The Teaching Zone
75 Followers
Ocala, Florida, United States
About the store
I am currently an ESE Specialist for my district. Prior to this, I taught Gifted students (GATE) at four schools in Florida for several years. Prior to that, well, I spent more than 20 years during which I taught almost all grade levels, special needs and general education, and worked as a reading coach, an instructional coach and an assistant principal. I've been working in the school system since 1998.
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Thanksgiving Cryptograms / Ciphers from The First Thanksgiving
This is a collection of cryptograms, both with and without clue words, with information about the first Thanksgiving, and what the pilgrims and Wampanoag ate for dinner. It was designed for use with my elementary Gifted students, but my high school son also enjoys it! At his request, I have added another, more advanced 4th cryptogram about the first Thanksgiving with a more mature perspective. This product includes 4 cryptograms, each with a copy including a clue word, and clueless copy, as w
4th - 7th
U.S. History
Also included in:Â Thanksgiving Critical Thinking Bundle for Gifted GATE
Intro to SCAMPER Bundle
Hopefully this will successfully combine my Intro to SCAMPER PowerPoint and my related guide sheet.
1st - 5th
Creative Writing
Christmas Winter Wonder Bundle
This is a bundle of all winter holiday / Christmas-themed products in my store. At the moment, that's only 7 things... but the "wonder" part is that I wonder how many things will be added to it in the future! Once you buy it, you'll get them all, forever, as long as you download the updates! So far, this includes A Holiday Problem - a PBL activity, Simple Christmas Matrix logic - an intro to matrix logic for little ones, Reindeer Games Logic 1 and 2 - more complicated matrix logic for upper el
1st - 8th
First Thanksgiving Truth-Truth-Lie
This is a couple of critical thinking / inference / reading comprehension worksheets and a related game, tied to the First Thanksgiving. I use this with 4th-5th grade gifted students, but it would be appropriate at these levels, or even in middle school, and the game can be used with any academic content.
3rd - 6th
Reading
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.4
, CCRA.R.9
Also included in:Â Thanksgiving Critical Thinking Bundle for Gifted GATE
Reindeer Games 2 Logic Challenge Enrichment Activity Holiday Christmas
This is a logic puzzle I created based upon a very silly premise - that Santa's reindeer are weird. I created this to use with my elementary gifted class, to hone our deductive reasoning skills, but it would be appropriate with middle school students as well. Please also check out my Reindeer Games Logic Challenge, which includes Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen. This one is for Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen!
4th - 8th
Also included in:Â Christmas Winter Wonder Bundle
Reindeer Games Logic Challenge Enrichment Activity Holiday Christmas
This is a logic puzzle I created based upon a very silly premise - that Santa's reindeer are weird. This one only addresses the first four reindeer. I've made another for the next four. I created this to use with my upper elementary gifted class, to hone our deductive reasoning skills, but it would be appropriate with middle school students as well.
4th - 7th
Also included in:Â Christmas Winter Wonder Bundle
Christmas Around the World Cryptograms Ciphers Critical Thinking for GATE Gifted
This is a collection of 4 different cryptograms, each with a different key, each revealing a different interesting fact about Christmas celebrations from around the world. Each puzzle includes one copy with a clue word and one copy without the clue word. The answer key is also included. My upper elementary gifted students LOVE working cryptograms, and so does my high school gifted kid at home!
4th - 8th
Also included in:Â Christmas Winter Wonder Bundle
Winter Holiday Glyphs for Christmas and Chanukah Hannukah
This product is a pair of glyphs - one Christmas Tree and one menorah, where students respond to a series of questions about their holiday plans by making changes to the Christmas tree or menorah image. It is a relatively simple task, and one that my students complete independently in a center.
K - 3rd
Also included in:Â Christmas Winter Wonder Bundle
Intro to SCAMPER Guide Sheet
This Guide Sheet goes with my PowerPoint, which introduces Bob Ehrle's SCAMPER strategy in a fun and visual way. In the midst of it, you'll need to read from his book, SCAMPER: Games and Activities for Imagination Development, so if you don't have a copy, you can find it on Amazon. Be sure to download the PowerPoint that goes with this document.
2nd - 5th
Creative Writing
Also included in:Â Intro to SCAMPER Bundle
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About the store
Experience
I am currently an ESE Specialist for my district. Prior to this, I taught Gifted students (GATE) at four schools in Florida for several years. Prior to that, well, I spent more than 20 years during which I taught almost all grade levels, special needs and general education, and worked as a reading coach, an instructional coach and an assistant principal. I've been working in the school system since 1998.
Teaching style
I believe the key to being an effective teacher is the relationship you develop with your students. To that end, I worked hard to create a classroom that was a warm, welcoming, colorful and happy environment, and I strived to develop lessons and activities that were fun and engaging, which made students want to come to my class. Then, I topped it off with exciting novels which we read together and talked about. I had a lot of fun teaching, and loved my job. I hope that the activities I have created will help you love yours too.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Hmm. I was runner-up for teacher-of-the-year once. Does that count?
Even better - I had a middle school student come to Open House at my elementary school just to see me and say, "What you taught me has really helped me a lot!" That was a big honor!
My own education history
K-12, Baker School, Baker, Florida
BA - PreK/Primary Education, University of West Florida
MA - Exceptional Student Education, University of Central Florida
EdS - Educational Leadership and Administration, National Louis University
Additional biographical information
I am an empty-nester single mom, with two children in college, currently working as an ESE Specialist, and treasurer of the local teacher's association, in addition to teaching the 9-10 year old primary class in church. I don't have a lot of time to add to my TPT store these days, but I'm happy to do anything I can to support the folks that are still buying the things I've created. I sincerely hope one day I'll have the opportunity to add a lot more to my offerings.
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