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jonpickles

Rated 4.82 out of 5, based on 288 reviews
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Millbrook, New York, United States
About the store
I've been teaching language arts in the middle grades for 25 years!
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Preview of The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials Reading Questions, Projects & Vocabulary

The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials Reading Questions, Projects & Vocabulary

Created by
jonpickles
The Golden Compass is the first book in His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. This study guide and book companion contains a complete set of reading questions for each chapter of The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Vocabulary assignments and quizzes, literary terms study, and extension projects are also included. As a bonus, I've included free resources for book reports and literature circles, including a sample of The Big Book Project (which is the BEST book report ever!).
Preview of The White Mountains lesson plans, study guide and reading questions

The White Mountains lesson plans, study guide and reading questions

Created by
jonpickles
This folder contains a complete set of classroom materials for The White Mountains by John Christopher. Inside, you will find vocabulary lists and anticipation guide, reading questions for each chapter, a plot diagram quiz and key, a literary terms worksheet, an introduction to literature circles and planning guide, inter-disciplinary extension projects, vocabulary quizzes, and a summative test.
Preview of Build Fluency & Revise Student Writing - Accuracy, Expression, Rate, & Comp.

Build Fluency & Revise Student Writing - Accuracy, Expression, Rate, & Comp.

Created by
jonpickles
Turn ANY Student Writing into a Fluency Activity!Turn any student writing into a powerful reading fluency and writing revision routine using recording, self-assessment, and speaking & listening practice — perfect for upper elementary and middle school ELA.Stop hunting for passages. Use what students already wrote. This simple, powerful routine shows you how to turn any student writing piece into a meaningful fluency practice using tools you already have: Google Vids, Flip, Screencastify, or any
Preview of Bash of the Titans - A read aloud play that spoofs Greek Mythology

Bash of the Titans - A read aloud play that spoofs Greek Mythology

Created by
jonpickles
What if the classical heroes, gods, and goddesses from Greek Mythology were not all-powerful beings, but instead were high school students stuck in detention? No, it's not The Breakfast Club--it's Bash of the Titans: A Classic Myth-Mash! This play is a surreal and hysterical look at adolescence from a skewed perspective. Facing the boredom of detention, the protagonists plan for The Mount Olympus High School Prom. The wily female leads send their arrogant and ignorant dates on an epic quest t
Preview of Interactive Fiction & The Science of Reading: The Quiet Fever Adventure Story

Interactive Fiction & The Science of Reading: The Quiet Fever Adventure Story

Created by
jonpickles
Interactive Fiction (IF) a form of storytelling in which the reader participates in the narrative by making choices and navigating branching paths. It blends elements of literature and games so that the reader’s decisions influence the direction or outcome of the story. IF texts can be powerful tools for building literacy when they are intentionally aligned with the Science of Reading (SoR). The key is to use their built-in motivation, decision-making, and rereading loops to strengthen the very
Preview of Interactive Fiction-The Science of Reading-Build Knowledge, Fluency, & Literacy

Interactive Fiction-The Science of Reading-Build Knowledge, Fluency, & Literacy

Created by
jonpickles
Interactive Fiction (IF) a form of storytelling in which the reader participates in the narrative by making choices and navigating branching paths. It blends elements of literature and games so that the reader’s decisions influence the direction or outcome of the story. IF is a “triple threat” for FLUENCY, KNOWLEDGE BUILDING, and ENGAGEMENT/ENRICHMENT in any subject or topic. Science and Social Studies teachers rejoice! IF texts can be powerful tools for building literacy when they are intenti
Preview of Among the Hidden lesson plans, study guide and reading questions

Among the Hidden lesson plans, study guide and reading questions

Created by
jonpickles
This folder contains a complete set of classroom materials for Among the Hidden by Margaret Haddix. Inside, you will find vocabulary lists and anticipation guide, reading questions for each chapter, a plot diagram quiz and key, a literary terms worksheet, an introduction to literature circles and planning guide, an inter-disciplinary extension project (propaganda commercial), and a compare and contrast summative essay.
Preview of I am the Ice Worm lesson plans, study guide, and reading questions

I am the Ice Worm lesson plans, study guide, and reading questions

Created by
jonpickles
This file contains a complete set of scaffolded reading questions, vocabulary lists and quizzes, inter-disciplinary extension projects, and literary devices exploration as they apply to the novel, I am the Ice Worm by Mary Ann Easley. Answer keys are included!
Preview of Reader's Theater - Mortal Wombat - read-aloud play - Oral Reading Fluency

Reader's Theater - Mortal Wombat - read-aloud play - Oral Reading Fluency

Created by
jonpickles
Practice Oral Reading Fluency and engage your most reluctant readers with- MORTAL WOMBAT: The Island of Misfit Puns-a rowdy, rollicking, and ridiculous read-aloud play.  The play is full of literary and cultural references, puns, idioms, alliterations, playful language, and theatrical elements. It’s the perfect playground for the adventurous English or language arts teacher.  There are two 30 minute acts with nearly 25 speaking roles to engage all of your students. Mortal Wombat also contain
Preview of Argument Essay (Tiger Moms!) - High Interest Middle School Writing Assignment

Argument Essay (Tiger Moms!) - High Interest Middle School Writing Assignment

Created by
jonpickles
Middle school teachers know that students are at their best when interested, engaged, and stimulated by a topic. I've found my students to be positively rabid and practically exploding with opinions and insight on the topic of parenting styles. For this assignment, students will close read Amy Chua's infamous article, "Why Chinese Mothers are Superior," develop a claim as to which parenting style is best, and write an argument to support that claim. This assignment includes essential vocabulary
Preview of Reader's Theater - Alpaca Lips Now - A punny read-aloud play

