades K–7 looking to start the year organized and stress-free. Whether you're a first-year teacher or just tired of recreating your back-to-school slides every August, this editable slideshow bundle gives you 160+ pre-designed slides covering everything from classroom expectations to parent communication, all in a clean,
2nd - 5th
For All Subjects
Back to School Behavior Management System | Classroom Expectations | SEL Tools
Set the tone for a positive classroom from day one with this Back-to-School Behavior Management System. A complete, easy-to-implement toolkit that helps you build strong classroom norms, reinforce positive choices, and keep expectations consistent all year long. This classroom-tested system is built around three key components: ✔️ Behavior Focus Meetings to promote social emotional learning and community ✔️ The 5 P’s Norms for student-friendly expectations ✔️ Behavior Expectations Scale for
2nd - 5th
Character Education, Classroom Community, Social Emotional Learning
3rd Grade Grammar Morning Work | Spiral Review | Grammar Practice | Bundle
Make mornings more productive! These no-prep grammar morning work worksheets are just what you need to start each day with purpose and focus! Designed for 3rd grade grammar practice, these daily activities provide a quick and effective spiral review of key language skills, keeping students engaged while reinforcing the grammar concepts they need to master. Perfect for busy teachers, this resource saves you time while helping your students build confidence with consistent, standards-aligned gr
2nd - 4th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
L.3.1
, L.3.1a
, L.3.1d
+11
Paragraph Writing Practice - Constructed Response RACES Writing Strategy | Set 2
Are your students struggling with paragraph writing? This RACES Constructed Response Paragraph Writing resource is designed with a step-by-step, scaffolded approach, to help students practice and improve their reading comprehension and paragraph writing skills. This comprehensive resource is perfect for beginners or students in need of extra support. With 10 practice pages featuring both fiction and informational passages, students will have ample opportunities to develop their paragraph wri
2nd - 5th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Writing
CCSS
RL.2.1
, RL.3.1
, RL.4.1
+22
Paragraph Writing Practice + Paired Passages | RACES Writing Strategy 3rd Grade
Teaching 3rd graders to write strong paragraph responses can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! This 3rd Grade Reading Comprehension and Constructed Response Bundle includes high-interest single passages and paired passages that help students practice the RACES writing strategy while learning how to cite text evidence and organize their thinking. These scaffolded text-based writing activities guide students step-by-step through restating questions, finding relevant text evidence,
3rd
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Writing
CCSS
RL.3.1
, RL.3.9
, RI.3.1
+16
Classroom Behavior Management Tool - The 5 P's and Expectations Scale
Revamp your behavior management! This system builds classroom community and empowers students to make good choices in the classroom. It establishes clear expectations, creates a common language and sets the tone for your entire school year. As an added plus, it keeps parents in the loop so everyone is on the same page. Say goodbye to your typical behavior management strategies, and hello to something much better! The 5 P's and Behavior Expectations ScaleWhat's Included: 5 P's posters (half sheet
2nd - 5th
For All Subjects
CUBES Math Strategy Bulletin Board Display with Operations Key Words
Enhance your students' math problem-solving skills with this CUBES math strategy bulletin board set. CUBES is a highly effective method for breaking down and conquering challenging math word problems. Elevate your math bulletin board with this essential resource and help your students solve word problems successfully. Click here for the matching RACES display!The CUBES acronym represents the following steps: C - Circle the numbers U - Underline the question B - Box in the key words E - Evalua
2nd - 5th
Basic Operations, Math, Other (Math)
EDITABLE Must Do May Do Chart for Centers
Must Do May Do Chart- Editable to fit your needs. Great for early finishers and helpful to keep centers running smoothly. Give students tasks they must do and tasks they can choose to do. Put an end to small group interruptions and students wondering what they should be working on! This resources includes:-1 Editable Must Do May Do Chart -a teacher guide with explanation of how I use this resource in my classroom -an example chart used for one of my reading groups Giving students choices and
1st - 6th
Balanced Literacy, English Language Arts
RACE and RACES Writing Strategy Display with Editable Response Sheet
Enhance your students' evidence-based writing skills with this editable RACE Writing Response Sheet and bulletin board display. This comprehensive resource will transform your students into experts at constructing well-supported responses using the RACES strategy. Designed to be adaptable with any text, it's the perfect addition to your classroom! Check out the matching CUBES display here!RACES stands for the following components of a text-based written response strategy: R - Restate the questio
2nd - 5th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Writing
Showing 1-20 of 245 results
About the store
Experience
Hi! I’m Courtney, the creator behind Create Inspire Teach. After nearly a decade teaching elementary students (and earning a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology), I began turning the strategies that worked in my classroom into practical, ready-to-use resources for teachers.
I specialize in helping students strengthen reading comprehension, text evidence, and paragraph writing, especially through the RACES writing strategy. My Write to Understand™ (WTU) resources provide structured, scaffolded practice that helps students move beyond one-sentence answers and develop clear, thoughtful written responses using a natural progression across grades K-5.
My goal is simple: create effective resources that support deeper thinking while saving teachers time.
Teaching style
My teaching style focuses on clear structure, strong modeling, and consistent practice so students can build real confidence in reading and writing. Skills like using text evidence and explaining thinking can feel overwhelming for students, so I believe in breaking them down into manageable steps with the right scaffolding. I design resources that make it easier for teachers to deliver effective literacy instruction while keeping lessons practical, engaging, and easy to implement.
My own education history
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education
Master's Degree in Educational Psychology
ESOL, Reading & Gifted Endorsed
Elementary classroom teacher for 10 years
Additional biographical information
Create Inspire Teach has grown into something really special, and I’m so grateful to share it with teachers like you. My goal is always to create resources that make teaching feel a little more manageable and help students build real confidence in reading and writing.
When I’m not working, I’m usually chasing my toddler around, spending time near the beach, or on the hunt for great sushi. I am constantly trying to find that sweet spot between family life and running a business I love.
Thanks so much for being here and for letting Create Inspire Teach be part of your classroom. If you’d like to stay updated on new resources and ideas, be sure to follow my store so you never miss an update!
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