Neat Teacher Templates

I found some neat teacher templates from the Microsoft website that I thought I would share!

I am a fan of planing for a lesson a week ahead of time. This weekly lesson plan template has great potential!

Weekly Lesson Plan:

I love this to do list that crosses off items as you finish them, tells you when things are due/overdue, and has the ability to rate according to priority!

To do list: 

This meeting minutes template would need to tweaking to match my needs but I like the framework!

Meeting Minutes:

I like the items that are on this lesson plan template. Essential, instructional tools, vocabulary. This would need tweaking also, but I like the fact that this would force you to make sure a topic is rounded out!

Lesson Plan Template: 

AWESOME Calendar Template

I was playing around with different seating chart options tonight and I found this AWESOME calendar template download on the Microsoft website:

It is called a student calendar, but I can completely see using it in the classroom!

It is already set up for the entire year with each of the months along the bottom

You can even change the calendar year seemingly indefinitely into the future! (I went all the way up to 2034 before I got bored)

If you pace dates in under the assignments tab it highlights the dates on the calendar.

It has a weekly schedule area that you can put what you are teaching for the day

Calendar Template in Excel 

I feel like Oprah and I just found one of my new favorite things!

Groundhog Day Writing Activity

I was looking for a quick activity to do with Groundhog Day this year (since most of my kids do not know what it is) but everything I found was for the younger grades!

I created two writing activities for my kids to do on GroundHog Day and two video clips I plan to show before each one!

Groundhog Day: the Movie 

GroundHog Day: The Legend 

To download this freebie go to: Groundhog Day Writing Activities 

Happy GroundHog Day!

What is your prediction?

Teaching Irony in the Secondary English Classroom

I have been working on creating a unit or lesson on irony and I thought I would share it with you guys!

I first learned about irony from the movie Reality Bites: 

It is still one of my favorite movies, but the quote from this movie is:

Lelaina: I mean, can you define irony?
Troy: Its when the actual meaning is the complete opposite from the literal meaning.
Lelaina: My God, where were you when I needed you today?

I plan to start my introduction to irony by giving that exact definition!

I recently created an "Irony" board on Pinterest and plan to use it by asking my furry little friends to explain why the examples given are ironic.

Check it out below or click on it to go to the board on Pinterest.

I then plan to show the following music video and ask students to explain what makes it ironic:

 

Once I feel like they grasp the concept I plan to have them read The Lottery by Shirley Jackson 

  The Lottery by Shirley Jackson 

  Reading The Story-Ideas 

1. Box each paragraph and underline key words/ideas in each
2. Highlight words that you do not know or recognize
3. At the end of each paragraph write a short summary (imagine you only have 50 cents and each letter costs you a penny)
4. Circle and Identify:
• Setting
• Characters
• Problems
• Solutions
5. Look for, circle, and label examples of:
• Irony
• Foreshadowing
• Tone (Look for proof of friendly as well as sinister)
• Figurative Language
• Symbolism
6. After reading the story give a summary of the entire story
7. What makes this short story a perfect example of irony?

I have not figured out yet the best way to quiz the kids on this concept. Maybe give them some examples and ask them to state if they are ironic or not? Anyone out there have any ideas they would like to share? :)

Classroom Organization- English Sub Plans

Teachers at my school are always saying, "It's more work to prepare for a sub than it is to just be here." 

I have never agreed with this because I have a system for planning for subs!

I create a Sub Station at the start of each school year and I don't have to worry about it for the rest of the year. 

Sub Binder

When I first started I created a Sub Binder.

My sub binder includes a tab for each of the following:

• Class Roster (10 copies)
• Classroom Routines (1 copy)
• Sub Comment Forms (10 copies)
• Powerpoint Seating Chart (1 copy)
• Important People/ Emergency Procedures (1 copy)
• Behavior Logs/Referrals (10 copies)

Here are some screen shots of these forms blank: 

 I keep extra copies of the forms that the subs will be writing on, that way when I take one form out, others still remain ready for the next sub!

I keep this binder on a shelf next to my desk

Sub Activities Folders

Because I like to rotate my curriculum I have a lot of left over activities that I don't get to each year. 

