About the store
Having taught over 10 years, I find I LOVE to teach in very rural areas. I am now on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation teaching early elementary. Go BRAVES!
My specialty is working with students who struggle to read or have behaviors that make learning a challenge.
I've written children's and young adult books as well as poetry but have not found myself an agent yet to help publish them.
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If Quadrilaterals Could Talk - MATH Small Group Reader's Theater
This reader's theater has been written for 5 students. It is intended to help students remember what features special quadrilaterals, trapezoids, parallelograms, rectangles, squares, and rhombuses have. Many times students struggle to keep the shapes separate. This will help. It is a fun way to tie math and language arts together. I use this script to help students review quadrilaterals. In the script, each of the quadrilaterals think that they are special because of the things they have until
4th - 10th, Adult Education
Drama, Geometry, Short Stories
CCSS
4.G.A.1
, 4.G.A.2
, 5.G.B.3
 +16
STEM Lesson - Introduction to Volume - Kiss the Pig
This is a Mathematics STEM lesson based on the New Common CORE Standards. It addresses 5th grade standard 5.MD.3 a&b as well as 5.MP.1,4, and 5. It is meant as a problem-solving task for students to introduce them to volume. The lesson presents them with a story problem that they will then work to solve in small groups. At the end of this lesson students will understand what volume is for three dimensional objects and why it is important to learn. There are DOK (Depth of Knowledge) questions t
4th - 6th, Adult Education
Algebra, Geometry, Measurement
CCSS
5.MD.C.3
, 5.MD.C.3a
, 5.MD.C.3b
 +3
The Fraction Freaks Help with Improper Fractions & Mixed Numbers - S.G.R.T.
This is a reader's theater for 4 students. It is not a normal reader's theater. This one is designed to use as an intervention tool for students who are struggling with improper fractions and mixed numbers. It is one way I can mix language arts with math. Students are still working on fluency but they are practicing math vocabulary as well as talking their way through the process of making a mixed number an improper fraction and vice versa. There is a small writing/discussion prompt at the end
4th - 10th, Adult Education
Drama, Fractions, Short Stories
CCSS
4.NF.B.3c
, 5.NF.A.1
, RL.6.10
 +15
Understanding the Properties of Multiplication - Small Group Reader's Theater
This small group reader's theater is for four students. The key concept, besides reading fluently, is the 4 Properties of Multiplication and the Math Vocabulary that goes along with it. When I used it in my class, the students who performed it REALLY got into it. That might be because I, myself, love math! They did a wonderful job and, a month later, STILL remember the properties and why they are what they are. My class is 99% ESL and language is VERY important in every lesson not just in readin
4th - 12th, Adult Education
Other (Math), Reading Strategies, Short Stories
CCSS
4.NBT.B.4
, RL.6.10
, RF.4.4
 +14
The Fraction Freaks Explain WHY common denominators are used to + or -
This is a small group reader's theater is for four students. This is a way to tie together math and language arts. I use the Fraction Freak scripts to help reteach ideas that students are struggling with or to help introduce a new concept. It exposes students to the vocabulary and uses a different part of their brain. In this Fraction Freak script, the students explore WHY the denominators have to be the same in order to add or subtract. It also discusses one way to find the least common denomin
4th - 10th, Adult Education
Drama, Fractions, Short Stories
CCSS
5.NF.A.1
, RL.6.10
, RF.4.4
 +14
Math Task - Proving ALL Triangles Equal 180 Degrees
This is a Mathematics lesson based on the New Common CORE Standards. It addresses 7th grade standard 7.GB.5 but I have used it with my 5th grade class. It is meant as a problem solving task for students to introduce them to solving for the unknown angle of a triangle. The lesson presents them with a theory that all angles of ANY triangle when added will equal 180 degrees. They will then work in small groups to either prove this is correct or incorrect. This follows the STEM based teaching metho
5th - 8th, Adult Education
Geometry, Other (Math)
CCSS
5.G.B.3
, 7.G.B.5
, MP1
 +2
The League of Incredible Mathmaticians - Part One: The Place Value Problem
This Reader's Theater was written for a small group of 5 students. It is intended to introduce or review place value. In the script, Citizen does not understand place value and how it works. Citizen wants to give up and decides that they are not good at math. The League of Incredible Mathematicians comes to explain that math is about perseverance, patience, a positive attitude, and problem solving. Together they help citizen work through how place and value work. This is the first script introd
3rd - 6th, Adult Education
Drama, Place Value, Short Stories
CCSS
2.NBT.A.1
, 2.NBT.A.1a
, RL.6.10
 +16
Introducing Fractions! Lesson 2 - 3rd Grade Common Core Based
This PowerPoint is for 3rd Grade. It is the second lesson in teaching fractions. Items covered in this lesson are: Review of what a fraction is, what unit fractions are, where the denominator and the numerator are located. Then students practice identifying fractions, drawing them, and discuss whether size or shaded portions not adjacent to each other affect the fraction. There is a hands-on activity to cement the new ideas. I use it as a visual guide direct from the lesson for the students and
3rd - 4th, Adult Education
Fractions, Instructional Technology
CCSS
3.NF.A.1
Snow Science - Two FUN, Hands On, Experiments Written as STEM Lessons using SIOP
Are you looking for experiments that are fairly easy, with little cost, and quick but STEM based? This packet has two. Both involve one of the easiest ingredients in winter - snow. The first experiment examines how dense snow is and the second one examines how clean it is. The lesson plans are written using SIOP form. One way to do these experiments is in a science center but I like to have Fridays be our project days and my students write about every project we do. You can buy just one of the e
3rd - 8th, Adult Education
Graphing, Physical Science
Ones, Tens, and Hundreds - The Story of the Names We Use In Place Value!
