Ruth Heide's Helpers
1 Follower
Cleveland Hts., Ohio, United States
About the store
I taught 39 years in public schools, most in the middle grades. Language arts and social studies were my specialties. I have a Masters Degree with a reading validation plus 45 credits beyond the Masters.
In addition, I have successfully written grants to provide supplemental activities/materials for my classroom and the school community.
I co-advised Model UN Club for 5th and 6th graders, and led a variety of other lunch clubs.
I am currently tutoring middle grade students in reading and writing.
Read moreAll resources
Filters
Grade
Subject
Resource type
Standard
Audience
Trapped in a Video Game Learning Packet
Trapped in a Video Game is the perfect book for reluctant readers who are motivated by video games. It is a short, action -packed chapter book sure to please students who find reading difficult. This learning packet contains comprehension questions and is accompanied by an Answer Key.
3rd - 6th
English Language Arts, Reading
CCSS
RF.4.4
, RF.4.4a
, CCRA.R.1
 +2
Alvin Ho, Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things
The protagonist of this humorous series is Alvin, who is afraid of many things but loves superheroes. These fears are handled in a truly enjoyable way that many students will be able to relate to. The study packet includes practice of skills such as vocabulary (Alvin Ho's Woeful Glossary at the back of the book is very helpful for this), character development, figurative language, justifying answers by quoting text, text to self, internet research, making inferences about and analyzing the act
2nd - 5th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.3
, CCRA.R.4
 +4
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Comprehension Packet
These comprehension questions accompany the original, ever popular, Diary of a Wimpy KId novel. Some questions are literal, some more inferential and many connect text to self. Students practice figurative language in the form of idioms. As a final activity, students are asked to compose their own journal entries, incorporating the style that the author uses. Even your most reluctant readers can relate to the characters in Diary of a Wimpy Kid!
3rd - 5th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.4.1
, RL.4.3
, RL.4.10
 +4
Harbor Me
This product is a Learning Activity Packet to accompany Harbor Me, by Jacqueline Woodson. It includes comprehension questions, figurative language, map work, text to self reflections and much more. Students are given a choice of four essay prompts to respond to for a final reflection activity.
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.6.1
, RL.6.3
, RL.6.6
 +6
The Storyteller's Beads Learning Activity Packet
The Storyteller's Beads, by Jane Kurtz, is set in Ethiopia, and features two characters, from very different backgrounds who meet on a dangerous journey. They need to overcome prejudices in order to survive their escape. This activity packet includes vocabulary study, multiple narrators, making inferences, internet research, text-to-self examples, justifying answers by finding evidence in the text, comparing and contrasting characters using a Venn diagram, writing summaries, making predictions
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.6.1
, RL.6.3
, RL.6.4
 +5
On My Honor Book Study
This Learning Activity Packet will help your students navigate the moral topics explored in Marian Bauer's middle grade novel, On My Honor. Themes of friendship, honesty and death are incorporated in the comprehension questions students will discuss and contemplate. Text-to-self connections are frequent, as well as higher level analysis of the story and motives of the characters. Students draw comparisons using a Venn Diagram, study similes and metaphors, and look at examples of foreshadowin
4th - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading Strategies
CCSS
RL.6.1
, RL.6.2
, RL.6.3
 +5
Bridge to Terabithia Book Study
This book study packet is the perfect way to integrate reading skills with the Katherine Paterson classic Bridge to Terabithia. It will have wide appeal, as students will have an opportunity to visualize and draw based on descriptions in the text. Character trait webs, text-to-self questions, venn diagrams, character relationships, figurative language, and final thoughts and activities, are all part of this packet. This hits the main ideas and is not "busy work"!
4th - 6th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.5.1
, RL.5.2
, RL.5.3
 +6
Bookmark Journals: Practicing Skills While Responding to Literature
This unique set of bookmarks or distance learning short assignments, gives students a chance to practice many skills while they are reading literature. They work well for all types of fiction and will be useful no matter what your class is reading. 17 different skills include: making connections with characters, questioning the character or author, illustrating an event that takes place, practicing the 5 parts of a letter, having a dialogue with a character, summarizing, timelines (chronologic
3rd - 10th
English Language Arts, Reading Strategies, Writing
CCSS
CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.4
, CCRA.R.6
 +2
A LONG WALK TO WATER FULL UNIT
This standards based learning activity packet for Linda Sue Park's novel, A Long Walk to Water, is very comprehensive. It includes many prereading activities, vocabulary, and skill work (setting, point of view, figurative language, prediction, mood, fact and opinion, cause and effect, character comparisons, summarizing, relating two texts, character traits, author's purpose and practicing research skills.) Each chapter has comprehension questions and keys are provided for everything. This 60
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.4
 +1
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes Book Study
This is a comprehensive book study for Eleanor Coerr's historical account of a brave girl's struggle after the bombing of Hiroshima. It's a story of friendship and hope, and is beautifully written. My book study includes map work, a pre-reading background information scavenger hunt on an excellent website, vocabulary study, comprehension questions, figurative language, text to self reflection, mood, author's purpose, point of view, and more. Students are asked to give their opinion to the iss
4th - 8th
Literature, Reading, U.S. History
CCSS
RL.5.1
, RL.5.3
, RL.5.4
 +4
Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of CA's Farallon Islands
This learning activity packet is written for the Award Winning informational picture book by Katherine Roy. This beautifully illustrated book is written for grades 2-6, with some sections in easier picture book language, and others in more technical informational style. My learning activity packet includes a KWL chart, research into what the Robert F. Sibert award is given for, map work for the setting of the book and comprehension questions. Science ties such as migration routes and food cha
