About the store
Middle schoolers would rather lose a limb than write a complete sentence—but what if they wanted to?
At TeachPlanBeHappy, I create resources that actually get students reading, writing, and thinking deeply—even when they don’t want to. My work is built around one big goal: making literacy feel irresistible.
You’ll find materials designed to spark engagement, from daily ELA bellringers and high-interest writing prompts to creative projects and student-friendly notes. Whether you're teaching reluctant readers, budding writers, or a whole class of eye-rolling tweens, these tools are made to get kids debating, discussing, and dissecting texts like pros.
I’ve taught grades 1–8 across four states, and for the last four years, I’ve focused on middle school ELA in Northern Virginia, where I get to see firsthand how powerful the right resource can be for even the most resistant learners.
While my current focus is Grades 6–8 ELA, you’ll also find a few tried-and-true resources from my earlier years in the elementary classroom—because a great idea is a great idea, no matter the grade.
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Big Kid Morning Greeting Choice Board
Have you seen those super cute videos on You Tube where teachers allow their students to choose how they’d like to be greeted in the morning? Me too! I think it’s really important to greet each and every student on their way into your room. It says ‘I see you and I’m here for you’ even for the kids who don’t interact with you very often. The one common thing I noticed though, is that most of the resources made for that, were made for little friends. I wanted something that looked older for my 4t
3rd - 8th
Classroom Community
Parts of Speech Notes - Middle Grades - fill in the blank AND prefilled -
We’ve all been there. It’s August and as the kids are writing. There are no capitals, punctuation, or complete sentences. You say “Hey! That’s a proper noun, what do you need to do?” and they say “It’s a what?” We all know that they did, in fact, learn it in first grade, second grade, and third grade, but for whatever reason it just doesn’t stick. Enter explicit reteaching. These notes are set up in "Cornell note" style. If you’re unfamiliar this style typically the title goes at the top, vocab
4th - 8th
English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing
CCSS, TEKS, VA SOL
L.1.1
, L.1.1b
, L.1.1f
+52
Virginia Studies Timeline 1607-2000 - *UPDATED*
***NEWLY UPDATED 8/13/23*** Do you teach 4th or 6th grade in Virginia? Do your students have a hard time remembering ALL of the events (because there are, frankly, a lot). Do you have a hard time finding quality VA studies resources? This product is a 62 page protected Powerpoint file containing a Virginia Studies timeline from 1607-2000. The largest arrows contain the most important events (arrival of the Jamestown Colonists, Surrender at Appomattox Court House), the medium size arrows are even
4th - 6th
Social Studies, U.S. History
Shelf Talkers *More Versions!*
Do you have a hard time getting students to read books outside of their norm? That is where peer recommendations come in handy! When peers recommend books, students are more likely to read them.
If you've been to a big box bookstore (Barnes and Noble, Borders, BAM, etc...) You've seen shelf talkers in action, It's how staff recommends books for patrons. Why do they do this? To up sales of books of course! Try the same tactic out in your classroom and help your students become wide readers!
This
1st - 12th
Classroom Community, English Language Arts
Shiplap and Llama Daily Slides *Editable*
I made these slides to be projected throughout the day in the classroom. There is one for first thing in the morning as well as 4 options for each subject commonly taught (Reading, Writing, ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies). There are 4 slides for each because I wanted to make sure to give several options depending on the lesson for the day. Each slide has a spot for the Teaching Point (or I Can statement, what should the student be learning that day, No more than 1 sentence). The other two s
Not Specific
English Language Arts, For All Subjects, Math
Weathered Wood Open House Power Point *Editable* *Featuring Bitmojis*
Open House/Meet the Teacher can be total Chaos. And the teacher is usually too busy to do much about it! Enter this instructional yet personality conveying power point. Make your own BitMoji and input it into the slides.The text on most of the slides is not editable, but I can add that if that is functionality you would like.Upload to Google Slides and publish to web to preserve your fonts and allow it to repeat on a loop while you get to talk to your new students and their parents! Please leave
PreK - 6th
Also included in: Weathered Wood Grain Back to School Bundle!
Mermaid Inspirational Quotes
This set includes 12 Quotes on multi colored scale paper for use in the classroom. The quotes go with Growth Mindset and are pulled from famous people or literary characters.