Reader's Theater - Alpaca Lips Now - A punny read-aloud play

Created by
jonpickles
Practice Oral Reading Fluency and engage your most reluctant readers with Alpaca Lips Now: The Camelid of Catastrophe, a rowdy, rollicking, and ridiculous read-aloud play.  The play is full of literary and cultural references, puns, idioms, alliterations, playful language, and theatrical elements. It’s the perfect playground for the adventurous English or language arts teacher.  There are six short scenes (along with a prologue and an epilogue) and eleven speaking roles to engage your students
Preview of Reader's Theater - The Fast and the Furriest - A punny read-aloud play

Reader's Theater - The Fast and the Furriest - A punny read-aloud play

Created by
jonpickles
Practice Oral Reading Fluency and engage your most reluctant readers with-  The Fast and the Furriest: Speedway Showdown- a rowdy, rollicking, and ridiculous read-aloud play.  The play is full of literary and cultural references, puns, idioms, alliterations, playful language, and theatrical elements. It’s the perfect playground for the adventurous English or language arts teacher.  There are several short scenes (along with a prologue and an epilogue) and nearly 25 speaking roles to engage a
Preview of The Lightning Thief lesson plans, study guide and reading questions

The Lightning Thief lesson plans, study guide and reading questions

Created by
jonpickles
This study guide contains reading questions for each chapter of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Three vocabulary assignments and quizzes, a literary devices worksheet, and a character quiz are also included. I've updated this file to include a plot diagram quiz, and a literature circle introduction and planning page.
Preview of The Last Invisible Boy - lesson plans, study guide and reading questions

The Last Invisible Boy - lesson plans, study guide and reading questions

Created by
jonpickles
This file contains chapter-by-chapter reading questions for The Last Invisible Boy by Coovert and Kuhlman. It also includes a summative writing assignment on the history and etymology of surnames, a guide to the elements of fiction (with a worksheet and quiz), a plot diagram worksheet, as well as a pre-reading guide and vocabulary word webs. I've also added bonus literature circle resources.
Preview of Leaf in the Wind - A book about poetry, dyslexia, nature and summer camp!

Leaf in the Wind - A book about poetry, dyslexia, nature and summer camp!

Created by
jonpickles
Leaf in the Wind is a middle-grades novel. It is a literary fantasy that examines the themes of environmental conservation, learning disabilities, and the healing power of the fine arts. Along with the novel is a complete set of activities for your classroom which include a pre-reading guide, vocabulary assignments, a journal activity, and a visual arts book project. “The Champion Tree Project was conceived to preserve the genetic information of the country’s most outstanding trees. This p
Preview of 5Ws & H (who, what, when, where, why, and how): A Summary Writing Strategy

5Ws & H (who, what, when, where, why, and how): A Summary Writing Strategy

Created by
jonpickles
5Ws & H (who, what, when, where, why, and how) is a Next Generation standards-based summary writing strategy for new, struggling, and emergent writers. By using the 5Ws & H strategy, your students will be able to determine central ideas or themes of a fiction or nonfiction text, and analyze their development, and summarize the key supporting details and ideas. Scaffold summary paragraph writing for your new, struggling, and emergent writers in upper elementary through high school! Product i
Preview of SWBST (somebody wanted but so then): A Standards-Based Summary Writing Strategy

SWBST (somebody wanted but so then): A Standards-Based Summary Writing Strategy

Created by
jonpickles
SWBST (somebody wanted but so then) is a Next Generation standards-based summary writing strategy for new, struggling, and emergent writers. By using the SWBST strategy, your students will be able to determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development and summarize the key supporting details and ideas.Scaffold summary paragraph writing for your new, struggling, and emergent writers in upper elementary through high school! Product includes the full presentation for your sc
Preview of Claim Writing - Write Claims for the New Language Arts Learning Standards

Claim Writing - Write Claims for the New Language Arts Learning Standards

Created by
jonpickles
Write claims in your upper elementary, middle school, and secondary classroom today using The 5Cs Method: Context, Claim, Citation, Commentary, and Connection. The 5Cs method is directly tied to the new language arts learning standards for grades P-12. In academic contexts, a claim is a statement made by a student after having read a passage or a text. A claim could be a declaration of a student’s particular perspective or insight, or a claim might be a statement of a truth which may be co
Preview of New York State Next Generation Language Arts Anchor Standards Posters

New York State Next Generation Language Arts Anchor Standards Posters

Created by
jonpickles
This is a complete set of editable 8.5" x 11" posters for all of the New York State Next Generation Language Arts Anchor Standards for grades P-12 for your classroom. Posters are also included for the Lifelong Practices of Readers and Writers. The anchor standards are categorized as: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language and apply to all grade levels P-12 for NYS. Note - these are the ANCHOR Standards, not the individual grade band learning standards for each grade level.
Preview of Notice & Note Signposts (with posters)  FREE!

Notice & Note Signposts (with posters) FREE!

Created by
jonpickles
This file contains a kit to make simple posters of the six signposts from Beers's & Probst's Notice & Note program. It also contains a complete presentation and explanation of each of the signposts for use in your classroom. Best of all, it's free! I hope you've discovered Notice & Note by now. It's an excellent strategy for analyzing fiction and contains elements of text coding, annotation, and close reading. If you're like me, making posters is too time consuming and messy (I have terrible
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About the store

Experience

I've been teaching language arts in the middle grades for 25 years!

Teaching style

High-energy, creative, and inter-disciplinary.

Awards & shining teacher moments

I recently received a grant for using shadow puppets in the classroom.

My own education history

I received a Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary English degree from Quinnipiac in 1996.

Additional biographical information

In my spare time I enjoy rocking out in cover bands! Not that I have much spare time...