Never Too Old to Celebrate Dr. Seuss & Read Across America

This wonderful mural was drawn on my white board today by one of my very talented sophomores.

March 2nd marks Dr. Seuss' birthday and many schools will also participate in NEA's Read Across America to celebrate reading.

This shouldn't be an event reserved solely for elementary students. We secondary teachers want our students to love reading, right? And who doesn't love Dr. Seuss? I can remember buying my first hardback Seuss in elementary at the Scholastic Book Fair: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. It was my favorite and I can still remember reading it as a child. When I became a mother, I loved sharing that book (and so many others) with my son. And I still love reading my favorite children's books every now and then. There's just something magical about them that make you feel young again.

So when I told my students today that I wanted them to think of their favorite Dr. Seuss books (or any books) many of them blurted out a title right away. Their eyes lit up and I could see that many were reliving fond memories from their childhood. I asked them to bring in their book tomorrow, or try to find the text of it so they could read it to the class tomorrow to celebrate the day.

Don't be afraid to take a break from your regular curriculum to allow your students to celebrate this day. Reading is an activity we want our students to love and cherish, not loathe. It shouldn't be a chore; it should be fun! Tomorrow my students will be sharing their favorite books from their childhood, and hopefully creating new memories involving books that they'll cherish years from now.

One of my students is an incredibly talented artist; he drew this tribute to Dr. Seuss on my white board during his studyhall 8th period. He also created some great Seuss figures for Mel D. of Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations. You can see them in her awesome freebie "Free Seusstastic Primary Activities".

Great job, Danny! So proud of you (and wish I could draw like that!).

Leap Day Sale!

Leap day only happens once every four years; so to celebrate February 29th, TeachersPayTeachers is having a sale! Use promo code L2P9Y at check out to get 10% off PLUS I am having a sale in my store on all my digital downloads. Don't miss the opportunity to get some great lessons at discounted prices. :)

Using Jessie J's Song "Domino" to Teach Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

My lesson using Katy Perry's song "Firework" has been such a hit with teachers (and students) that it only seems right to keep making additional activities like this for teachers (and myself).*

My latest is using Jessie J's song "Domino." It's another upbeat, get-you-ready-for-the-day type of song. It does, however, use the word "damn," so teachers will have to use their own discretion on whether they want to use it with their students. Also, the lyrics may be too mature for your students; I list it as 9-12, but you should look up the lyrics first and use your best judgement for your students.

It covers the following different poetic devices:
    • true rhyme
    • alliteration
    • onomatopoeia
    • assonance
    • anaphora
and figurative language:
    • simile
    • metaphor
    • personification
    • hyperbole
    • allusion

Because it is a priced product, it does include more than my "Firework" lesson. There are two separate handouts for differentiation: one will be more guided, asking students to pick out particular examples in each section. The other is more like "Firework," asking students to find the examples on their own.

It also includes a list of the terms & definitions for students. You can project the page & have them copy them down, or give each a copy. A separate teacher's guide is included with Common Core alignment, directions, and a detailed answer key. 

Do you have any suggested songs for lessons? If so, comment below to let me know.

*I actually have a a packet of songs that I paired with poems with similar themes to help students understand the meaning of poems, found here.

They're Seuss-tastic! ~ Dr. Seuss Inspired Graphics

Oh, how I love Dr. Seuss! And the colors in his books are so fun and bright. So I created some colorful backgrounds, frames, and borders inspired by the colors used in Seuss books that can be used for commercial purposes, or your own personal use. 

Wonderfully Wacky Backgrounds, Frames, and Borders!

There are 52 total graphics in this bundle. You can use them in your free products, as well, as long as they are secured in a PDF document. I hope you enjoy these - they were fun to make! Here are some additional samples (the items in the download are much larger and better quality images, of course. They are all .png files.)

(My designs are NOT affiliated with Dr. Seuss Enterprises or any of its affiliates)

And check out my Wonderfully Wacky Designs 2 

for even MORE wacky fun clip art graphics!

New! Pretty in Pink and Free 2012 Graphics

 I uploaded a couple of new graphics packages yesterday for those of you who like my backgrounds and frames (and more coming, I promise). 


One of the packages is called "Pretty in Pink" and features graphics in shades of pink, red, and purple. It also has over 30 heart images in numerous colors. My backgrounds can be shaped to become sidebars, or layered with your own frames. They are versatile and saved as png files for your convenience.


