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Analytical Essay
What is an analytical essay? Introduce this type of thinking to your young writers. First, discuss what it means to analyze something. Then, identify the different components of an essay and what details are embedded in each component....
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The Cowboy Life
Travel back in time to the 1800s and research the Old West! Elementary and middle schoolers work with a partner to complete at least four activities from a list provided by the teacher. They use these activities to present their...
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You've Got to Express Yourself!
Students listen as a sample paragraph is read twice; first without expression, and the second time with lots of expression and discuss which they liked best. They brainstorm reasons why reading with expression is important listing them...
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8 Parts of Speech
Here is a terrific presentation to use as you are introducing the eight parts of speech to your class. Each of the parts of speech gets a thorough introduction, and many examples are given. There is a strong interactive component to this...
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Shh! It's Reading Time!
Students observe and demonstrate how to read silently. They discuss the "Cross-Checking" strategy, select a book for independent reading, and demonstrate silent reading. Students write a summary of what they have read in their reading...
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Activities for Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
Students celebrate Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy. In this Fancy Nancy lesson, students are invited to a party complete with invitations and decorations, then complete worksheets by finding missing objects, showing how to take care of a...
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Floppy and The Puppies - Characteristics
Here is a wonderful online language arts activity for your emerging readers. Learners play an interactive game where they look at two characters who are engaging with each other. They must choose the word from a word bank that best...
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QAR: Question Answer Relationships with an example from Canyons by Gary Paulsen
As you're reading Gary Paulsen's tale of self discovery and adventure, Canyons, bring this questioning strategy into your classroom. The QAR questioning strategy is meant to encourage a deeper analysis of the text, as some questions are...
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Who Am I?
Middle schoolers use a graphic organizer to brainstorm information about their lives. They utilize brainstorming techniques in a writing exercise, and create a graphic organizer describing their lives. They set personal goals for the...
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Simple Preparation Can Improve Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension is key to success in nearly every subject in school, but how do you improve comprehension in a pupil with dyslexia? Here are several tips that define ways in which educators can provide strategies to improve overall...
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Personal Information
Can your learners fill out an envelope with their personal information? Give them some great practice using this template, which learners will enjoy because it's all about them! First, they write their name and address on an image of an...
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English Grammar: Parts of Speech
A good overview of the basic parts of speech, this presentation is ideal for a junior high class that likes flashy animation and bright colors. The concepts are complete, but simple enough to lend well to lecture notes. Use the slide...
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Developing an Outline
A lot of writers don't like creating an outline before writing the first draft of their paper. Introduce them to what an effective and organized outline looks like with this presentation. Designed for higher education, you could easily...
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All About Me Poem
Eighth graders write a poem that introduces them to their class. In this poetry writing lesson, 8th graders use the format for the 'All About Me Poem" to write a poem about themselves and use it as get-to-know-you activity.
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Create a PowerPoint:Based on The Giver
Are you reading Lois Lowry's The Giver in your language arts class? Have your young readers create a PowerPoint presentation about their life, and how they connect to the lives of the characters from the novel. They present information...
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Summarizing with James and the Giant Peach
Elementary readers in literature groups practice summarizing chapter-by-chapter with Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. Focus on main idea, supporting details, and the 5 Ws. Unfortunately, a clever "peach" graphic organizer to which...
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Shh! I am Trying to Read!
Pupils explore the advantages of being able to read silently. They then review a "stuck on a word" strategy using context clues to determine meanings of unknown words. They then practice reading silently and the teacher assesses for...
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The Odyssey Lesson 6
"How are belief systems represented and reproduced through nature?" This essential question guides lesson 6 of this unit on The Odyssey (the rest of the unit is linked). Students first write about a scenario in which they are disguised,...
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Close Reading
Eleventh graders read and study Hamlet. Then they are introduced to close reading as a means of understanding what is being read--not only understanding the printed word, but also the nuances and connotations of language as it is used by...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Everybody Cooks Rice
Young scholars discover the meaning of tier two vocabulary words. In this vocabulary instructional activity, students read Everybody Cooks Rice, listening for 3 pre-selected, tier two vocabulary words. Words are defined by the teacher...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
Students discover the meaning of tier two vocabulary words. For this vocabulary lesson, students read Lily's Plastic Purple Purse, listening for 3 pre-selected, tier two vocabulary words. Words are defined by the teacher and students...
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Introduce Vocabulary: The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate the School
Students discover the meaning of tier two vocabulary words. In this vocabulary lesson, students read The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate the School, listening for 3 pre-selected, tier two vocabulary words. Words are defined by the...
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Express Yourself
Students investigate the different types of sentences that are found in common usage including exclamatory, interrogative, declarative, and imperative. They examine samples of the different types of sentences and identify the name for each.
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Slim Down to the Good Stuff by Summarizing
Students summarize a piece of literature using the technique "mapping" in this lesson. The technique involves 6 main steps: delete unimportant information, delete repeated information, substitute easy terms, add a series of event with...