tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13910884179940234812024-03-13T14:00:03.992-07:00Classroom CoreMiddle School Education & More!Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-54519212864516002582013-08-18T05:12:00.001-07:002013-08-18T05:12:05.752-07:00Back-to-School Sale!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Classroom-Core" target="blank" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RabLk4nAYYE/UhC5xSI9QOI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/d5b343B2rt8/s1600/8-17+SALE+button.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>Time for some back-to-school shopping!<br />
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Head over to TpT today and tomorrow, and you will find everything in our store<i> </i>20% OFF! Save on great back-to-school products, ELA activities and resources, lesson plans, fun labels and borders, learning targets, calendars, and more. Use code <b>BTS13 </b>at checkout and receive an additional 10% off your total order!<br />
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We'll see you <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Classroom-Core" target="_blank">there</a>!Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-15384828423105136922013-07-21T06:06:00.003-07:002013-07-21T06:06:57.277-07:00We're Having a Sale!From now through July 24, we're holding a 10%-off sale on all of our newest products!<br />
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Here's what the sale includes:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Monthly-Calendar-12-Fillable-PDF-Pages-766954" target="_blank">Monthly Calendar: 12 Fillable PDF Pages</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Icebreakers-20-Activities-Plus-Handouts-762920" target="_blank">Back-to-School Icebreakers: 20 Activities Plus Handouts</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Fillable-PDF-Labels-Stationery-749774" target="_blank">Back-to-School Fillable PDF Labels & Stationery</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/End-of-Year-Send-off-Writing-Activities-Bookmarks-Treat-Bag-Toppers-688454" target="_blank">End-of-Year Send-off: Writing Activities, Bookmarks, & Treat Bag Toppers</a></li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Classroom-Core" target="_blank">Visit our store</a> to have a look!Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-41507981033827816252013-07-01T12:21:00.000-07:002013-07-02T06:14:59.119-07:00Make organization fun with colorful labelsAll you really need to organize your classes, files, lesson plans, is a little focus and the right materials. And with adorable sticky labels and fillable borders to help you, the process can even be fun!<br />
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We've just released our third set of fillable labels and stationery. Like our <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Seasonal-Fillable-PDF-Labels-Borders-505647" target="_blank">seasonal set</a> and <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Safari-Zoo-Animal-Fillable-PDF-Labels-Borders-543580" target="_blank">safari animal set</a>, this <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Fillable-PDF-Labels-Stationery-749774" target="_blank">back-to-school set</a> comes with 12 colorful, original designs that you can fill in, print, save, and reuse again and again. Each set includes four sheets of small mailing labels that print on Avery 5160 pages, four sheets of 4" x 2" labels that print on Avery 5963 pages, and four fillable full page borders or stationery pages.<br />
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These cheerful, versatile packages are perfect for any time of year! <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Classroom-Core" target="_blank">Check out our store</a> for more info, or click on the images!<br />
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Stay tuned for more back-to-school products coming soon!<br />
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Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-81935950698842694482013-06-22T14:01:00.000-07:002013-06-22T20:24:18.249-07:00Get more out of Exit Slips: What the research tells us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Free-Exit-Slips-739477" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p5KwBtgXs-c/UcYQATTCfaI/AAAAAAAAAPY/9ZLsXAnMNMs/s1600/exit-slips-pic.jpg" height="187" width="400" /></a></div>
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Many of us use exit slips for formative assessment. According to Robert Marzano, there are four main categories of prompts that will help you get the most out of exit slips.<br />
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These prompts accomplish the following:<br />
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<li>Check for understanding</li>
<li>Encourage reflection</li>
<li>Check the use of instructional strategies</li>
<li>Request student feedback on teacher practices</li>
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We have assembled a set of FREE exit slips based on the first three prompts. While you may want to target additional feedback in your class, preparing your exit slips ahead of time can be a time-saver that will elicit solid feedback.<br />
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We have found that adding space for students to record their learning targets also encourages them to reflect on the focus of the lesson.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source: "The Many Uses of Exit Slips" by Robert Marzano in </i>Educational Leadership<i>, October 2012 (Vol. 70, #2, p. 80-81).</i></span><br />
