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A Sharper Pencil

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United States - New York - New York

4.9

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Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. -Nora Ephron

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Poetry Fair Guide: Instructions,...

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Resume-Writing: Handouts, Models,...

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Macbeth Pre-reading/Frontloading, Line Tossing...

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Intro to Shakespeare's Language (*Editable...

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Career Resume Writing Handouts, Mini-Lessons, Rubrics (Editable Word .docx!)

By A Sharper Pencil

*Updated and Expanded Google Slides Version Now Available!*Teach resume writing with ease. This series of handouts and mini-lessons will teach students how to write a resume, but also teach writer's craft and grammar with a real-life product.

Subjects:

Career and Technical Education, Life Skills, Writing

Grades:

9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, Higher Education, Adult Education

Types:

Worksheets, Handouts, Lesson

$5.00

Digital Download DOC (0.07 MB)

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ELA/Regents Test Prep: Literary Passages, Multiple Choice, Writing

By A Sharper Pencil

Give your students MORE practice for the NYS Regents exam or any standardized literary exam with literary passages, multiple choice, and short answer questions. - two literary passages (including line numbers) that are RIGOROUS texts of literary

Subjects:

English Language Arts, ELA Test Prep, Literature

Grades:

9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Worksheets, Assessment

$3.00

Digital Download PDF (0.11 MB)

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AP Literature Poetry Multiple Choice Atwood "Song of the Worms (Editable .gdoc)

By A Sharper Pencil

Meaningful, contextualized AP Lit Multiple Choice Practice with a rich, readable Margaret Atwood poem—"Song of the Worms." The poem discusses the plight of oppressed or invisible groups of people dramatized through a "song" relayed by worms

Subjects:

ELA Test Prep, Literature, Poetry

Grades:

11^th, 12^th

Types:

Assessment, Lesson

CCSS:

RL.11-12.1, RL.11-12.2, RL.11-12.3, RL.11-12.4, RL.11-12.5, RL.11-12.10

$3.00

Online Resource
Google Docs™

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The Book Thief Background/Context Notes

By A Sharper Pencil

A succinct two-page handout to give students basic background knowledge on The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Includes short sections on the Grim Reaper, Nazis, World War II, Munich and Kristallnacht. Included is an image of The Grim Reaper and maps of

Subjects:

Reading, Social Studies - History, Literature

Grades:

7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Handouts, Outlines

$2.00

Digital Download DOC (0.15 MB)

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Washington Irving Pop Quizzes (Rip Van Winkle/Sleepy Hollow)

By A Sharper Pencil

Contents:- 3 "Rip Van Winkle" quizzes with 10 questions each (2 true/false and 1 short answer quiz) AND answer keys- 3 "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" quizzes with 10 questions each (2 true/false and 1 short answer) AND answer keys- basic ms word

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Reading, Short Stories

Grades:

7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Assessment

$5.00

Digital Download DOC (0.04 MB)

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Intro to Shakespeare's Language (*Editable Google Slides!*)

By A Sharper Pencil

Scaffold Shakespearean understanding.FOUR targeted lessons to introduce facets of Shakespeare's language in a friendly London theme:*2nd person familiar (thou, thee, thy, thine and related verb inflections)*Here, There, and Where in Shakespeare

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Drama, Literature

Grades:

7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Lesson

$10.00

Online Resource
Google Slides™

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Monster (Myers) Unit Vocabulary/Quiz/Project

By A Sharper Pencil

This Resource Document for Monster by Walter Dean Myers includes: - vocabulary list with definitions (ready for duplication/distribution) - vocabulary word search and cross word puzzle - vocabulary quiz/test (TWO VERSIONS) - final project

Subjects:

Reading, Vocabulary, Writing

Grades:

7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th

Types:

Unit Plans, Activities

$1.99

Digital Download DOC (0.09 MB)

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Macbeth Act 2, Scene 3 Duncan's Death News Summary (*Editable Google Slides*)

By A Sharper Pencil

We know it’s important for readers to summarize and develop understanding of characterization as they read, but how many boring summaries can a teacher assign–or read?! Plus, the summaries are out there ,already, in SparkNotes and other

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Literature, Close Reading

Grades:

9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Handouts

$3.00

Online Resource
Google Slides™

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Resume-Writing: Handouts, Models, Mini-Lessons, Rubric (Editable Slides!)

By A Sharper Pencil

Teach resume writing with ease. This series of *16* Google Slides includes handouts and mini-lessons will teach students how to write a resume, but also teach writer's craft and grammar with a real-life product.Includes pages covering...Inferring

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Career and Technical Education, Writing

Grades:

9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, Higher Education, Adult Education

Types:

Handouts, Assessment, Lesson

CCSS:

W.9-10.4, W.9-10.5, W.11-12.4, W.11-12.5, CCRA.W.4, CCRA.W.5

$5.00

Online Resource
Google Slides™

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King Lear Vocabulary Packet: Definitions, Exercises, Key (Folger Ed.)

By A Sharper Pencil

Support your students' reading of King Lear with this packet. Includes:- 35 rich words (great SAT words!) that appear in King Lear and are still used today with definitions, parts of speech and the location in the Folger Library Edition. Words are

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Vocabulary, Literature

Grades:

9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Worksheets, Thematic Unit Plans, Activities

CCSS:

RL.11-12.4, L.11-12.4

$3.00

Digital Download DOCX (0.50 MB)

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Regents Part 1 Prep: Poetry/Nonfiction (*Editable Google Docs*)

By A Sharper Pencil

Two sets of questions: one on William Stafford's "Traveling through the Dark" and one on an article on ambition. NOTE: Texts are not included in the handouts, as these are copyrighted material. I have included links for you to access them.

