msdickson
649 Followers
Michigan, United States
About the store
I spent years teaching English on a Shoestring Budget, using Photocopies and Projects to stretch my meager budget of school and personal funds. In addition to limited resources, I also had the challenge of engaging reluctant alternative high school students. I worked to balance high expectations with accessible coursework. I keep an eye out for affordable, yet engaging text options that can be used for papers and projects in class.
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3 Wishes 5 Paragraph Essay using Writing Process | Short Essay Writing
This assignment walks students through the writing process in writing a 5 Paragraph Essay about three wishes they would like. They will brainstorm, narrow their topic, write a thesis, write their rough draft, make corrections, and make a final draft using the highly structured format of the 5 Paragraph Essay. I find that many students would rather skip steps of the writing process. While they can still kind of do so, this activity does push them to try the steps. For example, they are to thi
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Writing, Writing-Essays
A Christmas Carol | Word Search | Holiday | Seasonal | Dickens
Fun word search with terms and concepts from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. 25 terms. Answer key included. Print and go fun! Terms:EBENEZER SCROOGEBOB CRATCHITTINY TIMJACOB MARLEYBAH HUMBUGDOORKNOCKERPRESENTPASTFUTURE CHRISTMASVISITSLESSONFETTEREDFEZZIWIGBELLEMONEYPOORGRAVE SPECTERSHADEPHANTOMNEPHEWSPIRIT GREEDGHOSTSFile is a single PDF.
7th - 10th
English Language Arts, Literature
Also included in: A Christmas Carol | Essential Mini Bundle | Holiday | Seasonal | Dickens
"I Have a Dream" Speech Analyzing Analogies Activity (Dr King ) MLK
Students will analyze the analogies used in the “I Have a Dream” speech. They will explain the phrase in their own words (in simple terms) and examine what the effect of the analogy. Includes a version with just explaining the analogies, a version with extra credit offered to add appropriate illustrations AND a version with appropriate illustrations as a required element. Quick print-and-go ready activity for students to examine the text and consider the effect of the analogies. Answers
8th - 12th
Writing Dialogue Handout with Punctuation and Using in a Story
The Writing Dialogue Handout covers both the punctuation of dialogue as well as effective use in story writing. The story writing section includes the use of dialogue tags, how "said" becomes invisible to the reader, how to use character actions in place of dialogue tags, dropping dialogue tags with two speakers and more. Useful handout for students writing dialogue. As both English teacher and writer, I noticed that most novels use 'said' or character attribution rather than replacing 'said'
8th - 11th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Creative Writing, English Language Arts
Metamorphosis Terms Word Search, For Any Story or Poem
Fun word search with words related to metamorphosis or change. Goes well with texts relating to change, such as “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, or other poems and stories. Answer key included. Contents: Word Search with 23 terms Answer Key This item is a single file PDF. Like this? Check these out: Literary Terms Crossword Puzzle and Word SearchLiterary Essay Writing for Any Text, Differentiate for Writers of All LevelsKWL Research Project, Works with Any TextSuggestions for use: Respondin
8th - 11th
Literature, Vocabulary
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening: Write Your Own Poem | Poetry Analysis
In this FREE project, students will examine the rhyme scheme and stanzas of the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost. Then, they will write their own poem about stopping and contemplating. Short and engaging project with a single-page instruction sheet with rubric. Preset literary devices to copy in their poem. This project also has an expanded (paid) form with more flexible options of literary devices, including teacher-selected or student-choice. Literary devices analy
8th - 11th
Poetry, Writing
Sleepy Hollow | Word Search | Vocabulary Terms | Word Lists | Irving
Fun word search with names and concepts from the story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. Good for review or a fun wrap up. Words can be backwards and diagonal. Includes word search with 12 terms and key. Terms used: 1. GHOSTS 2. ICHABOD CRANE 3. MAJOR ANDRE 4. TEACHER 5. DAREDEVIL 6. PUMPKIN 7. BROM BONES 8. KATRINA 9. HEADLESS HORSEMAN 10. SLEEPY HOLLOW 11. GUNPOWDER 12. CHURCH BRIDGE Contents: Word Search Key This item is a single file PDF.