2nd - 6th
English Language Arts, Informational Text, Science
CCSS
RI.4.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.L.3
Iqbal, a novel study
Iqbal, by Francesco D'Adamo, is a historical fiction narrative of the life of a heroic child, who stands up against the system of child labor in Pakistan. My novel study includes vocabulary study, higher level comprehension questions for each chapter, figurative language identification, prediction, character development, research and discovery of information about Islam, and text to self questions. Ultimately, students are asked to contemplate what they can do about the problem of child labor
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.6.1
, RL.6.3
, CCRA.R.1
 +3
A Single Shard book study
Enjoy using this book study with Linda Sue Park's Newbery Medal novel, set in 12th century Korea. Vocabulary, character traits, higher level comprehension questions, writing a summary, text-to-self, and figurative language galore are among the skills packed into this study packet. Students compose a reflective paragraph about what they learned about this time period in Korea after completing the reading. Additional activities are also provided such as Readers Theater and a visit to the author
5th - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.6.1
, RL.6.3
, CCRA.R.1
 +6
Abel's Island Comprehension Questions and Activities
Abel's Island", the classic survival fantasy by William Steig, is a Newbery Honor Book that is rich in vocabulary and discussion topics. This product has comprehension questions for all chapters, many of them higher level. There is a chart of vocabulary words, by chapter, which challenges students to use context to guess the meaning before actually looking up definitions. Skills practiced include figurative language, inferential thinking, character analysis, citing textual evidence, text-to-se
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.5.1
, RL.5.2
, RL.5.4
 +5
The Cricket in Times Square Comprehension Questions and Activities
This comprehension packet for George Selden's classic The Cricket in Times Square, is all you need to check for understanding of main ideas. Setting, character interaction and motives, figurative language, text-to-self, and much more is included. Students can show their creativity through an illustration they make based on text description, and writing activities after completing the book. This is very straightforward and can be completed in school or as homework.
3rd - 5th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.4.1
, RL.4.3
, RF.4.4
 +4
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Book Study
This book study for the classic novel by E.L. Konigsburg is very straightforward and can be completed individually or as partners, in school or as homework. Vocabulary is practiced in a variety of ways: through matching, synonyms, and writing definitions. Character traits and motives, text-to-self examples, internet research and even working with a floor plan of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York are all included. This is truly youth literature that shouldn't be missed!
4th - 6th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.5.1
, RL.5.3
, RF.5.4a
 +3
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Book Study
This straightforward activity packet is a perfect way to check for comprehension of the classic Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There are many text-to-self references giving students an opportunity to relate their lives to those of the characters. Students are provided with chances for artistic creativity, as well as solid skill development with higher level thinking questions. Written work, such as a diary entry rap writing are also included.Character trait webs for all o
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.5.1
, RL.5.3
, RF.5.4a
 +3
Break for the Basket novel study
Looking for a book of interest to sports lovers in your class? Look no further! Matt Christopher has written many sports themed books for grades 3-6. This novel study includes comprehension questions on many levels, interdisciplinary activities such as reading tables and diagrams, and vocabulary exercises. Text-to-self thinking questions can be found in this reproducible packet, as well as character comparisons, and final activities. This book works well for reluctant readers.
3rd - 6th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
CCSS
RL.5.3
, RL.5.4
, RF.5.4
 +3
Country Research Build an Amusement Park Project
Looking for a fun way for students to present country research? This one certainly taps into their creativity! Students research information guided by the provided note packet, then construct a 3-D amusement park using the results of their research. Examples of some of the directions are to build the amusement park on cardboard that is cut into the shape of the country, or construct a small phone booth labeled with the number of phones that the country has. Students even make a menu for the pa
4th - 8th
Geography, Government, World History
CCSS
RH.6-8.7
, RH.6-8.10
Belling The Tiger Learning Activity Packet
Belling the Tiger, by Mary Stolz, is a classic tale of two mice who are charged with the task of placing a belled collar around a cat so the mice can hear it coming. They become heroes with an adventure to a foreign land and a meeting with the largest cat they have ever seen. This comprehensive activity packet includes vocabulary words to define, vocabulary practice and assessments, reading comprehension questions and keys for each activity. In addition, special creative activities for younger
3rd - 4th
Literature, Reading, Short Stories
CCSS
CCRA.L.3
, CCRA.L.4
Showing 1-20 of 26 results
About the store
Experience
I taught 39 years in public schools, most in the middle grades. Language arts and social studies were my specialties. I have a Masters Degree with a reading validation plus 45 credits beyond the Masters.
In addition, I have successfully written grants to provide supplemental activities/materials for my classroom and the school community.
I co-advised Model UN Club for 5th and 6th graders, and led a variety of other lunch clubs.
I am currently tutoring middle grade students in reading and writing.
Teaching style
Most of my teaching was project based, and I often taught in an interdisciplinary manner.
My own education history
Graduated from Western Reserve Academy (high school), Hudson, OH,
Bachelor's degree in Education from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL,
Master's Degree from Cleveland State University, with reading validation.
Additional graduate work at Notre Dame College (Instructional Delivery Services), South Euclid, OH
Additional biographical information
Married over 40 years, three grown children, dog lover, enjoy camping, swimming and reading (have been in women's book group for over 30 years).
TPT is the largest marketplace for PreK-12 resources, powered by a community of educators.
IXL family of brands