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The Novel Nerd

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United States - Iowa - Cedar rapids

4.9

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"Differences of habit and language are nothing if our aims are identical and our hearts are open." -- Albus Dumbledore

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MY FEATURED ITEMS

An Engaging Public Speaking Unit...

$9.25

How to Write a Research Paper in 10 Steps - w/...

$4.25

English Language Arts Interactive Journal...

$10.00

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet *UNIT BUNDLE*...

$17.50

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Fun SAT/ACT Vocabulary Worksheets - Test Prep Activities and Printables

By The Novel Nerd

Fun SAT/ACT vocabulary worksheets to supplement your teaching! This product focuses on 250 frequently used SAT/ACT words to help students understand questions asked on the SAT or ACT tests. When you use those words in your speech, ask students to

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Vocabulary, ELA Test Prep

Grades:

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

Types:

Worksheets, Flash Cards

$7.25

$6.25

Digital Download PDF (4.27 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" -- Teaching Annotations and Irony

By The Novel Nerd

This two-day lesson plan invites students into the world of a wife, who has just experienced the loss of her husband. During the first day, students learn how to annotate a story, highlighting important information and employing a variety of reading

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Reading, Short Stories

Grades:

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

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Lesson

$3.00

Digital Download PDF (0.34 MB)

ADD TO CART

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An Engaging Public Speaking Unit (Differentiated, Common Core Aligned)

By The Novel Nerd

An engaging way to encourage young thespians! This four-week unit begins as low-risk by including activities that give students total ownership of their topics. As students gain confidence in their public speaking abilities, lessons intensify to

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Other (ELA), Oral Communication

Grades:

5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th

Types:

Activities, Handouts

$9.25

Digital Download PDF (1.09 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

180 Language Arts Bell-Ringers -- Writing, Critical Thinking, and More!

By The Novel Nerd

This product contains 180 bell-ringers for Language Arts, with thirty different types of activities. Those activities range from SAT-vocabulary-based crosswords and madlibs, analyzing and creating the end of poems, responding to pictures, YouTube

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Creative Writing, Other (ELA)

Grades:

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

Types:

Activities, Games

$5.25

Digital Download PDF (3.25 MB)

ADD TO CART

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Shakespeare's The Tempest: 4-Week Unit w/ Final Exam

By The Novel Nerd

This four-week unit dives into the themes and characterizations of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Students analyze gender, race, and literacy as power as they read through the play in partners, small groups, and as a whole class. They also learn how to

Subjects:

Literature, Reading Strategies, Informational Text

Grades:

10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Assessment

$9.75

Digital Download PDF (1.37 MB)

ADD TO CART

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The Scarlet Ibis -- Teaching Foreshadow, Symbolism, and Predictions

By The Novel Nerd

This Common-Core Aligned, three-day lesson over "The Scarlet Ibis" incorporates writing, music, and common cultural symbols into your classroom. Each day is scripted and includes common-core standards, essential questions, success criteria, and any

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Writing, Reading Strategies

Grades:

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

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Assessment

$3.00

Digital Download PDF (0.17 MB)

ADD TO CART

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How to Write a Research Paper in 10 Steps - w/ Differentiated Handouts & Visuals

By The Novel Nerd

Research papers can be pretty intimidating, which is why it is important to break them down in your secondary classrooms! Use these detailed, step-by-step instructions to helps your students understand and succeed with your research assignments.

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Social Studies - History, Writing-Essays

Grades:

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

Types:

Research, Unit Plans, Handouts

$4.25

Digital Download PDF (0.46 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

Media Literacy Unit - Analyzing and Creating a Magazine, with Writing Lessons

By The Novel Nerd

This three-week unit, geared toward junior high and high school students, focuses on the components of print media. Every day, students will have a different "daily media study," which could be recent magazine articles or advertisements, billboard

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Family Consumer Sciences, Writing

Grades:

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

Types:

Cultural Activities

$4.50

Digital Download PDF (0.96 MB)

ADD TO CART

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The Seven Elements of Culture PowerPoint -- 18 Slides