The other package I uploaded is a freebie. It has 12 "2012" graphics. What makes these unique is the transparent cut-outs and backgrounds. Below are examples of how these can be used in your products.


I hope you all have a great 2012 and finish your school year strong! Make sure to stop by my store today and tomorrow to enjoy my New Year's sale on EVERYTHING - including CDs! 

2012 with the transparent cut out. The background used is my "Bubbles" package.

2012 with the transparent background and white numbers.

Another 2012 with the numbers cut out to reveal a purple background.

The purple background with the 2012 numbers in white with transparent background.

*Please note that the backgrounds shown are for examples of use only and are NOT included with the 2012 bundle download. You can find all my clip art packages here: {Tracee's Graphics}

Link Up at Secondary Solutions

Calling all secondary teachers!

If you teach middle or high school and blog or have a website, head over to the Secondary Solutions Link Up for Secondary Teachers. You'll be able to post your blog or website in your field so others can find you. Don't miss out - share your knowledge with other teachers and gain more readers to your site!

Happy New Year! Back to School Writing Activity

Happy New Year, Everyone! 

I hope you are enjoying this holiday break. I know I have not been the greatest at updating this blog, but one of my resolutions is to do a better job of sharing my teaching resources, classroom activities, and ideas with you.

One activity you can share with your students when you go back to school is this free download of New Year Activities. It includes four different activities and one that can be used for a new school year or new class (if you have a new group of students at semester or in the fall).

The first activity is a basic printable for writing a resolution. Students should choose something they want to accomplish or make sure they don't do for 2012 and write about it in complete sentences.

The second activity is a list-writing goal-setting activity with a twist. Students play off the words twenty-twelve and write twenty things that they want to do or accomplish in 2012 and twelve things they want to make sure they don't do.

The third activity is an acrostic poem-writing activity, but instead of using letters, the numbers (or words) for 2012 are used to begin each line. Students should start each line with the words Two, Zero, One, and Two (though they may use the actual numbers, it would just be read "Two..." and so on). Here's an example:
  (2) Two times I've searched
  (0) Zero times I've found my
  (1) One true love, but
  (2) Two more times might just do it.
Students can write an nontraditional acrostic and use the words in the middle of the line, as well. When it comes to poetry, anything goes!

The fourth activity involves a scavenger hunt for the students to find things in the classroom. It involves some critical and even creative thinking on their part. Feel free to tweak it to work for you and your classroom.

The last activity is a generic writing prompt for the start of the new year. It can be used for a back-to-school activity, when you have a new group of students, or any new year.

I hope you enjoy these activities! 

Make sure to download them {HERE}. 

If you like the clip art, I'll be posting it soon in my store. 

Just click on the link the left of this article to find all my clip art (both free and for purchase). 

All my art can be used for commercial purposes.

Winter and Holiday Tips and Activities

In case you missed it, a group of 50 teachers collaborated on a Holiday/Winter eBook with free tips and downloads to use in your K-12 classroom. You can download it FREE by clicking on the link below:

FREE Holiday eBook

Happy Holidays, Friends!

Mmmmm....Cake!

Last week I felt a little like Homer Simpson every time a student brought in their creative project to wrap up our Hunger Games unit. I couldn't help drooling a little, and uttering, "Mmmmm...more cake!"

Yes, cake can be educational. Just like replicating the arena or a scene from the novel in a diorama, recreating it on a cake takes thought and creativity. Students have to brainstorm what edible objects they'll use to represent the scenery. I witnessed students rereading scenes to make sure they got the details exact. I overheard an argument about Peeta being hidden near the stream by Rue's body (which was further in the woods), and one student replied, "It's symbolic!" I love it.

Yes. Frosting. The final defense of English teachers everywhere...

Weekend Sale Ends With Huge Cyber Monday Super Sale!

 

Happy Holidays! 

 

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and did not get trampled in the crowds at your favorite stores today. 

If you are tired of being pushed around, why not do some ONLINE shopping? 

There's no long lines to wait in, no driving around looking for a parking spot, and what you want is ALWAYS in stock!

 

To thank you for your continued support of your fellow teachers, please enjoy my sale all weekend (Saturday & Sunday) on my digital downloads. 

 

Just click {HERE} to find some wonderful lessons for your students!

