Ragamuffinz: 500 Cupcakes!

This is a short story about three foster kids who help their foster parents run a bakery. It includes questions that focus on character analysis as well as a poster.

Click Here to download

Short Stories for Reading Comprehension with Posters

Click here to like my FACEBOOK PAGE

Click Here for Free Short Story with Posters

Free Story Posters

These are the posters that go along with my book, Short Stories for Reading Comprehension.

Click Here to download free posters

Free Short Story with Questions: The Family Vacation

This is a GREAT short story for grades 2-4. It includes multiple-choice questions, critical-thinking questions, and research activities.

Click Here for free story

Make a Reading Kit Out of a Cereal Box

Click Here for Article

Here's an article I wrote on how to make a reading kit out of a cereal box. Check it out.

Today Poem Worksheet--For Beginning Poets

Today Poem

This is "frame" poem that I use when I begin my poetry units. The student simply fills in the blanks, and when they finish they have quite a good poem.

16 Ways for Teachers to Make and Save Money

Check out these two articles for tips:

Nine Ways for Teachers to Make and Save Money

Seven Free Things for Teachers

Romeo and Juliet in Urban Slang

Author: Tonia Lee

This book translates Romeo and Juliet into language that kids can understand. It also includes questions and activities at the end of each act.

It's not just for urban kids either. I plan on using it for my rural North Carlina students.

Act 1

Purchase the entire book as a digital file or as a hard copy

Purchase Macbeth in Urban Slang

Literary Terms Work Sheet

Worksheet

For this worksheet, students will come up with a literary device (ie, simile, metaphor) based on the picture. When I did this activity, I encouraged students to add to my illustration.

Click here for literary terms posters

5 Ways to Get Your Boss to Give You a Vacation

Download

Free Downloadable Poster: FUNNY

Download

I was inspired to create this poster because I was having a "not so great day." I hope that it brightens your day a little.

Short Story: The Meanest English Teacher Ever

The Meanest English Teacher Ever

Here's a story that your students will be able relate to. (Yes, I know I ended a sentence with a prepostion, but relax, it's okay.)

The story includes questions about point of view as well.

MLA Formatting in Laymen's Terms

I've found that students are clueless when it comes to the purpose of MLA formatting. These worksheets and explain MLA formatting in pratical terms. They also provide the students with an activity to enhance their understanding of MLA formatting.


Worksheet

For more worksheets, visit my worksheets page

AFRO-Authentic Fearless Rambunctious Optimism (Free Poster)

Free Downloadable Poster

T-Shirts, Posters, Notecards

For more free downloadable posters, Click Here

For more info on natural hair, visit: www.luvmyafro.com

Commas Vs. Semicolons Worksheet

This is a WONDERFUL resource for explaining commas vs. semicolons:


http://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/index.php?category_id=2&sub_category_id=1&article_id=44

Short Journal Topics

Short Journal Topics

I created these journal topics for my timid writers. They only require the students to write a paragraph.


Also, for more free worksheets, check out my worksheets page:

Point of View

Point of View Worksheet

This a great way to explain point of view to 9th graders. It's called "Fred the Freshman and Sarah the Senior" I think that your students will like it.

For more worksheets, visit my worksheets page .

Kindle Review

I recently dropped close to 350.00 dollars on a Kindle. (The Kindle was actually 299 bucks, but the cover was 29.99.) I am an English teacher/ technology geek, so the idea of having 300,000 books at my finger tips that I could download in less than a minute gave me a rush. Seriously, the day it was set to arrive, I was at work day all dreaming about all the things I would do with my new electronic book.
And I know the question that you’re asking is was it worth it?

The answer is a resounding YES and NO. (Note: This article is divided into two sections “Was it worth it? Yes” “Was it worth it No.)

Was it worth it? YES

There is a Large Selection of “Books”
They have over 300,000 books, and they are constantly adding to the list. Most of books that I could dream up, they have.