By The Novel Nerd

This PowerPoint guides your students through the seven different elements of culture. With definitions, examples, and explanations of what those different elements affect, students gain a broader knowledge of the different components of a

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Social Studies - History, World Languages

Grades:

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

Types:

PowerPoint Presentations, Activities, Cultural Activities

$3.00

Digital Download PPTX (1.05 MB)

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Creative Nonfiction Writing Unit -- Common Core, Journaling, Portfolio

By The Novel Nerd

This 9-week Creative Nonfiction writing unit is geared toward the upper levels of high school. I derived this unit from my own experience in the University of Iowa's prestigious writing courses. All the materials you would need to teach this unit

Subjects:

Creative Writing, Reading, Short Stories

Grades:

10^th, 11^th, 12^th, Higher Education, Homeschool

Types:

Unit Plans

$3.50

Digital Download PDF (0.44 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

Beowulf: 4 Scripted Prereading Activities w/ Hand Outs and Optional Assignments

By The Novel Nerd

This 21-page document includes multiple pre-reading activities you can use to introduce your students to the epic, Beowulf. The different activities involve individual, partner, or small group work that build on each other; however, it is not

Subjects:

Creative Writing, Literature, Reading Strategies

Grades:

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

Types:

Activities, Cultural Activities

$3.00

Digital Download PDF (0.44 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

The History of Storytelling: 51 Slides, World Cultures, Intro to Mythology

By The Novel Nerd

This 51-slide PowerPoint discusses the history, evolution, and influences of storytelling around the world. It covers various topics, such as the forms and purposes of storytelling, the various aspects of a society that storytelling influences, and

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Social Studies - History, Arts & Music

Grades:

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

Types:

PowerPoint Presentations, Activities, Cultural Activities

$4.25

Digital Download PDF (0.33 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

The Characteristics of an Epic Hero -- Beowulf, The Odyssey, and More

By The Novel Nerd

This three-page document outlines the three most important characteristics of an Epic Hero. This can be applied to ANY epic tale, as they represent ALL epic heroes. Looking for a Beowulf unit? Check out the link below! Beowulf: Unit

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Literature, Poetry

Grades:

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

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Cultural Activities

$0.99

Digital Download PDF (0.18 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

Public Speaking Rubric and Scoring Sheet for Junior High & High School Students

By The Novel Nerd

This two-page document for the public speaking teacher includes a comprehensive rubric, written in engaging and easy-to-understand language, as well as a scoring sheet for teachers to use to make grading speeches go smoothly. Room for teacher

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Social Studies - History, World Languages

Grades:

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

Types:

Handouts, Assessment

$0.99

Digital Download PDF (0.12 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

Poe's "Fall of the House of Usher" {Imagery,Symbolism, Suspense, Interpretation}

By The Novel Nerd

This week long lesson plan dives headfirst into the erratic world of a narrator and follows him as he visits an old friend, who is even more erratic. Throughout the week, students learn to appreciate the significance of imagery, recognize symbols in

Subjects:

Creative Writing, Short Stories, Reading Strategies

Grades:

10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Graphic Organizers

$3.75

Digital Download PDF (0.36 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

10 Minilessons to Strengthen Your Students' Writing (Jr/High School)

By The Novel Nerd

These highly interactive minilessons are geared toward improving many forms of writing--from creative to research to poetry. They provide scaffolding to help a variety of learners feel successful in your classroom. **Many of the areas I focus on are

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Creative Writing, Writing-Expository

Grades:

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

Types:

Handouts, Lesson

$5.25

Digital Download PDF (0.55 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

120 SAT Vocabulary Bell Ringers

By The Novel Nerd

This 42 page document includes 120 different prompts for 120 SAT vocabulary words. You can use them as bell ringers, quizzes, or reviews.

