Tara's Teaching
34 Followers
Easton, Maryland, United States
About the store
I am a passionate and dedicated educator with six years of experience teaching 4th grade English Language Arts and Social Studies. Throughout my career, I’ve developed a strong foundation in phonics-based instruction for upper elementary students, and I have a deep understanding of the Science of Reading.
My classroom instruction is rooted in evidence-based literacy practices that support all learners, especially those needing targeted support in reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary development. I strive to create engaging, standards-aligned lessons that combine strong literacy foundations with creativity, critical thinking, and meaningful connections to history and the world around us.
Whether I'm guiding students through complex texts, helping them find their voice in writing, or diving into historical inquiry, my goal is always the same: to help every student grow as a confident, capable, and curious learner.
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Treasure Island Reader’s Theatre – CKLA 4th Grade Aligned (Chapters 1–9)
Transform your Treasure Island unit into a lively, interactive experience with this complete Reader’s Theatre bundle aligned to CKLA Grade 4! Each of the 9 chapters from the Core Knowledge Language Arts version has been adapted into a student-friendly script that boosts fluency, comprehension, and confidence—especially for Special Education and English Language Learners. What’s Included: 9 engaging Reader’s Theatre scripts (1 for each CKLA chapter) Clearly assigned character roles for
3rd - 10th
Novel Studies, Reading, Reading Strategies
Anaphora Poetry Bundle: 3 Winter Poems & Comprehension Questions
Bring the beauty and wonder of winter into your literacy block with this engaging set of three original anaphora poems, each paired with thoughtfully crafted comprehension questions. This resource helps students explore poetic structure, sensory details, figurative language, and theme while building essential reading skills. ✨ What’s Included:1. “While We Walk the Winter Trail” A peaceful, imagery-rich poem that follows a winter hike through crunchy snow, quiet woods, and frosty air. Students w
3rd - 12th
Close Reading, Poetry, Reading
Anaphora Poetry Bundle: 3 Thanksgiving Poems & Comprehension Questions
Celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving while strengthening your students’ poetry and comprehension skills! This engaging Thanksgiving Anaphora Poetry Pack includes 3 original poems that model and reinforce the literary device anaphora — the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of lines or sentences to create rhythm and emphasis. Each poem beautifully captures the themes of gratitude, community, and reflection, making it perfect for the fall season or any time you want to inspire thankf
4th - 12th
Close Reading, Poetry, Reading
Reader’s Theatre: Journey into the Middle Ages CKLA 4th Grade – U1L1
Bring the Middle Ages to life in your classroom with this engaging and educational Reader’s Theatre script, specifically designed to align with Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) Grade 4 – Unit 2, Lesson 1! Perfect for whole group, small group, or center activities, this script reinforces key historical concepts while building fluency, comprehension, and student engagement. Students will love taking on roles like knights, noblewomen, monks, and curious learners as they explore the fall of Rom
4th
Close Reading, Reading Strategies, Science of Reading
Anaphora Poetry Bundle: 3 Fall-Themed Poems & Comprehension Questions | 4th Grad
Bring the rhythm and beauty of anaphora poetry to your classroom with this engaging fall-themed poetry resource! This set includes three original anaphora poems — each celebrating the sights, sounds, and feelings of the season — plus thoughtful comprehension and creative-response questions for each poem. Perfect for introducing repetition in poetry, exploring imagery, and helping students connect personally to what they read.