You can download books anytime, anywhere in a minute or less.
Lately, I’ve had a problem of getting all excited about purchasing a new book (and yes, I do get excited about books) only to go to the book store and find out that they don’t have it in stock. Of course, the kind sales person will be happy to order if for you, but “I WANT THE BOOK RIGHT NOW!” I don’t want to wait 3-5 days for the book to be delivered.

It’s almost as if you are reading a real book—I promise.
The pages are so realistic looking: when I first got the Kindle, there was a “Welcome to Kindle Page” on the screen, and I thought it was an actual piece of paper. I was trying to pull the darn thing off, it was HILLARIOUS (okay, I guess, maybe you had to be there….)

There is a built in dictionary.
If I’m reading, and I come across a word like lugubrious (Well, actually I already know what that word means, but let’s pretend that I don’t) Anyway, the point is when you find a word you don’t know, all you have to do is click a button, and the definition of the word shows up at the bottom of the page.

It saves space.
Lately, I’ve started to declutter my life, and it has made me kind of happy actually. (But that’s a whole different story, for a whole different blog) Anyway, I DON’T LIKE JUNK ANYMORE, and this fits my apartment lifestyle. You can store up to 1500 books on the Kindle at a time. (That’s a lot of books.) If you have more than 1500 books (Let’s say you happen to be a library or something.), well you can still have them stored on your account page, but they won’t be on your actual Kindle.

Was it worth it? No

Prices
Most of the books are 9.99 or less. But in this day and age, Umm hello Mr. Kindle maker, that’s not such a great deal. You can buy books online for like four bucks (and that’s including shipping and handling.)

Wikipedia Function
I was SUPER excited when I found out that you could access Wikipedia on the Kindle. (Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I look up random stuff on Wikipedia like Dolphins and Giraffes for fun.) However, the darn thing is so slow, and the screen is so small. I’m like, I’ll just look it up on one of my computers later (yes I have three computers, don’t judge me!)

You don’t get the bookstore experience
I always had this idea that I’d meet my future husband in Barnes and Noble—maybe in the computer section. But now, I just don’t go to the bookstore as much. There is something to say about browsing through the bookstore looking for a good book. But it’s also exhilarating to download a book in a minute. OH, SWEET AGONY, I’m soooo torn!

You have to pay extra for the book cover—29.99
I must say, Mr. Kindle maker, that was sneaky. You kind of have to buy the Kindle cover. I mean who’s going to pay three hundred bucks for a Kindle and then leave it uncovered??? Why, Why, Why couldn’t it just have been included in the price?

The bottom line is…
I am glad I bought the Kindle. I had a few extra bucks, so I decided to treat myself. If you are buying it because you think it will save you money on book purchases, I say no, don’t buy it. If you are buying it because you love the idea of having all of those books at your finger tips AND you have some extra money, then I say go for it. Happy Kindling!

Do You Want Fries with That? (Short Story)

Click Here to like my FACEBOOK PAGE

CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY

I just added a high interest short story on my worksheets page. It's about a teenager who is forced to work side-by-side at a fast food restaurant with her father, after he loses his job.

It also has questions at the end of the story.

My students liked this story, and hope yours do too.

Free Worksheets

Free Worksheets

I just compiled a number of worksheets that I've created over the years. I hope that they are useful to you.

Literary Terms Poster

Literary Terms Posters

This booklet includes five posters: simile, metaphor, alliteration, hyperbole, and personification. Check it out.

ABC Autobiography

ABC Autobiography

This is a great project to do in the first few weeks of the school year. It really helps you to get to know your students.

How much money do you spend for your teacher/classroom supplies?

As I was buying things for my classroom this year, I began to wonder, how much are others spending?

Please take a moment to fill out this QUICK survey.

Teacher Spending Survey

1 cent School Supplies at Staples

Staples Back to School Deals

This week (8/9-8/15) a penny will get you: Highlighters, Notebooks, and Copier Paper (the copier paper is a penny after rembate.

