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Tried and True Treasures

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United States - Michigan - Byron Center

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Give students learning which is purposeful, relevant, and fun within a nurturing environment; it will bloom radiantly.

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MY FEATURED ITEMS

Poems by the Old Teacher

$6.00

Santa's Paws Cause

$6.50

not yet rated

A Wonder-Filled Novel Study

$11.80

"Martin, I also Have a DREAM!" Sonnet Lesson

$2.50

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Parts of Speech SPARKLERS

By Tried and True Treasures

Parts of Speech SPARKLERS Parts of Speech SPARKLERS, by Melissa J. Donovan, a book jam-packed with unique and fun introductory lessons, reinforcement activities, application worksheets, and fun writing assignments, will ignite your students

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Creative Writing, Grammar

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Worksheets, Activities, Lesson

$12.99

$10.50

Digital Download DOCX (10.76 MB)

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Characterization Application

By Tried and True Treasures

Meet Miss Huff Puff, Pillow Pooch, Phil Gator, Mr. Hobbles, Hambone, Snagglepuss and Moose, among others, in “Characterization Application by Melissa Donovan”. These characters’ intent in their high-interest passages and stories is to give students

Subjects:

Reading, Writing, Tools for Common Core

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Worksheets, Graphic Organizers, Lesson

CCSS:

RL.3.3, RL.4.3, RL.5.3, RL.6.3, RL.8.3, W.5.3a, W.5.3b, W.5.9a, W.6.3b, W.7.3b, W.8.3b...

$6.50

Digital Download DOCX (1.66 MB)

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Poems by the Old Teacher

By Tried and True Treasures

Do your students need a break from instruction all day? If so, read one of the poems in POEMS by the O’Teacher, really by Melissa Donovan. • If you can handle the off-the-wall laughter, read “The BOOGER”, which starts off: Okay, who

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Other (Specialty), Poetry

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, Homeschool, Staff

Types:

For Principals & Administrators, Professional Development

$6.00

Digital Download DOCX (3.02 MB)

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Halloween Poetry Keepers (Riddle Poems and Free Verse)

By Tried and True Treasures

Even though these two poems (riddle and free verse) aren’t directly core driven, there are so many advantages of teaching these wonderful keepsakes—from working with word choice, to using them over and over again to reinforce so many topics

Subjects:

Poetry, Halloween

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Worksheets, Printables, Lesson

$2.50

Digital Download DOCX (0.71 MB)

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Thesaurus Metamorphosis

By Tried and True Treasures

The successful attorney sways the jury with his powerful words. The “Salesman of the Year” perfects his craft by using a thesaurus to describe and promote his product. No matter what career someone chooses, the choice of words is so influential

Subjects:

Creative Writing, Vocabulary, Gifted and Talented

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Worksheets, Activities

$6.50

Digital Download DOCX (1.43 MB)

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Narrative Success

By Tried and True Treasures

I developed this unit, “Narrative Success,” by Melissa J. Donovan, because of all the Core Curriculum State Standards addressing the narrative and my successful experience teaching it--fifteen years to fifth graders, sixth graders and

Subjects:

Creative Writing

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Worksheets, Homework, Lesson

$8.00

Digital Download DOCX (2.40 MB)

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The Systematized Classroom

By Tried and True Treasures

If you’re a new teacher, or one that’s been teaching for years, there are always continuous new challenges each year. Most often, challenges which universities don’t prepare a teacher for as setting up a classroom to be the most

Subjects:

Classroom Management, Back to School, For All Subjects

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, Staff

Types:

For Principals & Administrators

$16.00

$12.00

Digital Download DOCX (26.93 MB)

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A Wonder-Filled Novel Study

By Tried and True Treasures

Thank you R.J. Palacio for writing Wonder, one of the best adolescent books ever, because it’s jam-packed full of both academic and life lessons. In my humble, but experienced opinion, every middle school student should have the

Subjects:

Vocabulary, Gifted and Talented, Literature

Grades:

5^th, 6^th, 7^th, Homeschool

Types:

Worksheets, Literature Circles

CCSS:

RL.5.1, RL.5.2, RL.5.3, RL.5.4, RL.5.5, RL.5.6, RL.5.10, RL.6.1, RL.6.2, RL.6.3, RL.6.4...

