Grab a Great Novel Study!

March 17, 2023Leave a comment

My students love when we have book discussions during Reading. I really like to hear about what my 5th graders are reading. During our latest discussion, the book Wish, kept being brought up as a really great read. Every student who had read it had nothing but good things to say about the book. So naturally, I got myself a copy and spent the next few evenings reading Wish. Boy, the kids were absolutely right about it being a great book!

I wanted to share this great book with other teachers and their classes AND save teachers time and effort to use this book! As a result, I created a novel study of Wish. It is filled with over 114 pages of questions and 57 Google Slides. It has so many use possibilities, too. The questions lend themselves to chapter discussions with the class. Teachers will have the questions at their fingertips and also suggested answers. There is also vocabulary by chapters and a game I use with my own class when it comes to vocabulary work.

Just click on “Wish” and check out my newest novel study! Right now it’s discounted 50% for the next 24 hours! It’s only $7 for a great novel study!! Don’t pass up a great deal!!!

Happy reading!

Susan

WISH

Are You Looking for Engaging U.S. History Activities?

September 2, 2019September 3, 2019Leave a comment

Does the idea of trying to find time to teach Social Studies give you a pain as you are trying to plan your school schedule? With all the emphasis on the testing of math, science, and reading in my state, it was really hard to find activities that would help my students learn about our country’s history AND engage my students attention. Since social studies and history are not state tested subjects in elementary school in my state, too often I had to leave the subject as an afterthought…a subject to visit AFTER end of grade testing was finished.

Let me help you make U.S. History a part of your reading lessons with a great book AND a variety of engaging activities for both reading and social studies lessons. I found Blood on the River by Elise Carbone! A great novel about the founding of James Town as seen through the eyes of a young boy who is servant to Captain John Smith. My students love this book and I am able to slip social studies lessons into my reading lessons! WALLAH!

Blood on the River allowed me to introduce vocabulary of the times, explore primary sources, compare characters and discussion questions along with meeting historical figures such as John Smith and Pocahontas. All this and more is included in my TpT store product Blood on the River Activities Just clink on the link to check out my Blood on the River products!

If you aren’t able to choose your reading materials, don’t despair! I have a bundle of activities that you can use to add hands-on, rigorous, yet engaging activities to go along with your studies of America from the early explorers to the American Revolution. You can find this fabulous bundle in my TpT store American Social Studies Activities

Check out some really fun activities…my students really like the United States Branches activities. Make history come alive with the I Have, Who Has of the American Revolution!

I hope these activities will help your students develop an interest in the history of our country!!

A New Year With New Novels For Your Students

January 2, 2019Leave a comment

I count myself a lucky teacher when it comes to how I teach reading in my classroom. I am not tied to a basal, but instead, I get to use novels as the basis for my lessons. This can be a two edged sword… I love introducing my students to new books. However, after a few years of teaching a novel, I find myself wanting a new novel to use with my students and to also engage myself with new lessons. As a result, I am always on the lookout for engaging novels for my fifth graders.

Not long ago, I was reading a thread on Facebook with teachers offering their favorite books for their students. One book kept being mentioned…Because of Mr. Terupt. So many teachers were singing the praises of the book that I just had to investigate it. I was blown away by Rob Buyea’s novel!!!

Because of Mr. Terupt tells the story of a school year in the lives of 7 very different fifth grade students and the lessons they learn from their teacher, Mr. Terupt and each other. We, as teachers, have had all of these students in our classes…the brain, the new girl, the shy girl and the class clown to name just a few of the seven characters. This novel has my students engaged and excited about what the next chapter would bring! My students were so engaged, they decided to create a video, using Ipads, of the culminating event of the novel. Scripts were written and roles chosen. This was definitely a student led project. When it was finished, the students had a viewing for parents and invited the principal. Writing, technology, and reading all in one project!

It tells the story of a group of students’ fifth grade year with a first year teacher, Mr.Terupt. His fresh ideas and lessons engage and excite his students. He connects with these seven kids, especially. Mr. Terupt’s ways of teaching and discipling students leads to a terrible event that impacts the seven students and their very different perspectives on the even make the rest of the novel very engaging and made for some really good class discussions as students shared their perspectives of the novel. If you’d like to see some of the questions I used with my students just click Because of Mr. Terupt.