Also, while you are at the Staples site, make sure that you sign up to recieve week ads by email, so you'll be in the the know.

First Day of School Worksheets

First Day of School Worksheets

I just uploaded these first day of school activities to enotes. There are two worksheets. The first worksheet requires students to write a poem about their summer vacation using the five senses (imagery).

The second worksheet is a get-to-know-you questionnaire.

Free Advice: Focus on what you have, not what you don't

If you constantly focus on what you don’t have,
you will never fully appreciate what you do have.
-Sharron Scott (yours truly)

(Click here to download quote)

It's true, if you constantly focus on what you don't have, you'll never see what you do have. Think about it:

If someone gave you 3/4 of a wonderfully delicious chocolate cake, and all you could focus on was the fact that you were missing a slice, you would never get to enjoy the rest of the cake.
---

In this time of recession and cut backs, it's easy to focus on what we don't have. As teachers, our schools are understaffed, we may have to buy a lot of our own school supplies, and in some cases our salaries may have been cut (This happened in my state last school year.)

However, if you look a the big picture, we still have jobs, when unfortunately others do not. And most importantly, we work in a profession where we actually have a purpose, and we have the opportunity to influence young lives every single day.


---I am going to post this quote up in my room, and I am also going do an activity in which I have my students come up with their own quotes. (And I will then post their quotes up in the room as well.)

Teacher Apprecian Day at Staples

Staples loves teachers, almost as much as we looooove staples. Check this out.

7 Great Literary Quotes Posters

Here's an inexpensive way to decorate your classroom.

I just uploaded this booklet of the following seven literary quotes to my posters page. (Scroll down to the bottom of the page.) There are seven pages in all ( a quote on each page.) I suggest you print the quotes out and paste/staple them onto to colorful posterboard. Or, you could also, print them out on colorful paper.

Literary Quotes Quotes:

Friendship, I fancy means one heart between two.
George Meridith

Parting is such sweet sorrow
Shakespeare

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you sit down quietly may alight upon you.
Nathanial Hawthorne

Faith is what someone knows to be true, whether they believe it or not.
Flannery O’Connor

All great achievements require time
Maya Angelou

Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day
Charles Dickens

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to great places!
You’re off and away!

Dr. Suess

A Poem For Disruptive Students

I wrote this poem earlier this school year. I used this poem to teach students about analyzing poetry as well as theme and narration. They were really engaged in this lesson.

I SEE YOU

You make strange noises
OR You laugh at things
That are not funny
OR Maybe you FART
LOUD and SMELLY

Because your voice has
Been silenced
By 9, 10, or 11 years
Of the Public School Prison

And for some reason
You’ve gotten into your head
That you cannot be successful
That you’ll always be the one
Laughing, Throwing, Farting

And you think that
Laughing, Throwing, Farting
Is the only way that you can be
HEARD

BUT
I see you; I hear you
I see a Doctor, Lawyer
Teacher, Preacher,
Policeman, Fireman,
Husband, Father
Mother, Wife

I see You!
I hear You!

Note: I have a downloadable version of this poem with questions that focus on theme and narrator.

Five Discounts Every Teacher Should Know About

Every teacher knows that we get discounts at Barnes and Nobles (and we appreciate that), but there are a lot of other discounts out there that you don't know about.

1. Phone Service (Home and Cell)- Did you know that depending upon which county you teach in, you may be able to receice a 15% discount on your Verizon Wireless bill.
Also, you will be able to cut your home phone service down to 39.95 a year by using Magic Jack.
Also check check out this blog on free directory assistance.

2. 100's of Discounts- I've just discovered this really cool site that informs teachers about hundreds of discounts that are available to teachers. http://www.myeducationdiscount.com/

3. Software-Teachers can also receive 75% off of sofware from Microsoft Word to Adobe Creative Suite to everything in between. See my previous post for info.

