Middle School Writing-Essays Activities

Immerse your students in the thrilling world of "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell with this comprehensive, end-of-year ELA unit, perfect for middle school humanities teachers! This meticulously designed resource offers a full week of engaging, scaffolded lessons, culminating in a dynamic Socratic seminar and creative choice board activities.

What's Included:

• Fully Detailed Lesson Plans: Each day is carefully planned with clear objectives, standards alignment, and step-by-step instructions. Scaffolds and differentiation strategies ensure all students can participate and succeed.
• Engaging Activities: Students will read and analyze the text, watch a captivating film adaptation, and participate in thought-provoking discussions. Every lesson is designed to captivate students' imaginations and deepen their understanding of the material.
• Socratic Seminar: Facilitate a rich, student-led discussion with our structured Socratic seminar guidelines. Students will engage in meaningful dialogue, using evidence from the text and film to support their points.
• Choice Board Projects: Empower students to demonstrate their learning creatively with a variety of project options, including writing an alternate ending, crafting a comic strip, designing a literary brochure, and more. Each option includes graphic organizers and rubrics to guide student work.
• Comprehensive Question Sets: Thoughtful questions accompany each lesson, encouraging critical thinking and textual analysis. An answer key is provided to support teacher facilitation.
• Paper-Based Resource: Designed for easy implementation, this unit is fully printable and ready to use in any classroom setting.

Unit Breakdown:

• Day 1: Whole-class reading of "The Most Dangerous Game." Discussion on suspense and setting.
• Day 2: Watching a short film adaptation and gathering evidence using the claim, evidence, reasoning (CER) format. Preparation for the Socratic seminar.
• Day 3: Socratic seminar day. Students explore and discuss the text, aiming to speak 2-3 times, using textual evidence to support their points.
• Days 4 & 5: Choice board activities. Students choose from a range of creative projects to showcase their understanding of the story.

Benefits:

• Engaging End-of-Year Content: Keep students motivated and excited about learning with a thrilling, suspenseful story that will capture their interest.
• Scaffolding and Extension Ideas: Each lesson includes scaffolds to support all learners and extension ideas to challenge advanced students.
• Comprehensive and Ready-to-Use: Save time with detailed lesson plans, organized materials, and everything you need to deliver a successful unit.

Perfect for middle school humanities teachers looking to end the year with a bang, this unit will leave students discussing, debating, and reflecting on "The Most Dangerous Game" long after the lessons are over. Bring your classroom to life with this engaging, paper-based resource!

Included in this 12 week unit: Ultimate Middle School Short Story Bundle: 12 Week Engaging Suspense ELA Units (TeachShare.com)

Persuasive Writing Prompts & Graphic Organizers: Opinion Writing Prompts

Say goodbye to boring persuasive writing prompts! These opinion writing prompts are FUN and ENGAGING for students!

These no-prep persuasive writing prompts worksheets are standards-aligned for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade.

This file includes the following:

• A brief overview of the purpose of persuasive writing on reference pages
• 24 persuasive writing prompts with built-in graphic organizers

NOTE: Each prompt includes a prewriting brainstorming map for students to identify their position or opinion, reasons for their opinion, evidence or examples, and evidence of thought about the opposite point of view. The second page (could be the back side if copied that way) of each persuasive writing prompt gives space for students to complete their persuasive writing essay.

NOTE: THIS FILE INCLUDES A DIGITAL OPTION!

This product includes a digital option (as well as the no prep printable option). The digital portion instructions appear at the end of the packet.

If you like this persuasive writing prompts product, you may find interest in other products in my store. Please check out these language arts products:

• TASK CARD PRODUCTS
• GRAMMAR PRODUCTS
• LITERATURE UNITS
• FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE PRODUCTS
• CHARACTER TRAITS PRODUCTS

Master the Art of Mystery with "The Landlady" - A Complete Week-Long ELA Unit

This complete 5 day ELA unit on "The Landlady," expertly is designed for middle school teachers. Whether you're wrapping up the year, setting up engaging sub plans, or looking for a dynamic mini-unit, this resource offers everything you need to bring this thrilling text to life in your classroom.

What’s Included in This Resource?