After I make my lesson plans for the year I make a list of the activities I have left over. I make sure that these activities are self explanatory and the student could figure out if the sub is not able to offer any guidance (which happens often!)

I print 10 of these activities out and make enough copies for all my students. 

I place each activities' copies and a brief sub letter in a oversize expansion folder:

I label each folder:

Sub Plans #1

Sub Plans #2

Sub Plans #3

And so on and so forth

I keep as many of these sets in a magazine file folder that I have hot glued to the chalkboard rail next to my desk:

Right now it is just a boring clear magazine rack, but I have my eye on a colorful one for next year!

Whenever a plan has been used I put the folder away for next year, and since I have #'d them I know how many days I have taken off/how many plans I have left.

Taking a Day Off

Now whenever I need to take a day off I have two options!

1. I can throw the binder and the next sub folder down on my desk

2. I have made two of my colleagues aware of my system and location of all items so they can throw it down for me! (I have also asked them to put my fancy pens away for me if need be, I love my pens!!)

Unlike my fellow teachers, I never stress about taking a much needed day off!

I have recently updated my sub plans product in my TPT store which you are free to check out if you need some!

70+ Sub Plans Link on TPT

Includes:

Fun Activities:

1. Explain things you can't live without 

2. Would you rather activity

3. Create your own utopia

4. What is it?- Inference Activity

5. Create a character

6. Essential questions for English

7. Character Cell Phone Hacks

8. English in the Real World (why is it important)

9. Texting Language Vs Informal Vs Formal Writing

10. Learning Styles Activities for all learners!

11. Book/Movie Review Template 

12. All About Me Newspaper Template

13. Facebook About me Template

14. Instagram About me Template

Grammar, Editing, Writing Activities:

1. Descriptive writing activity

2. Persuasive Oregon Trail activity

3. RAFT for punctuation

4. Writing Bingo

5. Parts of Speech Scavenger Hunt

6. Parts of Speech Color by Number

Reading Activities:

1. Authors purpose in the real world

2. School survey/learning styles

3. Point of view activity

4. Reading BINGO

5. Short story form (for ANY short story)

6. Tone activity (break up and camping)

7. Figurative Language Jumble/Sort

8. Inference Explained/Practice

9. Poetry Terms Identifying Practice

10. Literary Elements in "The Lottery"

11. Literary Conflict Jumble

12. Learn from my Fail Inference Activity 

13. 13 Novel Character Activities (Trash, Reading List, Netflix, obituary, Refrigerator, Suitcase, Shopping List, Google Search, Instagram, Twitter, Texting, Phone Background, Phone Apps. 

14. Figurative Language Sentence Starters

15. Point of View Jumble

16. Functional Text Practice (Recipe, Circular, Apartment Rental)

17. Conflict Jumble

Technology Activities (requires internet):

1. Theme

2. Figurative Language

3. Conflict 

4. Inference 

5. Apostrophes 

6. Career Research (2 days)

7. Quotation Marks 

8. Typing 

9. Commas

10. Character Traits (2 Days)

11. Genres 

12. Point of View 

13. I vs Me (plus pronouns)

14. Common Errors 

15. Comparing Lunches (2 Days)

16. Opening Book Lines

17. Food of the Month

18. Zombie Science 

19. Mock Pinterest Boards 

20. Symbolism 

21. Spelling 

22. Roots,prefix, suffix 

23. Research your possible career

24. Symbolism activity 

25. Conflict Activity

Writing Prompts:

1. cafeteria essay

2. difference between schools

3. Imagine you are a gas chamber

4. special event essay 

5. PLUS 25 page essay bundle with writing checklist and rubric

6. Where in the world is our teacher?

Movie Forms (for use with ANY movies):

1. Movie Guide for ANY movie

2. Symbolism in movies

3. Conflict in movies

4. Characterization in movies

5. Theme in movies

6. Plot in movies

7. Foreshadowing in movies

8. Flashbacks in movies

Sub Forms:

1.Behavior log (in case there is an issue)

2.Sub Comment form (Subs always love this!)