4. Eye Glasses- Believe me when I tell you this, you can get a COMPLETE pair of glasses for $8.00. I'm actually wearing my $8.00 glasses right now as I type this blog, and I have no complaints. Check out this previous blog.

5. Apartments- Many apartments will either waive your application fee or give you discount on the fee. Make sure that you ask.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear poster

I've add a new poster to my Poster's Page.

This is one of my favorite Bible verses. I took this picture of my mom's Easter lilly over a year ago; I just recently edited in photoshop.

Easy Low Calorie Chili

As a teacher, it is hard to find time to cook healthy tasty meals. Well here's a quick and easy meal that you can come home and whip up right after work. It only takes about about 20-30 minutes to cook.

Ingredients:
1 pound of lean ground beef
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 can of kidney beans
1 onion
1/4-1/2 of a jalepeno pepper
2-3 table spoons of sugar
salt or garlic salt

servings 4-5

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet
2. While the beef is cooking:
Cut up the onion and jalapeno pepper.
Then combine the kidney beans, tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno pepper in a large pot.
VERY IMPORTANT- BE CAREFUL WITH JALAPENO PEPPERS; they can get really hot.
I usually just leave the peppers in the pot for about five minutes and then I take them out.
3. After the beef finishes browning, drain it and put it in the large pot with the beans and vegetables.
4. Add sugar and salt.
5. Let it simmer for a few minutes and you're done!

Free Posters For Teachers

Free Posters

I've started a page of posters I've created. I'll be updating it frequently, so keep coming back.

Seven Free Things for Teachers

Who doesn't like free??? Well, here are seven things for teachers that are ABSOLUTELY free.

1. Worksheets, Ebooks, Lesson Plans, Oh My- Enotes.com has a bunch of free e-books by reputable publishers like Scholastic. (See previous post.) Enotes also has free worksheets created by teachers. TeachersPayTeachers.com is another site that has free worksheets for teachers created by teachers.
And of course you can get tons of free stuff and advice right here at http://www.freethingsforteachers.com/

2. Posters- Cool and quirky posters: See Post
3. Free Foreign Language Lessons- Would you like to brush up on your French or delve into Italian. Check out these free courses: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

4. MIT Open Courseware- Speaking of free courses. This is so cool. You have assess to lecture notes, videos, exams etc. on just about anything you can imagine, from American Political Thought to Documentary Photography and Photo Journalism.

5. Software- You can download anything from wordprocessing software to networking software to video games. Check out http://www.sourceforge.net/

6. Whatever Your Heart Desires- At Donor's Choose, You can request anything from pencils to musical instrument. This site pairs up teachers with people or companies in the community who are willing to help. It actually works. My teacher put in a request for $300.00 for Weekly Readers and her wish was granted.

7. A Great Coworker- Never underestimate or take for granted the coworker who you can turn to on those days when the phrase, "Maybe teaching just isn't for me", keeps running across your mind. This is the person who will laugh with you, cry with you, pray with you, and remind you that you are indeed where you are supposed to be.

written by: Sharron Scott

School Supplies for 1 Cent at Staples

site: http://staples.shoplocal.com/staples/default.aspx?action=entryflash&adref=staples_right_hand_nav&cm_sp=merchandising-_-weekly%20ad%20right%20rail-_-weekly%20ad%20right%20rail

I was just checking my email, and I saw this deal. You can get pencils for a penny! You can get a whole lot of other drastically discounted school supplies to0.

Make sure to sign up for the weekly adds via email, so you'll be in the know.

Continue to enjoy your summer, and don't forget to go to the beach or at least take a dip in the pool1

PowerPoint Review Game

site: http://www.enotes.com/documents/powerpoint-review-game-39823

Here's a PowerPower Point review game that I just created. It's pretty cool; check it out

First Grade Workbook

site: http://www.enotes.com/documents/shapes-more-41669
Shapes and more! I made this mini workbook for the little guys. I had fun making it---I was able to get in touch with my inner child.