• Text: PDF version of the text "The Landlady."
• Engaging Slides: 22 beautifully designed slides that provide a visual and textual roadmap for each day’s activities, enhancing student engagement and understanding.
• Socratic Seminar Preparation: Detailed guidelines and procedures for conducting a Socratic seminar, complete with evidence writing tips to help students articulate their thoughts clearly and convincingly.
• Choice Board Activities: A variety of creative and analytical projects including a comic strip, an alternate ending, newspaper article creation, and designing a literary brochure, allowing students to explore the text from multiple angles.
• Essay Questions: Rigorous argumentative, informational, and correspondence essay prompts that challenge students to dive deeper into the themes and characters of the story.
• Film vs. Text Analysis: A Venn diagram activity to compare and contrast "The Landlady" film adaptation with Dahl’s original text, encouraging critical thinking and media literacy.
• Teacher's Guide: Step-by-step instructions to ensure you can easily implement the activities, regardless of any previous familiarity with the text.

Perfect For:

• End-of-Year Engagement: Keep your students hooked until the very last day with activities that combine literary analysis with creative expression.
• Substitute Lesson Plans: Each activity is designed to be straightforward and engaging, ensuring that your class stays on track even when you're not there.
• Mini Units: Perfect for a focused study on narrative techniques, suspense, and character analysis.

Why Choose This Unit?

• Standards-Aligned: Meets a variety of ELA standards with activities designed to develop reading comprehension, analytical writing, and creative skills.
• Flexible and Adaptable: Easily tailored to fit different learning environments and student abilities.
• Engagement and Depth: Provides students with a deep dive into classic literature through interactive and student-centered learning approaches.

Elevate your teaching and inspire your students with this meticulously crafted unit on "The Landlady." This unit is not just a lesson plan but a gateway to enhancing critical thinking, writing prowess, and a love for literature in your middle school classroom.

Included in this 12 week unit: Ultimate Middle School Short Story Bundle: 12 Week Engaging Suspense ELA Units (TeachShare.com)

Elevate your students' short response writing skills and prepare them for success on the STAAR test with this comprehensive Extended Constructed Response (ECR) lesson designed for middle and high school classrooms. This engaging PowerPoint lesson offers educators a valuable tool to assess and guide student learning effectively.

Key Features:

1. Sample Response Evaluation: Dive into three sample extended constructed responses and guide your students through the process of critically analyzing and scoring each one. This lesson provides detailed criteria and rubrics to help teachers accurately assess student work.
2. STAAR Test Practice: Prepare your students for the rigor of the STAAR test with targeted practice exercises. This lesson includes a variety of short stories and prompts that mirror the format and style of STAAR test questions, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the expectations and requirements of the exam.
3. Interactive Learning: Engage your students with interactive activities and discussions that encourage active participation and deeper understanding.
4. Teacher Resources: Empower educators with comprehensive teacher guides, answer keys, and additional resources to support lesson implementation and facilitate classroom instruction. These lesson materials are user-friendly and adaptable, making it easy for teachers to integrate them into their existing curriculum.
5. Skill Development: Foster critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing proficiency in your students as they practice crafting concise and well-supported extended constructed responses. This lesson emphasizes essential skills such as citing evidence, structuring responses, and addressing prompt requirements effectively.

Why Choose This Lesson:

• Rigorous and standards-aligned content designed to meet the needs of middle and high school students.

• Engaging and interactive activities that promote student engagement and academic growth.

• Easy-to-use resources and materials for seamless lesson implementation and classroom management.

• Comprehensive preparation for the STAAR test, ensuring that students feel confident and capable on exam day.

Empower your students to excel in short response writing and conquer the challenges of the STAAR test with this dynamic and comprehensive lesson. Elevate your teaching and ignite a passion for learning with these innovative instructional materials. Download this lesson today and watch your students thrive!