$11.80

Digital Download DOCX (0.53 MB)

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Character Card Sets Jumbo Pack

By Tried and True Treasures

Before students can truly appreciate and analyze character traits in text, they need to have an exposure to a smattering of traits, characters, character actions and their quotations. That’s exactly what these 300 cards, matching

Subjects:

Reading, Writing

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, Homeschool

Types:

Activities, Flash Cards

CCSS:

RL.3.3, RL.4.3, RL.5.3, RL.6.3, W.3.3, W.4.3, W.5.3a, W.5.3b, W.6.3a, W.6.3b

$6.50

Digital Download DOCX (5.71 MB)

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Mothers' Day Poetry Keeper

By Tried and True Treasures

Mothers’ Day really is the most wonderful time to write poems of tribute and appreciation, especially to all the mothers and mother-substitutes out there. Investing just a little school time exposing your students to this newly adapted character

Subjects:

Holidays/Seasonal, Poetry

Grades:

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

Types:

Worksheets, Lesson

$1.50

Digital Download DOCX (0.37 MB)

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Memorial Day Keepers poem

By Tried and True Treasures

Memorial Day! What a great time to promote patriotism, honor our war heroes, and learn (or reinforce) a rhyming poem format. This Memorial poem lesson, from “Holiday Poetry Keepers” by Melissa J. Donovan, includes a poem example,

Subjects:

Holidays/Seasonal, Poetry

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Worksheets, Bulletin Board Ideas, Lesson

$1.25

Digital Download DOCX (0.20 MB)

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Easter Free Verse Poems

By Tried and True Treasures

Easter is a wonderful time to do something special with our students, because of the excitement in the air, all the ideas generated, and/or it’s a time for reflection. What a better way to celebrate by writing a free verse poem. “Easter Free Verse

Subjects:

Creative Writing, Poetry, Easter

Grades:

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

Types:

Worksheets, Handouts, Lesson

$1.50

Digital Download DOCX (0.47 MB)

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Verb Sparklers

By Tried and True Treasures

Throw out that boring grammar book (for now), and get your students moving with verbs; I mean, that’s what action verbs are all about. So have your students stack some candy, wad-up some paper, and pop some bubbles, all while learning the

Subjects:

Grammar, Writing

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Worksheets, Activities, Bulletin Board Ideas

$2.00

Digital Download DOCX (0.41 MB)

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Holiday Poetry Keepers

By Tried and True Treasures

7 holidays addressed are addressed in "Holiday Poetry Keepers," by Melissa J. Donovan: St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, and Fourth of July—each with a matching poem, and either

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Creative Writing, Poetry

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Worksheets, Handouts, Lesson

$5.00

Digital Download DOCX (1.02 MB)

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Santa's Paws Cause

By Tried and True Treasures

Students (with teacher guidance) take on the “giving” spirit of the season by donating badly needed items and dollars to an animal shelter in or near their community. All the pages, ideas, examples, pictures of event, outlines, posters,

Subjects:

For All Subject Areas, Character Education, Christmas/ Chanukah/ Kwanzaa

Grades:

Not Grade Specific

Types:

Activities, For Principals & Administrators

$6.50

Digital Download DOCX (5.19 MB)

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Halloween or Fall Free Verse Poems (a KEEPER)

By Tried and True Treasures

Free verse is my favorite poem to write and teach, because it’s form has no real structure or rhyming. Some students who have trouble with one or the other, often love this kind of poem and do very well with it. My product includes

Subjects:

Writing, Poetry, Autumn

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th

Types:

Handouts, Printables, Lesson

CCSS:

RL.5.4, RL.6.4, RL.7.4, W.4.4, W.5.3d, W.5.4, W.5.5, W.6.3d, W.6.5, W.7.3d, W.7.4...

