Novel Necessities

"Riding Freedom" by Pam Muñoz Ryan is an excellent historical fiction novel that brings to the life the story of Charlotte, a woman who disguised herself as a man to work with horses in a time when women had little opportunity. This teacher guide takes you through the entire book with vocabulary, a synopsis of each chapter, lessons for each chapter, student pages, and extension activities. The questions go beyond basic comprehension, but dig deeper into character analysis and motives. Included i

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a Newberry Classic of adventure, intrigue, and truth. What I love as I read is the rats’ eager desire to learn everything possible, the simple devotion and trusting of Mrs. Frisby, and the sense of a bigger world out there than she ever knew. The rats give the sense of a misjudged race, one that rose above their circumstances and became more than anyone could fathom. The title character is one whose world was closer to the rats than she ever knew, and she beco

This is a reader's theater based on the book "Too Many Tamales" by Gary Soto. Incorporating 11 characters, you can choose to do a simple reader's theater or a full blow play in your classroom! Great for teaching problem and solution, as well as character. Perfect for the holiday season!

This teacher guide is a combination of the Esperanza Rising Teacher Guide and the Esperanza Rising Vocabulary Study and Challenge Questions. Same great content, just put together at a discounted rate! Easy and ready to use immediately in the classroom. *Added technology bonus- have students join the conversation about these books, discussing their thinking at novelnecessities.blogspot.com!

If you are searching for "Because of Winn-Dixie", you are probably like me a year ago, trying to figure out a way to keep my kids accountable for their reading, but at the same time reviewing the skills and vocabulary they need that align with standards. I decided to create my own that include vocabulary from every chapter, connections to the real lives of students, and higher order thinking questions that challenge them beyond the simple "what happened in this story?" Use with a guided reading

"Esperanza Rising" is a beautifully written story of triumph and hope. With this novel study, students will be guided through Esperanza's journey through vocabulary, higher order thinking questions, and personal connections. This is appropriate for small group, whole group, and independent study. Easy to use for teachers and students alike!

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated mid-September through Mid-October! Take care of two goals at once by combining reading with reading passages on famous Hispanic Americans! There are 10 close reading passages about Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Ellen Ochoa, Sonia Sotomayor, Roberto Clemente, and others! Students can learn about these important figures all while applying Close Reading strategies. Ideas are given for how to use the passages as well as modifications and extension ideas. A great

"Bud, Not Buddy" is a challenging book, but one that is full of amazing teaching opportunities. This novel study not only guides students through that challenge with vocabulary and higher order thinking questions, but allows them to connect to the book personally and the story of Bud. Use this guide to facilitate your readers through this novel and keep them accountable, challenged, and self-motivated to complete it. For use in small group, whole group, or individually. NEED MORE? Check out the

Bud, Not Buddy is a wonderful book with rich storylines and amazing characters. Have your students go in depth with this novel in this Common Core aligned Teacher Guide. Lessons are included for each chapter along with fine arts extensions, research projects including rubrics, response journal suggestions, and an easy to use guide to help students and teachers glean all they can from the book! Want more? Check out the Bud, Not Buddy Deluxe Teacher Guide that contains the student vocabulary and c

With the implementation of the Common Core, the rigor has been raised and standards are higher. More is expected out of our students. This journal addresses these challenges in a very practical and easy to use way. Here are some of the features: 1. – A reading passage to begin the unit. 2. – An interactive journal for students to use during teaching. 3. –Challenge Questions are at the end of each journal set to work on problem solving skills and application of what they have learned. 4. –A “co

This comprehensive teacher guide includes creative, challenging, and comprehensive activities for each chapter of a beautifully written and inspiring novel. With pre-made student sheets and activity ideas, teachers can easily incorporate this guide into their reading and novel study time. Students love the deep, yet accessible concepts that are taught through each chapter, and teachers love the simple, yet higher order thinking questions that really pull students into the novel and get them thin

With the introduction of the NGSS, this unit about plants correlates completely with the new science standards! Several ELL modifications and strategies are included that are beneficial to all learners. Supplements include a matching game, student notes, chant, assessments, and much more! Suggestions for ELL modifications according to language level are also included. Help your students develop a love of science through the interactive, hands-on, vocabulary driven, comprehensive unit!

"The Indian in the Cupboard" is an entertaining novel that offers many teachable moments in the realm of character and relationships. Divided into 12 easy to use sessions, this novel study will guide students through the vocabulary, characters, and higher level thinking about the text they will read. Students and teachers will enjoy this novel and will glean even more from it with this novel study!

The World Cup is an exciting time all over the world, and the kids get caught up in the excitement! To capitalize on that, as well as make the last few weeks of school enjoyable, this unit includes activities to keep the students engaged as well as learn about one of the greatest sports tournaments in the world. The Unit is meant to be a five day unit, with pieces that you can use at your discretion. There are reading passages, centers, math activities, art and music, and research projects. Hel

With the implementation of the Common Core, the rigor has been raised and standards are higher. More is expected out of our students. This journal addresses these challenges in a very practical and easy to use way. Here are some of the features: 1. – A reading passage to begin the unit. 2. – An interactive journal for students to use during teaching. 3. –Challenge Questions are at the end of each journal set to work on problem solving skills and application of what they have learned. 4. –A “c

This teacher guide takes you through 9 sessions of the book "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli. Complete with a synopsis, lesson motivation, lesson, extension activities, and student pages, this guide is easy to use and gets students analyzing and evaluating one of the most acclaimed children's books of all time. Also included are a mid-novel quiz and an after test. Students will go beyond the basic comprehension of the text, but will learn to understand motives, evaluate author's purpose, and use

The loveliness of “Because of Winn-Dixie” as a whole cannot be understated. Set in small town Florida, the book charms the reader with vivid descriptions while tugging on the heartstrings of the reader as they invest into Opal’s story. She is a girl who is alone, a feeling that at one point or another we all feel. However, the discoveries and friends she makes along the way because of Winn-Dixie, is a beautiful cause and effect. This teacher guide comes complete with lessons for every two chapte

As part of the Common Core, some of the main shifts are an emphasis on non-fiction text as well as a deeper understanding of what is read. Close Reading is a way of reading that allows students to explore non-fiction text at a deeper level. This product contains three leveled passages about 15 different composers! 45 passages in all! These non-fiction reading passagesare leveled by high, medium, and low to use with all different types of learners and all different grade levels. Students can clos

This product combines the comprehensive unit of study teacher guide and student guide into one discounted price product. In anticipation for the movie this August, take students through the novel, The Giver, helping them discover the important themes and challenges in this suspenseful, thought-provoking novel. Challenges students to think deeper and easy to use for teachers!

Chants are an exciting and effective teaching strategy. This Nature of Science pack contains five chants about topics such as the scientific method and safety. Why chants? Chants are embedded with science vocabulary and concepts, crucial to lesson content. They use music and rhythm, devices that help students retain the information longer. Chants are a tried and true strategy for ELL learners (as well as all learners). Most of all, they pique interest in the lesson and pre-teach key lesson point