TaylorCreative
98 Followers
Navasota, Texas, United States
About the store
Mark Taylor is a professional writer, a TEA-certified teacher of grades EC-12, a college professor, a graphic designer, a composer, and an historian all rolled up into one guy! Before becoming an educator, Mark spent 20 years running his own marketing company, TaylorCreative. As a teacher of both elementary and middle school students and college undergraduates, Mark put his talents to work to make learning a little more hands-on to increase active cognitive engagement.
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Civil War Causes: Sectionalism Map Activity
Students use three reading passages (North, South, West) to document specific differences and industries that led to sectionalism; students document these on a map and then create a conversation between the regions highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each region. 7 pages total (including answer key). The directions are 3-up on an 8.5 x 11 sheet; passages are on 8.5 x 11; the map and conversation activity are on a legal (8.5 x 14) sheet. If you ever find any typos on one of my products,
4th - 8th
Government, Other (Social Studies), Social Studies
STAAR Writing Passage — "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"
This revise & edit passage features a short passage about Jeff Kinney, author of the popular "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book series. The passage is followed by ten, STAAR-formatted questions. The questions assess student mastery of where to add supporting details, transition words, apostrophe usage, using commas with conjunctions when joining two complete thoughts, summary statements, homophones, and underlining book titles. Includes:
—passage w/ questions (students circle their answers)
—passage w
4th - 7th
ELA Test Prep, Informational Text, Writing
Texas Geographic Regions (Test & Key)
Fourth grade students will be able to demonstrate mastery of the TEKS ("students will identify the geographic regions of Texas") and show off their knowledge of major cities, landforms, rainfall, climate and more. Test & Key included. Easy to grade!
4th - 7th
Geography
Uses of the Buffalo
This easy-to-use PDF includes a study worksheet, presentation pages (PDF) and an answer key! It shows how the native Americans used every part of the American Bison (aka "the buffalo"). It's a great tool for helping students understand how the lifestyle of the plains Indians was so closely tied to the life of the buffalo.
4th - 8th
Native Americans, Social Studies, U.S. History
STAAR Writing Review — SpongeBob Squarepants Passage & Questions
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It's a lot easier to get fourth graders to pay attention to a passage if they're interested in it. This fun article about SpongeBob Squarepants test students' knowledge of the following Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS):
4.18A(ii) create brief compositions that include supporting sentences with simple facts, details, and explanations
4.15C revise drafts for coherence, organization, use of simpl
4th - 7th
Grammar, Informational Text, Writing
STAAR Writing Review — Minecraft Passage
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It's amazing how fourth graders pay attention when they're interested in the content! This passage about the virtual game, Minecraft, includes 10 multiple-choice questions that test the following skills:
—homophones (they're/their/there)
—capitalization
—quotation marks
—subject-verb agreement
—incomplete sentences
—apostrophes
An answer key is included (it spells "Lets Review" backwards for quick and
4th - 7th
ELA Test Prep, Grammar, Writing
STAAR Writing Passage — "CandyLand"
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In this STAAR practice passage, students read a short passage about the board game, Candy Land, and then answer five STAAR formatted revise & edit questions about the passage. Questions practice main idea & supporting details, pronoun usage, and conclusion statements. Included:
—Passage w/ questions (students circle the answers)
—Passage w/ answer blanks (teacher posts questions around the room, so stu
4th
Writing
Empresarios & Texas Colonization (WhoWhatWhenWhereWhyHow Activity)
Teach your fourth graders to ask (and answer) questions about the Colonization of Texas and the Empresarios. This activity can be done by individual students, in stations, or in table groups. With groups, each group takes a sheet (i.e., one takes the "Who" sheet, one takes the "What" sheet, etc.) and finds the answers to their questions. Much of the material is cross referenced on different sheets, so that the same information is asked via a "who" question and a "how" question, for example. Use
4th - 7th
Informational Text, Other (Social Studies), Writing-Expository
STAAR Writing Review — Scooby-Doo Passage & Questions
If you like this product, please take a couple of seconds to give it a good review. Thanks! It's a lot easier to get students to pay attention to a passage if they're interested in it. This fun article about Scooby-Do uses 12 STAAR-formatted questions to test students' knowledge of the following Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS): 4.18A(ii) create brief compositions that include supporting sentences with simple facts, details, and explanations 4.15C revise drafts for coherence, organiza
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing-Expository
Texas Revolution: Trouble Brews In Texas
This is a one-to-two-week unit leading up to the Texas Revolution as trouble is brewing in the Texas colonies. Includes the following:
-Summary Statements Activity (multiple choice)
-Timeline & Questions Actviity
-Review sheet
-Test
-Answer keys for all activities and assessments
Let students use the review sheet to answer the questions, or have students answer questions during a read-aloud of the Social Studies textbook.