Multiplication Workbook

Multiplication Workbook

Here's a math workbook that I just created. It gives students practice multiplying 1-10; it also includes a fill-in-the-blank multiplication table.

I welcome any suggestions or comments. You can email me at frugalgirl09@gmail.com

workbooks

Five Signs You're an English Teacher Poster

Click Here for downloadable poster

Five Signs You’re an English Teacher
1. If your spouse or significant other gives you a love letter, you analyze it and pick out the grammatical errors.
2. You describe your desk as “organized chaos.”
3. When you spill something on your shirt, you say,“Out damned spot.”
4. You use words like ubiquitous and lugubrious when talking to your 7-year-old.
5. You named your dog Chaucer, your fish Hemingway, and your computer Wordsworth.

HAPPY POSTER

site: www.writenowplc.com/free/happy.pdf

I created this poster for a coworker who was stressed out.

Church Mice Poster

site: http://www.writenowplc.com/free/churchmice.pdf

This is for all my Sunday School teachers. I created this poster last year; it was a lot of fun!

Lots of Free EBOOKS!

site: http://www.enotes.com/documents/pub/emc

I was just uploading some worksheets to Enotes.com (see previous post if you have no idea what I'm talking about), and I ran across some really good FREE ebooks from reputable publishers like Evan-Moor and Scholastic. Just thought I'd pass it along!

9 Ways for Teachers to Make Extra Money

"Teachers don't get paid enough," is what we constantly hear, but if you budget your money correctly and find ways to get paid for your expertise, you'll be able to keep the job you love and pay the mortgage.

1. Save Money Without Even Missing It When you pay off a bill or when you get your yearly raise; automatically have the money you saved or made transferred to your savings account. For example, when I paid off my computer loan, I had the 75.00 that I saved automatically transferred to my savings account. I didn't even miss it.

2. Join the State Employees Credit Union If you haven't already, make sure that you become a member of your State Employees Credit Union. My credit card through the credit union only has 10% interest. Also, they have great perks. For instance, in North Carolina, if you make less than 40,000, you can get your taxes done for free.

3. Get your a Side Hustle On Use your expertise in education to make EXTRA money. I signed up as an editor at Enotes, and I can make $25.00-$50.00 extra a month by answering questions about literature or uploading worksheets that I created for my students. Check out my site for more info: Free Things for Teachers: Enotes Editor
You can also sell your work at: Teachers Pay Teachers

4. Find sites that offer FREE STUFF There are many sites like Free Things for Teachers and Teacher's Coffeehouse that cater to teachers. Enotes is another site that offers free worksheets and lesson plans for teachers. Also find free posters at this site:
Free Posters

5. Write a Book or a Workbook There are many places where your can self-publish books for little or no money. Check out this article about self-publishing your teacher materials:
Self Publishing Your Teacher Materials

6. Teach Online In some states, there are virtual high schools that offer courses throughout the year and during the summer. They pay around $200 per student in North Carolina. Check out the following sites:
North Carolina Virtual Public School
Florida Virtual School

7. Stop Buying New Books You can buy books that are in great condition at a fraction of the price at: Amazon


8. Stop Paying Full Price for Software- There are several sites that offer up to 75% off on popular software including Microsoft and Adobe. Check out this article for more information:
Cheap Software
If 75% off isn’t enough of a discount for you, you can get free open source software at:
Free Sofware

9. Give to Others-- As Christian, I believe in tithing 10% of my income. I try to donate 10% of my income to a local Christian charity every month. I always feel better about my finances when I am helping others.
Source: http://www.freethingsforteachers.com/

written by: Sharron Scott

Software for 75% Off!!

You can get software for 75% at www.campustech.com This site offers just about any type of software your would want from Microsft Office to Adobe Creative Suite. For exampe, Microsoft Office which is usually 499.00 is only 129.00.

What are stipulations, you ask?