$1.50

Digital Download DOCX (1.36 MB)

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Veterans' Day List Poetry

By Tried and True Treasures

The “Veterans’ Day List Poem” lesson is one of 22 poetry lessons I’ve written and designed for “Holiday Poetry KEEPERS (Fall & Winter Bundle)” by Melissa J. Donovan. The title, “Poetry Keepers” exemplifies the goal of students’ framed

Subjects:

Creative Writing, Holidays/Seasonal, Poetry

Grades:

5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Handouts, Printables, Lesson

CCSS:

L.4.4c, L.4.5, L.4.5a, L.4.5c, L.5.4c, L.5.5, L.5.5a, L.5.5c, L.6.4c, L.6.5, L.6.5a...

$2.25

Digital Download DOCX (0.33 MB)

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Parts of Speech Sparklers Adjectives

By Tried and True Treasures

"Parts of Speech Sparklers Adjectives," by Melissa J. Donovan, includes mini lessons, activities, a highly engaging application sheet about each student, a fun, interactive activity, and two application writing assignments with author's own

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Creative Writing, Grammar

Grades:

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

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Lesson

$2.50

Digital Download DOCX (0.34 MB)

ADD TO CART

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Happy Birthday Poetry Keepsakes

By Tried and True Treasures

How many of us have allowed students in their spare minutes to make birthday cards, cards in which many students don’t invest much time with the writing part? "Happy Birthday Poetry Keepsakes," by Melissa J. Donovan offers poem examples,

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Creative Writing, Poetry

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Worksheets, Bulletin Board Ideas, Lesson

$2.50

Digital Download DOCX (0.45 MB)

ADD TO CART

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Parts of Speech Sparklers (nouns)

By Tried and True Treasures

"Parts of Speech Sparklers Nouns," by Melissa J. Donovan, offers several introduction/reinforcement lessons, two highly motivating application sheets (all about the students themselves and their world), and a fun proper noun writing assignment

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Creative Writing, Grammar

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, Homeschool

Types:

Activities, Handouts, Lesson

$1.50

Digital Download DOCX (0.34 MB)

ADD TO CART

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE

I have a very strong, varied background in education from teaching elementary, consulting, presenting, to teaching English and reading in middle school and college to being a literacy coach. Currently, I’m semi-retired and working on completing many books I’ve started through the years.

MY TEACHING STYLE

“Flexibility within structure” has been my motto for years. My students always knew what was expected; precisely what, when, where, how, how much, and why. Start each well-prepared fresh lesson with plenty of oomph, zest, vitality, humor, and student engagement. Throw in great examples for students to follow. Then guide students through the lesson step-by-step and with plenty of recognition and praise. Motivate and push them to strive for the ultimate with their finished products. Lastly, give them the floor to share their well-earned praiseworthy products, which generates even more reinforcement of the learning process.

HONORS/AWARDS/SHINING TEACHER MOMENT

• Kent County, MI Teacher of the Year • Kent County Humane Society Teacher of the Year • Wyoming Jaycees Teacher of the Year • Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (several times) • Walt Disney Creative Teacher candidate • One of my books, Research Challenges won a Scholastic Book award • All my students’ achievements and awards (as runner-up in state’s "When I Grow-up" Speech Contest and countless writing awards)

MY OWN EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

B.A. (K -9th) and Special Education (K-through-12th), M.A. in Gifted Education and Reading, M.A.+30 in reading, language arts, misc. I also could add a boring page-turner list of academia committees I either served on or led, extensive trainings I've been through, and countless noteworthy, language arts, guru-led workshops I've attended through the years.

ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

I haven’t taught them all but close, and no, I’m not 106…..though, I’ve devoted a majority of my life to education. I continue to love to learn and create myself. My other passions are college basketball, golfing, gardening and interior design. I reside in Michigan with a couple of scrawny cats.