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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The Metamorphosis | Graphic Organizers | Mind Maps | Fiction Unit | Franz Kafka
Set of graphic organizers to use in examine the text of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Several options to choose from to fit your classroom needs. Includes comparing Gregor’s life before and after, as well as comparing the impact of the transformation on Grete and the family. Explore expectations of the story with an Expectations chart and a KWL. Examine how Gregor becomes more bug-like with the Going Buggy chart. Word Webs provided for Mood, Setting, Grete, and Gregor, after Transformation.
8th - 11th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, Literature
Also included in: The Metamorphosis | Essential Activities | Mini Bundle | Franz Kafka
10 Creative Culminating Projects | Final Projects | Any Novel Short Story | WRD1
A set of culminating projects to use with any novel or story in high school or middle school English ELA courses. Projects are a great way to review and analyze the text while including creativity and engagement. This collection of 10 Creative Culminating Projects offers many choices to use with any novel or short story. Plus the set of projects is offered as Task Cards, Choice Board, and Student Menu options for student choice and differentiated learning. Contents:Collage or Photobook
8th - 11th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Literature
I Have a Dream | MLK Speech | Reading, Critical Thinking, Test Questions
Use with: Martin Luther King Day / MLK DayTexts or speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Black History MonthLooking for something a little different for older students? Check out the Informational Text reading MLK vs. FBI using excerpts from the House Select Committee Report. Pairs great with the "I Have a Dream" Speech.This resource includes Reading, Quiz, and Critical Thinking questions for the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There is a short answer set of questions fo
8th - 11th
English Language Arts
The Raven | Vocabulary Terms and Concepts | Word Lists | Poetry Terms | Poe
Because of the time period when the poem “The Raven” was written, and because of the use of language to enhance the poetic elements, the poem uses some vocabulary and literary allusions that students are not familiar with. Can be assigned before or during reading the text. Also works well to jigsaw as a class for reference during reading. Includes student terms list, answer key, plus terms task cards. Contents:OverviewDeployment Terms listStudent Terms PrintableTerms Task CardsTerms and Conce
8th - 11th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, Poetry, Vocabulary
Also included in: The Raven | Poetry Comprehension | Social Media | Mini Bundle | Poe
Sleepy Hollow | Literary Classic | Fiction Unit | Bundle | Irving | PDF
Save 45% on this bundle of 20+ resources to use with the story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving. Includes a variety of activities for before, during, and after the story. Lots of options to choose from in a money-saving bundle. Contents:Reading, Thinking, and Quiz Questions: In order of the text with recall and analysis. Also includes critical thinking questions related to the text, with optional paragraph model and short rubric. Also includes 2 quiz options, short answer an
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Literature, Short Stories
A Christmas Carol | Culminating Project | Final Project | Choice Board |Dickens
A set of 16 projects for use with the study of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Students complete one or more projects related to material in and beyond the text. Allows students options to explore and create within their own interest and abilities. Includes Task Cards, Student Menu, and Choice Board versions, plus rubrics. Several versions to best fit your classroom needs, including condensed versions with only 12 projects. The categories are: Visual Creations, Beyond the Text, Retell
7th - 10th
English Language Arts, Literature
A Christmas Carol | Graphic Organizers | Mind Maps | Holiday | Seasonal |Dickens
A collection of graphic organizers for students to fill in with phrases and lines from the text of the story “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Includes Narrative Elements organizer, Character Analysis Organizers, Word Webs, a Cause and Effect, a Ghost Lessons (a modified E-Chart), and a KWL. Contents: Narrative Elements-- students identify characters, setting, conflict and plot of the story. Great for keeping track or reviewing. With Key.Character Analysis Organizer-- fill in characteri
7th - 10th
English Language Arts, Literature
Also included in: A Christmas Carol | Essential Mini Bundle | Holiday | Seasonal | Dickens
Sleepy Hollow | Literary Classic | Fiction Unit | Bundle | Irving | WORD
Save 30% on this bundle of 20+ editable resources to use with the story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving. Includes a variety of activities for before, during, and after the story. Lots of options to choose from in a money-saving bundle. Contents:Reading, Thinking, and Quiz Questions: In order of the text with recall and analysis. Also includes critical thinking questions related to the text, with optional paragraph model and short rubric. Also includes 2 quiz options,
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Literature
Personal Metamorphosis Projects | Task Cards | Choice Board | Essay options
This activity works well for self-reflection about change or growth—great as a stand-alone activity, or a tie in for stories about change, like “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka. This pack includes a set of projects offered as Task Cards, student menu, and choice board, as well as stand-alone narrative essay. Rubrics included. Option 1: Task Cards Differentiated Instruction. A set of 12 activities divided into three categories: Visual, Writing, and Other Media. Also offered as Student Menu and
8th - 11th, Adult Education
Creative Writing, Writing, Writing-Essays
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty | Literary Classic | Bundle | Thurber | PDF
A set of activities for use with the short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber. Includes reading questions, graphic organizers, essay writing, culminating projects and a Movie vs. Book comparison activity. Many choices to analyze this classic short story. Choose the options that fit best with your individual classroom needs. Rubrics and answer keys provided as appropriate. ContentsReading & Thinking Questions: set of questions in order of the text with answer key. Als
8th - 11th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, Literature
The Monkey's Paw | Graphic Organizers | Mind Maps | Fiction Unit | W.W. Jacobs
