If you're at all like me, you're always looking for short poems for your emerging readers. Learning letter sounds, sight words, word endings, etc., is essential but doesn't do any good if students don't have enough opportunities to take that isolated learning to the task of real reading. This product includes 20 original poems (by me) in 2 formats for emerging readers and writers. This is a reading and "writing with a twist" product. Not only will students be reading and rereading poems daily, students will also be copying the poems to strengthen hand muscles, increase writing stamina and word production speed. There *is* value to copying. I can't tell you the number of times that I see students take 20-30 minutes to write something that should take them 5, or 2nd graders who complain "my hand hurts" after 5 minutes of copying a paragraph off the board. Being able to produce letters and words quickly is an essential skill...and the short burst "Read & Copy" Book in this product gives students an opportunity to be cognizant and aware of the time it takes them to write. There is a weekly graph included so when you assemble the Read & Copy books for students each month, the graph would be the last page. The graph is designed to raise writing stamina awareness and give students an opportunity to set writing stamina goals from month to month.

This site provides the materials needed to support the provincial writing assessment.

Attached Files Include:
Eligible Students for Writing Data Collection
Writing Continuum 1-12
Writing Rubrics
Writing At Grade Level
FAQs for the Writing Outcome
Prompts Gr 1 - 12 with Context
Copyright Permission Form

If you have problems accessing this site contact stans@gov.sk.ca or 1-866-933-8333.

ind all the rubrics for assessment, the writing continuum, Writing prompts & FAQs about these resources in this file.

This nonfiction text discusses how a fourth grade class at Union Avenue School worked hard to protect the New Jersey shoreline by planting recycled Christmas trees in the sand. The trees prevent high tides from flooding sand dunes, which serve as animal habitats and also protect peoples homes.

This informational, nonfiction selection describes how schools are different in various parts of the world and includes ŕamazing factsĚŇ about these schools. Even though schools are different there is one common thread: school is a place to learn.

A third grade girl named Beany creates a science fair project with her partner, Kevin. Beany is not confident that their project is the best since it does not include flashy props. Beany learns that good science is enough to win the science fair, and she regains her self-esteem through winning.

This resource is full of activities to be done before, during and after reading a play (at grade level!).

Shakespeare was meant to be seen and celebrated! The approach should be fun and engaging - and open to even our young students.

All activities can be edited to suit your grade level and meet your needs. Many of these would also make excellent book reports for any novel!

Here's how it works:
- Think of a person, place or thing (Noun).
- On the left, think of as many “describing” words about your noun as you can. Be creative and try to include all of your senses when you are describing.
- On the right, include things that you noun “reminds” you of – e.g. Mother – apple pie, dog- burying bones in the garden
- Trade papers with a classmate and see if they can name your noun.

This poem describes the feelings of a girl whose best friend, Hanna, has moved away. The little girl feels that nothing will be the same again since her friend left.

This lesson provides teachers with support for using text-dependent questions and Common Core literacy strategies to help students derive big ideas and key understandings while developing vocabulary using the text, "Sing to the Stars." Ephram loves to play the violin, and when he discovers that a blind neighbor was once a musician, but stopped playing the piano due to a family tragedy, he encourages the man to return to his music. Each encourages the other, and they perform together at a community concert.

TED Video: Leaps and bounds separate that which is ironic and that which many people simply say is ironic. Christopher Warner wants to set the record straight: Something is ironic if and only if it is the exact opposite of what you would expect.

Use a variety of mentor texts to have students practice skills, and to explicitly teach them how to use the techniques examined including:

Building compound sentences with coordinating conjunctions
Varying sentence length
Using transitions to connect ideas

"Skills Canada Saskatchewan is a not-for-profit Provincial Organization that promotes skilled trades and technologies to young people in Saskatchewan."

This site has a wealth of information about skills and tech and the trades in SK.

*Skills for success - learn about the skills you need for success - videos
*Skills competitions - find skills competitions
*Skills Profiles - learn about construction, employment, IT, manufacturing & engineering, services and transportation skills
*Programs - trade & tech days, National Skilled Trade and Tech Week

This lesson provides teachers with support for using text-dependent questions and Common Core literacy strategies to help students derive big ideas and key understandings while developing vocabulary using the story Skylark. In this story, a family struggles on a prairie farm during a drought. They are forced to make a painful choice when their water soon runs out.

This lesson for English Language Learners (ELLs) introduces a very clever chimpanzee named Ayamu. In this lesson, learners will practice reading, listening, speaking and writing. All activities are automatically graded with feedback provided to the learner upon submission.

A snapshot is a basic technique, yet a tremendous aid to any piece of fiction when implemented correctly. A snapshot is basically a moment in a story where you take a temporarily stop from the plot to describe something specific in a story. Generally this can be used to create suspense or draw strong emotions out of the reader.

If you feel your story is getting a bit dull, but you need to still build up to the plot, use a snapshot! It can also be used when you want to add more emotion, feeling, and realism to a story.

Take a scene from your story that you feel didn't have enough emotional impact, suspense, or realism. Once you have that sentence, expand on it. Try to get down every sense you can think of.. How it made you feel, how it smelled, etc. It should be picture perfect. Depending on what emotion you want to convey will directly impact how you write your snapshot.

This is a cross curricular project revolving around the documentary The Social Dilemma. Students will write an essay and create an Action Plan to tackle the issues surrounding Social Media and it's pervasiveness in our lives. The outcomes covered are focused in Social 7, Health 7 and ELA 7. 

This lesson for English Language Learners (ELLs) discusses a trend that is becoming more popular with each passing year, space tourism. In this lesson, learners will practice reading, listening, speaking and writing. All activities are automatically graded with feedback provided to the learner upon submission.

This lesson for English Language Learners (ELLs) introduces an ancient warrior society that is still popular today, the Spartans. In this lesson, learners will practice reading, listening, speaking and writing. All activities are automatically graded with feedback provided to the learner upon submission.

This thematic unit from Comox Valley Schools (SD71) in B.C. is aimed at Grade 6 Core French students, but is suitable for older grades and would be easily adaptable for younger ones. It is focused on oral practice and participation and would also be useful in French Immersion classes!Content Authors: Comox Valley Schools, Learn71, Beth Peddle