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Reading, ELA Test Prep

Grades:

10^th, 11^th

Types:

Handouts

$5.00

Online Resource
Google Docs™

ADD TO CART

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Adjectives: Interactive PowerPoint with Quizzes/Review

By A Sharper Pencil

This 20-slide PowerPoint covers adjectives in an INTERACTIVE way. Quizzes and fill-ins are embedded within the presentation and can be completed verbally, on a smartboard or in students' notebooks. This keeps the class moving.There are sentences

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing

Grades:

6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

PowerPoint Presentations, Activities, Interactive Whiteboard

$2.00

Digital Download PPT (0.09 MB)

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Macbeth Act 5 "Tomorrow" Analysis/Short Writing (Editable MS Word .docx!)

By A Sharper Pencil

Check out the expanded version in Google Slides!- Act 5 "Tomorrow" speech device scavenger hunt - WITH KEY- Act 5 "Tomorrow" speech paragraph writing- Aligns with NYS Regents Questions and AP Language and Composition - rhetorical analysis- Macbeth

Subjects:

English Language Arts, ELA Test Prep, Literature

Grades:

8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Assessment, Lesson

$3.00

Digital Download DOC (0.05 MB)

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Catcher in the Rye Song Study with "I Am A Rock"

By A Sharper Pencil

Analyze theme and character in Catcher in the Rye with the Simon and Garfunkel classic "I Am A Rock" and encourage students to reflect and write their own self metaphor song. Includes lesson, lyrics to the song and a rubric for students'

Subjects:

Creative Writing, Reading, Literature

Grades:

8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Assessment, Lesson

$1.00

Digital Download DOC (0.04 MB)

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Literature Circle/Book Group Handouts, Mini-Lessons, and Forms

By A Sharper Pencil

Implement Literature Circles or Book Groups into your class quickly and easily! Use these handouts, mini-lessons, and forms. 19 pages. Includes: *role handouts *book pass sheets (for student book preferences) *self-reflection *mini-lessons for

Subjects:

Reading, Literature

Grades:

9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Lesson

$3.00

Digital Download DOC (0.12 MB)

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Search for Self/Biographical Poem Lessons (*Editable Google Docs*)

By A Sharper Pencil

Refresh your search for self unit with a reading and writing lesson centered on Liesl Mueller's "Curriculum Vitae." We all love "Where I'm From" and bio-poems, but for more advanced students or for those who have already done these identity poems,

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Creative Writing, Poetry

Grades:

9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Rubrics, Lesson

$5.00

Online Resource
Google Docs™

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

Poetry Activities/Stations for Poem in your Pocket Day

By A Sharper Pencil

Allow students to explore poetry through a variety of hands-on activities and stations. Guidelines for all activities are attached. This is a great series of activities for Poem in your Pocket Day in April! Work with tone, personification, found

Subjects:

Creative Writing, Reading, Literature

Grades:

6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Lesson, Centers

$3.00

Digital Download DOC (0.04 MB)

ADD TO CART

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Teaching Shakespeare or Novels with Films or Movies (EDITABLE GOOGLE DOCS!)

By A Sharper Pencil

Don't just show a movie, view a film adaptation. Heighten your students' understanding of how media can be used to tell a story, how a text can be interpreted, and keep them engaged throughout a unit. Intersperse clips from film adaptations

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Film, Literature

Grades:

7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, Higher Education, Homeschool

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Lesson

$5.00

Online Resource
Google Slides™

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Jeannette Walls' Glass Castle Teacher Resource/Activities

By A Sharper Pencil

All activities/questions used with success in my 9th grade classes! Contents: *Genre Study Activities *Do Now/Personal Response Questions (with page references and quotations) *Anticipation Guide (as questions and in handout form ready for

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Reading, Literature

Grades:

8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Lesson

$4.00

Digital Download DOC (0.08 MB)

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The Great Gatsby Radio Play Project

By A Sharper Pencil

Help students put on a new hat and explore the text of the Great Gatsby creatively, using a period genre. This resources includes *Full project description (guidelines, requirements and scenes for groups)*A clear rubric for performance*A grid for

Subjects:

Reading, Literature, Writing

Grades:

9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Projects, Activities

CCSS:

RL.11-12.1, RL.11-12.3, W.11-12.3, W.11-12.3b, SL.11-12.1

FREE

Digital Download DOCX (0.81 MB)

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE

A public school graduate myself, I've spent my entire career teaching public high school in NYC, in courses ranging from intensive reading for struggling readers to honors and AP, freshman to seniors. I have taught students entering high school well below grade level, to students gifted in arts and academics.

MY TEACHING STYLE

I genuinely enjoy my students and their individuality and consider that in the way that I plan and teach. The relationships and feedback of my students informs my practice. My teaching style is progressive, but structured. I am well-versed in the best practices and a constant learner, adapting materials and methods to integrate them into my classroom.

HONORS/AWARDS/SHINING TEACHER MOMENT

National Board Certification, earned 2009; Academy for Teachers, Summer Scholarship to Breadloaf, 2018; College Summit, NYC Teacher of the Year, 2007

MY OWN EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

MA, Teachers College, Columbia University; BA, Williams College, MA

ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

I read, I write, I sing, I run, I knit, I bake, and I love living in NYC.