Thursday, December 2, 2021

December Resources for the Classroom

The December Dilemma

Every December, public schools face the difficult task of recognizing the myriad of religious and secular holiday traditions celebrated during throughout this month. The trick is to promote a greater understanding among students of different traditions by taking care to adhere to the requirements of the First Amendment.

There are great educational benefits to teaching about the diverse religious traditions and cultures of our country, but we must do so in a way that does not give students the impression that one set of holidays or beliefs is more important or more acceptable than others.

That's where these resources come in. Use them to successfully deal with the December Dilemma. The outcome will be student who are more culturally aware and who better understand the differences that make use a unique melting pot.

Morning Work for 5th Grade - December - No Prep - Or 6th Review


NO Prep Morning Work for Fifth Grade – 6th Review - DECEMBER THEMED Each daily ELA and Math
activity is aligned to standards. Powerpoint digital slides provide your students with repetitive and engaging morning work that reinforces standards and skills. Students can illustrate and write their responses in a composition or spiral notebook.

OR PRINTABLE: ALSO INCLUDES A PDF Black and White Printable Version if you don't want to project and have students use their own notebooks.



20 High Interest: Low Level Readings: December Holiday-Themed: For Older Readers


SET 9: 20 - High interest, low level reading passage for grades 5-12. These passages are perfect for older struggling readers.

December Holiday-Themed. These passages are diverse and inclusive to deal with the December

December High  Low Readings

Dilemma.

Passages are at reading level grade 1 - without sounding OR LOOKING like it.

20 High Interest, Low Level reading passage for grades 5-12. These passages are perfect for older struggling readers and are aligned with the middle school and high school English Language Arts CCSS.

This resource contains:

  1. A printable PDF for packets or classroom work – with lines for students to complete their work
  2. 2- font embedded PowerPoint – in case you want to edit.
  3. Form fillable PDF for distance learning assignment or classroom digital learning assignment
  4. Easel version

These are 20 HIGH INTEREST-LOW LEVEL READABILITY PASSAGES – perfect for Distance, Digital, Hybrid and Classroom learning. The passages are designed for students to read on their own and complete quick assessments. The assessments contain four to five multiple-choice questions and one or two short constructed-response questions or are otherwise standards-based.

20 reading passages, with comprehension assessments, that are high interest but at accessible reading levels. This resource is perfect for reluctant older readers who need reading practice but are put off by text that looks “young” or “babyish.”

The reading techniques used in this resource are research-based and appeal to students in grades 5 through 12. Readability scores were determined using the Renaissance ATOS calculator.

Passages:

Zuni Winter Solstice page 8

Dong Zhi page 9

Hopi Soyal page 10

Hanukkah page 11

Hanukkah Fun - The Dreidel – Fact and Opinion page 12

Ramadan page 13

A Day During Ramadan – Fact or Opinion page 14

When is Ramadan page 15

Kwanzaa page 16

Christmas page 17

Christmas Tree Facts page 18

Christmas Around the World page 19

Yule page 20

Bodhi Day page 21

Boxing Day page 22

Krampusnacht page 23

Fact and Opinion – Human Rights Day page 24

Three Kings Day page 25

December at School page 26

History of Christmas Carols page 27

The Hanukkah Song page 28

Answers page 29


Daily Reading & Writing Warm-Ups/Bell Ringers that Deal w/ the December Dilemma


Each of the 21 Daily Warm-Up/Bell Ringer passages is aligned with the Common Core State Standards for ELA and are written for grades 5 to 12. They are themed to be inclusive and deal with the December Dilemma. The passages also make great lesson starters. Topics are listed below.

NOTE: If you are looking for differentiation I have a resource with very similar passages that are written at 1-3 grade level - if you have struggling readers in your class. 20 High Interest: Low Level Readings: December Holiday-Themed: For Older Readers.

The Passages:

The questions are both constructed response and multiple choice and help you incorporate the –

communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity your students need in order to be successful in school and in life. They are designed to help students think critically and to prepare them for STAAR, PARCC and Smarter Balanced assessments.

The topics are non-fiction and perfect for use as warm-ups, bell ringers, early finishers, unit reinforcers, partner or group work and/or lesson starters. 

Have students work alone, in pairs or in small groups. Encourage dialogue around the questions. If a passage seems particularly difficult for your students – pair up struggling readers with patient proficient readers and writers. Some of the best thinking happens this way.

These passages work for digital learning as well. They can be emailed or uploaded to any platform and assigned as warm-ups, lesson starters or reading assignments.

Table of Contents

Instructions page 3

Informational Text Reader Response Reading Extender page 4

Reading Levels page 5

Zuni Winter Solstice page 8

Dong Zhi page 9

Hopi Soyal page 10

Hanukkah page 11

Hanukkah Fun - The Dreidel – Fact and Opinion page 12

Ramadan page 13

A Day During Ramadan – Fact or Opinion page 14

When is Ramadan page 15

Kwanzaa page 16

Christmas page 17

Christmas Tree Facts page 18

Christmas Around the World page 19

Yule page 20

Bodhi Day page 21

Boxing Day page 22

Krampusnacht page 23

Fact and Opinion – Human Rights Day page 24

Three Kings Day page 25

December at School page 26

History of Christmas Carols page 27

The Hanukkah Song page 28

Answers page 29



Have a great day!


#Decemberresources #december #highlow #reading 


Saturday, October 23, 2021

Get Ready for November

November is full on fall, Indigenous People's Month, and the start of the holiday season. The beginning of the year is over, the novelty's worn off and engaging students is more important than ever. Following is a list of resources perfect for the season.