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Download our <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Free-Exit-Slips-739477" target="_blank">FREE exit slips here</a>!Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-55469590446539573942013-05-20T13:44:00.003-07:002013-05-20T13:44:39.982-07:00Gear up for Summer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/End-of-Year-Send-off-Writing-Activities-Bookmarks-Treat-Bag-Toppers-688454" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UJHs-zRjPTM/UZqKiG02uoI/AAAAAAAAAOs/rCgsJT1qtKs/s1600/blog-intro2.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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The end of the school year is so close, we can almost smell the summer barbecues! As the school year winds down (and students' focus goes out the window), it's the perfect time to try one or all of the summer activities in our End-of-Year Summer Send-off kit. Students will have fun while getting in some last-minute writing practice as they create memorable keepsakes for themselves and their classmates. <br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/End-of-Year-Send-off-Writing-Activities-Bookmarks-Treat-Bag-Toppers-688454" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rwiKtqLjHOM/UZqH8SWtRNI/AAAAAAAAAOU/gHD8-zGdsLs/s1600/blog-sendoff.jpg" height="168" width="400" /></a></div>
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This set is full of fun end-of-the-year teaching activities, and everything features our original artwork and is included in both color and black-and-white. In the Summer Send-off postcard booklet, students write positive notes to each other and bind them in a commemorative book. In “Advice from the Pros,” students create a project for next year’s class using one of nine different topic/product choices, templates, and decorative paper final draft paper. We've also created six colorful bookmarks with literary summer quotes (these look great printed in black-and-white on colorful paper) and three treat bag topper templates that you can attach to sandwich bags and fill with goodies. As always, our products are CCSS-aligned. This product is best suited for grades 5-8 and takes one to three class periods to complete.<br />
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See more at our <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Classroom-Core" target="_blank">store</a>! Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-36843304888833028222013-05-05T07:03:00.001-07:002013-05-06T13:11:16.173-07:00Teacher Appreciation Day Sale!Thank you for being a wonderful, fabulous, top-notch teacher!<br />
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On May 7-8, we're having a 20% sale on EVERYTHING to celebrate YOU! This includes our newest product, <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/End-of-Year-Send-off-Writing-Activities-Bookmarks-Treat-Bag-Toppers" target="_blank">End-of-Year Summer Send-off</a>! Before you head off to summer break, stock up on colorful, creative classroom products. Everything is CCSS-aligned and features our own original artwork!<br />
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Use <b>PROMO CODE TAD13</b> for a total of 28% off!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Classroom-Core" target="_blank">Visit our store</a> to check out our products!Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-12886037019395614222013-04-30T12:11:00.001-07:002013-04-30T12:11:33.050-07:00Goodbye (for now), National Poetry Month!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Classroom-Core" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNXC5sKvuxw/UW774j-IMbI/AAAAAAAAAMs/aEdWjQxMSYA/s1600/balloon12.jpg" height="400" width="302" /></a></div>
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It's been a spectacular month, and we're sad to see it go, but the departure of National Poetry Month doesn't mean our love of poetry has to go with it!<br />
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Find out more about inspiring your students with poetry by clicking on some of these fantastic links:<br />
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<a href="http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/6" target="_blank">Academy of American Poets: For Educators</a><br />
Free poetry resources, curriculum, essays on teaching, tips for teaching, ideas<br />
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<a href="http://edsitement.neh.gov/subject/literature-language-arts" target="_blank">EDSITEment: The Best of the Humanities on the Web</a><br />
Literature and language arts lesson plans for grades K-12<br />
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<a href="http://www.826national.org/about/93/volunteers" target="_blank">826 National Teacher Support</a><br />
Publications about writing and teaching from 826 National<br />
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<a href="http://www.favoritepoem.org/lessonPlans.html" target="_blank">Favorite Poem Project</a><br />
Poetry lesson plans, K-12<br />
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<a href="http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=563" target="_blank">Folger Shakespeare Library Poetry in the Schools</a><br />
DC-area Poetry in the Schools program info <br />
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<a href="http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/#topic235" target="_blank">Library of Congress Poetry & Literature Lesson Plans</a><br />
Resources for grades 6-12<br />