1st - 7th
Other (Social Studies), Social Studies, U.S. History
Alamo Package (Crossword, Timeline, Review & Test)
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If you need a one-week set of materials for teaching about the Battle of the Alamo, this is what you need! This set contains:
-Timeline with summary questions (the answers spell a hidden word)
-Crossword puzzle
-Review sheet
-Test (divided into who, what, where, when sections; multiple choice)
This package includes answer keys for all documents. This is quick and easy, and covers all the main people,
4th - 7th
Other (Social Studies), Social Studies, U.S. History
STAAR Reading Passage — "Audie Murphy"
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This passage about WWII hero, Audie Murphy, assesses fourth grade students on context clues, inferencing, main idea, summarization, poetry and more. Audie Murphy, a Texan, was the most decorated soldier of WWII. Includes an answer key, a passage AND a poem. I've included questions you can pass out to each student as well as questions you can post "around-the-room" in stations if you need an activity that
4th - 7th
ELA Test Prep, Informational Text, Reading
Thirteen Colonies Map Set (4 pages + key)
Have your students label the original thirteen colonies and add notes, or draw symbols for a variety of economic, political and/or social details of each. This set includes an overview map of the entire 13 colonies and then an enlarged version of just the New England Colonies, just the Middle Colonies, and just the Southern Colonies. There's also a key included that labels them all, in case you want to put that up for the students to check their labels. There is lots of blank space around the co
5th - 11th
Government, Social Studies, U.S. History
Alamo Activity: William B. Travis's Letter
Students can read the text of William Barrett Travis's open letter sent "To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World," pleading for help in the face of the Siege of the Alamo. Includes the following six questions: 1. What was the purpose of the letter? 2. How did Travis respond when the Mexicans asked him to surrender? 3. What did Travis intend to do even if he did not receive help? 4. What did Travis mean when he wrote “...I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everyt
4th - 7th
Other (Social Studies), Social Studies, U.S. History
STAAR Reading Review — LBJ Passage & Questions
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This passage about U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson assesses fourth grade students on context clues, inferencing, and main idea. Includes an answer key, questions to post "around-the-room" if you need an activity to get kids up and out of the chair. Just print the 1-page passage for students and a single copy of the around-the-room questions and let them take their clipboards and walk around silently
4th - 7th
English Language Arts, Informational Text, Reading
STAAR Writing Passage — "Frozen"
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This revise & edit passage features a short informational passage about the popular Disney movie, "Frozen." The passage is followed by ten, STAAR-formatted questions. The questions assess student mastery of where to add supporting details, transition words, using commas with conjunctions when joining two complete thoughts, summary statements, double consonants/short vowel sounds, homophones, and subject-verb agreement. Includes:
4th - 7th
ELA Test Prep, Informational Text, Writing
Empresarios & Texas Colonization (Unit Test)
This test over the Impresarios and the Colonization of Texas goes hand-in-glove with the Review (sold separately). Quizzes students over the important vocabulary, people, and places associated with the colonization of the Lone Star State. Includes bonus questions.
4th
Other (Social Studies), Social Studies
STAAR Reading Passage—Gov. Greg Abbott: A Different Way To Run
This is the STAAR reading practice you need for a lesson you can do a teacher table, independent practice, or tutorials. This interesting passage about Texas Governor Greg Abbott has seven reading review questions that give students practice on Context Clues, Inferencing, Dictionary Skills, Similes, Metaphors, Sequencing, and Predicting. Post the questions around the room as stations (full-sheet versions included) and let students take their clipboards and go around answering the questions and r
4th - 8th
ELA Test Prep, English Language Arts, Reading
STAAR-Formatted Expository Writing Prompts (8 Different)
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Fourth grade students will love expressing their strong opinions to these expository writing prompts! Includes 8 different STAAR-formatted expository prompts!
4th - 7th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Informational Text
Personal Narrative Writing Prompts (6 Different)
Fourth grade students will love writing to these STAAR-formated Personal Narrative Writing Prompts! Have students analyze the prompt, highlight or circle the line that says "write about a time...", brainstorm story ideas on the bottom and then create a graphic organizer on the blank back side. It's a perfect setup for prewriting! Six different STAAR-formatted prompts are included.
4th - 7th
Creative Writing, English Language Arts, Writing
Showing 1-20 of 50 results
About the store
Experience
Mark Taylor is a professional writer, a TEA-certified teacher of grades EC-12, a college professor, a graphic designer, a composer, and an historian all rolled up into one guy! Before becoming an educator, Mark spent 20 years running his own marketing company, TaylorCreative. As a teacher of both elementary and middle school students and college undergraduates, Mark put his talents to work to make learning a little more hands-on to increase active cognitive engagement.
Teaching style
Hands-on; active; lots of student collaboration
Awards & shining teacher moments
Numerous awards from the International Association of Business Communicators, Communicator Awards, Telly Awards, Silver Quill Awards and more.
My own education history
B.S. in Ag Journalism, Texas A&M University
M.S. in Ag Education/Adult Education, Texas A&M University
Doctoral Studies in Educational Human Resource Development, Texas A&M University
Additional graduate studies in literature, Texas A&M University
Additional graduate studies in music, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Additional biographical information
Mark Taylor grew up on a farm in the small, farming community of Webberville, Texas, on the outskirts of Austin. After graduating from Texas A&M University, Mark work in radio for five years as a station manager for KAGC radio in Bryan, Texas and as a reporter/studio engineer for the USA Radio Network in Carrollton, Texas. His marketing background includes marketing director positions for two manufacturers, communications director for a school district, and his own experience as a self-employed marketing consultant and free lance writer. He lives in College Station, Texas with his wife, Beverly, who is also a career educator. He currently teaches Texas History for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. He is also a part-time instructor for Blinn College.
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