We'll there are just a few:1. It is educational software, so you need to be a teacher or a student (K-12 or college) to receive the discount.2. Because it's educational software, you can't upgrade.You can also receive an educational discount if you order directly through Adobe: https://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/store/html/index.cfm?store=OLS-EDU&event=displayEduConditions

You should give it a try; I've used campustech.com several times, and I am very pleased.

Free Grammar and Punctuation E-Book

Go to my worksheets page, and click on Quick and Simple Grammar and Punctuation.


I created this workbook because I had a hard time finding simple grammar and punctuation worksheets for my ninth graders that weren't too childish.

If you have any suggestions about the ebook, please contact me at frugalgirl09@gmail.com

Thanks!

Free Advice---Enjoy Your Summer

From time to time, I will post what I call "free advice" on this blog. People who know me well, know that I only give advice when I feel I have something to say that may make your life easier. My true friends also know that I think that unwarrented advice is on the same list as paper cuts and hang nails. So if you're not the type to accept advice, then whenever you see a "Free Advice" post, then by all means keep it moving, go on to the next blog. You won't hurt my feelings---I promise.

With that said---Enjoy Your Summer!

Take a few weeks to completely forget about school and schoolwork. Forget about being Ms. Brown, or Mr. Roberts; for a moment just take a minute to be Karen or Frank, Mom, Dad, Little Sister, Big Brother, or Friend.

Right now, in this moment, as I type this, I am sitting on my balcony bobbing to Mariah Carey. It is 9:00 p.m., and the sun refuses to set completely set. And finally after a warm muggy day, on this late spring evening, there is a cool breeze.

There are a million "productive" things that I could be doing. But right now in this moment, I am going to do the one thing that I haven't really done since the first school bell rang in August: BREATH.

Scholarship Recommendation Letter

site: http://www.writenowplc.com/12ap/letter.html

Here is scholarship recommendation letter that I wrote. It's pretty good (if I do say so myself :))

Make an extra $25.00-$50.00 a month

site: https://www.enotes.com/jax/index.php/users/register/type=editor

You can easily make an extra $25.00-$50.00 a month by becomming an Enotes editor. I have been an Enotes editor since January 2009, and it has been a positive experience. In fact, I've got a check for $53.00 (from Enotes) sitting on my desk right now that I need to cash.

What does and Enotes editor do? An Enotes editor answer questions posted by students, posts comments to discussions boards, and uploads documents such as worksheets and handouts to the site.

How much money does an Enotes Editor get paid? Editors make $1.00 for every document submited i.e. worksheets, lesson plans etc., $2.00 for every question answered, and $1.00 for every comment posted on a discussion board.

How do I become an Enotes editor? It's very simple: just complete an online application, and answer three questions that are posted on the site. It takes a couple of weeks for your application to be reviewed.

Inspirational Poster

I saw this verse on a teacher's website, and I decided to create a poster.

Click here to download the poster: http://www.writenowplc.com/free/letmyteachingfalllikerain.pdf

A Complete Pair of Glasses for 8.00

Yes, you read it correcly, you can get a complete pair of glasses for 8.00 at http://www.zennioptical.com/ plus $4.00 shipping and handling.

I bought a pair about two months ago and they are great. In fact, I am wearing them right now as I type this blog:)

Note: You have to type in your perscription as well as your pupil distance. The website tells you how to measure your pupil distance. I suggest that you don't measure your own pupil distance. (My sister did this, and when her glasses came back she ended up dizzy.) Instead, when you go to the eye doctor to pick up your prescription, simply ask them for your pupil distance.

Post Card Template

This is a cool activity for Social Studies and English teachers. After studying a new geographical place, students will design the front of the post card with geographical landmards representing that particular region.

After completing the front, students will write a note to a friend or family member describing the geographical region that they have visited.

I created this template, and then uploaded it to Enotes.com Check it out: http://www.enotes.com/documents/post-card-template-36365