4th - 12th
Close Reading, Poetry, Reading Strategies
Tsunami Compare & Contrast Writing Activity: Paired CKLA Gr4 – Unit 5: Geology
Help your students deepen their understanding of tsunamis while strengthening essential compare and contrast writing skills! This engaging activity is aligned with CKLA Grade 4, Unit 5 (Geology) and gives students meaningful practice analyzing two different text types—a myth and an informational passage. Students will read both passages, organize their thinking using a Venn diagram, and then write a well-developed paragraph comparing and contrasting how each text explains tsunamis. ✏️ Wha
4th - 12th
Close Reading, Earth Sciences, Reading Strategies
Reader’s Theatre: Journey into the Middle Ages CKLA 4th Grade – Chapter 2
Bring history to life in your classroom with this engaging Reader’s Theater adaptation of Chapter 2 from the CKLA Grade 4 "The Middle Ages" unit! This script is designed to help students better understand the contrasting lives of serfs, lords, and ladies during medieval times—through performance and perspective. Perfect for literacy centers, social studies integration, or a classroom performance, this resource reinforces comprehension while building fluency, vocabulary, and cooperative l
4th - 12th
Close Reading, Reading, Science of Reading
"What is Everybody Did That?" Activity
Looking for a meaningful and engaging way to teach classroom expectations during back-to-school season? This interactive lesson and class book project—inspired by What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick—helps students reflect on how their individual actions impact the whole classroom community. Perfect for 2nd–5th grade, this resource guides students through thoughtful discussion, real-life application, and a culminating writing/art activity. Students will create their own page for a c
Not Specific
Other (ELA)
CCSS
RL.4.1
, RL.4.3
Simile vs. Metaphor
This is my first product on TPT! I have created an easy to use simile vs metaphor worksheet. This is great for in-class activities or even an exit ticket. I developed this product to use in my fifth-grade class, but most definitely can be used for grades 3-5. This product does align with Common Core. Please feel free to use this for your own classroom. More products to come! I do ask that if you download this product, please leave some feedback, that would greatly help me for future products and
3rd - 5th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Literature
CCSS
CCRA.L.5
Anaphora Poetry Bundle: 3 Christmas/Winter Poems & Comprehension Questions
Bring snowy fun into your literacy block with this engaging set of winter-themed poems designed for 2nd–4th grade readers! Students will explore figurative language, practice close reading skills, and make inferences using three original winter poems. Perfect for whole group reading, small groups, literacy centers, or poetry notebooks!
3rd - 12th
Close Reading, Poetry, Reading
I Hear My School Singing – A Poetry Exploration Inspired by Walt Whitman
Bring poetry to life with this engaging, movement-filled writing activity inspired by Walt Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing.” In “I Hear My School Singing,” students explore the unique “music” of their own school community! Students will take a poetry field trip through their school—visiting places like the gym, cafeteria, playground, library, and classrooms—to listen, observe, and record the sounds, sights, and actions that make each space come alive. Using their note sheet, they’ll capture
4th - 12th
Creative Writing, Poetry, Reading
Rock Cycle Readers Theater – Three Types of Rocks
Make the Rock Cycle come alive in your classroom with this engaging Readers Theater designed especially for Upper Elementary/ Middle School This no-prep script helps students understand the **three types of rocks—igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic—**while exploring how rocks change over time through the rock cycle. Perfect for science integration with reading and speaking, this resource builds confidence, comprehension, and content knowledge in a fun, memorable way!
3rd - 12th
Close Reading, Earth Sciences, Science of Reading
Reader’s Theatre: Journey into the Middle Ages CKLA 4th Grade – Chapter 4
Bring the Middle Ages to life with this engaging 4th-grade Readers Theatre based on “Merchants, Markets, and Mud: Towns in the Middle Ages.” Your students will step back in time to explore the bustling, muddy streets of a medieval town filled with merchants, craftsmen, apprentices, and scholars! This interactive script transforms informational text into collaborative, dramatic learning, helping students deepen comprehension while building fluency and vocabulary. Through dialogue, humor, and hi
4th - 11th
Close Reading, Reading Strategies, Science of Reading
Reader’s Theatre: Journey into the Middle Ages CKLA 4th Grade – Chapter 3
Bring the excitement of knights, castles, and chivalry into your classroom with this interactive Reader’s Theatre script, perfect for CKLA-aligned or Middle Ages-themed units in grades 3–5. Students will step into the shoes of a knight, a squire, a peasant, a lady, and more as they explore the Essential Question: "Why was there a need for knights and castles during the Middle Ages?"This easy-to-read, ready-to-perform script is designed to build fluency, comprehension, historical knowledge, an
4th - 10th
Close Reading, Reading Strategies, Science of Reading
4th Grade CKLA American Revolution Readers Theatre – Chapter 3: The Fight Begins
Bring history to life in your classroom with this engaging Reader’s Theater focused on the causes of the American Revolutionary War! This ready-to-use script helps students explore how tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain led to war, using key events like the Intolerable Acts, the First Continental Congress, and the battles of Lexington and Concord. What’s Included: A complete Reader’s Theater script with 8 speaking roles Clear connection to the Big Question: What was th