What's Included:

• Student lesson with 42 PowerPoint slides
• Checklists for 3 sample ECRs
• Scaffolded response template
• Templates for in-class scoring (stars)
• 2 Texts to read & write about
• Multiple opportunities for students to speaking, listening, thinking, creating, and evaluating
• Included in Word and PDF

Inspire your middle school students to craft vivid narratives with this autumn-themed essay planning guide. This resource includes 10 high-quality, fall-themed photos, from a turkey taking a trip, to a mysterious ghost family feast, to a lone parade float on an abandoned street, perfect for sparking imagination and guiding students through the narrative writing process.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop the ability to plan and draft a narrative story that captivates and engages.
• Foster creativity and ensure narratives include all essential elements of a well-structured narrative text.

What's Inside:

• A structured 5-day cycle for each picture prompt, guiding students from initial brainstorming to the final draft.
• Detailed graphic organizers are designed to help students explore the setting, characters, conflict, and resolution in depth.
• A GoogleSlides presentation with each high-interest photo for classroom projection, making it easy to introduce each new writing prompt.

How to Use:

• Day 1: Project the photo prompt using the slides and encourage students to brainstorm ideas with the help of the graphic organizer.
• Day 2: Begin drafting the narrative, drawing inspiration from the projected image.
• Day 3: Continue the narrative, weaving in details and developing the plot.
• Day 4: Conduct peer or teacher feedback sessions, followed by revisions and editing.
• Day 5: Publish the final narrative piece, celebrating the students' completed work.

Standards Alignment:

• Aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3 through W.8.3, ensuring that the resource meets educational standards for narrative writing.

Formats Available:

• A ready-to-use PDF for printouts and a Google Slides for easy classroom display.

Usage Scenario:

• Ideal for middle school teachers to use as a standalone writing unit, an extension activity, or as part of a choice board for students.

Highlights:

• Engaging and diverse photo prompts: Each image is selected to appeal to middle school students, with themes including technology, society, animals, aviation, and more.
• Ready for the classroom: With the PowerPoint slides, you can easily introduce each writing prompt, while the print-ready PDFs make preparation quick and effortless.

Transform your classroom's approach to narrative writing with this engaging, standards-aligned essay planning guide. Watch as your students' creativity takes flight with each captivating photo prompt!

Elevate your students' short response writing skills and prepare them for success on the STAAR test with this comprehensive Short Constructed Response (SCR) lesson designed for middle and high school classrooms. This engaging PowerPoint lesson offers educators a valuable tool to assess and guide student learning effectively.

Key Features:

1. Sample Response Evaluation: Dive into three sample short constructed responses and guide your students through the process of critically analyzing and scoring each one. This lesson provides detailed criteria and rubrics to help teachers accurately assess student work.
2. STAAR Test Practice: Prepare your students for the rigor of the STAAR test with targeted practice exercises. This lesson includes a variety of short stories and prompts that mirror the format and style of STAAR test questions, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the expectations and requirements of the exam.
3. Interactive Learning: Engage your students with interactive activities and discussions that encourage active participation and deeper understanding.
4. Teacher Resources: Empower educators with comprehensive teacher guides, answer keys, and additional resources to support lesson implementation and facilitate classroom instruction. These lesson materials are user-friendly and adaptable, making it easy for teachers to integrate them into their existing curriculum.
5. Skill Development: Foster critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing proficiency in your students as they practice crafting concise and well-supported short constructed responses. This lesson emphasizes essential skills such as citing evidence, structuring responses, and addressing prompt requirements effectively.

Why Choose This Lesson:

• Rigorous and standards-aligned content designed to meet the needs of middle and high school students.

• Engaging and interactive activities that promote student engagement and academic growth.

• Easy-to-use resources and materials for seamless lesson implementation and classroom management.

• Comprehensive preparation for the STAAR test, ensuring that students feel confident and capable on exam day.

Empower your students to excel in short response writing and conquer the challenges of the STAAR test with this dynamic and comprehensive lesson. Elevate your teaching and ignite a passion for learning with these innovative instructional materials. Download this lesson today and watch your students thrive!

• Student lesson with 41 PowerPoint slides
• Checklists for 3 sample SCRs
• Scaffolded response template
• Templates for in-class scoring (stars)
• 2 Texts to read & write about
• Multiple opportunities for students to speaking, listening, thinking, creating, and evaluating
• Included in Word and PDF

Transform STAAR writing preparation into an exhilarating adventure with our "ECR Relay Race" resource! Designed specifically for grades 6-8, this product turns the daunting task of essay writing into a collaborative, fun, and competitive experience. Dive into high-engaging topics while practicing informational, argumentative, and correspondence writing skills critical for STAAR success.