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<a href="http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/bringing-poetry-to-the-classroom.html" target="_blank">National Education Association: Bringing Poetry to the Classroom</a><br />
Lessons, activities, and AV resources<br />
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<a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/articles" target="_blank">Poetry Foundation Articles for Teachers & Students</a><br />
Links for students and teaching ideas for instructors<br />
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<a href="http://www.poetryoutloud.org/teaching-resources/" target="_blank">Poetry Out Loud Teaching Resources</a><br />
Teacher resources for national student recitation contest Poetry Out Loud<br />
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<a href="http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/education/poetryclasshome/" target="_blank">Poetryclass</a><br />
Ideas and methods for teaching poetry<br />
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<a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/" target="_blank">ReadWriteThink</a><br />
K-12 reading and language arts classroom resources for educators and students<br />
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<a href="http://twcresources.org/" target="_blank">Teachers & Writers Collaborative</a><br />
Digital resources and lesson plans for teachers<br />
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<a href="http://www.webenglishteacher.com/poetry.html" target="_blank">Web English Teacher</a><br />
Links to activities and lesson plans related to specific types of poetry and poets<br />
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<a href="http://witsblog.org/category/education/" target="_blank">Writers in the Schools</a><br />
Educator resources blog from the Writers in the Schools (WITS) program<br />
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<a href="http://youthspeaks.org/" target="_blank">Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam</a><br />
Nonprofit teen spoken word organization based in San FranciscoClassroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-1615754704500697132013-04-23T11:14:00.000-07:002013-04-23T11:14:23.078-07:00Happy Birthday Shakespeare!Happy 449th to William Shakespeare! We hope you'll check out our <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeares-Birthday-Party-Task-Cards-Activities-to-Introduce-Shakespeare" target="_blank">birthday party activities</a> and <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Shakespeare-Cupcake-Wrap-Templates" target="_blank">free cupcake templates</a> for ideas on creating your own party for the Bard!<br />
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To celebrate today, we're taking a trip back in time with some Medieval and Elizabethan recipes: soda bread, cheese tarts, salmagundi, and rice pudding. Yum!<br />
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<i>(Clicking on the recipe will bring you to the original recipe source, where you can find even more interesting menu options.)</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.ugborough.com/history/Medieval%20and%20Elizabethan%20Recipes%20savoury.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iFRqhjYakaI/UXbOfFWg9pI/AAAAAAAAANM/yJiqmrzYvSc/s1600/recipes.jpg" height="400" width="327" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/elizabethan/fetch-recipe.php?rid=eliz-salmagundi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rm3dFG_ESj4/UXbOfNH9BqI/AAAAAAAAANY/A7Sabdxx2PA/s1600/recipes3.jpg" height="400" width="326" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.english-heritage.org.uk%2Fcontent%2Fimported-docs%2Fa-e%2Felizabethan-picnic-recipes.pdf&ei=hd5mUZfgAtKp4AO0ioDgBA&usg=AFQjCNGYZGMCBK9DF0hU-IxuVs71X8iV1g&sig2=8mCe5Wh4xie7Ci3FqpNzsg&bvm=bv.45107431,d.dmg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bPU9e4Wo6pg/UXbOfp7O8BI/AAAAAAAAANU/4Ql1oS_bBe0/s1600/recipes4.jpg" height="400" width="326" /></a></div>
<br />Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-68676744535915037612013-04-18T09:02:00.000-07:002013-04-18T09:04:00.871-07:00Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day!As part of National Poetry Month, poetry enthusiasts everywhere are celebrating Poem in Your Pocket Day today, April 18th!<br />
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Is your pocket still empty? Don't worry, here are some great links to get you started:<br />
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<a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5643" target="_blank">Click a pocket to download a poem!</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/poem/html/teachers/curriculum.shtml" target="_blank">Resources for teachers on PIYP Day</a><br />
<a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/calendar-activities/participate-poem-your-pocket-20720.html" target="_blank">Classroom Activities for PIYP Day</a><br />
<a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/22117" target="_blank">100 Poems to rip out and read!</a><br />
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We'd like to share this beautiful pocket-sized poem with you! It is a fragment from Sappho, a Greek poet who was born around 615 B.C.<br />
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<b> <span style="color: #666666;"> <i>from </i>Fragment 16</span></b></div>
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<b> </b><i>By Sappho, translated by Anne Carson</i><b> <br />
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Some men say an army of horse and some men say an army on foot</span><br />
<b> </b>and some men say an army of ships is the most beautiful thing<br />