Perfect for Fall!

NO Prep Morning Work for Fifth Grade – 6th Review - NOVEMBER THEMED

Each daily ELA and Math activity is aligned to standards.  Powerpoint digital slides provide your students with repetitive
and engaging morning work that reinforces standards and skills. Students can illustrate and write their responses in a composition or spiral notebook. 
OR PRINTABLE:  ALSO INCLUDES AN PDF Black and White Printable Version if you don't want to project and have students use their own notebooks.

HUGE Fall Reading Bundle: High Interest Low Level - Differentiated

9 Reading Resources - from Readers Theater to Morning Work - this is the ultimate fall resource for High Interest Low level work for Older Students!

20- High Interest - Low Level Readings: Hauntings

66 Early Finishers for Fall - PDF, PPT and Easel

Algonquin Readers Theater and Cultural Unit: Legends, Close Reading, Fluency

Cherokee Readers Theater and Cultural Unit: Legends, Close Reading, Fluency

Miwok Readers Theater and Cultural Unit: Legends, Close Reading, Fluency

Haudenosaunee Readers Theater and Cultural Unit: Legends, Close Reading, Fluency

October Morning Work

8 Native American Readers Theater PLUS Cultural Units



Eight readers theater scripts with lead in and follow-up assignments perfect for grades 3-8.

The Eight READERS THEATERs are based on NATIVE AMERICAN LEGENDS from the Virginia Algonquin, Miwok, Cherokee, Haudenosaunee.

Each readers theater script is rounded out with fluency passages, comprehension checks, warm-ups, informational reading, close reading and more.

This is a complete unit perfect for fall, harvest, Thanksgiving or anytime. There are also PowerPoint presentations that give an overview of each of the listed tribes.


Monday, September 20, 2021

Non-Fiction Ready Readers - High Interest Low Level AND On Level

Ready Reader Informational Text Packets/Units. These are non-fiction/ informational Text, print-and-go Ready Readers at two levels for turnkey differentiation.

Each reader has approximately FIVE reading passages and 25 pages of activities that include close reading, fluency, comprehension, word work, conventions, informational text skills, writing and more.

The readers are standards-based, engaging and may be used for classroom, take-home packets, online, or a hybrid of any and all combinations. They perfect for whole class, early finishers, centers and more. The "Below Level Readers" may be used for intervention, ESL or coupled with the "At Level Reader" - for all students in your class to access important standards-based activities at their level.Ready Readers are written at two levels – grade level and below grade level. Each reading passage, article, or story in Ready Readers is leveled - so you know exactly which reader to assign to each student. Be sure to check out the preview.

EXAMPLE: In the Kamala Harris Edition, you will find:

25-page Form Fillable PDFs of the Kamala Harris Reader Reader at two levels
  • 25-page PDF of the Kamala Harris Reader Reader at two levels for packets
  • 2 - 25-page PowerPoints of the Kamala Harris Reader Reader at two levels
  • Instructions and Information
  • Standards Alignment Chart
  • Passage 1: Fluency – page 2 – 1010L - 1200L
  • Passage 2: Pages 5-6 – Lexile Level 610L – 800L
  • Passage 3: page 9-11 – Lexile Level 1010L-1200L
  • Passage 4: page 16 – Lexile Level 1010L-1200L
  • Passage 5: page 22 - Lexile Level 810L- 1000L
  • Passage 1: Fluency – page 2 – 410L - 600L
  • Passage 2: Pages 5 and 6 – Lexile Level 410L to 600L
  • Passage 3: page 9 – Lexile Level 410L-600L
  • Passage 4: page 14 – Lexile Level 410L-600L
  • Passage 5: page 20 – Lexile Level 410L-600L

Tik Tok Famous Ready Reader Levels
Readings:
  • Passage 1: page 2 – Lexile 410L-600L
  • Passage 2: page 5 - Lexile Level 410L-600L
  • Passage 3: page 7 – Lexile Level 610L-800L
  • Passage 4: page 9 – Lexile Level 410L-600L
  • Passage 5: page 14 – Lexile Level 410L-600L
  • Passage 6: page 15 – Lexile Level 410L-600L

Readers - Non-Fiction Units Under $3.00 - GRADES 4-12

Also Available:

FREE: Chadwick Boseman At Level Ready Reader Hybrid, Distance and Packet

FREE: Chadwick Boseman At Level Ready Reader GOOGLE SLIDE VERSION

Kamala Harris High-Low Reader Reader & Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris High Low Ready Reader & Kamala Harris GOOGLE SLIDE VERSION

Tulsa Race Riots - At Level and High - Low Ready Readers

Tulsa Race Riots - At Level & High Low Ready Readers GOOGLE SLIDE VERSION

Frederick Douglas - At Level & High-Low Ready Reader

Frederick Douglas - At Level & High-Low Ready Reader GOOGLE SLIDE VERSION

Marvel Universe High Low Ready Reader - Informational Text for Grades 5-12 - GOOGLE SLIDE

Marvel High Low Ready Reader Informational Text for Grades 5-12

Tuskegee Airmen - Low Level

Maya Angelou High Low Ready Reader

GOOGLE Maya Angelou High Low Ready Reader


And the list keeps growing.

This list will continue to grow as I vet units - and freebies!
On Level Ready Reader:
Below Level Ready Reader:



Helping Older Struggling Readers with the Science of Reading: Phonics, Fluency, and Comprehension through Reader’s Theater and Fractured Fairy Tales

When older students struggle with reading they need resources that engage them beyond those designed for younger students. Using said resour...