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My humorous thoughts about life.

"My Humorous and Helpful Thoughts About Teaching / Educational Resources for Your Classroom / Music and Random Fun"

Monday, August 4, 2025

🏐 More Sports Logic, TpT Gift Card Giveaway, and TpT Sitewide Sale!

Back to School with Gift Card Giveaway and Sale
If you missed it, click here to enter my giveaway Rafflecopter for a $10 TpT Giftcard! Entries are quite low and giveaway ends in only 19 hours!

TpT is having a sitewide sale on August 5th & 6th. Check your wishlist and then head over to TpT for 20% off at Catch My Products, and an additional 5% with the code BTS25.

When heading back to school, many teachers seek classroom themes that will capture the kids' attention. I've seen decorations from popular new movies or shows of the time (such as Superman or Paw Patrol), depending on the age of the kids, or more traditional as well as timeless topics (like jungles or sports). After all, half the battle of teaching is finding a topic of interest to kids. 

This doesn't just apply to classroom decorations, but also to what you teach. For example, I used to have a top-selling Harry Potter logic puzzles resource until I learned about the copyright of Warner Bros. As a result, I changed the product to "Wizards' Logic Puzzles" without the famous names in the puzzles. Let's face it. It sells, but nothing like it used to. 

The beauty of room decorations is that it's pretty safe to hang something in your room without Warner Bros. executives popping in with a lawsuit. 

With this popularity feature in mind, I've duplicated the format of one of my best-selling logic puzzle packs, Sports Logic Puzzles, with a new resource about different sports with a different clip artist! 


Check out this no prep new resource Logic Puzzles and Brain Games: 


These fun sports-themed logic puzzles, brain teasers, writing prompts, and brain games are what you need to engage and challenge your students and build critical thinking skills. In this easy use challenge pack, you'll find many games and puzzles involving math, logic, reading, and writing, which are great for students in grades 5 - 8 and homeschool kids. Answers included.

Use these engaging activities for early finishers, in math centers, writing centers, whole or small group activities, partner or independent work, or as emergency sub plans! With its quick setup, you will save time with activities the kids will love!


Inside this easy use, no prep, challenge pack, you'll find:

  • 8 logic puzzles
  • 8 writing prompts
  • 2 math brain teaser puzzles
  • Short story with text-dependent questions
  • Sports story writing prompt with pre-writing
  • Answer keys
  • Printable PDF. files
  • Link to Google Slides
  • Easel worksheets (pending)


Read what teachers, like you, have said about the original sports logic puzzles.
"There are a variety of types of puzzles that make it fun for the students. I am using it as part of my remote learning problem-solving/STEAM lessons. Even though the answers are provided, I like to do the puzzles. Boy, it is a great mental exercise. I love Joyce's products! You can always count on high quality."
star Jade

" Engaging exercises make learning math fun and accessible. I've seen significant improvements in their understanding and confidence. Highly recommend it for any classroom!"

"This was a great & challenging resource for my homeschoolers to work on. It helped them improve their critical thinking skills! Fun challenge for everyone!"

If interested in my new Sports Logic Puzzles, you may find them here.

Don't forget to check out the sale and my $10 TpT Gift Card Giveaway.


Thanks for reading!                
Joyce                               Click Catch My Products for best sellers                     


Friday, August 1, 2025

Enter to Win a $10 TpT Giftcard!


Teachers,

Here is a quick and easy contest. Go to the Rafflecopter below and enter to win a $10 TpT gift card! The more you click, the better your chance of winning. You get the most entries for spreading the word!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f4a8c3a520/?

Contest ends in time for the TpT sitewide sale on August 5th & 6th, so hurry. Everything at TpT will be 20% off with an additional 5% by using the code BTS25. Of course, that does not include a new 50% off resource. 

The winner will be sent a notice and asked to verify receipt of it by the end of the day to win. If no reply, I will choose a new winner.

Thanks!

Joyce

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Sunday, July 27, 2025

My Story and High School Reading Passages

You can skip the narrative and find the resource below.

How I became a Writer

Long ago, I worked on a memorable writing activity with my kids. I gave my students a partially written story in which they filled in the details. After deciding to complete the activity with them and enjoying it thoroughly, I became a writer.  Five novels, a writing course at The Institute for Children's Literature with April Lurie, and multiple writing conferences later, here I am. I've written many short stories and questions on TpT. 

Although none of my novels have been published, I'm a published author thanks to Paul Revere's Ride on Me, a short story which appeared in AppleSeeds Magazine, which was part of Carus, or the Cricket family. I'm still writing short stories or reading passages.

After writing my stories, mostly nonfiction or historical fiction, I grade level score them according to readability checkers and content. My writing tends to score in the middle to high school range, so here you have it! 

I write all of my stories myself and have NEVER used AI. After time and money spent developing my craft, I take offense to a computer doing what I do. It can't!


High School Reading Passages

Although I've written a plethora of reading passages and grouped them together in bundles, my best seller is my original High School Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions.

Make language arts class fun with these high school reading comprehension passages and questions with answers. This secondary resource contains classroom-ready nonfiction articles, discussion questions, writing prompts, and answer keys to develop your kids’ critical thinking skills. Plus, quick and easy setup and clear directions make these engaging activities perfect for centers or for emergency sub plans for high school English.

Inside this easy use, no prep, bundle, you'll find:

  • 52 pages
  • 7 Resources
  • Reading Passages
  • Discussion Questions
  • Writing Prompts
  • Printable Worksheets
  • Link to Google Slides
  • Easel Worksheets
  • Answer Keys

This no prep bundle contains passages about:

  • Martin Pistorius
  • Alice & Freda
  • Horror Movies / Ed Gein
  • History of Impeachment
  • Drugs and Alcohol
  • Accountable Talk Story
  • Covid and Teens


Read what teachers, like you, have said about this resource.

Wendy Kurtz

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  This is a very effective resource. So far we worked on the Impeachment articles. They were engaging and sparked deeper looks into further information. I had many opportunities to model active reading. I recommend this resource.

Helen W.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  My students have been fascinated by the passages they've had to read. The questions have always led to very engaging discussions. It's a great resource that I would recommend.


Jennifer D.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  I loved the topics of some of these passages. They were interesting to my high schoolers and encouraged them to participate! 

Jennifer F.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  I use this resource with a student that I tutor. He loves these stories and passages. Great questions.


Click here to find this resource on TpT.


Joyce

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