4th - 12th
Close Reading, Reading, U.S. History
CKLA 4th Grade Unit 2 Vocabulary Doodle Notes | Middle Ages (Part 1)
Make vocabulary meaningful and memorable with these CKLA Grade 4 Unit 2 Vocabulary Doodle Notes for The Middle Ages (Part 1)! This engaging, visual resource helps students master key vocabulary from select lessons by combining definitions with creative doodling—turning rote memorization into interactive learning. 🗂️ Covers ONLY Lessons: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 14 (These are the lessons where new vocabulary is introduced in CKLA Unit 2)✨ What's Included: Vocabulary words aligned with
4th - 12th
Reading Strategies, Science of Reading, Vocabulary
Anaphora Poetry Bundle: 3 New Years Poems & Comprehension Questions
Bring the excitement of New Year’s into your classroom with this ready-to-use poetry and comprehension resource! This set includes three original poems written for upper elementary students, focusing on New Year’s themes such as resolutions, watching the ball drop, and sharing goals at a party. Each poem includes literary devices like anaphora, similes, and metaphors, giving students a fun and engaging way to explore figurative language. This resource also includes inferential questions for
3rd - 12th
Close Reading, Poetry, Reading
Anaphora Poetry Bundle: 3 Spring Poems & Comprehension Questions
Bring the beauty of spring into your classroom with this engaging poetry bundle! This resource features original anaphora poems centered on flowers blooming, birds in spring, and the season of growth and renewal. Each poem uses repetition to build rhythm and meaning, making it perfect for teaching poetry structure in an accessible way. Included with each poem are thought-provoking short-answer questions designed to: ✨ Encourage students to write in complete sentences ✨ Strengthen skills in
4th - 12th
Poetry, Reading, Science of Reading
Reader’s Theatre: Journey into the Middle Ages CKLA 4th Grade – Chapter 6
Bring history to life in your classroom with this engaging Reader’s Theatre script based on CKLA Grade 4, Unit 2: The Middle Ages! Your students will step into the year 1066 CE to relive the Battle of Hastings, meet King Harold and William the Conqueror, and explore how one fateful day changed the English language and history forever.
4th - 11th
Close Reading, Reading Strategies, Science of Reading
4th Grade CKLA American Revolution Readers Theatre – Chapter 2: Trouble Is Brewi
Bring history to life in your classroom with this engaging 4th grade Reader’s Theater about the Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea Party! Students will step into the roles of colonists, narrators, and protest leaders as they act out an important moment in the American Revolution. This activity helps students understand who the Sons of Liberty were and the protest they led in Boston Harbor, while practicing fluency, speaking skills, and historical comprehension. Perfect for social studies le
4th - 12th
Literature, U.S. History
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About the store
Experience
I am a passionate and dedicated educator with six years of experience teaching 4th grade English Language Arts and Social Studies. Throughout my career, I’ve developed a strong foundation in phonics-based instruction for upper elementary students, and I have a deep understanding of the Science of Reading.
My classroom instruction is rooted in evidence-based literacy practices that support all learners, especially those needing targeted support in reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary development. I strive to create engaging, standards-aligned lessons that combine strong literacy foundations with creativity, critical thinking, and meaningful connections to history and the world around us.
Whether I'm guiding students through complex texts, helping them find their voice in writing, or diving into historical inquiry, my goal is always the same: to help every student grow as a confident, capable, and curious learner.
Teaching style
My teaching style is rooted in collaboration, engagement, and purposeful practice. I design my classroom around small group instruction and activities that promote teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. I believe students learn best when they have the opportunity to discuss, explore, and take ownership of their learning alongside their peers.
I also place a strong emphasis on phonics-based instruction, even at the upper elementary level, to ensure that all students build a solid foundation in decoding, fluency, and vocabulary. Using strategies informed by the Science of Reading, I tailor instruction to meet students where they are and help them grow into confident, independent readers and thinkers.
My goal is to create a supportive, engaging, and academically rich environment where every student feels seen, challenged, and empowered.
My own education history
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Education from Stevenson University, where I developed a strong foundation in instructional best practices and child development. Building on that, I went on to receive my Master’s degree in Instructional Technology from the University of Maryland, which has equipped me with the tools to integrate meaningful, student-centered technology into the classroom.
I am also a National Board Certification candidate with a focus in Literacy: Reading–Language Arts (Early and Middle Childhood). This journey reflects my deep commitment to professional growth and my passion for helping students become confident, capable readers and communicators.
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