Tools for Common Core Handouts (by date, oldest first)

Students create avatars with this 22 page handout is based on character traits and character flaws. Students debate for a seat on a lifeboat to survive a luxury cruise shipwreck. Uses social skills combined with ELA skills to practice compare and contrast, fact-based arguments and persuasion. Includes:

Directions

Character Trait List with Definition

Character Flaw List with Definition

12 Male Avatars

12 Female Avatars

Lifeboat Scenario

Group Chart with Note Taking section

Character Reflection Sheet

Extra Resources

Optional Writing, Project, and Video Assignments

Excellent for small/whole group, whether at-risk/GT/AP, that uses character traits and fact-based evidence/proof to practice decision making processes and expository writings.

Become a news reporter and write your own daily column with these 22 inferencing, journalism writing activities. Newspaper format and great graphics are easy for students to work with. Uses writing process and peer workshopping strategies. Comes with two blank templates for creative fun and one lined page for extra writing space. Includes optional media and technology projects for differentiated classrooms. Excellent for use with relationship words, time order, fact vs. opinion, and more...Meets CCSS.

40 prompts to help students with on-demand writing. Each handout has a black and white image to color that is non-fiction, real life related. Factual, lined page, story starters for critical thinking, assessment-style, standardized writing practice. Topics include: In my future, I see... Some people say I'm a dreamer... The road of life has many obstacles... The root system of a tree is as complicated as... Home represents... If I could soar like a bird... To walk a mile in another's shoes... The world's future is.... One of the biggest exaggerations I've heard or told was... I have a place in my heart for... Gossip spreads like wildfire. An example of this is... My friends are as unique as leaves on a tree... plus so many more fact-based prompts... Full page lined writing handout for 2 sided copying Copy and handout to students for on-demand, non-fiction writing practice, diagnostic testing, assessment practice, peer workshopping practice, and more. Meets Common Core and State ELA Standards for writing.

16 Halloween coloring images with holiday word banks that include: Cats Bats Dracula Frankenstein Ghosts Pirate Pumpkins Trick or Treat Witches Zombies and more... Includes Suggestions For Use sheet and template to create your own vocabulary word bank. Upper levels can use for poetry and contest writing. Fun way to assess writing skills in an ELA classroom. Grab a blanket and flashlight, turn on the lighted pumpkin, and have a classroom read-around of Halloween stories!

An overview of Galveston as the Gateway to America during 1845-1924. Follow immigrants from Europe to Galveston in dangerous conditions over rough seas as they enter the Port of Galveston to start their new lives. 23 pages of comic book style coloring frames; 11 of these pages are blank for students to write their immigration stories. Includes "Fact" box on each of the pages. Fun, engaging, and educational approach to learning about immigration through the Port of Galveston in 1845. Use for introducing skills or for assessment of knowledge.

Help students understand the difference between city and rural life with 10 activities. Includes: Easy to understand definitions of city and rural Matching (2 worksheets: symbols and words) Maps with city and rural activities to choose from Draw items found in a city and rural areas Letters for reflection (fill-in-the-blanks) Directions on each page Great for intro to geography or social studies unit, homework, or assessment. Meets CCSS.

15 Commonly Confused Words A-I with engaging activities for students to learn. Includes:

A-I game with fill-in-the-blank, definitions, make your own

sentences/slides (individual/groups & competitive play)

2 Crossword puzzles with Commonly Confused Words

2 Word Searches with Commonly Confused Words

All answer sheets included

Directions and Suggestions with Extensions

Words used are:

1. accept except

2. aloud allowed

3. bare bear4. brake break

5. coarse course6. council counsel

7. desert dessert

8. dose doze

9. envelope envelop

10. forbear forebear

11. grisly grizzly

12. glance glimpse

13. hair hare

14. hole whole

15. ingenious ingenuous

Students will have fun learning these Commonly Confused Words.

Every April, students can celebrate Tell-a-Story Day, which occurs at the end of the month. This 16 page handout will help students with organizing and telling fact-based stories. Great for building oral communication, evidence/proof, and re-telling memories. Includes: Finding storytelling topics Graphic Organizers for planning stories in chronological order Setting up a storytelling event Designing advertisements/invitations Peer workshopping stories Links to multicultural, professional, international/national storytelling centers, storytelling videos and websites Can be used any time of the year! Students will enjoy sharing stories while learning how to use fact-based information. Fun and educational!

Introduce character traits to students then tie the concepts to real life with this pot o' gold activity. Students choose one character trait to define each of their classmates. Then, they write the character traits on gold coins, cut and paste onto peers' pot o' gold. Informative writing activity that reinforces using examples for fact-based essays. Includes: Easy to follow directions with optional age-based activities Pot o' Gold Coins handout Character Trait Sheet Follow-up writing activities Fun, engaging activity for elementary students who need introductions or reinforcement in working with character traits and fact-based writing.

Twitter-like page with tweets handouts for social media discussions and short responses, such as main ideas, paraphrasing and summarizing. Includes: Directions and Suggestions for Use ______'s Page for creating a social media page Top 5 Trending, Add Pic/Photo, Subjects to Share, Banner, @_________ new social media name Tweets boxes with 140 spaces for writing short responses Use with CCSS and other state aligned materials to help students with short answer responses. Fun way to include social media an discussions about appropriate online guidelines and posts!