Another book I am really excited about is Fish In A Tree! It’s about a sixth grade girl, Ally, who has managed to hide the fact she can’t read very well! It’s written by Lynda Mullaly Hunt and it is another fabulous new novel. Ally would rather be thought of as a troublemaker than admit she has trouble reading. Her dad is deployed which will resonate with many students and the family has moved many times as part of his military career. Ally’s new teacher, Mr. Daniels, has seen beneath the troublemaker pose Ally presents. Ally has made two friends, almost in spite of herself, and together they discover their strengths.

I began Fish in a Tree as a read aloud, on the recommendation of one of my students who read it as part of Battle of the Books. It quickly captured my students’ attention and the discussions made me realize that my class and I needed to give this book much more attention. I took the book home and read it over the weekend. It is awesome!!! So many students will identify with Ally and her struggles, both with reading and dealing with other students in her classroom as the new girl once again.

Fish in a Tree is going to be my next class novel after we finish Because of Mr. Terupt. Both of these books were new to both myself and my students. Their reactions to both books were very positive and kept my students wanting to know what was going to happen next.

Check out both books…I hope you enjoy them! Let me know what you think!

Fraction Lessons Have You Tearing Out Your Hair?

November 10, 2018November 13, 2018Leave a comment

Trying to make teaching fraction more interesting? Tearing out your hair? It was that frustration that had me looking for a way to give my students information they could understand and more opportunities to practice those skills. The math book just didn’t seem to meet the needs of my students. I was reminded by my mentor that textbooks should be a supplemental tool and not the curriculum.

Let me help you by showing you what I did to make multiplying and dividing fractions less frustrating!

I decided to take the textbook information and put it into kid-friendly words.

I had the kids glue the notes into their journals so the information would be at their fingertips!

And because the dreaded “End of Grade” test looms all year…I decided to create word problems to go along with the note students put into their journals. That would give my students more practice than what was in our math textbook.

I also used the word problems as a review game. I put one word problem on each student’s desk, in no particular order. Students stand behind their chairs and the game begins as each student solves the problem on their desk. As they finish, students put their hands on their shoulders. When everyone has solved the problem on their desk, students move to the next desk. When all the students have moved around the room and are back at their own desk, we go over the answers and students share how they solved the problems.

The word problems can be used in a lot of different ways in your classroom, beyond just a review game! The word problems can be used as bell ringers to get students thinking. You could put the word problems in your math center for independent work.

If you want to check out my word problems, just click on my picture.

How I Improved My Grammar Lessons By Not Teaching!

February 19, 2018Leave a comment

when students talk, i listen

A few weeks ago, in the midst of coming in from recess, I was given the word by several students that my English lessons ~~were boring~~ less engaging than some of my other subject lessons. Now I could have gotten angry, or bent out of shape, or any other teacher emotion that comes to mind when told a lesson was not all that it could be. Truth be told, my lessons had gotten stale…that after holidays, after January, waiting for Presidents’ Day time of year. I won’t lie, grammar often got the short end of the stick in the day as I tried to fit everything in, as I am a self-contained fifth grade teacher!

Students step up!

While I’ve been teaching for more than 20 years, I’m pretty open to new ideas to improve the learning in my classroom. Trust me, I’ve known a few “done it this way for years so why change?.” teachers. That’s not me, so I tuned in with all ears as I entered the conversation. “How could I fix the lessons?, ” was what I asked. Imagine my surprise when one of my best students asked if she could teach the next lesson! We were both surprised when the words, “Sure, let’s do this!,” came out of my mouth. Next thing I knew, several more students volunteered to teach lessons.

How do I do this, Teacher?

I sat down with my first volunteer and together we chose the lesson…Object Pronouns! We chose a date…three days in the future and I gave her my teacher edition. “I’ve got this, Mrs. Mescall” was what I heard until the day of the lesson.

D-Day or should I say T-Day (teach)! My student did an amazing job…she taught us with a fun game using large dice. The students rolled the two dice of different colors. Each number on one of the dice corresponded to a specific object pronoun. The second dice numbers corresponded to a specific subject pronoun. Students then took those two pronouns and created a sentence with both pronouns used correctly. The students loved the game and my teacher student then walked around checking sentences and having the class read their sentences! SCORE!! It was a good lesson and I will totally be stealing her game for another time!!!

Lining Up!