This Reader's Theater was written for a small group of 3 students. It is intended to introduce - or review for students who are struggling - place value periods as well as the fact that each period has ones, tens, and hundreds. In the script, The census taker is going from door to door to find out who lives there and finds a neighborhood where EVERYONE looks the same. They all have the same names as well. This makes the census taker freak out and even think about quitting before a little kid nam
3rd - 12th, Adult Education
Drama, Place Value, Vocabulary
CCSS
3.NBT.A.1
, 4.NBT.A.1
, 4.NBT.A.2
 +19
Engage NY / Eureka Math 3rd Grade Module 1 Lesson 8 PowerPoint
This PowerPoint is for Engage NY/Eureka Math 3rd Grade Module 1 Lesson 5 'Demonstrate the commutativity of multiplication, and practice related facts by skip-counting objects in array models.' I use it as a visual guide direct from the lesson plan for the students and myself. It helps me to stay with the 60 minute time limit. It is still important to preview the PowerPoint before you teach the lesson so you can make adjustments to your teaching style. There are some notes to help you plan. My na
3rd, Adult Education
Algebra, Arithmetic, Math
CCSS
3.OA.B.5
The Fraction Freaks Introduce Fractions - Small Group Reader's Theater for Math
This is a small group reader's theater for 3 people. It is used to introduce the topic of fractions and to teach the vocabulary words numerator and denominator. It is a great way to help students struggling to understand which numbers go in the numerator and which ones go in the denominator. It is the first of several reader's theaters introducing the fraction freaks as they talk about fractions. There is a small writing/discussion prompt at the end for your students to respond to.If you are lo
3rd - 12th, Adult Education
Fractions, Math, Vocabulary
CCSS
3.NF.A.1
, 3.NF.A.3c
, RL.6.10
 +19
Place Value Vocabulary Math Chant Hand-out ONLY
This is a math chant. It is sung to military cadence. Students struggle to learn vocabulary and, as teachers we are always looking for creative ways to get the vocabulary permanently into their minds and out of their mouths. Place Value is a fundamental building block for many other concepts and its language can often be overlooked. This is why finding ways to put it into a form they will want to use and practice can be critical. My name is Melanie Whitesides and I find that music is a great way
3rd - 7th, Adult Education
Place Value, Vocabulary
CCSS
1.NBT.B.2a
, 2.NBT.A.1
, 2.NBT.A.1a
 +3
Snow Science - How Clean IS Our Snow - Hands On, STEM, Science Experiment
Are you looking for experiments that are fairly easy, with little cost, and quick but STEM based? Then this lesson is for you. It involves one of the easiest ingredients in winter - snow. The experiment examines how clean it is. The lesson plan is written using SIOP form. One way to do this experiment is in a science center but I like to have Fridays be our project days and my students write about every project we do. You can buy them as a package with this. I used this experiment to teach why w
3rd - 8th, Adult Education
Graphing, Physical Science
CCSS
5.MD.C.4
, 3.NBT.A.2
, 3.NF.A.1
 +2
Introducing Fractions! Lesson 1 - 3rd Grade Common Core Based
This PowerPoint is for 3rd Grade. I've made 5 or so of these lessons and am offering the first one free so you can see what they are like. In this, the first lesson in teaching fractions, items covered are: What a fraction is, what unit fractions are, where the denominator and the numerator are located, how to create and read a fraction, as well as a hands-on activity to cement the new ideas. I use it as a visual guide direct from the lesson for the students and myself. It helps keep the lesson
3rd - 4th, Adult Education
Fractions, Instructional Technology
CCSS
3.NF.A.1
Living and Nonliving Things Science Vocabulary Bingo 3 Day Lesson and Activity
This is a Science Activity Lesson based on the Science Standard about Living and Nonliving Things. It also ties in with Math Standards regarding creating and reading bar graphs and number lines. While that standard pertains to 3rd grade many other grades need to review and reteach it to help students. This activity helps ESL students and others to master the vocabulary for the science standard as well. This activity is a DOK level 2 and 4 but is not complicated. It will take 3 days, 30 - 60 min
3rd - 11th, Adult Education
Biology, General Science, Measurement
CCSS
3.MD.B.3
, RI.3.4
, RI.3.10
 +2
Fractions on Number Lines - Lesson 5