<b> </b>on this black earth. But I say it is<br />
<b> </b>what you love.</div>
Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-16116262759290681202013-04-14T04:06:00.000-07:002013-04-14T04:06:14.642-07:00We're Having a SALE!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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From now through April 17, we're holding a 10%-off sale on all of our newest products!<br />
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Here's what the sale includes:<br />
<ul>
<li><span id="goog_1482784377"></span><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Simple-Compound-Sentences-40-Task-Cards-Plus-Grammar-Posters" target="_blank">Simple & Compound Sentences: 40 Task Cards Plus Grammar Posters</a><span id="goog_1482784378"></span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Compound-Complex-Sentences-40-Task-Cards-Plus-Grammar-Posters" target="_blank">Compound & Complex Sentences: 40 Task Cards Plus Grammar Posters</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeares-Birthday-Party-Task-Cards-Activities-to-Introduce-Shakespeare" target="_blank">Shakespeare's Birthday Party: Task Cards & Activities to Introduce Shakespeare</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeare-Background-Research-RAFT-Cards-Top-10" target="_blank">Shakespeare Background Research: RAFT Cards & Top 10</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeare-Intro-Set-Background-Research-Sonnets-Bundle" target="_blank">Shakespeare Intro Set: Background, Research, & Sonnets Bundle</a></li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Classroom-Core" target="_blank">Visit our store</a> to have a look!Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-76801629978465926352013-04-12T08:49:00.001-07:002013-04-12T08:50:15.525-07:00Fun with Shakespeare Research (Seriously!)Did you know that Shakespeare is considered to have invented more than 500 words, including <i>amazement</i>, <i>flowery</i>, and <i>countless</i>?*<br />
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Did you know Shakespeare's shortest play is <i>The Comedy of Errors</i>, with 1,787 lines? And that his longest play is <i>Hamlet</i>, with 4,042 lines?*<br />
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Did you know that in Shakespeare's time, all the female roles in his plays were played by men or boys?*<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeare-Background-Research-RAFT-Cards-Top-10" target="_blank" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IpdR1R7J4IA/UWgsIxoFs8I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/bI24cP2iLzE/s1600/shakesquestionweb.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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You probably already knew this, but researching Shakespeare can be fun! In our newest activity, students enjoy researching the time period and background of Shakespeare as they assume various roles and tasks outlined by the RAFT cards. RAFT (Role, Audience, Format, Task) is a differentiated writing strategy that helps students understand their role as writers for specific audiences (not just for their teachers!). <br />
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This CCSS-aligned product includes a poster, 10 RAFT cards with assigned roles (plus 2 blank cards), directions, handouts, checklists, and answer guides!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeare-Background-Research-RAFT-Cards-Top-10" target="_blank" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aknYFdWEpg0/UWgsPO-s0PI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/dq6Sb9F4ChE/s1600/blog-raft.jpg" height="168" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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BONUS! We also now offer a special bundle! Now you can get all of our <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeare-Intro-Set-Background-Research-Sonnets-Bundle" target="_blank">introductory Shakespeare products</a> at a $3.00 discount<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span>that includes our <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeares-Birthday-Party-Task-Cards-Activities-to-Introduce-Shakespeare" target="_blank">Shakespeare's Birthday Party Activities</a>, <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeare-Background-Research-RAFT-Cards-Top-10" target="_blank">Research RAFT Cards</a>, <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sonnets-Critique-Create-Lesson-Plan-Student-Handouts" target="_blank">Sonnets Lesson Plan</a>, and <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Iambic-Pentameter-20-x-30-Poster" target="_blank">Iambic Pentameter Poster</a>!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeare-Intro-Set-Background-Research-Sonnets-Bundle" target="_blank" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-98dmTaL-MNk/UWgsXpibtfI/AAAAAAAAAKE/dBCX7AnJV78/s1600/blog-intro-set.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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*Source for Shakespeare facts: <a href="http://www.folger.edu/Content/Discover-Shakespeare/Shakespeare-FAQs.cfm" target="_blank">The Folger Shakespeare Library</a><br />
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Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-25316680559502791972013-04-09T05:56:00.001-07:002013-07-01T10:59:41.911-07:00We LOVE to READ the SONnets BY the BARD!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Iambic-Pentameter-20-x-30-Poster" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SD19E_YbwCk/UWNJonVTVoI/AAAAAAAAAJU/ZmMuLDgJ9MA/s1600/blog-iambic-goat.jpg" height="168" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>The <b>HAP</b>py <b>GOATS</b> are <b>GRAZ</b>ing <b>IN</b> the <b>GRASS</b>.</i><br />
