The chrysanthemum is November’s flower and chrysanthemums are signs of optimism and joy. Optimism and joy are exactly the emotions we’re feeling about our most recent group of milestone-achieving Teacher-Authors! Be sure to take a look at their innovative resources. Find someone to follow!
Meet 13 Splendid November Milestone Achievers
1. Let’s hear it for Tennessee’s Latoya Reed
Try her: Writing Centers for the Year for Primary Writers
Her tip: “This packet consists of 20 writing centers, and there are still more being added. Students use the vocabulary page and the circle map graphic organizer to create their writing piece. They can also use the word wall cards for Write the Room and fill out the matching recording sheet. Your kiddos will love this!”
2. Big Cheers for San Jose, California’s Jennifer Bates
Try her: Decoding Strategies: A Quick-Reference Guide for Parents & Guided Reading
Her tip: “Many parents are willing to help their children become better readers but they aren’t sure how beyond saying, ‘sound it out.’ This Quick-Reference Guide can be sent home so parents can reinforce the same strategies you’re teaching at school. I’ve even used my time during back-to-school night to teach these to parents. The feedback has been amazing!”
3. Bravo for TheBookUmbrella
Try their: Roald Dahl Novel Study Bundle #1
Their tip: “These novel studies are versatile! They’ve been formatted so that they can be easily used in large or small groups, or for independent studies.”
4. Tip your hats to Kristen Konechy from California — The Imagination Nook
Try her: November Fast Finisher – Math and Language Arts
Her tip: “These pages are great for your fast finishers or to sneak in a mini-lesson when you need to supplement a lesson. Many of the pages are perfect for parent volunteers to do in small groups. Each page meets a Common Core Standard, so they’re fantastic for standard reinforcement after a concept is taught.”
5. Congratulations to New York’s Anne Gardner — Common Core Connection
Try her: Very First Sight Word Sentences ~ Guided Reading Levels A and B
Her tip: “These Very First Sight Word Sentences help young learners develop confidence with early literacy skills. A high level of picture support is provided and just one sight word is added on each page. These materials, which are designed to be introduced at school and then sent home for repeated practice, help students develop fluency in reading.”
6. Kudos to Kim Coker of Clarksville, Tennessee — iTeachSTEM
Try her: CELLS Bundled Kit – CSI Cell Investigation, “Super Cell” Project and more
Her tip: “My intent with this bundled kit was to design a product that required a deeper level of thinking from students while teaching and reinforcing their understanding of plant and animal cells. The Super Cell Project demands more critical thinking from students than a basic cell model since they must represent each cell part with an item that has a similar function rather than just shape/size/color. During the CSI Cell Investigation activity, students must ‘struggle’ to identify the cells. The activity can be challenging, but it will help get them away from thinking that cells actually look just like the basic diagrams so commonly seen in textbooks. Since there is no set solution to the investigation, students may be left with more questions to investigate. I think it’s important that they don’t necessarily have a clear answer — very much like a real-life crime scene investigation.”
7. Hello Hallie! She runs Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy
Try her: Word of the Day Class Activity List #1
Her tip: “This Word of the Day activity makes a great addition to your morning routine!”
8. Welcome Wisconsin’s Amy Kuske — Amy’s Smart Designs
Try her: Rounding Numbers: Rounding Happy Task Cards
Her tip: “Using a vertical number line for rounding numbers is so effective, especially for struggling students!”
9. It’s Cammie Goodman of Dacula, Georgia – Cammie’s Corner
Try her: Native American Tribes Task Cards 4th Grade
Her tip: “Six tribes: Nez Perce, Hopi, Seminoles, Kwakiutl, Inuit, Pawnee. For each tribe: Regions, Climate, Clothing, Shelter, Foods/Animals, Tools/Products, Important People.”
10. Let’s hear it for Leah Crown from Valdosta, Georgia — Crown Jewels 4 Learning
Try her: American Revolution: Complete Bundle PPTs, Structured Notes, Quizzes
Her tip: “My American Revolution Complete Bundle includes three engaging PowerPoint lessons, structured notes to accompany each lesson that keep students focused on important information, three quizzes to assess student understanding, and a hands-on stamp act activity to help students understand just how unfair the taxes were on the colonists.”
11. Right on! Eagle Grove, Iowa’s Carrie Christopher runs Reading is Thinking
Try her: The Lunchroom Food Fight – Analyzing Conflicting Texts
Her tip: “I believe that one of the biggest impacts you can have on children is teaching them to think!”
12. Welcome Mrs W from Ontario, Canada
Try her: CVC Words
Her tip: “I think incorporating a fun theme into any resource is a great way to keep learning interactive and engaging!”
13. Stellar job, Jessica Ann Stanford from Parma, Ohio
Try her: Short Vowel Unit
Her tip: “Always remember that you can be the one thing in a child’s life that changes everything! Always stay positive :)”
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We’ve just kicked off the month with incredible milestone achievers, and we couldn’t be more tickled. Looking for more exciting blog posts? Check out Thanksgiving resources here, and be sure to read our 5 questions write-ups here to get to know some of our fantastic TpT Teacher-Authors in-depth!