This PowerPoint is for 3rd Grade. It is the fifth lesson in teaching fractions and introduces number lines. The best part of the lesson is you can use it with your math book, worksheets, etc. or independent of them! This lesson focuses on how to draw and label number lines as well as what fractions beyond one whole should be called. Students begin to plot points on the fraction number line as well as fill in the missing fractions. Students will also be led to understand that the parts on the num
3rd - 4th, Adult Education
Fractions
CCSS
3.NF.A.2a
, 3.NF.A.2b
Engage NY / Eureka Math 3rd Grade Module 1 Lesson 10 PowerPoint
This PowerPoint is for Engage NY/Eureka Math 3rd Grade Module 1 Lesson 10 'Model the distributive property with arrays to decompose units as a strategy to multiply.' I use it as a visual guide direct from the lesson plan for the students and myself. It helps me to stay with the 60 minute time limit. It is still important to preview the PowerPoint before you teach the lesson so you can make adjustments to your teaching style. There are some notes to help you plan. My name is Melanie Whitesides b
3rd, Adult Education
Algebra, Arithmetic, Math
CCSS
3.OA.B.5
Engage NY / Eureka Math 3rd Grade Module 1 Lesson 2 PowerPoint
This PowerPoint is for Engage NY/Eureka Math 3rd Grade Module 1 Lesson 2 'Relate multiplication to the array model.' I use it as a visual guide direct from the lesson plan for the students and myself. It helps me to stay with the 60 minute time limit as well as to cover the objective and do a short close. It is still important to preview the PowerPoint before you teach the lesson so you can make adjustments to your teaching style. There are some notes to help you plan. This is a new type of prod
3rd, Adult Education
Algebra, Basic Operations, Math
CCSS
3.OA.A.1
Lesson Plan for Math Activity - Introducing Fractions Multiplied by Fractions
This activity lesson is designed to give students a concrete understanding of what happens when fractions are multiplied by other fractions. I use it when we begin studying multiplication of fractions. I believe that students should understand WHAT is happening and not just how to do something. It helps with retention. Many of my students are ESL. This creates unique challenges with Language. The more concrete an example I can give the students the better. Teachers should read instructions ahea
4th - 6th, Adult Education
Fractions, Math
CCSS
5.NF.B.5
Showing 1-20 of 24 results
About the store
Experience
Having taught over 10 years, I find I LOVE to teach in very rural areas. I am now on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation teaching early elementary. Go BRAVES!
My specialty is working with students who struggle to read or have behaviors that make learning a challenge.
I've written children's and young adult books as well as poetry but have not found myself an agent yet to help publish them.
Teaching style
I really believe in the Piaget approach along with the 7 different learning styles. I try to incorporate 3 styles at a time into my lessons to enhance learning. I also focus on high engagement and have yet to follow my lesson plan to the 'T' because of this.
Thus showing how lessons are 'in the moment' and adjust that way to my students.
One of my favorite things is getting rid of grading papers and switching to a quick check at the end of the lesson. Within 3-5 minutes and usually 3 questions, I can identify and mark where each student is and then adjust the lesson for the next day accordingly. Ie. adding more reteach or extensions etc. Yes, there are still papers selected to go into a folder for them to show their parents to celebrate and demonstrate their own success but they are more intentionally selected and made.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Two Americorps tours of duty, 'Driven to Teach' award, National Poet Society Recognition, etc.
Teacher of the Year at T.O. Smith Elementary in Ogden Utah. 2015
My own education history
Two Bachelors Degrees. One in Education and one in Technical Writing.
Additional biographical information
I now live on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee Nevada. We still miss our dear friends from Monument Valley. If you, too, like teaching in the trenches and want to jump out of the frying pan into the fire, they are a place to go. Both have a desperate need for committed teachers. I have 7 children, am learning (slowly) Spanish, Navajo, and Sign Language, and I love to Crochet!
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