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<i>They <b>LIKE</b> to <b>EAT</b> the <b>FLO</b>wers <b>AND</b> the <b>HAY</b>.</i><br />
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<i>And <b>AF</b>ter <b>THAT</b> they'll <b>READ</b> a <b>SHAKE</b>speare <b>PLAY</b>!</i><br />
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We could speak in iambic pentameter all day, but we'll let these charming goats do the talking (bleating?) for us. This poster serves as an excellent visual aid to help students understand the rhythm of iambic pentameter. It's available as a high-resolution <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Iambic-Pentameter-20-x-30-Poster" target="_blank">20" x 30" digital download</a>, and there is also a mini version (8.5" x 11") that comes free with our <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sonnets-Critique-Create-Lesson-Plan-Student-Handouts" target="_blank">Sonnet Lesson Plan</a>. If you happen to have access to an enormous printer, then hey, that's great! Otherwise, you can do what we did and send the file to <a href="http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/pdpposters/type=poster/?tab=photo_posters_Single" target="_blank">Walgreens</a> (or <a href="http://www.fedex.com/us/office/poster-printing.html" target="_blank">Kinkos</a>, or any other online printing service).<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Iambic-Pentameter-20-x-30-Poster" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AhyxdzkYpWo/UWNL8OU34AI/AAAAAAAAAJc/39DwE-lM0W4/s1600/Iambic-poster-blog.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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As it turns out, behinds are a BIG HIT with the middle school crowd. The poster we put up created such a buzz that another class took a "field trip" down the hall just to marvel at the goat butt. We think Shakespeare would be proud. <br />
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<i>FYI, this poster is also available as a hard copy print in several sizes from <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/classroomcore" target="_blank">Zazzle</a>!</i>Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-66679771637781405942013-04-07T04:31:00.000-07:002013-04-11T08:14:50.971-07:00"What need I fear of thee?": Teaching Shakespeare's Sonnets<div style="text-align: left;">
Spoiler Alert: Shakespeare is not as scary as your students might think. </div>
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Actually, we don't find him very scary at all. (Well, maybe<i> </i>some of his tragedies qualify as scary...)</div>
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Teaching Shakespeare shouldn't have to be intimidating either; one great method of introducing his work to your students is to start with one of his 154 sonnets. Read one of our favorites here:</div>
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<b> <span style="color: #666666;"> Sonnet 18</span></b></div>
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<b> </b><i>By William Shakespeare</i><b> <br />
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? </span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Thou art more lovely and more temperate:</span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,</span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">And summer's lease hath all too short a date: </span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,</span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; </span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">And every fair from fair sometime declines,</span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;</span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">But thy eternal summer shall not fade</span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;</span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,</span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">When in eternal lines to time thou growest: </span></div>
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<b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> </span><b> </b><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> So long lives this and this gives life to thee. </span></div>
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Our CCSS-aligned <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sonnets-Critique-Create-Lesson-Plan-Student-Handouts" target="_blank">Sonnets Lesson Plan</a> includes activities, a poster, and instructions, and it uses "Sonnet 18" as a starting point. From there, students learn about the structure, form, and meaning of this sonnet. They stomp and shout the syllables of iambic pentameter, and then they practice using extended metaphors, rhythm, and argumentation. Step-by-step plans take five or six days, and students will emerge unscathed, having analyzed a sonnet and written one of their own!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sonnets-Critique-Create-Lesson-Plan-Student-Handouts" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3IM8h_3ihx4/UV80wqb1qII/AAAAAAAAAIk/kyQYw-vJfyY/s1600/blog-sonnet.jpg" height="167" style="border: none;" width="400" /></a><br />