✅ Engaging Topics for Every Genre:

• Informational ECRs: Explore Texas Rodeo, Texas State Fair, and NASA's monumental contributions.
• Argumentative ECRs: Delve into captivating debates like Selena vs. Beyonce, Roblox vs. Minecraft, and Messi vs. Ronaldo.
• Correspondence ECR: Address real-world issues in letters concerning Ocean pollution, VR headsets in education, and Sports accessibility for students with disabilities.

✅ Collaborative Learning: Encourage teamwork with relay races that make writing a shared journey. Students can work together or individually, pushing them to think critically and write effectively.

✅ Interactive Progress Tracking: Watch as students advance their stick figure characters across the board with each completed paragraph, igniting a sense of accomplishment and urgency.

✅ Comprehensive ECR Refresher: Kickstart your classes with 15 slides designed to refresh students on ECR essentials, providing a solid foundation for success.

✅ Inclusive Support Materials: Includes sentence stems for each writing genre, aiding students in structuring their thoughts and arguments clearly and cohesively.

✅ Fun, Engaging, and Educational: Our resource is not just about STAAR prep; it's about creating memorable learning experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and a love for writing.

Prepare your students for STAAR writing with a resource that’s as educational as it is exhilarating. Make test preparation something students look forward to with our ECR Relay Race. Perfect for teachers seeking innovative, engaging ways to enhance writing skills and STAAR readiness.

Looking for a high-engagement, standards-aligned resource to teach argumentative writing? This Thanksgiving Argument Writing Unit is perfect for middle school (grades 6-8) and provides four unique Thanksgiving-themed writing prompts that help students practice developing claims, providing evidence, and addressing counterarguments and rebuttals.
This resource includes:

• A full lesson plan designed for a 75-minute class, guiding students through argument writing with structured slides and engaging activities.

• Four thought-provoking Thanksgiving debate topics, including:

• "Should Black Friday be banned due to its impact on society?"

• "Is it ethical to celebrate Thanksgiving given the historical conflicts with Native Americans?"

• "Should Thanksgiving Day parades be canceled due to their environmental impact?"

• "Should Thanksgiving football games be banned on the holiday?"

• Slides and Guided Notes: Step-by-step instruction on writing an argumentative essay using claims, evidence, counterarguments, and rebuttals.

• Practice Activities: Hands-on exercises to help students identify and write each part of an argument.

• Templates for Writing: Easy-to-use templates for students to organize their essays and develop their writing.

This unit is ideal for teaching the basics of argumentative writing in a fun, seasonal way, with relevant and engaging Thanksgiving topics that students care about. It's also perfect for debate prewriting, essay interventions, or building towards state assessments like STAAR.
What’s Included:

• Complete 60-minute lesson plan
• 4 Thanksgiving-themed argument writing prompts
• Guided notes and practice passages
• Slide deck covering key writing components (claim, evidence, counterargument, rebuttal)

Help your students develop strong, clear arguments while engaging with Thanksgiving traditions in a meaningful way. Perfect for teaching argumentative writing and improving students' ability to express their ideas logically and persuasively!

Sizzle up your classroom with our Summer Picture Prompts narrative writing resource! This sun-soaked toolkit guides students through the narrative writing process, with the warmth and adventure of summer serving as their muse. From beach escapades to mysterious summer camps, each photo prompt is a splash into the ocean of creativity and narrative exploration.

What’s Inside:

• 23 Radiant Slides: A visual voyage that covers the nuts and bolts of a plot diagram, unveils the magic of showing vs. telling, and showcases 10 vibrant, summer-themed photo prompts.
• 10 Sizzling Summer Photo Prompts: Handpicked images that encapsulate the spirit of summer, igniting the spark of creativity in budding writers.
• In-depth Writing Guides: Accompanying each photo prompt is a 2-page planning guide, primed to assist students in brainstorming the sunlit settings, dynamic characters, and simmering conflicts, setting the stage for captivating stories.
• Show vs. Tell: Easy-to-grasp examples that show students how to vivify their stories, turning their writing into a vivid summer blockbuster.

