Make the Middle Matter
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Marietta, Georgia, United States
About the store
I've taught for 23 years, with the majority being in middle school. I taught high school for my first three years of teaching. I taught reading grades 9-12, English for 10th graders, and tutored students that needed to pass the high school writing exam.
Since my move to middle school, I've been involved in many areas: Language Arts, Social Studies, Creative Writing, and Reading.
I also worked with many teachers, in all three school levels, conducting staff development courses on writing instruction.
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8th Grade ELA FINAL EXAM with ANSWER KEY!
Just what you are looking for! 150 questions focused on the 8th grade Common Core & Grammar Standards. EASY way assess what your students have learned at the end of the year. This also works well as a pretest and then use at the end of the year to show growth. This is a multiple choice test that INCLUDES THE ANSWER KEY. Along with the answer key, is a list of all the terms so you can print it out and give it to your students for review. The test is formatted in a way that will allow you to use
7th - 9th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts
ELA Final Exam Review Survivor Grammar Game. Easy and Fun!
This PowerPoint Presentation is a great way to get middle school students engaged in the review process. As testing gets closer, this game will allow students to work in teams or as a whole class. Basic grammar standards in the Common Core are reviewed, such as: noun clauses, sentence types, independent and dependent clauses, prepositions, etc. By using the TV show "Survivor" as the theme, students will be inspired to out-think their peers! All answers are included** with this PowerPoint test pr
6th - 9th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
L.7.1
, L.8.1
, L.8.2
Nonfiction Structure & Text Features- Interactive Power Point!
A small unit that will help your students understand the importance and key elements of nonfiction. Characteristics of different types of nonfiction, text organizational structure, and text features are all covered for you. 3 Power Points with note taking sheets also, and a mix & match activity. There's also something special about these Power Points. 2 of them are interactive! Get your students up and moving while you go through the presentation with them. It's an easy way to a quick assessment
5th - 10th
English Language Arts, Informational Text, Reading
Point of View Activity- Hoodwinked!
This is a fun way to demonstrate point of view. The movie "Hoodwinked" follows four characters through a land of fairy tales as they try to solve a mystery. The Goodie Bandit keeps striking and Red, Wolf, Granny Pucket and the Woodsman are all under suspicion. To solve the crimes, they each tell their story from their point of view. It's a clever way to see how point of view can change depending on the character and the circumstances. This unit has graphic organizers to follow character traits.
5th - 10th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Reading
ELA State Testing Prep Review STUDY GUIDE 8th Grade (Milestones)
Are your 8th graders stressing over the state testing? Mine were too- until I gave them this! Four pages of all the standards we've learned this year. This document is tailored for the state of Georgia's Milestones Testing. HOWEVER, you are able to edit this, so if you're in another state, just change the first bullet point, and you are good to go! I'm also including PowerPoints that focus on two literary terms often introduced in 8th grade: irony & parallelism. EVEN MORE GREAT TEST PREP AVAI
8th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts
Current Events Social Studies Easy Templates Copy and Go!