If you would like a set without the mermaids, please let me know!
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If you like this product, check out:
Mermaid and Dragon Daily 5 Board
Welcome Sign Freebie
Book Review Shelf Talkers
PreK - 12th
Classroom Community
Weathered Wood Grain Back to School Bundle!
This bundle includes Weathered Wood Grain Class Jobs, Weathered Wood Grain Name Tags with a specials schedule and inspirational/motivational quotes. Also included is an editable Power Point for Open House using Bitmojis with a Weathered Wood Grain Background.
Not Specific
Character Education
Weekly Reflection Pamphlet for Upper Elementary
This product is meant to be used weekly to get your kiddos to reflect on their week in school. I find a lot of times they know what I think of how they did, but they have no idea. Once they get the hang of it, they should take no longer than 10 minutes on a Friday afternoon. I initial the teacher initials part before they leave on Friday., then the students get it signed over the weekend, and then I keep it in a file for a quarter or so. Just print these two sided and be sure to print them at 10
3rd - 6th
Classroom Community, For All Subjects, Writing
Shiplap Daily Slides
Just like my Llama slides, but... not! I made these slides to be projected throughout the day in the classroom. There is one for first thing in the morning as well as 4 options for each subject commonly taught (Reading, Writing, ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies). There are 4 slides for each because I wanted to make sure to give several options depending on the lesson for the day. Each slide has a spot for the Teaching Point (or I Can statement, what should the student be learning that day, No
Not Specific
For All Subjects
Weathered Wood Grain Nameplates *Editable*
Thank you for looking at my nameplates! There are 32 different nameplates. They have a weathered wood grain background, as well as 32 different growth mindset sayings. The nameplates are available in 6 different colors and have a space for you to fill in the weeks specials schedule!
These Nameplates are Editable!
Please leave feedback! Please also let me know if you would like any changes to be made, I would be happy to have new ideas!
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Not Specific
Also included in: Weathered Wood Grain Back to School Bundle!
Brick and Llama Class pack!
This bundle includes supply labels, library labels, and name tags for a Rustic White Brick and Llama (or just whimsical) classroom. I also plan on making schedule cards and daily power point slides for this theme which I will add to the bundle when I have them, so keep an eye out!
Not Specific
Weathered Wood Class Jobs *EDITABLE*
Thank you for looking at my classroom jobs! There are 26 different job signs with descriptions. All are editable in case you have a similar job in your room but need the description to be slightly different. They have a weathered wood grain background. When printed, you can laminate them and write the name or number of the student responsible for the job in the white box with wet erase marker.
These Jobs are Editable!
Please leave feedback! Please also let me know if you would like any changes
K - 6th
Classroom Community
Also included in: Weathered Wood Grain Back to School Bundle!
*Editable* Brick and Llama Supply Labels **Fits Target square label pockets**
This resource includes 56 pre-made labels for supplies in the classroom. There are also editable labels in here in case I missed something that you have in your classroom. Just print them on card stock and stick them in the Target Square Label Pockets. I also use those Sterilite shoe boxes for supplies and these will fit inside the front of those. Just tape down with packing tape! These are a great way to stay organized and be able to find everything while also being CUTE!
Not Specific
Also included in: Brick and Llama Class pack!
Open House Flip Book *Editable* **Revamped**
Thank you for looking at my *completely revamped* Open House Flipbook! There are 4 different pages and the grade level page has been saved with all grades from Pre-K to Eighth. They are Black and White to be printed on Astro Brights paper. This Flip Book is Editable! Please leave feedback! Please also let me know if you would like any changes to be made, I would be happy to have new ideas! ___________________________________________________________________ If you like this product, check out: We
PreK - 8th
*Editable* Brick and Llama Library Labels **For Target Square Label Pockets**
This resource includes labels for common library sections as well as a few editable labels. There is also a page of 1x1 circles with numbers that match to print on label paper. I put one of the circle stickers on the label and then one on the back of every book that goes in that section. The first few download will get a Silhouette or Cricut cut file for the circle stickers for free so that I can make sure that they work before uploading them to TPT. (Just email me). You can also use a 1 inch ci
Not Specific
English Language Arts
Also included in: Brick and Llama Class pack!