Set of graphic organizers to help students recall and analyze the story ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ by W.W. Jacobs. Includes Literary Devices, Wishes & Consequences and a Story map. Answer Keys included. Contents:Literary Devices Graphic Organizer with KeyWishes & Consequences Graphic Organizer with keyStory Map with KeyAlso available in the money-saving The Monkey's Paw Activity Bundle.This item is also part of the Halloween ELA Activity Bundle and the Three Wishes Unit: Aladdin and The Monkey's Paw
8th - 11th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, Literature, Short Stories
The Raven | Graphic Organizers | Mind Maps | Poetry Comprehension | Poe
A collection of graphic organizers for use with the poem “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe. Includes Word Webs, Sequence of Events Chart, and Nevermore Responses. Also includes Character Analysis Organizer and Narrative Elements Organizer. Answer keys included. Contents:Word WebsMoodSettingMemory of LenoreThe Raven (the bird)Plus a blank word webKeySequence of Events Chart with KeyNevermore Response Chart with KeyCharacter Analysis Organizer with Answer GuideAlso included as part of The Raven C
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Poetry
Also included in: The Raven | Poetry Comprehension | Social Media | Mini Bundle | Poe
Sleepy Hollow Projects | Choice Boards | Task Cards | Plot Analysis | Irving
A collection of 16 projects related to the story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. Students complete one or more projects related to material in and beyond the text. Allows students options to explore and create within their own interest and abilities. Includes Task Cards, Student Menu, and Choice Board versions, plus rubrics. Projects are divided into 4 categories: Visual Creations, Beyond the Text, Analyze, and Research. Grading rubrics included for each category. This
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Literature, Short Stories
Also included in: Sleepy Hollow | Final Projects | Choice Boards | Bundle | Irving
The Metamorphosis | Essential Activities | Mini Bundle | Franz Kafka
A bundle of just the Essential activities for teaching The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. This bundle includes some of my most popular resources for The Metamorphosis. This money-saving bundle includes the following items: Vocabulary Terms and Concepts Activity Reading Questions and Quiz Questions with keys. Plus Critical Thinking Questions with Paragraph ModelGraphic Organizers Alternate Ending ProjectWrite Your Own ActivityThis resource is a TPT Bundle, with each item as a separate PDF. Support
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Literature
5 Paragraph Essay Model | Short Story Essay Writing
This model turns writing a 5 Paragraph Essay into a fill-in-the-blank activity. Works for introducing students to the structure and organization of essays. Also good for helping students of all ages practice shorter essays or reinforcing good structure and organization. Works with any short essay topic. Can be used with all ages and grade levels to introduce or reinforce the concepts of a 5 Paragraph Essay. 5 Paragraph essays are highly structured and organized. The Model walks students t
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, Writing-Essays
A Christmas Carol | Reading, Critical Thinking, Test Questions | Dickens
A set of reading questions to go with the text, divided by Staves (chapters). Question types include recall as well as opinion (inference) about the characters and story. Also includes a set of Critical Thinking questions, with 1 per stanza and one for the whole story. Also includes a set of assessment questions for use as tests or quizzes. Includes short answer assessments by stanza. A short answer whole text assessment. Plus, a multiple-choice whole text assessment, with A and B versions and k
7th - 10th
English Language Arts, Literature
Also included in: A Christmas Carol | Essential Mini Bundle | Holiday | Seasonal | Dickens
The Cask of Amontillado | Literary Classic | Fiction Unit | Bundle | Poe | WORD
A collection of activities for use with the text "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe. A variety of tasks from reading questions to point of view writing to a real-world-writing investigation of Fortunato's disappearance. Activities included: • The Cask of Amontillado Coat of Arms Project: great as an anticipatory set, students create their own Coat of Arms with symbols that represent them. Also works as a stand-alone Back to School or start of the semester activity with ELA tie in of
8th - 11th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, Short Stories, Writing
Sleepy Hollow | Graphic Organizers | Mind Maps | Fiction Unit | Irving
A set of 6 graphic organizers for use with “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. Includes comparing Ichabod and Brom, comparing the stories of the Horseman to Ichabod’s experience, a KWL, evaluating whether it’s a story of a ghost or a prank, and a comparison of the different hauntings, plus narrative elements table. Several have both a plain format and a fun one with a graphics. Answer Keys included as applicable. Contents:KWL Ghost Story or Prank? TableGhost Story or Prank: Gho
8th - 11th, Adult Education
English Language Arts, Literature, Short Stories
Also included in: Sleepy Hollow | Essential Activities | Mini Bundle | Inferring | Irving
10 Creative Culminating Projects | Final Projects | Any Novel Short Story PDF V1
A set of culminating projects to use with any novel or story in high school or middle school English ELA courses. Projects are a great way to review and analyze the text while including creativity and engagement. This collection of 10 Creative Culminating Projects offers many choices to use with any novel or short story. Plus the set of projects is offered as Task Cards, Choice Board, and Student Menu options for student choice and differentiated learning. Contents:Collage or Photobook Projec
8th - 11th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Literature
Literary Essay Writing for Any Text, Differentiate for Writers of All Levels-PDF
Set of materials to support writers of all levels in writing a literary analysis essay for any text. Includes guidance on picking a topic (optional) as well as several printables to help students with the process, including the inclusion of literary devices in their analysis. Rubric provided. Provide, require, or exclude the support printables as needed for differentiation on an individual or class level. The printables are flexible and can be used with students new to effective essay writ
8th - 11th, Adult Education
Literature, Writing-Essays
Showing 1-20 of 57 results
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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