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We agree that Old English may sometimes prove challenging, but the words <i>quatrain</i>, <i>couplet</i>, and <i>volta </i>should be part of any young poet's vocabulary. <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sonnets-Critique-Create-Lesson-Plan-Student-Handouts" target="_blank">Check out our store</a> for more details.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1391088417994023481" name="176"></a>Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-63443873857625863692013-04-03T18:00:00.003-07:002013-04-11T08:15:04.704-07:00Celebrate Shakespeare's Birthday (on any day)!William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, and he died on the same day in 1616. We think that if Shakespeare were here to celebrate his 449th birthday, he would absolutely love the party we cooked up in his honor.<br />
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Our <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeares-Birthday-Party-Task-Cards-Activities-to-Introduce-Shakespeare" target="_blank">Shakespeare's Birthday Party</a> set features a colorful poster and 32 task cards featuring fun trivia and lines from Shakespeare's plays. It also includes a "modernize Shakespeare" activity, where students update a line drawing of Shakespeare by cutting, gluing, drawing, and otherwise transforming to bring his image into the 21st century. (Middle school students have a ton of fun equipping Shakespeare with Kindles, iPods, and Kanye glasses.) The party is a great way to kick off a Shakespeare unit or to introduce him to apprehensive students!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeares-Birthday-Party-Task-Cards-Activities-to-Introduce-Shakespeare" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvXvl9u9XeQ/UVzCkQMEgTI/AAAAAAAAAHY/7kZc69uN9B0/s1600/blog-bday.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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The set also includes 12 printable cupcake wrapper templates (both in color and in black-and-white). The wraps feature our own original artwork of a coy little Shakespearean cat and dog donning their Elizabethan best, and quotes from Shakespeare plays. Some of the quotes we included are these:<br />
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"If music be the food of love, play on." (<i>Twelfth Night</i>)<br />
"Prepare for mirth, for mirth becomes a feast." (<i>Pericles, Prince of Tyre</i>)<br />
"Honey, and milk, and sugar; there is three." (<i>Love's Labours Lost</i>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeares-Birthday-Party-Task-Cards-Activities-to-Introduce-Shakespeare" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RMl32rnvjIQ/UVzEx-8fpdI/AAAAAAAAAHg/IkrHyvkVDuU/s1600/blog-cupcake.jpg" height="168" width="400" /></a></div>
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Look at how adorable the cupcakes turned out! The wraps in the picture below were printed in black-and-white on colored paper.<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeares-Birthday-Party-Task-Cards-Activities-to-Introduce-Shakespeare" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ipRLHdJAjM/UVzIXtUfx0I/AAAAAAAAAIA/J2tQiLpxIrc/s1600/cupcakenew.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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And these were printed in color. If you happen to own a fancy pair of scissors (like the ones that can cut in zigzags or waves), they would probably add an excellent touch.<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeares-Birthday-Party-Task-Cards-Activities-to-Introduce-Shakespeare" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ifzSoMHX-U/UVzG40fG2bI/AAAAAAAAAH0/MdvS5hPY32k/s1600/cupcake1-2.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yum! Educational <i>and </i>delicious! Olive the cat was quite fond of them too. <br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shakespeares-Birthday-Party-Task-Cards-Activities-to-Introduce-Shakespeare" imageanchor="1" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vNFBvDwAkHA/UVzIuaZ_mDI/AAAAAAAAAIE/h950CGdQbgE/s320/olive.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a><br />
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You can download four of the <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Shakespeare-Cupcake-Wrap-Templates" target="_blank">cupcake templates for free here</a>!Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-8442354056184083192013-04-01T08:55:00.000-07:002013-04-11T08:15:21.966-07:00April is National Poetry Month!March comes in like a lion and out like a... poet? Maybe we don't have that quite right, but we do know one thing: we couldn't be more excited about this year's National Poetry Month!<br />
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As advocates of writing and reading, we encourage you to check out the <a href="http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41" target="blank">Academy of American Poets</a> website this month for some great ideas to bring poetry into your classroom. If you teach grades 7-10, take a look at these <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/23352" target="blank">free lesson plans that are aligned to common core</a>. And while you're at it, sign up for a <a href="http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/98" target="blank">gorgeous free poster</a> (while supplies last) to hang at your school.<br />
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We plan on celebrating this month with a nod to a true master of verse: William Shakespeare. Stay tuned for featured products, facts, and freebies that center around the Great Bard!<br />
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But for now, we'll leave you with a poem to celebrate the season. Enjoy William Wordsworth's famous ballad, "Lines Written in Early Spring" (1798):<br />
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<b> </b><b>Lines Written in Early Spring</b></div>