Free checklist of parts of an introductory literary analysis for AP, Pre-AP, G/T, college level writers. Students are asked to locate: Hook--different kinds list Author's name Title of text Summary Area of literary analysis list Thesis, and write down your thesis Makes writing an introduction for a literary analysis easier to understand. Great for ELA test prep! Meets CCSS.

13 magazine-like covers/handouts designed to help students master CCSS genre study elements for non-fiction texts. After studying real magazine covers, have students choose their favorite topic and fill-in the information. Color the images for great classroom displays! Includes directions and suggestions for use and connections for Common Core subjects. Magazine covers handouts include: Animals, Games, Gardening, History, Math, Music, Reader, Science, Sports, Technology, Writer, Blank Form Can be used for inferencing, main ideas, paraphrases,spelling, summaries, titles, vocabulary, and more...

Complete set of 7 graphic organizers for cause and effect writings. Easy to use and follow, and comes with: Cause and Effect Relationship Word Chart Cause and Effect Topics Sheet Categories: Arts, Humanities, Music, Education, STEM 7 different Graphic Organizers to Xerox Writing Tips Writing Challenges Reinforces fact based writing, cause and effect relationship words, planning stage, working with writing process, and peer workshopping. Critical thinking skills needed! Great for ELA and STEM connections, AP, charter, ESL, GT, dual credit, and homeschool students.

Have students write their own expository, fact-based newspaper articles and complete their own entertainment reviews with Talkin' Turkey Times. Plenty of templates for students to: draw pictures work on grammar skills work on spelling/vocabulary write themed articles paste related images (great for lower levels/extensions) practice main ideas write headings write titles form topic sentences work on paraphrasing/summarizing develop paragraphing skills work on proofreading/editing Easy to use, and great for bulletin board displays during Thanksgiving. Send home for students to complete with Thanksgiving memories while on holiday break. Great assessment tool and meets Common Core Standards.

Everything students need to know about Abraham Lincoln! And,written in comic book format that comes with a second set of pages that have blank text boxes for students to paraphrase/summarize/research then fill-in facts. Includes: Early Life: Birth, School, Manhood, Death of Mom, Step-Mother Young Adult Years: Employment, Politics Famous Quotes Law License John Todd Stuart, First Law Partner Mary Todd Lincoln & Marriage Four Sons (Birth & Death) Political Timelines Speeches (House Divided, 2 Inaugural Speeches,Gettysburg Address, Last Address) Political Slogans Noah Brooks' reporter's viewpoint Black Hawk War Civil War Ford Theater Death Fun, easy, interactive way to learn facts about Abraham Lincoln, his life and political career. Can be used for ELA, history, social studies, as well as plays, bulletin boards, posters, etc... Meets CCSS fact-based, non-fiction standards.

Students are Hollywood stars in this movie-themed, narrative writing project. Differentiated writing project Includes: Brainstorming handouts Plot line for upper level students Lined essay paper Credits/playbill page Directions for use Narrative definition Project Extensions for GT/AP Supplemental Resources Fun, engaging format for working with narrative writing. Use as introduction to narratives or for assessment purposes. Meets CCSS.

Get students thinking about presidential elections and political campaign promises with 16 handouts that generate higher level learning.The journal-like prompts include historical facts that will have students wondering, "What if.I was president..?" Social issues to write about include:

family issues

government growth

importing goods

internet issues

laws and rules

leadership style

national debt

national security

social security

space exploration

succession

transportation problems

war

world peace

There are sixteen famous presidents, with their greatest accomplishments. Included are: Adams, Bush, Clinton, Cleveland, Coolidge, Eisenhower, Jackson, Johnson, Kennedy, Lincoln, Nixon, Reagan, Roosevelt,Washington

Includes Extra Resources (videos, web-links) and Ideas for Use in the classroom.

Can be used with English, Government, History classes.

Make a book the easy way with 53 slides to color and use for factual or fictional writing. Winter themed images with space for text writing and speaking (Speech Bubbles). Includes: 5 Title pages 5 "The End" pages 1 Directions for Use 42 black and white winter images/handouts Excellent for assessing standardized writing skills, such as inferencing, working with the writing process, peer workshopping, expository writing, narratives, or fictional stories. Easy to follow directions with several options for book binding.

Students make their own fact based or fictional Thanksgiving Storybooks then bind and share. These ready to use handout sheets are loaded with holiday graphics that include:

4 Title pages to color

4 The End pages to color

6 Coloring Frames with Speech Bubbles

16 Coloring Frames with Writing Spaces

Instructions for Use and binding with Optional Extensions (media)

32 slides of Thanksgiving fun that allows students to create their own books to share with classmates, families, and friends. Can be used as assessment for grammar/writing skills, as fact-based only stories, or as creative writing assignments.

Make using and working with symbolism collaborative, fun and educational (Meets CCSS) with this interactive writing project that focuses on 850 B.C. and the discovery of the Snake Circle: Includes: 1. KWL Chart 2. Extra Resources: Take a tour of Ancient Greece, learn about the lives of adults and children, and watch videos to understand the time period of 850 B.C. 3. Uncover its origin: The Snake Circle object came from the days of Homer, so explore its meaning with the use of two symbolism sheets. 4. Discuss and interpret the Snake Circle shield handout. 5. Write stories: choose a genre; then Peer Workshop essays 6. Color the shields--review students' colorful examples 7. Display for all to enjoy! Comes with: handouts to complete writings, students' samples, and class project photos. Everything needed for writing fun! Excellent for teaching how to interpret and use symbolism, reinforce concepts and skills, and working with multigenres. Combination of historical technology resources with writing and using literal concepts.