This pack comes with 5 different types of current event templates to use in your classroom. Common Core focuses on increasing non-fiction reading and writing. These templates allow you to do just that, without having to create new activities every time. Depending on the level of your students, these can work from middle to high school. Here are some more easy and ready to go resources! GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Graphic-Organizers-and-Vocabulary-Activities-58
4th - 12th
English Language Arts, Social Studies
Writing Unit Prep for State Writing Tests- Writing Boot Camp
I like to call this Writing Boot Camp! This is a 2 week unit to gear up right before the writing test. This unit has well organized and clearly written lesson plans to follow - including classroom writing activities, peer work, homework, figurative language activities and quiz, DRAPES, and writing recipes. There are 20 files included in this unit. 2 Power Points to help clarify the writing program, multiple writing prompts, and more. If you like this unit, you will want to check out my COMPLE
5th - 10th
English Language Arts, Writing
Make Foldables EASY TEMPLATES!! ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading
With over 25 unique foldables, your students will always have a creative way to organize their learning. Students of all ages can use these hands-on graphic organizers. You'll find Tabs, Flaps, Pamphlets, Booklets, Flowers, Triangles, Rectangles, Pentagons and more! Language Arts, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Health, even Math can use foldables in a variety of ways so that students are interacting with the information in a variety of ways. Lapbooks, Posters, Presentations, Assessments, an
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, For All Subjects, Science
Connotation & Denotation Unit
Buy this unit and enjoy a wide variety of resources. 2 Power Points, multiple written activities, homework sheet, visual mini-project, interactive CLOZE activity, and a quiz with the answer key + more! This unit covers multiple grade levels, 6th-8th, and the Common Core Standards have already been listed for you on the Product List sheet. I'm sure you will find all sorts of resources in this unit to help your students better understand and utilize the concepts of word meaning through connotation
6th - 12th
English Language Arts, Reading, Vocabulary
CCSS
L.6.4
, L.6.5
, L.7.4
+3
Writing Essays Unit- Persuasive Argumentative HUGE Expanded Package!
Highlight Your Writing is a unique program that allows students to interact with writing in a kinesthetic and visual way. By using the color-coding system, the action of highlighting easily illustrates the writing's strengths and weaknesses. Students are able to scaffold through the process to allow themselves to develop their writing process until they exceed the standards. This program has been used by thousands of students with great success on writing tests. Schools have seen their passing r
6th - 10th
English Language Arts, Writing
State Testing ELA Review with Pre Test and Practice 6th, 7th, 8th grade
Just what you LA teachers are in need of- practice questions for your middle school students! In this folder you will find 2 sets of grammar test practice questions ; both of which have ANSWER KEYS. OVER 60 Q & A! You will also find a study guide that has been condensed into 1 page along with a Powerful Word Handout. Both sheets will give your students key standards and concepts to review. EVEN MORE GREAT TEST PREP AVAILABLE FOR YOU!!! ADD A REVIEW GAME! To help your students prepare for test
6th - 8th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Grammar
CCSS
L.6.1
, L.7.1
, L.8.1
+5
Reading Comprehension Foldable
Cubing Response: This activity allows students to respond to any type of writing. I have used it to connect a nonfiction article with a larger fictional story – like a class novel- with my students. However, you can use it in isolation also. Have students read the article of your choosing. Then, give them the directions below along with the blank cube sheet. Students complete their responses with one focus on each side of the cube. When they’re finished, they will cut the cube, fold it along th
4th - 10th
English Language Arts, Reading Strategies, Writing
Early Finishers and After State Test Activities QUIET
This is 12 pages of fun word games. Logic, Commonyms (what do 3 objects have in common), "Go-Togethers", and Rhyme Time keep students busy and thinking! Here are a few quick examples Rhyme Time Directions- your answers will be synonyms for each clue; however, they will rhyme- look at the following examples: EX #1- move female deer- GO DOE EX #2- daisy strength- FLOWER POWER Go-Togethers Directions- fill in the missing word, words, phrase to complete these words that often "go together": EX #1-
5th - 12th
English Language Arts
Parallel Structure Lessons
This small unit has 3 sections: PowerPoint to explain parallel structure, give examples, and then have the students create their own lines of parallel structure for practice; a foldable for parallel structure that uses magazine ads; a poetry assignment that layers figurative language with the theme of past, present, and future. I like to use this to help my students add style to their writing. It could also be used in a poetry unit.