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<b> </b><i>by William Wordsworth</i> </div>
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<b> </b>I heard a thousand blended notes,</div>
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<b> </b>While in a grove I sate reclined,</div>
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<b> </b>In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts</div>
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<b> </b>Bring sad thoughts to the mind.</div>
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</i> <b> </b>To her fair works did nature link</div>
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<b> </b>The human soul that through me ran;</div>
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<b> </b>And much it grieved my heart to think</div>
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<b> </b>What man has made of man.</div>
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<b> </b>Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,</div>
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<b> </b>The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;</div>
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<b> </b>And 'tis my faith that every flower</div>
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<b> </b>Enjoys the air it breathes.</div>
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<b> </b>The birds around me hopped and played:</div>
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<b> </b>Their thoughts I cannot measure:—</div>
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<b> </b>But the least motion which they made,</div>
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<b> </b>It seemed a thrill of pleasure.</div>
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<b> </b>The budding twigs spread out their fan,</div>
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<b> </b>To catch the breezy air;</div>
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<b> </b>And I must think, do all I can,</div>
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<b> </b>That there was pleasure there.</div>
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<b> </b>If this belief from heaven be sent,</div>
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<b> </b>If such be Nature's holy plan,</div>
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<b> </b>Have I not reason to lament</div>
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<b> </b>What man has made of man?</div>
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<br />Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-28260576674881431452013-03-30T19:14:00.000-07:002013-04-01T09:00:08.199-07:00Type. Print. Post: Customize learning targets for your classroomLearning targets are great, but they can also quickly become unwieldy. Our originally designed fillable PDF learning targets help make the process of filling out, saving, posting, and managing your targets a breeze. You can type (or hand write, if the spirit moves you) in the spaces provided, save as often as you like, and file your targets for when you need them most.<br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Learning-Target-Fillable-PDF-Posters" target="blank"><br />
Check it out!</a> The set comes in varying sizes and colors, 16 pages total. Your learning targets will be exceptionally organized and oh-so-coordinated. There are four different colors and patterns using the templates you see here.<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Learning-Target-Fillable-PDF-Posters" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sjvvQh_sM0/UVeEm3FmFpI/AAAAAAAAAGk/pn1rfsYbTe8/s1600/targetblog-sm.jpg" height="165" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here's one idea for hanging them in your classroom! The picture below shows file folders taped together and the learning targets displayed inside of plastic sleeves:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i7cnPxnsaYA/UVeHNXFrvVI/AAAAAAAAAGs/c7yrv9SKfSQ/s1600/learning-targets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i7cnPxnsaYA/UVeHNXFrvVI/AAAAAAAAAGs/c7yrv9SKfSQ/s1600/learning-targets.jpg" height="400" width="296" /></a></div>
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<br />Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391088417994023481.post-79411442243175509012013-03-28T15:52:00.004-07:002013-03-30T19:20:56.667-07:00Our inaugural blog post (it comes with free labels!)Ahhh... There's nothing like cracking open a brand-new blog and staring at the blank white of the page! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We thought it would be fun to start this blog off by linking to the first free product we created. These great mailing labels come to you in fillable PDF format, which means you can customize them to say whatever you'd like and save the template again and again! The template fits Avery 5160 labels, which are available pretty much everywhere that labels are sold. Use them for addressing thank-you cards, labeling files, and whatever else you can think of. (After all, they're <i>free</i>)!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Fillable-PDF-Mailing-Labels" target="_blank">Get your free mailing labels here!</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Fillable-PDF-Mailing-Labels" target="blank" target="blank" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQ7j8VciZJI/UVSkHy89O3I/AAAAAAAAAC8/tqK6C801V9o/s320/sample+files+square.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>Classroom Corehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07471365846231508926noreply@blogger.com