Perfect For:

• ☑️ Creative Writing Classes under the sweltering sun
• ☑️ Choice Boards for sunny selection
• ☑️ Extension Activities for those long summer days
• ☑️ Writing Units that need a splash of warmth
• ☑️ Homework Assignments as bright as the summer sky

Why You’ll Love It:

• ☑️ Ignites Creativity: Encourages students to don their creative hats, crafting unique stories inspired by engaging picture prompts.
• ☑️ Boosts Writing Skills: Leads students through the narrative writing cycle, from brainstorming to the final bow, polishing their writing prowess.
• ☑️ Instills Key Writing Principles: Offers a practical approach to mastering crucial writing concepts like plot unfolding and sensory detail.
• ☑️ Versatile & Malleable: Perfect for a week of narrative adventures, a single sunlit class period, or integrated into a broader curriculum, adapting seamlessly to your teaching needs.
• ☑️ Ready-to-Use Ease: All set for immediate use, whether printed for a hands-on experience or shared digitally, easing your prep time under the sun.

Transform your teaching this summer with tales that are as vibrant and boundless as the season itself. Our Summer Picture Prompts resource isn’t just a collection of activities; it’s a launchpad into storytelling, critical thinking, and joy-filled writing. Whether you’re embarking on a creative writing voyage, searching for meaningful homework under the stars, or in need of lively extension activities, these picture prompts are your treasure map to a world of imaginative writing.

Let the spirit of summer fuel your classroom’s stories. Add our Summer Picture Prompts to your teaching arsenal today and watch your students’ writing blossom under the summer sun!

Keep students engaged at the end of the school year with with our week-long ELA unit for "Examination Day" by Henry Slesar. Designed for the curious middle school mind, this all-inclusive resource is your ticket to end-of-year engagement, student-led discourse, and rich academic conversations. Perfect for grades 6-8, our flexible materials invite students to think critically and creatively as they navigate a story of suspense and societal introspection.

What's Included:

• Text Included Jumpstart engaging classroom discussions with the included text, "Examination Day," poised to captivate your students.
• Dynamic Presentation Slides: Bring the narrative to life and streamline your teaching experience with our ready-to-use slides.
• Structured Socratic Seminar: Our detailed procedures and evidence writing guides promote deep, analytical, and student-driven discussions.
• Engaging Choice Board Activities: Offer a personalized learning experience with creative assignments like alternate endings, comic strips, and more.
• Comprehensive Essay Prompts: Challenge your students with argumentative, informational, and correspondence writing exercises, all crafted to reinforce critical thinking.
• Comparative Analysis Tool: A film vs. text Venn diagram activity to sharpen analytical skills and media comprehension.

Perfect For:

• End-of-Year Engagement: Maintain the learning momentum right up to the final bell with thought-provoking content that students love.
• Ready-to-Go Sub Plans: Comprehensive and easy to navigate, these plans ensure productive learning even when you can't be there.
• Mini Dystopian Unit: Seamlessly integrate with existing units on "The Pedestrian" and "All Summer in a Day" for an expansive dystopian exploration.

Ideal Pairing: Complement this unit with our Complete Week-Long Dystopian Unit Plan for "The Pedestrian" and All Summer in a Day Seminar and Choice Board, and watch as your classroom transforms into a hub of critical analysis and passionate debate.

Gear up for a lesson plan that promises not just to meet standards but to exceed them, ensuring your students are not only ready for their tests but are also equipped to question and evaluate the world around them. Make "Examination Day" the highlight of your teaching year and witness student engagement soar!

Included in this 12 week unit: Ultimate Middle School Short Story Bundle: 12 Week Engaging Suspense ELA Units (TeachShare.com)

Unlock the mysteries and suspense of "The Hitchhiker" by Lucille Fletcher with this comprehensive, end-of-year ELA unit, perfect for middle school humanities teachers! This meticulously designed resource offers a full week of engaging, scaffolded lessons, culminating in a dynamic Socratic seminar and creative choice board activities.

