Robert Plonka
40 Followers
Chicago, Illinois, United States
About the store
K-8 Reading Teacher\
K-2 Tier II Interventionist
Literacy Coach and English Teacher
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Annotation Rubric
Here is a simple and quick way to grade those close reading annotations. It is a great and easy tool for students to understand expectations!
4th - 12th
Close Reading, Informational Text, Literature
Song Analysis Graphic Organizer
Songs are an extremely engaging way for students to analyze figurative language and literary devices. Here is a graphic organizer to guide students and teachers as to the meaning of songs through analyzing the lyrics.
4th - 12th
English Language Arts, Music, Poetry
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.4
 +5
The Hero's Journey Graphic Organizer Guide
2 sheets list the steps of the hero's journey in a graphic organizer and provide a blank template for students to fill in for example stories that follow the hero's journey. This can be used as a planning tool for developing their own hero's journey stories or to analyze how other stories fit the hero's journey.
6th - 12th
Creative Writing, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.9-10.5
Gradual Release Lesson Plan Template
Follows gradual release of responsibility in daily and weekly format.
PreK - 12th
Montessori Work Plan Journal Rubric
Work plans are an essential element to the Montessori education. Each day students are to check off the work that they have completed, and then reflect on what they have learned. Here is a rubric to easily grade and provide expectations for students.
4th - 8th
For All Subjects, Writing
CCSS
W.4.10
, W.5.10
, W.6.10
 +3
1 Week Mini-Unit Project Curriculum
This is the curriculum for a 1 week long mini-unit. It's designed for the week before Christmas as an engaging curriculum for the students to practice their research and analysis skills. There are many opportunities for choice in this multi-disciplinary curriculum. It includes CCSS aligned unit plan, handouts, articles, a rubric template, and lesson plans. It also includes a viewing and study of the movie "Elf", though it's not limited to the Christmas season. Other handouts and activities inclu
4th - 5th
Other (ELA), Reading
CCSS
RI.4.1
, RI.4.7
, RI.5.1
 +3
How to Create a Digital Comic Book PPT
This is a Powerpoint that is a step-by-step guide for how to create a digital comic book. This is a great tool for digital storytelling. This Powerpoint uses screen shots and specific instructions (both useful for teachers and students, tech-savvy or not). It follows the How to Create a Digital Comic Book Guide and is in congruence with the Analyzing and Creating a Comic Book curriculum.
4th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Creative Writing, For All Subjects
Guided Reading Chapter Discussion Graphic Organizer and Rubric
Here is a simple graphic organizer that uses summarizing, sketching, vocabulary, and questioning skills to facilitate discussion of chapters read. The rubric allows for easy grading and provides guidelines for students.
4th - 10th
Balanced Literacy, Reading, Reading Strategies
Paragraph Writing Helpers
This is a good tool for helping students write sentences and paragraphs. It is color coded and aligned to claim, evidence, and reason instruction.
1st - 6th
Writing, Writing-Essays, Writing-Expository
CCSS
CCRA.W.1
Frayer Model Rubric
Here is a quick and easy-to-use rubric for assessing students' Frayer Models for vocabulary words.
4th - 12th
Balanced Literacy, English Language Arts, Vocabulary
CCSS
CCRA.L.4
, CCRA.L.6
Close Reading Graphic Organizer
Here is a perfect reproducible graphic organizer that can be applied to any complex text of your choice. It naturally lays out the steps of a Close Reading activity, while providing a graphic way to organize students' ideas and notes on the text.
6th - 12th
Close Reading, For All Subjects, Reading Strategies
CCSS
RL.8.2
, RL.8.3
, RL.8.5
 +21
How to Make a Comic Book Guide
This is a handout with specific step-by-step instructions for how to make a digital comic or graphic novel. It describes specific steps for students to use a camera, Facebook, or computer images to tell a story in a comic book style. There is a step-by-step Powerpoint presentation that directly correlates to the handout. There are examples for modeling within the handout, as well as an example comic book Powerpoint.
4th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
Creative Writing
Plot Diagram Template
This is a plot diagram that can be completed in analyzing a narrative or planning to write a story. This can be uploaded as a Google Drawing to edit.
4th - 12th
Creative Writing, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.8.2
, RL.8.3
, CCRA.R.2
 +2
Coaching In A Culture of Common Core
This is a PowerPoint presentation that shares a 3-session cycle and a 5-session cycle for long term coaching to see real change in instruction. The cycle focuses heavily on modeling and reflection to improve instruction in a particular area of teaching. I presented this at Illinois Reading Council Conference in 2015 and received tremendous feedback. The PPT also includes my talking points and notes. I've done the cycle with several teachers and they really like it. It's is a great way to build a
Annotation Peer/Self Checklist
Here is a guide for students to check their own annotations, while also getting a peer to check through them. It will give immediate feedback to students and will ensure students have gone through 2 steps before their annotations are submitted for grading. This is directly aligned to the Annotation Rubric so that students can see how they are graded.
4th - 12th
Balanced Literacy, English Language Arts, Reading
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
Song Analysis (Literary Devices)
Use either a graphic organizer or a PowerPoint for students to analyze a song (or poem or other work of literature), using literary devices.
4th - 12th
English Language Arts, Literature, Music
CCSS
CCRA.L.3
, CCRA.L.4
, CCRA.L.5
Narrative Writing: A Time I...
This is a narrative writing assignment. It is designed to align with the viewing of "Elf" but can have many other applications.
4th - 12th
Writing
CCSS
CCRA.W.10
Example Digital Storytelling Comic Book
This is a Powerpoint that models several ideas for projects. Here are a few examples of specific comic book ideas that students and teachers can use to model for larger projects. These examples are aligned to the How to Create a Digital Comic Book Guide, Analyzing and Creating a Digital Comic Book curriculum, and have easy cut/paste tools for teachers and students to use.
4th - 12th, Adult Education
Creative Writing
Close Reading: "I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika Sanchez (Part 1)
This is an easy-to-follow Close Reading activity that analyzes and compares two different passages of the text. This PPT provides a step-by-step guide for students to follow the close reading process. Proficient students who are familiar with the close-reading process would be able to follow this PPT independently or remotely.
7th - 12th
Close Reading, English Language Arts, Reading Strategies
CCSS
RL.8.2
, RL.8.3
, RL.8.5
 +9
Annotation Guide
Symbols and descriptions to guide students in their annotations as they read.
4th - 12th
Balanced Literacy, Literature, Reading Strategies
Showing 1-20 of 38 results
About the store
Experience
K-8 Reading Teacher\
K-2 Tier II Interventionist
Literacy Coach and English Teacher
Teaching style
I use student interest, inquiry-based curriculum, high interest materials, explicit reading strategies with a variety of texts, with social justice emphasis. I use essential questions, motivation, personally and culturally relevant materials, appropriately-selected texts, and active engagement to create a culture of respect and promote engagement.
My own education history
Saint Xavier University
Master's degree, Reading Teacher Education
2009 – 2011
DePaul University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Secondary Education and Teaching
Additional biographical information
I am a Reading Specialist, English teacher, Reading teacher, and Literacy Coach. My experience is grounded with older at-risk adolescent African American students in the urban setting. I develop literacy skills through engaging students in a personally and culturally relevant curriculum with appropriately selected texts to encourage motivation and growth. Through consistent progress monitoring and differentiation, I use intense interventions to promote skill acquisition. I am currently teaching K-8 reading in Chicago Public Schools, focusing on primary level intervention groups and co-teaching.
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