Be sure to check out these resources too!
http://www.teachers
5th - 12th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Poetry
State Test Prep ELA Final Exam Combo Pack 8th Grade - Save $$
SAVE YOURSELF TIME! USE FOR PRE OR POST TESTING! Buy this combo pack of language arts testing, study guides, and reviews. YOU SAVE OVER $8.00 WHEN YOU BUY THE COMBO PACK. There are 13 different resources. Here is a brief overview of the five main pieces: ELA FINAL EXAM: This is a 150 QUESTION MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST that INCLUDES THE ANSWER KEY. Along with the answer key, is a list of all the terms so you can print it out and give it to your students to review. The test is formatted in a way that
6th - 8th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Grammar
Character Traits Activities PPT Notes 6th-8th Grade ELA
Just what your students need to learn and study character traits. This is a group that includes PPT presentation, and three sets of notes: one completed, one with fill in the blanks, and one completely blank for students to complete. Easy differentiation for you to choose what works best for your students. OVER 20 Character Trait Charts in PDF for you to choose based on needs.Projects such as creating Hero Flags -This project is based around the hero of a story. It can be edited to use for a
5th - 8th
Literature, Novel Studies, Reading
Character Traits with Willy Wonka Movie
This packet contains several activities for students to do along with the classic movie Willy Wonka. The main focus is character traits. All the main characters are covered in a graphic organizer. Students will then track their own character traits. There are also over 25 general character trait graphic organizers contained in this packet. A PowerPoint outlines the basics of character traits. You can model the activity using a web relating to Spider Man. There is a final assignment where student
4th - 12th
Drama, English Language Arts, Literature
Dangling Modifier Activity Quick and Fun!
This is a fun way for students to see how a dangling modifier affects the meaning of a sentence. This activity includes step by step instructions, and over 4 pages of dangling or misplaced modifiers to choose from. Sometimes grammar isn't always fun, but this helps. My students have gotten a real kick out of the sentences and loved the final result of the assignment. Yours will too! Be sure to check out these grammar resources too: PARALLEL STRUCTURE! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product
5th - 11th
English Language Arts, Grammar
State Testing Review PPT on Informational Text and Research
This 36 slide PowerPoint Presentation reviews a wide variety of basics that come from using INFORMATIONAL TEXT - a major component of Common Core. How to begin basic research, the resource materials, text features, reference materials, and internet usage is all a part of this PowerPoint test review. The answers are included as a separate sheet. Middle grades would be the best fit for this file. Advanced/Gifted 5th graders may benefit from this too. BONUS: A text feature mix-and-match activity. U
5th - 9th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Informational Text
CCSS
RI.8.4
, RI.8.6
, RI.8.7
+1
Reading Strategies for all Subjects Print and Go!
This Common Core Folder has many templates to help you bring this curriculum into your classroom AND make it easier on you to plan!
4 lesson/unit plan templates- There's one for each of the four main subject areas: Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. The template is 2 pages long, with the 2nd page giving you extra room to write if needed. You can use it to plan lessons or an entire unit. Several key targets are included to keep your lessons on track on meeting the CC standards.
T
6th - 12th
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About the store
Experience
I've taught for 23 years, with the majority being in middle school. I taught high school for my first three years of teaching. I taught reading grades 9-12, English for 10th graders, and tutored students that needed to pass the high school writing exam.
Since my move to middle school, I've been involved in many areas: Language Arts, Social Studies, Creative Writing, and Reading.
I also worked with many teachers, in all three school levels, conducting staff development courses on writing instruction.
Teaching style
Getting to know my students is one of the ways I find great success. It can be a big challenge though in middle school- they aren't quite sure who they are at that point!
I like to find a few different ways to let the students express themselves, so differentation is often found in my lessons. I also search for ways to break tasks down into smaller steps or give strategies so students can become successful.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Teacher of the Year Finalist; multiple Teacher of the Month awards; Technology Teacher Honors of the Month; representative for Local School Improvement Committee; Chairperson for Language Arts; Chairperson for Connection Classes; PTA teacher representative; Coordinator for Vertical Teaming; Presenter for parent writing workshops.
My own education history
BS- Middle Grades Education from the University of Georgia
MEd- Reading Specialist from the University of Georgia
EdS- Instruction and Curriculum from Nova University
Additional biographical information
I've had to retire from the classroom, but I just can't leave teaching! Looking forward to what online instruction holds for me.
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