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Vocabulary, Writing

Grades:

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

Types:

Activities

$4.00

Digital Download PDF (0.30 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

Poe's "A Tell-Tale Heart" -- Teaching Unreliable Narrator, Symbolism

By The Novel Nerd

This two-day lesson plan dives headfirst into the erratic world of a narrator, who claims he is not a madman. Throughout the first day of the lesson, you help your students discover that Poe's narrator may not be reliable after all, while making

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Reading, Short Stories

Grades:

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

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Scripts

$3.00

Digital Download PDF (0.32 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

Writing the Power Paragraph {Common-Core Aligned -- Differentiated}

By The Novel Nerd

This week-long unit breaks down how to write an impressive power paragraph. It is easily adaptable and can be used on its own or to supplement your writing unit. This product includes: **A script for all five days **Graphic organizer -- both blank

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Grammar, Writing

Grades:

5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th

Types:

Activities, Graphic Organizers, Lesson

$3.50

Digital Download PDF (0.55 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

Middle Ages Literature: King Arthur lit. circles & Lais of Marie de France

By The Novel Nerd

Invite your students into the Middle Ages with this three-week unit! Texts that are used in this unit include: -- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, edited and translated by James Winny -- The Alliterative Morte Arthure, translated by Valerie

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Writing-Expository, Literature

Grades:

10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

Literature Circles, Cultural Activities, Lesson

$6.25

Digital Download PDF (0.63 MB)

ADD TO CART

WISH LIST

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE

I have worked with secondary students for the past nine years and have loved every minute of it. Prior to teaching, I worked at a daycare, where I learned the importance (and sometimes necessity) of adding entertainment value to learning. This drives a lot of my teaching decisions. ~~All of the writing lessons I create are informed by or derived from my experience taking the University of Iowa's prestigious writing courses. ~~ I also have experience learning and teaching in a TILE classroom. My current focus is shaping my curriculum to better take advantage of this technology-driven setting. ~~Courses I have taught include: ***AP Language & Composition ***Advanced Media Literacy ***American Literature ***Creative Writing ***English 9, 10, 11, and 12 ***Theater & Advanced Theater ***World Literature ~~Courses I have designed and taught: ***Hear My Voice! (a study of various forms of social commentary) ***Lies My Teacher Told Me (a reexamination of history from the minority perspective) ~~Courses I have co-taught: ***Media Literacy ***Spanish I ~~I formerly taught at Sylvan Learning Center, where I taught: ***Beginning Math ***Beginning Reading ***Academic Writing ***College Writing ***SAT/ACT Prep (in reading and writing)

MY TEACHING STYLE

*I push for differentiation in my classroom *The Common Core informs all of my lessons *I am great entertainer so my students in the back don't catch any ZZZ's! (This frequently leads to rolled eyes and poorly-hidden smiles) *I am not afraid to take risks *I try to make every activity authentic and relevant to my students

HONORS/AWARDS/SHINING TEACHER MOMENT

***University of Iowa Old Gold Scholar ***University of Iowa Dean's List ***Student Speaker at Teacher Convocation Ceremony ***Sylvan Star Teacher ***Innovative Development in Education Award winner

MY OWN EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

I received by Bachelor's Degree from the University of Iowa in December, 2012. Major: English & Secondary Education Minor: Spanish I received my Master's Degree and Reading Endorsement from Morningside University in 2016.

ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

I currently reside in Cedar Rapids with my husband, three young children, and two cats.

GRADES

PreK, Kindergarten, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, Higher Education, Homeschool, Not Grade Specific

SUBJECTS

English Language Arts, Balanced Literacy, Creative Writing, Writing-Expository, Reading, Grammar, Spelling, Vocabulary, Specialty, Math, Science, Social Studies, U.S. History, World History, World Languages, Arts & Music, Graphic Arts, Career and Technical Education, Other (Specialty), ELA Test Prep, Other (ELA), Life Skills, For All Subjects, Literature, Classroom Management, Business, Psychology, Family Consumer Sciences, Study Skills, Problem Solving, Short Stories, Writing, Oral Communication, Reading Strategies, Writing-Essays, Poetry, For All Subjects, Informational Text, Coaching, Test Preparation, Early Intervention, Classroom Community, Social Emotional Learning