What's Included:

• Fully Detailed Lesson Plans: Each day is carefully planned with clear objectives, standards alignment, and step-by-step instructions. Scaffolds and differentiation strategies ensure all students can participate and succeed.
• Engaging Activities: Students will read and analyze the text, listen to the captivating radio play, and participate in thought-provoking discussions. Every lesson is designed to captivate students' imaginations and deepen their understanding of the material.
• Socratic Seminar: Facilitate a rich, student-led discussion with our structured Socratic seminar guidelines. Students will engage in meaningful dialogue, using evidence from the text to support their points.
• Choice Board Projects: Empower students to demonstrate their learning creatively with a variety of project options, including writing an alternate ending, crafting a comic strip, designing a literary brochure, and more. Each option includes graphic organizers and rubrics to guide student work.
• Comprehensive Question Sets: Thoughtful questions accompany each lesson, encouraging critical thinking and textual analysis. An answer key is provided to support teacher facilitation.
• Paper-Based Resource: Designed for easy implementation, this unit is fully printable and ready to use in any classroom setting.

Unit Breakdown:

• Day 1: Whole-class reading of "The Hitchhiker" followed by listening to the radio play. Discussion on suspense and foreshadowing.
• Day 2: Collecting evidence and constructing responses using the claim, evidence, reasoning (CER) format. Preparation for the Socratic seminar.
• Day 3: Socratic seminar day. Students explore and discuss the text, aiming to speak 2-3 times, using textual evidence to support their points.
• Days 4 & 5: Choice board activities. Students choose from a range of creative projects to showcase their understanding of the story.

Benefits:

• Engaging End-of-Year Content: Keep students motivated and excited about learning with a thrilling, suspenseful story that will capture their interest.
• Scaffolding and Extension Ideas: Each lesson includes scaffolds to support all learners and extension ideas to challenge advanced students.
• Comprehensive and Ready-to-Use: Save time with detailed lesson plans, organized materials, and everything you need to deliver a successful unit.

Perfect for middle school humanities teachers looking to end the year with a bang, this unit will leave students discussing, debating, and reflecting on "The Hitchhiker" long after the lessons are over. Bring your classroom to life with this engaging, paper-based resource!

Included in this 12 week unit: Ultimate Middle School Short Story Bundle: 12 Week Engaging Suspense ELA Units (TeachShare.com)

DEEP DIVE into literature with Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart"

Perfect for Horror/Gothic Literature units in English

8 activities focusing on skills for fiction with this masterful text. Students will have the opportunity to practice comprehension, questioning the text, engage in class discussions, and respond.

What's Included:

1. Powerpoint Guide for each activity
2. Pre-reading activity to activate prior knowledge
3. Two Word Documents that allow students to form questions while reading, or make their own annotations (with the abridged text)
4. A guide to facilitate class discussions after reading
5. Summarizing activity and questions
6. Examining Story Elements page with plot diagram
7. Analyzing Characters practice
8. Inferencing
9. Constructed Responses

**All documents are in Word with a PDF - Also translated for Spanish speaking students - Answer Keys included (including sample responses for the constructed response)**

Depth not Breadth

The benefits of 'depth not breadth' are seen in many scholarly journals. When teachers & students spend more time with a text, they have more opportunities to interact and respond to literature.

• Deep Understanding: When students delve deeply into a text, they gain a thorough understanding of its themes, characters, and nuances. This deep engagement allows them to appreciate the complexities of literature, fostering a richer and more meaningful reading experience.
• Critical Thinking: Depth encourages critical thinking. Students learn to analyze, interpret, and evaluate texts, which enhances their ability to think critically about what they read. This skill is crucial not only for academic success but also for making informed decisions in everyday life.
• Skill Development: Engaging deeply with a few texts helps students develop essential literacy skills, such as close reading, analytical writing, and evidence-based argumentation. These skills are foundational for success in higher education and beyond.
• Connection and Retention: Students are more likely to form connections with the material and retain information when they study it in depth. This approach allows them to see the interconnectedness of themes and ideas, making the learning experience more cohesive and memorable.
• Personal Engagement: When students spend more time on a text, they have the opportunity to relate personally to the material, fostering a greater sense of engagement and motivation. Personal connections to literature can inspire a lifelong love of reading.
• Addressing Complexity: Many literary works are complex and require time to unpack fully. By focusing on depth, students can explore these complexities, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of literature's multifaceted nature.
• Application of Concepts: A deep dive into a text allows students to apply literary concepts and theories in a meaningful way. They can practice applying various analytical lenses, which deepens their understanding and prepares them for more advanced literary study.
• Quality Over Quantity: The quality of learning is often more important than the quantity. By focusing on a few key texts, teachers can ensure that students are engaging with high-quality literature and getting the most out of their reading experience.