3.Sub letters (two versions)

4. Routines Form

5. Seating Chart PowerPoint Form

6. Class Roster Form

7. Emergency Procedures/Special People Forms

My Teacher Stores

A year and a half ago I opened my Teacherspayteachers store and it has slowly grown over time!

I've loved the fact that things that I actually use in my classroom have become useful to others as well!

My TeachersPayTeachers Store

My TeachersNotebook Store 

Items available in my stores: 

Foreshadowing

    Foreshadowing Prezi

    Foreshadowing Test

    Identifying Foreshadowing in Songs

    Foreshadowing Charts for 4 stories

    Foreshadowing Lesson Plan

    Conflict, symbolism, foreshadowing in Red Riding Hood Movie

Figurative Language

    Figurative Language in Popular songs

    Figurative Language Prezi

    Figurative Language Prezi Version One

    Identifying Figurative Language in Music Activity

    Figurative Language PowerPoint and Game

    Figurative Language Sort

    Figurative Language Lesson Plan

    Figurative Language Homework Sheet

    Figurative Language Quiz  

Symbolism

    Disney Color Symbolism Activity

    Identifying Symbolism in Songs

    Identifying, explaining, and understanding Literary Symbolism

    Literary Symbolism Prezi

    Symbolism In Dreams Activity

    Symbolism test with Answer Key

    Technology Symbolism Activity

    Symbolism Lesson Plan

    CSI Symbolism Powerpoint review game

Point of View

    Explore the three types of point of view!

    Identifying Point of View Practice worksheets

    Point of View in Songs Activity

    Point of View Prezi

    Point of View Test with Key

    Point of view Lesson Plan

    Three types of Point of View Powerpoint

Conflict

    Conflict Assignment Utilizing Technology

    Conflict Test with Key

    Literary Conflict PowerPoint

    Literary Conflict Prezi

    Conflict Lesson Plan

Inferences

    Inference Activity/Worksheet (Learn from my Fail)

    Making Inferences Activity using Pictures

    Making Inferences Prezi

    Making Inferences Prezi New Version

    Inference PowerPoint

    Twitter Ordeal by Cheque activity

    Inference Lesson Plan

    What is it inference activity

    The house Inference Activity

    Made out of Meat Inference Activity

    Inference Test

Theme

    Identifying and finding Theme

    Identifying Literary Theme in Popular Songs

    Literary Theme PowerPoint

    Literary Theme Prezi

    Theme Test with Answer Key

    Theme Lesson Plan

    Theme Homework option  

Tone and Mood

    Author's Tone Activity Worksheet

    Author's Tone and Mood Prezi

    Author's Tone and Mood Test with answer key

    Tone and Mood in Songs activity and PowerPoint

    Tone and Mood Lesson Plan

Plot Diagrams

    Plot Diagram Prezi Presentation

    Identify Elements of Plot Diagram in Songs

Hunger Games

    Hunger Games Pre Reading Prezi

    Hunger Games Project (soundtrack)