 

Then on Monday, Paul from TeachersPayTeachers is hosting an additional 10% off (if you use the promo code CMS28 at checkout), for up to 30% off! Don't miss out on these awesome deals on great English/Language Arts lessons, powerpoint presentations, novel units, clip art, and frames and borders!

Plus, as always, I have a great assortment of FREEBIES you can find {HERE}.

And one more bonus: Anyone purchasing a shipped good from my store this weekend will get a FREE Hunger Games handmade (by me) ornament! Ornaments will vary by style; most are two-sided and will look like one of these:

For instructions on how to make these ornaments, use The Hunger Games Examiner Sara Gundell's instructions found {HERE}.

Three New Holiday Clip Art, Frames & Borders for Commercial Use

I posted three new great clip art and frames/borders bundles this weekend, just in time for the holidays! All of the images are high-quality .png files. Make sure to download the previews to get all the information about each one.

These can be used in commercial products as long as they are protected (in PDFs).

Thanks for looking!


Christmas & Winter-Themed Frames and Backgrounds


Build a Snowman Clip Art Package


Christmas Clip Art Figures

How to Insert Frames, Borders, or Clip Art into a Microsoft Word Document

Have you ever been frustrated using Microsoft Word because you couldn't remember what you should click to get something to look just right? Me, too. I also had many teachers ask me how to insert my frames, borders, and other clip art png files into a Word document. So, I created a visual tutorial.

The problem I had, however, is that I only use a Mac. That didn't help those teachers who use a PC and Microsoft for Windows. So Krissy Malone, a fellow TpT teacher, came to my rescue! She created the PC instructions, complete with screenshots. So whether you use a Mac or a PC, we hope you will find these useful!

You can download them on TpT here: How to Insert Text & Frames into Word
or download them on Scribd:

How to Use Frames in Word

Two Holiday Freebies for Download

I just posted two holiday freebies you can download in my teacher store right now!

"The Day After Halloween Creative Writing Activity" 
(or it can be done anytime!)

"Thanksgiving Creative Writing Activity"

Both can be quick bell-ringers or exit slips, or used as journal prompts. They allow your students to be creative, which is always a good thing. And I like that you can use these for upper elementary students through seniors in high school. I know my older students had fun coming up with their responses. :)

Enjoy!

Oh, and they ARE aligned with the Common Core Standards.  Bonus!

Common Core Standards for Literature Graphic Organizers & Worksheets

Do you need to implement the Common Core Standards into your curriculum? These graphic organizers are written for each individual anchor standard for Reading Literature, grades 9-10, and will work for any piece of literature: short stories, plays, novels, poems, etc.. Just select an organizer for the literature you are reading to practice that particular standard/skill. They are all labeled clearly with each standard.

You can download the samples, below, FREE.

This full set, which can be purchased here, includes 24 different organizers for the 10 anchor standards in reading. Many of the organizers will practice the skills in the Reading Informational Texts, as well. However, the majority are written specifically for the literature standards.

UPDATE: I completed the graphic organizers for grades 6, 7, and 8, as well. You can find those here:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fiction-Non-Fiction-Reading-Graphic-Organizers-Common-Core-6-7-8
Because the anchor standards are the same, many will be similar to the grades 9-10. However, they are customized to the specific standards outlined for each grade.  For example, the third anchor standard for reading literature for each grade is:
RL.6.3. Describe how a particular story’s or drama’s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
RL.7.3. Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).
RL.8.3. Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
RL.9-10.3. Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
I provide several different organizers for each standard so you can decide how deeply you want your students to practice this skill. You can use these for assessment, as well.

Skills practiced in the organizers include: inference (inferring), complex character analysis, theme and plot development, compare/contrast two different works of same subject matter, understanding of cultural experiences, figurative language meaning and purpose, author's point of view, role of character, understanding author's purpose and choices, how language affects the tone and meaning, how an author uses allusions, and reading comprehension.

Students in advanced classes in 8th grade/middle could also utilize the worksheets for grades 9-10 or use the grades 6, 7, 8 organizers.

Free Common Core Standards Graphic Organizers

Is it Hot? Or Not? Great Free Download

If you need a simple and fast bell ringer or exit slip activity, try my "What's Hot? What's Not?" free download. It is such a versatile activity that can be used in any content area and for virtually any level. I also aligned it with the Common Core standards. Also featured on the new Classroom Freebies website! :)