Are you an AVID teacher looking for an easy way for students to learn and practice the focus note taking process while learning about primary versus secondary sources? Are your students about to begin an essay and need an explanation on using sources in writing? You came to the right place! This AVID Focused Note Taking Lesson Plan with Google Slides and Applying Learning opportunities has everything you need to have your students practice the very important skill of note taking while learning the importantce and benefits of using primary or secondary sources in their writing. This lesson is ready to go! Teach whole group OR have students follow along by sharing the google slides link with them. This way they have access to all the links provided!

What's Included:

• Lesson plan that walks you through the slides
• Video overview/explanations for students and teacher
• 40 Google Slides with links embedded throughout
• 1 editable slide to add your own information
• Embedded links for: Costa's Level of Thinking, Exit Ticket, 2 Column Notes

Note Taking Process and Lesson:

• Students will practice focused note taking while learning about using primary and secondary sources for writing.
• At the end of the lesson students will apply what they learned through a This or That game along with an exit ticket where they will find primary and secondary sources for 3 major events.

Click HERE to see our other AVID resources. We also have several great AVID bundle options available down below!

AVID Mega Growing Bundle

AVID Teambuilding Bundle

AVID Writing Bundle

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This engaging Adopt a Pal trendy activity designed specifically for upper elementary students grades 3-5. This captivating end-of-year adventure will have your students immersed in a world of storytelling and imagination using narrative writing. It's the perfect way to get your students excited about writing again. You can scaffold for your students by providing them writing prompt starters or choose the Create Your Own path and let them write a story from scratch. Everything you need is included and ready to use, just add a little but of student imagination. Beat the end of the year slump with a fun activity!

What's Included:

☑ Pal Booklet: A comprehensive guide for students to chronicle their Peep's unique journey.

☑ Black and White & Color Versions: Choose between black and white or vibrant color options.

☑ Narrative Prompts: Inspiring story starters to ignite creativity and enhance narrative skills.

☑ Narrative Planning Sheets: Differentiated Structured worksheets to aid students in organizing their Peep's story.

☑ Babysitting Ad Template: Craft a convincing ad to seek the ideal babysitter for their Peep.

☑ Birth Certificate: Personalize a birth certificate for their newly adopted Peep.

☑ "Coming Soon" Poster: Generate anticipation with a teaser poster for the Peep adoption event.

☑ Teacher Tips: Clear, concise guidance for teachers

This delightful activity was a resounding success in my own fourth-grade classroom, providing a fun and meaningful way to conclude the school year. Students will relish the opportunity to adopt and nurture their very own Pal character while refining vital writing and planning abilities.

Whether you seek an end-of-year project, a creative writing exercise, or a distinct classroom activity, "Adopt a Pal" is the ideal addition to your curriculum.

Need Help or Have Questions?
If you have any questions or need assistance with this product, feel free to reach out to me at ashlee@msgamification.com. I'm here to help!

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These word sleuths are NO PREP and will provide your students/children with a fun journey in the world of Science, Math, Social Studies/History, ELA, and Seasonal/Holiday with key vocabulary words. They can be completed in class, centers, or as a fun homework assignment.

The word sleuths are in PPTX format along with an answer key for all five word sleuths.

If you and your students/children, enjoy this activity, please go to "My Purchases" and leave me a review.

Tina

Big Easy Homeschooling Mom

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Elevate your students' short response writing skills and prepare them for success on the STAAR test with these comprehensive Extended Constructed Response (ECR) and Short Constructed Response (SCR) lessons designed for middle and high school classrooms. The engaging PowerPoint lessons offer educators a valuable tool to assess and guide student learning effectively.