Our second student-led lesson was about possessive pronouns. I again shared my teacher edition and that Brainpop had a good videos and activities. My second student-led class was also a success! My second student’s lesson was more digital and the class really enjoyed it. We did so well as a class that we were rewarded with “thin mints” as we were “smart cookies”!

Have I totally given up teaching grammar and English…not really. I do still teach them both, but I have continued to offer the opportunity to teach the class. Several more students are eager to teach and I will certainly be letting them try out their teaching skills!

Thanks,

I do have some games and activities you might want to try to add some fun and spice to your English lessons! Check out the links below!

A fun game with verb tenses!

Here are activities to help master there, their, and they’re!

Here are 3 levels of antonyms to meet the needs of all!

Do You Really Know George & Abraham?

January 28, 2018Leave a comment

Fact or Fib?

George Washington never told a lie. Abraham Lincoln walked ten miles to return a nickel. Theses are some of the “facts” I was taught about these two most beloved and celebrated presidents. What’s the truth?

I went on a hunt for facts about both of these presidents, each of whom have wonderful, but not necessarily true stories about their lives.

sharing is caring!

As I accumulated the facts about George and Abraham, I began to think about how to share these facts with my students. It was an easy decision to make a game of it all. Part of why I create products is to make learning fun for my students while also making life easier for my teacher friends. Here was a perfect opportunity to share what I had learned with both my students AND friends!

Celebrate With George and Abraham

I created a “FACT” or “FIB” sort to have students read statements about each of the presidents, and after discussion, decide whether it’s a fact or a fib. I have included the answers for teachers. I also thought it would be fun for students to then take their newly acquired facts and create an acrostic about either president or both! I’ve included a short assessment or pre/post worksheet and also a Venn diagram to compare the two presidents.

Celebrate Presidents’ Day with George and Abraham!

What are some and engaging ways you celebrate Presidents’ Day? Let me know!

Thanks!

How I Make Fractions and Valentines Fun !

January 15, 2018February 5, 2023Leave a comment

The most dreaded fifth grade math skill…fractions!!!

After 27 years in teaching and 22years of teaching fifth graders, both departmental and self-contained, the most dreaded standard faced by teachers and fifth grade2rs alike is the dreaded FRACTIONS unit!

Fractions seem to be the “boogie man” of math and so I was looking for a way to combine the practicing of fraction skills and the upcoming Valentine’s Day with a fun activity. While we do have a small party and exchanging of Valentine’s cards, there is still an expectation of staying the course with lessons!

Awkward age…Fifth Grade

Fifth graders are looking forward to middle school at this time of year…more freedom, less teacher monitoring. At the same time, they still enjoy Valentine’s parties and the exchanging of cards. I wanted to make an activity that my kids didn’t see as “baby-ish” and would also challenge their math skills…always an area that needs practice!

The best of both Fractions and Valentine’s day!

The result was “Fraction Operations Valentines Mystery!” My students love to break codes and solve puzzles, so combining that with fractions, which we are studying and reviewing, seemed a natural.

Cupid has had his bow stolen by one of his holiday symbol friends and in order to identify the thief, students have to solve 4 different coded messages by solving fractions problems using all four operations.

I have also included a “How To Use” for teachers! Let me help you with your lesson planning!

Last, but certainly not least, each fraction worksheet has an answer sheet to help teachers help their students solve the mystery!

You can find this newest of my store products in my store by simply clicking on any of the pictures in my blog!

What do you think? How do you make fractions fun for your students? Let me know…I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks,

Sue

New Years Is A Time For Change

December 31, 2017December 28, 2017Leave a comment

Promises, Promises!

I’ve never been one of those folks who sit down on Dec. 31 and make all kinds of “promises” about changes I planned to make in the coming New Year. So why the title? Wellll…I can explain

As some of you may know, I have a store, Susan Mescall, where I sell lesson ready products. While I personally may not be making any changes, I have started looking at my store products and noticing that one of my earlier products needed a makeover…in other words…A CHANGE!

Who’s That?

I’m a fifth grade teacher and my students and I often share what books are being read out of school or during independent reading. Somehow the subject of adventure books were being discussed and I mentioned Kidnapped. One of my students wanted to know who the author was and when I replied with Robert Louis Stevenson, no one in my class had any idea of who he was! Kidnapped was my first experience with a “classic” adventure book when I was a kid and it bothered me that my students had no idea who he was.