Mental and Physical Morning Check In **Add your Bitmoji!**
Sometimes kids aren’t really ready for the day. Sometimes teachers aren’t really ready for the day, am I right? Use this poster as a quick check in with your kids. Knowing how they’re coming in can make all the difference. When your kiddos come in in the morning, make it part of the routine for them to grab a post it, write their name on the back (so it won’t be visible on the front) and put their post it in the correct coordinate square (Oh hey! This is also a fun way to practice coordinate gra
Not Specific
Classroom Community, Graphing
Mermaid Schedule Cards
Included in this resource are 30 schedule cards in each color of the mermaid theme (12 colors). Each card has a blank clock on it that you can fill in on your own. I plan to laminate them so that I can use a wet erase marker to edit the clocks on early release days, etc.
Please leave feedback! Feel free to let me know if there are any slides that are missing!
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If you like this product, check out:
Mermaid and Dragon Daily 5 Board
PreK - 7th
For All Subjects
Mermaid/Dragon Daily 5 Board
This resource includes each of the following in 12 different mermaid/dragon scale colors.
*Daily 5 Pennant pages
*Group cards
* Daily 5 rotation cards
*Read to Self
*Read to Someone
*Work on Writing
*Word Work
*Work with the Teacher
Please leave feedback if you download! Also, please PM if you need one or some of the cards changed!
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K - 6th
Balanced Literacy, English Language Arts, Reading
Book Review Shelf Talkers
Do you have a hard time getting students to read books outside of their norm? That is where peer recommendations come in handy! When peers recommend books, students are more likely to read them.
If you've been to a big box bookstore (Barnes and Noble, Borders, BAM, etc...) You've seen shelf talkers in action, It's how staff recommends books for patrons. Why do they do this? To up sales of books of course! Try the same tactic out in your classroom and help your students become wide readers!
The
3rd - 8th
English Language Arts, Literature, Reading
Showing 1-20 of 25 results
About the store
Experience
Middle schoolers would rather lose a limb than write a complete sentence—but what if they wanted to?
At TeachPlanBeHappy, I create resources that actually get students reading, writing, and thinking deeply—even when they don’t want to. My work is built around one big goal: making literacy feel irresistible.
You’ll find materials designed to spark engagement, from daily ELA bellringers and high-interest writing prompts to creative projects and student-friendly notes. Whether you're teaching reluctant readers, budding writers, or a whole class of eye-rolling tweens, these tools are made to get kids debating, discussing, and dissecting texts like pros.
I’ve taught grades 1–8 across four states, and for the last four years, I’ve focused on middle school ELA in Northern Virginia, where I get to see firsthand how powerful the right resource can be for even the most resistant learners.
While my current focus is Grades 6–8 ELA, you’ll also find a few tried-and-true resources from my earlier years in the elementary classroom—because a great idea is a great idea, no matter the grade.
Teaching style
I create rigorous, high-interest ELA resources that get even the most reluctant middle schoolers reading, writing, and thinking critically. My lessons blend scaffolding, QTEL strategies, and student choice with project-based learning, literary analysis, book clubs, and real-world writing tasks like podcasts and creative publishing. Everything is standards-aligned, discussion-driven, and built to spark engagement from day one.
Awards & shining teacher moments
While I haven’t collected formal awards (yet!), I’m proud to be a trusted voice in ELA professional development. I’ve led numerous PD sessions across grade levels—and I’m honored that educators consistently choose to attend my sessions, return for more, and share how my strategies improve their practice. I’ve been selected by several school districts to contribute to curriculum development and standards alignment, and recently received enthusiastic feedback from a district-level ELA supervisor who praised the depth, creativity, and rigor of my classroom projects and instructional design.
My own education history
As a proud product of New Jersey public schools (Brick Township, Medford Township, and Lenape Regional High School districts), I know firsthand the impact of great teaching. I earned my B.S. in Child Psychology from Towson University and my M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Wilmington University. I later completed postgraduate studies in Applied Behavior Analysis through Florida Tech and earned a certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration from The George Washington University.
Additional biographical information
Please follow me on Instagram @ <a href="http://www.instagram.com/teachplanbehappy">TeachPlanBeHappy</a>.
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