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Literature
Also included in: Sleepy Hollow | Essential Activities | Mini Bundle | Inferring | Irving
The Metamorphosis | Crossword | Vocabulary Words and Phrases | Kafka
Fun crossword puzzle for “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka. Reviews important details from the story with 15 clues. Answer key included. Contents: Crossword Answer KeyIncludes clues asking for Greta's name, the jobs held by different characters, how many doors in Gregor's room and more. This item is a single file PDF. This activity refers to the free eText version from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5200/5200-h/5200-h.htm Other versions may vary. Like this? Check these ou
8th - 11th
Literature, Short Stories
The Call of the Wild | Word Search | Vocabulary Terms | Jack London
Fun word search with the names of the 15 dogs given names in the story, including Buck. Terms may be forward, backward, or diagonal. Key included. Terms: Dog NamesBUCK TOOTS YSABEL CURLY SPITZ DAVE BILLIE JOE SOL-LEKS PIKE DUB DOLLY TEEK KOONA SKEET NIG This item is a single file PDF. Please be aware that some students may find treatment of the dogs in the story objectionable. This product uses the Project Gutenberg E-Text: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/215Suggestions for use: Responding t
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Literature, Other (ELA)
Create a Book Commercial Activity | Real World Writing | Script Writing
This activity has students write a script for a commercial to advertise a book, including why someone should read it. They can also create the commercial. Includes original Informational Text on Commercial Script Writing. Two separate student activities: the script and the commercial can be used together or individually. Real-world writing is a good way to engage students. The writing part includes the shooting script, which addresses the angles and images as depicted, as well as just the word
9th - 12th
English Language Arts, Writing
Cheat Sheet/ Quick Guide to Descriptive Words Handout
Handout to help students with Descriptive Words. This one-page guide provides a handful of vivid color words, touch/texture words, sound words, size words and location words, along with a few helpful hints. Handout is in color which makes for a great permanent reference sheet, but also prints great in black/white. Print and Go Ready. This item is a single file PDF. Works well with descriptive and creative writing. Like this? Check these out: 10 Creative Culminating Projects for Any Short Sto
8th - 11th, Adult Education
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Writing
Cheat Sheet/ Quick Guide to Literary Essays
Handy one-page guide to help remind students of the important elements in a literary essay. Works well as a complement to a lesson on literary essays—students can keep a copy in their notes for later reference. Prints well in color and black and white. NOTE: This requires a lesson on Literary Essays. It does not teach the full literary essay but reinforces previously taught information about literary essays. Item is a single file PDF. Want more literary essay support, try the Literary Essay
8th - 11th, Adult Education
Literature, Poetry, Writing-Essays
The Time Machine | Word Search | Vocabulary Terms | Word List | Wells
Fun word search with 16 terms related to the story The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. Includes Key. Words are forward, backward, and/ or diagonal. Print and Go, ready to use. Terms List: 1. Haves 2. HavesNots 3. UpperWorlders 4. UnderWorlders 5. Morlocks 6. Eloi 7. TimeTraveller 8. TimeMachine 9. Matches 10. Fire 11. Flower 12. River 13. WhiteSphinx 14. EightHundredThousandTwo 15. Future 16. Camphor 17. PalaceofGreenPorcelain 18. Weena Contents: The Time Machine Wordsearch The Time Machin
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Literature, Other (ELA)
Rip Van Winkle | Word Search | Vocabulary | Washington Irving
Fun word search with terms for the story “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving. Includes 14 words. Answer key included. Included words: BEARD DAME VAN WINKLE FLAGON HUDSON RIVER KAATSKILL KING GEORGE KNICKERBOCKER NAP NINE PINS RIP VAN WINKLE SLEEP TWENTY YEARS WASHINGTON WOLF Contents: Word Search Key This item is a single file PDF.
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Literature
Book Advertising Flyer | Real World Writing Activity | Social Media Writing
Real-world writing activity has students create an advertising flyer for a Great Book. They’ll explain what makes this Book worth reading. The flyer is a one page print advertisement, such as displayed in stores or public places. For this activity, the flyer is a one-page print advertisement. Flyers are displayed in stores or public places. Similar to the flyer is the print advertisement, which may appear on signs in public spaces or store windows. Magazines and newspapers also have one page pr
9th - 12th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Writing
Reading Bookmark Activity | End of Year Activity | Any Novel or Short Story
Fun bookmark activity about reading. Students will design a bookmark around the topic of encouraging readers. Works great for a filler activity or an end-of-the year activity. Can be used with the pre-made template or on plain sheets of paper (copy or printer paper). Alternately, students can create their design on the computer using the templates or creating their own templates. Because of challenges in aligning double-sided printing, students may be best directed to print the front and back
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Reading
Critical Thinking Paragraph Model
This paragraph model is designed for secondary students who benefit for being forced to write critical thinking answers in a structured form, rather than rambling and calling it a paragraph. The model includes prompts for each sentence of the paragraph and room for students to write. Simple design-- no cutesy graphics-- appropriate for older students. The topic sentence is the position that the student is taking, the body sentences are evidence/ support and the last sentence is a summary. Th
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, General Science, Writing
Villainous Terms Word Search for any story, poem, or text!
Fun word search with 39 villainous terms related to being despicable, disreputable, or odious. Words include both simple and more challenging villainous terms—from bad to malefactor and lots in between. Includes answer key. Good filler for back to school, start or end of a unit, or any time. Print-and-go ready. As a bonus activity, have students find definitions for some or all of the terms. Students could earn extra credit for looking up words, such as ½ point extra credit for each set of
8th - 11th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, Literature, Vocabulary
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About the store
Experience
I spent years teaching English on a Shoestring Budget, using Photocopies and Projects to stretch my meager budget of school and personal funds. In addition to limited resources, I also had the challenge of engaging reluctant alternative high school students. I worked to balance high expectations with accessible coursework. I keep an eye out for affordable, yet engaging text options that can be used for papers and projects in class.
Teaching style
The goal of any activity in education is for students to learn and then demonstrate their understanding of the concepts. However, they cannot understand what they know if they are not engaged in the activity. It is always my goal to create activities that are accessible and/ or engaging so that students can be successful. Projects are my favorite as they allowed flexibility and opportunities for differentiation. I also do appreciate reading questions to guide students, and hold them accountable for reading (and they are accessible, since I make them in order and limited "tricky" questions.)
Awards & shining teacher moments
Recognized by the State of Michigan, along with the other teachers, for Excellence in Adult Education.
My own education history
I earned my GED rather than be a senior in high school. I spent two years at a local community college before transferring to finish my degree in Secondary English and History education. I later returned to online schooling to get a Graduate Certificate in Educational Media and Technology. I always try to help my own students have a better high school experience than I did.
Additional biographical information
I share teaching ideas and more at www.msdicksonsclass.com
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