The Outsiders

    The Outsiders Pre Reading Prezi

    Complete and Creative Outsiders Novel Study

Monster

    Monster by Walter Dean Myers Complete Novel & Unit Study

    Monster by Walter Dean Myers Pre Reading Prezi

Night

    Complete Night by Elie Weisel Novel Study

The Giver

    The Giver by Lois Lowery Pre Reading Prezi

Anthem

    Anthem Pre Reading Prezi

    Anthem Chapter Questions

    Comparing Animal Farm to Anthem Essay

    Anthem Lit Circle Projects

Animal Farm

    Animal Farm Pre Reading Prezi

    Animal Farm Allegories

    Animal Farm Chapter Questions

Catching Fire

    Catching Fire pre reading Prezi and handout

Lesson Plans and Teacher Resources

    Entire year of Daily and Weekly Lesson plans for 8th grade English

    Lesson Plans for the 2012-2013 year

    180 slides of Daily Bell work/Warmups/Bell Ringers for English

    25+ English Substitute Plan activities and forms

    Letters to parents/guardians

    Cheating Form

    Student Behavior Tracker

    Behavior Log

    Classroom Rules

Entire Washington D.C. Field trip Forms

    National Air and Space Museum Field Trip Questions National

    American History Museum Field Trip Questions National

    Archives Field Trip Questions

    National Gallery of Art Field Trip Questions

    National Museum of the American Indian Field Trip Questions

    Nationals Baseball Game field trip

    Washington D.C. Field Trip

    Washington D.C. National Mall Field Trip Questions

    Washington D.C. Prezi Sample

    Fort McHenry Field Trip Questions

    Baltimore Aquarium Field Trip Forms

Writing and Editing

    Step by Step grammar and punctuation Powerpoint

    Punctuation/Grammar RAFT

    How to Write an Essay using Step up to Writing (New and Old versions)

    Complete Writing and Editing/Proofreading Unit

    Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Prezi

    Adjectives Practice and Descriptive Writing

    25page Bundle of Writing prompts, writing checklist, writing rubric

    Writing BINGO for differentiated instruction or early finishers

    Writing Process Prezi with handout

Root Words and Context

    A-Z Common Root Words Activity

    Entire year of Root Word, Prefix, Suffix Practice (With answer Key)

    Updated!!!Entire year of Root Word, Prefix, Suffix Practice (With answer Key)

    Visual Root Words Part 1

Static and Dynamic

    Static and Dynamic Character PowerPoint using Shel Silverstein

    Static or Dynamic Quiz with Answer Key

Miscellaneous Extras

    Reading and Writing BINGO for differentiated instruction or early finishers

    Persuasive Writing Activity (cross curricular math and history

    Literary Terms Flash cards with graphics

    Essential Questions or exit slips for English

    English Test Bundle: 8+ tests with answer key

     Comparing and Contrasting Poetry

    Career Research Project and PowerPoint

    First Day of School Learning Styles and Prezi

    Learning Styles Activities

    RAFT for writing

    Texting vs Formal vs Informal Language

    English in the Real World

    Character Cell Phone Hacks

    New Years Goal setting activities

    Differentiated-Questioning-and-Real-World-Application-Full-Bundle

PowerPoints

    Career Research Project and PowerPoint

    Static and Dynamic Character PowerPoint using Shel Silverstein

    Three types of Point of View Powerpoint

    Literary Conflic PowerPoint

    Literary Theme PowerPoint

    Tone and Mood in Songs activity and PowerPoint

    180 slides of Daily Bell work/Warmups/Bell Ringers for English

    Entire year of Random Fact of the day

    Entire year of Journal Questions

    540 Slides of Daily Bell work/Warmups/Bell Ringers for English

    Step by Step grammar and punctuation Powerpoint

    How to Write an Essay using Step up to Writing

Identifying Literary Elements in Songs

    Identify Elements of Plot Diagram in Songs

    Tone and Mood in Songs activity and PowerPoint

    Identifying Literary Theme in Popular Songs

    Point of View in Songs Activity

    Identifying Symbolism in Songs

    Figurative Language in Popular songs

    Identifying Foreshadowing in Songs

Prezis

    Ancient China Prezi

    Writing Process Prezi with handout

    Washington D.C. Prezi Sample

    Monster by Walter Dean Myers Pre Reading Prezi

    The Outsiders Pre Reading Prezi

    Catching Fire Pre Reading

    Hunger Games Pre Reading Prezi

    Plot Diagram Prezi Presentation

    Author's Tone and Mood Prezi Literary Theme Prezi

    Making Inferences Prezi

    Making Inferences Prezi New Version Literary Conflict Prezi

    Point of View Prezi Literary Symbolism Prezi

    Figurative Language Prezi

    Figurative Language Prezi Version One

    Night by Elie Wiesel Pre reading Prezi

    The Giver Pre Reading Prezi

    Foreshadowing Prezi

    Poetry Elements Prezi

    Anthem Pre Reading Prezi

    Animal Farm Pre Reading Prezi

Everything is editable to your needs

Can be bought as either a flash drive (free shipping) or a digital download!

Feel free to contact me at: Kmpotter05@yahoo.com