Oakes's Acorns
99 Followers
Clarksburg, Maryland, United States
About the store
I am currently in my seventeenth year of teaching in a large public school system. I taught 3rd grade for three years, 4th grade for eight years, and 5th grade for six years, in both general and gifted education programs.
I have also been an online instructor for adults taking coursework to earn their gifted and talented certification and students taking enrichment courses in language arts.
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Restart by Gordon Korman: Comprehension and Discussion Questions
Restart is an amazing book about friendships, second chances, and working together to combat bullying! This resource includes comprehension and discussion questions for all 30 chapters of the novel. An answer key for comprehension questions is included. This product also has an extensive list of figurative language from throughout the novel and a list of important quotes to discuss during small groups. There are recording sheets for all questions, figurative language, and quotes for students to
4th - 7th
Reading
Restart by Gordon Korman: Novel Unit
Restart is an amazing book about friendships, second changes, and working together to combat bullying. This resource is a full novel study unit that includes: * a pre-reading activity with 32 quotes from the book that students will use to reflect, make predictions, and engage with the text before reading * comprehension and discussion questions for all 30 chapters and response sheets * examples of figurative language throughout the story and a response sheet * an extensive list of quotes to use
4th - 7th
Reading
Restart by Gordon Korman: Pre-reading Activity
Restart is an amazing book about friendships, second chances, and working together to combat bullying! This resource includes a pre-reading activity with 32 quotes from the novel that students can use to engage with the text and make predictions. In my TPT store, the following products are also available: choice board with 9 culminating activitiescomprehension and discussion questions for all chapters with an answer key for the comprehension questionsa complete novel unit with all activities inc
4th - 7th
Reading
Boy, Tales of Childhood: Comprehension and Discussion Questions
This resource includes comprehension and discussion questions for all 25 chapters of the novel. An answer key for comprehension questions is included. This product also has an extensive list of vocabulary and figurative language from throughout the novel and a list of important quotes to discuss during small groups. There are recording sheets for all questions, vocabulary, figurative language, and quotes for students to use. In my TPT store, I also have: a pre-reading activitya choice board with
4th - 6th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
Save Me a Seat: Comprehension and Discussion Questions
This purchase includes comprehension and discussion questions for all 49 chapters of Save Me a Seat. Comprehension questions can be used to assess or monitor understanding, while discussion questions are more open-ended and perfect for Book Clubs and Literature Circles. Questions require textual evidence, inferencing, and personal connections. **UPDATED - to include an answer key for all comprehension questions AND student response sheets for both comprehension and discussion questions. In my TP
4th - 7th
Reading
Knots in My Yo-Yo String Comprehension and Discussion Questions
This resource includes comprehension and discussion questions for all 24 chapters of the novel. An answer key for comprehension questions is included. This product also has an extensive list of vocabulary and figurative language from throughout the novel and a list of important quotes to discuss during small groups. There are recording sheets for all questions, vocabulary, figurative language, and quotes for students to use. In my TPT store, I also have: a pre-reading activitya choice board with
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
Restart by Gordon Korman: End of Unit Choice Board
Restart is an amazing book about friendships, second chances, and working together to combat bullying! This resource includes an end of unit choice board with 9 culminating activities. In my TPT store, the following products are also available: a pre-reading activitycomprehension and discussion questions for all chapters with an answer key for the comprehension questionsa complete novel unit with all activities includedAdditionally, you can find 11 literature circle/book club jobs that are perf
4th - 7th
Reading
Boy, Tales of Childhood: Novel Unit
This resource is a full novel study unit that includes: * a pre-reading activity with 18 quotes from the book that students will use to reflect, make predictions, and engage with the text before reading * comprehension and discussion questions for all 25 chapters and response sheets * vocabulary words for each chapter and a recording sheet * examples of figurative language throughout the story and a response sheet * an extensive list of quotes to use as part of your group discussion and a respon
4th - 6th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
Hamburger Model for Paragraphs Rubric
This rubric can be used to support instruction of the "Hamburger Model" for writing paragraphs. The Hamburger Model teaches students to think of the introductory sentence as the top bun, the details as the burger, and the conclusion as the bottom bun. This rubric includes the both composition and mechanics components which can be used to calculate two separate grades or one overall writing grade.