What to do? What to do?

It really concerned me that my students had heard of the book, but had no idea about the author. I decided to introduce my students to people who had impacted the world around them, but because to time, had been “forgotten”.

I began to search for people and their words of wisdom. I have included such well-known people as Oprah Winfrey, and Mohammed Ali. I have also included lesser known people as Jaime Escalante and Marva Collins.

Cha-Cha-Changes!

(apologies to David Bowie!)

Imagine my dismay, when I took another look at my early product and discovered errors in grammar and the fact I no longer liked the look of my product. So I have spent time changing, and hopefully you’ll agree, improving my product.

I changed the name to “Journal Responses for Students”. I have taken out the clip art and made the pages and font larger. I have also enlarged the author’s picture and updated information.

So I guess you can say that Change is in the air today!!!

Let me know of any other folks you think today’s students should know about!

Signature

Do You Need to Engage and Excite Students? Use these words!

February 7, 2016September 1, 2016Leave a comment

The words are, “Shall we play a game?“, which is a throw back to an old 1980’s movie…”War Games”. Sometimes trying to get our students excited about class work can be like a battle. I have a very competitive group of students this year. They really love to outdo each other but I also want them to pull together as a team.

I tapped into that competitive streak to get them excited about doing classwork earlier this week. I have a game I call “Captain and the Crew”. It takes nothing more than a worksheet, white boards, markers, and erasers. This game really appeals to them as it pits the class against me!!

As the teacher, I am the “Captain” of my class and my students are my “Crew“. I handed out the worksheet and then wrote the words “Captain” and “Crew” on my whiteboard at the front of the room. The students work a problem independently. When the lid is on the marker of all the students, we are ready to share our answers.

Students hold up their individual white boards to show the answer. If everyone is correct, the students earn 2 tally marks. If even one student is wrong, I earn 5 tally marks. That’s not fair, you say? The students were more excited about beating me and me not being “fair” then really had them fired up!

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How did I use the worksheet? I had the students use the worksheet problems as the questions for our game. See the results of our first game below…

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I already have my students begging for a rematch! Who knew a worksheet could be so fun?

Let me know what you think and if you use it in your classroom! Signature

The Free Dictionary Game Students Will Beg For!

November 11, 2015September 23, 2018Leave a comment

Here’s the dictionary dilemma, teachers! We want our students to increase their knowledge of vocabulary in all subjects, but too often our go-to assignment has students looking up the words in a dictionary and copy the meaning into a notebook. For myself, even I used to shudder at the idea of looking up unknown words in the dictionary!

Engage students are learning students and the best is when they don’t even realize they are learning!!! I was racking my brain for a new way to introduce the vocabulary in a novel I wanted the class to read. It came to me like a flash!!!! I find that most students get very competitive in a game situation and that is what led to, TA DAH!!! DICTIONARY DASH!! Even better, the game is free AND easy to implement!!!

Here’s how it works in my room. I have my students get themselves into groups of three. Each group gets a dictionary. Because my students are so competitive, I have the students put their hands on the closed dictionary BEFORE I write the word to be looked up on the board. On the board I have drawn a chart. Word/Part of Speech/Definition. After the word is written on the whiteboard, they can’t start their search until I say “Go!”

The first group to find the word yells “We got it!’ and they send one of the students to the board. The chosen student writes the part of speech and the definition on the whiteboard. I will check the student’s choice of definition to make sure it is the one needed for the day’s reading.

The other students are reading the meaning of the word as it is written on the board. After that, the groups put their hands on the closed dictionary and the game continues until all vocabulary words needed for that day have been defined.

That being said, let me add a few pointers about the game:

DO NOT use this game every day in all subjects! Anything done a lot gets boring and that’s what you’re trying to avoid!!!
DO NOT use this game to look up EVERY vocabulary word in the lesson. Why? See #1!
DO use it in subjects other than just Reading. Students need to see the need for increased vocabulary in all subjects.

I have the students put the vocabulary words and meanings into their subject journal and glossary. We then jump into the lesson.

That’s it…that’s all it took to get my kids excited about using the dictionary!! What’s the worst? You lose a bit of time…What’s the best? A new game that takes little to no prep and excites students!

If you try the game, let me know how it worked. If you have some fun ideas for vocabulary, share those too!!!! Thanks!