Key Features:

1. Sample Response Evaluation: Dive into three samples per constructed responses (6 total) and guide your students through the process of critically analyzing and scoring each one. This lesson provides detailed criteria and rubrics to help teachers accurately assess student work.
2. STAAR Test Practice: Prepare your students for the rigor of the STAAR test with targeted practice exercises. This lesson includes a variety of short stories and prompts that mirror the format and style of STAAR test questions, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the expectations and requirements of the exam.
3. Interactive Learning: Engage your students with interactive activities and discussions that encourage active participation and deeper understanding.
4. Teacher Resources: Empower educators with comprehensive teacher guides, answer keys, and additional resources to support lesson implementation and facilitate classroom instruction. These lesson materials are user-friendly and adaptable, making it easy for teachers to integrate them into their existing curriculum.
5. Skill Development: Foster critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and writing proficiency in your students as they practice crafting concise and well-supported extended constructed responses. This lesson emphasizes essential skills such as citing evidence, structuring responses, and addressing prompt requirements effectively.

Why Choose This Lesson:

• Rigorous and standards-aligned content designed to meet the needs of middle and high school students.

• Engaging and interactive activities that promote student engagement and academic growth.

• Easy-to-use resources and materials for seamless lesson implementation and classroom management.

• Comprehensive preparation for the STAAR test, ensuring that students feel confident and capable on exam day.

Empower your students to excel in short response writing and conquer the challenges of the STAAR test with this dynamic and comprehensive lesson. Elevate your teaching and ignite a passion for learning with these innovative instructional materials. Download this lesson today and watch your students thrive!

What's Included:

• Student lesson with 83 PowerPoint slides
• Checklists for 6 sample ECRs
• Scaffolded response templates
• Templates for in-class scoring (stars)
• 4 Texts to read & write about
• Multiple opportunities for students to speaking, listening, thinking, creating, and evaluating
• Included in Word and PDF

Are you a 3rd-6th grade struggling to create a routine for your writing literacy center? If so, this Writing Activities Year-Round Monthly Theme & Prompts can help you save time and reduce your preparation workload. Download and print it, place it in your writing center, and change it once a month. This set of writing prompts covers a full year, with topics aligned to each month.

This resource was created to help teachers push students beyond foundational skills, fostering a deeper appreciation and mastery of writing that prepares them for more rigorous academic challenges.

Why do you need this :

⭐ Save time Planning & Preparing

⭐ Change Your Writing Centers at the beginning of the month

(Once a Month) August -July

⭐ Collect and Have the data for admins & parents in one place

⭐ Cover all genres

⭐ Monitor Students writing success and challenges

⭐ Set Goals

⭐ Perfect for a Sub or last-minute writing activities

More work doesn’t = more learning.

Ensuring that the right resources are in the right place will save your sanity and help students succeed.

Included in this Writing Packet :

⭐ How To 

⭐ Students’ Directions 

⭐ 6 Writing prompts, 2 narratives, 2 Persuasive or opinion, & 2 Informational for each month of the year. From August to July 

⭐ A Monthly Letter Template 

⭐ A Monthly Newsletter Template. 

⭐ Rubric Templates

⭐ 3 months in assessment tips and guide 

⭐ 6 months in assessment tips and guide 

⭐ A monthly explanation for writing prompts will help teachers understand the use of each template. 

This resource: 

⭐ Alignes with Common Core Standards

⭐ Detailed answer keys for easy assessment only Maze

⭐ Printer-friendly design

⭐ Reinforce essential writing topics to prepare students for State Testing

Ready to transform your reading lessons and empower your students? 

Don't delay – unlock the potential of your classroom with our Test Prep Packet.

You can find other helpful activities :

⭐ Color By Number Bundle

⭐ Winter Close Reading Packet

⭐ Self-Checking Google Sheet Bundle 3rd-5th Grade

⭐ The Girl & The Bicycle Read Aloud Unit Lesson Plans, Slides & Activities

⭐ Behavior Management | The Diamond Trail Challenge

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Thank you so much for all you do for students as educators!

M. Tehfe

Literacy Tales

Where Stories Come Alive✎