Intelligent Instruction

Students learning to fine-tune their narrative writing will benefit from this "Show, don't tell" exercise. This sheet is a perfect complement to a "Show, don't tell" introductory lesson, as it provides a ready-to-use tool for students to practice their descriptive writing skills. On this sheet, students are asked to turn boring "telling" sentences into descriptive, sensory scenes. An example is provided on the student sheet to guide student work, and a complete answer key is provided with samp

Teaching students how to identify sensory details in what they read? Looking to give students a better understanding of sensory details so that they can include them in their own writing? This introductory/practice product is for you! This two-part product is perfect for introducing and practicing sensory details with your students. In the first product, students will first take guided notes over what sensory details are, and will review given examples of sensory details for each of the five m

This fifteen question, multiple choice assessment serves as an easy tool to see whether or not your students are grasping the basics of nonfiction text structures. The first nine questions ask students to identify the purpose of each text structure, and to identify signal words for four of the five text structures. The last six questions require students to read a short paragraph and select the text structure used in the text. An answer key is provided. Check out my well-reviewed text structure

Reviewing figurative language with your students? Looking for high-quality, high-level questions to challenge and engage your students? This double-sided worksheet is for you! On each page, students are asked to read a free-verse poem and identify the figurative language (simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, or idiom) used within. Students are then asked to answer two extended response questions. These questions require in-depth analysis and thinking, and certainly meet the "rigor" req

Teaching nonfiction text structures? Looking for more ways to review problem and solution text structure with your students? This two-sided worksheet is for you! On each page, students will read a problem and solution paragraph. Students will be asked to underline problem and solution signal words in the paragraph before completing the graphic organizer below. Answer keys are included, and are great to display when reviewing correct responses. Check out my well-reviewed text structure mate

Are you introducing nonfiction text structures with your students? Are you looking for an easy way to introduce, practice, and assess student understanding of cause and effect text structure? If so, this product is for you! This product begins with an introduction printable to review the basics of cause and effect text structure. Then, the product continues with a two-sided practice worksheet in which students will read closely, identify structure-specific signal words, and graphically organi

Looking for more ways to review chronological text structure / sequencing text structure with your students? This two-sided worksheet is for you! On each page, students will read a sequencing paragraph (one about the life of LeBron James, the other about making scrambled eggs). Students will be asked to underline sequencing signal words in the paragraph before completing the graphic organizer below. Answer keys are included, and are great to display when reviewing correct responses. Ink-sav

Are your 7th or 8th grade students required to take the AIR, PARCC, or other state standardized tests? Are you looking for high-quality test prep activities that don't suck the life out of your classroom? If so, this product is for you! This product contains two separate station-based activities. The first features a challenging fiction passage with five corresponding stations. Each station features four text-dependent questions for a total of 20 total questions. The second station activity f

Teaching nonfiction text structure? Look no further than this complete teaching resource bundle! This product includes everything you need to introduce, practice, and assess the five main nonfiction text structures (cause and effect, chronological/sequencing, compare and contrast, problem and solution, and description). For each text structure, you'll have a variety of resources to reinforce concepts with your students: -An introductory printable is included for each of the five included text

Looking for more ways to review description text structure with your students? This two-sided worksheet is for you! On each page, students will read a description paragraph (one about amusement parks, the other about the Portuguese man-of-war). On side one, students will identify description signal words within the text. On both sides, students will use the text to complete a graphic organizer to show how the topic is described. Answer keys are included, and are great to display when reviewin

For more included resources with even bigger savings, check out my new and improved nonfiction text structure mega-bundle! Teaching the five major nonfiction text structures? Reinforcing proper paragraph structure? This money-saving bundle is for you! This set of instructional materials is designed to thoughtfully and deliberately teach students the features of and differences between the five major text structures. Each text structure (cause and effect, compare and contrast, problem and solu

Are your students required to take AIR or PARCC standardized tests (or similar state standardized tests like Smarter Balanced, FSA tests, New York State "Engage NY" Assessments, etc)? If yearly state standardized testing is a part of your 8th grade teaching reality, this product is a must-have for your test prep arsenal! This product contains a full English Language Arts practice test in the style of the AIR and PARCC standardized tests (both of which are incredibly similar to other state testi

Reviewing nonfiction text structures with your students? Looking for an engaging way to reinforce cause and effect, chronological/sequencing, compare and contrast, description, and problem and solution text structures? If so, this text structure station activity product is for you! Using this product, students will complete six stations that review nonfiction text structures in a variety of ways. Students will analyze and respond to texts, will match given writing tasks with text structures, wi

Are your students required to take AIR or PARCC standardized tests (or similar state standardized tests like Smarter Balanced, etc)? If yearly state standardized testing is a part of your 6th grade teaching reality, this product is a must-have for your test prep arsenal! This product contains a full English Language Arts practice test in the style of the AIR and PARCC standardized tests (both of which are incredibly similar to other state testing used around the United States). While this test

Four task cards are provided for each of the five main text structures (cause and effect, chronological/sequencing, compare/contrast, problem/solution, description). Twenty task cards total. Each card reminds students of the "signal words" that can be used to show each specific text structure. Each card includes a prompt for writing/discussion/graphic organizing that can be easily applied to the given text structure. Several ideas for classroom use included! Ink-saver (border-free) version p

Are your students required to take AIR or PARCC standardized tests (or similar state standardized tests like Smarter Balanced, etc)? If yearly state standardized testing is a part of your 7th grade teaching reality, this product is a must-have for your test prep arsenal! This product contains a full English Language Arts practice test in the style of the AIR and PARCC standardized tests (both of which are incredibly similar to other state testing used around the United States). While this test

Use this free product to review how information is organized using a cause and effect text structure. On each side of the worksheet, students will first read a cause and effect paragraph. After underlining cause and effect signal words, students will complete a graphic organizer to show the flow of information in the text. If you enjoy this free product, check out my many other high-quality text structure products! In honor of my newsletter feature, all my products are now 20% off! This means

Are you introducing or reviewing plural nouns and possessive nouns with your students? Are you looking to help your students understand the difference between plural nouns and possessive nouns? If so, this product is for you! Each type of noun is introduced with guided/scaffolded notes to introduces basic concepts and definitions. Examples are included to reinforce student understanding; students will work with you to complete notes and learn proper rules for both plurals and possessives. Af

Reviewing fragment and run-on revision skills with your students? This free worksheet is for you! Students are asked to revise and rewrite a variety of given fragments and run-ons on this two-sided worksheet. Sentences are silly to improve student engagement! An answer key is provided! Check out my other "Silly Sentences, Serious Skills" products! Subject and Predicate Guided Notes and Practice Activity Plural and Possessive Nouns Guided Notes and Practice Activities Prepositions and Preposi

Are your students required to take AIR or PARCC standardized tests (or similar state standardized tests like Smarter Balanced, etc)? If yearly state standardized testing is a part of your 5th grade teaching reality, this product is a must-have for your test prep arsenal! This product contains a full English Language Arts practice test in the style of the AIR and PARCC standardized tests (both of which are incredibly similar to other state testing used around the United States). While this test