3rd - 5th
Writing
Save Me a Seat: End-of-Novel Choice Board
If your class is reading Save Me a Seat, this is the perfect culminating activity. This purchase provides students with 9 engaging activities that incorporate ideas and concepts from the story. Students are given the opportunity for research, writing, creating art, and making a difference in their schools! In my TPT store, the following products are also available: pre-reading activitycomprehension and discussion questions for all chapters with an answer key for comprehension questionscomplete n
4th - 7th
Reading
Current Events Journal
Current events are an essential component of any social studies curriculum. This assignment is designed to invite students to delve into the current events of the world around them. Students are required to compose a summary of their article, identify key vocabulary words, and explain the event's overall importance. I used this assignment as a current events journal, but it could also be used for an online discussion forum, preparation for an oral presentation, or as the basis for whole or sm
3rd - 7th
Civics
Save Me a Seat: Novel Study
If your class is reading Save Me a Seat, this is the perfect resource for you! It includes: * a pre-reading activity with 32 quotes from the text for students to share and reflect on to get them excited to start reading * comprehension and discussion questions for all 49 chapters of the book * a post-reading choice board that offers 9 engaging culminating activities **UPDATED to include: - an answer key for all comprehension questions - a recording sheet for comprehension and discussion q
4th - 7th
Reading
Because of Winn-Dixie: Comprehension and Discussion Questions
This resource includes comprehension and discussion questions for all 26 chapters of the novel. An answer key for comprehension questions is included. This product also has an extensive list of vocabulary and figurative language from throughout the novel and a list of important quotes to discuss during small groups. There are recording sheets for all questions, vocabulary, figurative language, and quotes for students to use. In my TPT store, I also have: a pre-reading activitya choice board with
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
The Magician's Elephant: Comprehension and Discussion Questions
This resource includes comprehension and discussion questions for all 20 chapters of the novel. An answer key for comprehension questions is included. This product also has an extensive list of vocabulary and figurative language from throughout the novel and a list of important quotes to discuss during small groups. There are recording sheets for all questions, vocabulary, figurative language, and quotes for students to use. In my TPT store, I also have: a pre-reading activitya choice board with
3rd - 6th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
Because of Winn-Dixie: End of Novel Choice Board
This resource includes an end of novel choice board with 9 culminating activities. In my TPT store, I also have: a pre-reading activitycomprehension and discussion questions for all chapters with an answer key for the comprehension questionsa complete novel unit with all activitiesAdditionally, you can find 11 literature circle/book club jobs that are perfect to use to help students prepare for group discussions while addressing the CCSS. If you like this activity, I also have products for the
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
Let's Get Ready to Rubble! A Pet Rock Project
What better way to liven up your rocks and minerals unit than with a Pet Rock Project with a twist? In this project, students choose a pet rock to enter into your classroom competition. "Contestants" are judged in three categories: Grooming (which in addition to decorating their rock requires students to make scientific observations about them and investigate their rock's magnetism, ability to float, and reaction to vinegar), Pedigree (in which students research their rock's background), and T
3rd - 4th
Earth Sciences
Historical Fiction or Historical Prediction Writing Project
Historical fiction is a powerful genre for seamlessly integrating language arts and social studies. This project challenges students to take what they have learned from their study of historical fiction to create their own historical fiction picture book. Students are given the option of researching a historical time period or writing a picture book about our current time period, as they think it will be remembered 20 years from now. The file includes a grading rubric and a questionnaire to h
4th - 6th
Other (Social Studies), Reading
The Tale of Despereaux Pre-Reading Activity
This resource includes a pre-reading activity with 21 quotes from the novel that students can use to engage with the text and make predictions. In my TPT store, I also have: comprehension and discussion questions for all chaptersa choice board with 9 culminating activitiesa novel study unit with all productsAdditionally, you can find 11 literature circle/book club jobs that are perfect to use to help students prepare for group discussions while addressing the CCSS. If you like this pre-reading
3rd - 5th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
Knots in My Yo-Yo String: Novel Unit
This resource is a full novel study unit that includes: * a pre-reading activity with 21 quotes from the book that students will use to reflect, make predictions, and engage with the text before reading * comprehension and discussion questions for all 24 chapters and response sheets * vocabulary words for each chapter and a recording sheet * examples of figurative language throughout the story and a response sheet * an extensive list of quotes to use as part of your group discussion and a respon
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
Literature Circle Jobs for Nonfiction Text
Literature circles are a terrific strategy for engaging readers in meaningful discussion of the texts they read. Most literature circle jobs are geared towards discussion of pieces of fiction. This file contains six literature circle jobs specifically geared towards nonfiction pieces of writing. These jobs include a focus on: vocabulary, making connections, reader's response, questioning, nonfiction conventions, and summarizing. These jobs can also be used in a JIGSAW format. Students can ea
2nd - 4th
Reading
Showing 1-20 of 81 results
About the store
Experience
I am currently in my seventeenth year of teaching in a large public school system. I taught 3rd grade for three years, 4th grade for eight years, and 5th grade for six years, in both general and gifted education programs.
I have also been an online instructor for adults taking coursework to earn their gifted and talented certification and students taking enrichment courses in language arts.
Teaching style
At the core of my philosophy of teaching is Vygotsky's zone of proximal development. I aim to instruct my students right at the point where they are stretched and challenged and can be successful with the proper supports.
Having taught in gifted and talented center classrooms for nine years, I feel I have a broad repertoire of instructional ideas and strategies that infuse interdisciplinary and real world connections, develop habits of mind, and challenge my students to think critically and creatively to apply content in meaningful ways.
I think my materials are fun and engaging for a variety of students and classrooms and can be easily modified to meet the needs of many levels of students. They can be used for whole class instruction or as opportunities to differentiate instruction for smaller groups of students.
Awards & shining teacher moments
I was named "Education Student of the Year" at Marymount and "Gifted Education Graduate Master's Student of the Year" at William and Mary. I have spoken at numerous conferences at the county, university, and national level on various topics including I-Search projects, differentiating math instruction, and curriculum planning. I achieved my National Board Certification in 2013.
My own education history
I graduated from Marymount University with a degree in English and my certification in elementary education. I went on to complete my M.A.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Gifted Education at the College of William and Mary.
Additional biographical information
My husband and I are both teachers, and I am the proud mom to a beautiful eleven year old boy and nine year old girl.
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