🏐 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."

 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!"

Shannon P.

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

Tiffany S.

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                     

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Click Catch My Products Logo for newest resources. 

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

Catch My Products

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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😂 An Original Back to School Tip

What is it about dryers that makes items stick to other items, especially nylon material? One morning, I hurriedly dressed and headed off to multiple errands. Then I met my daughter for lunch and entered another place of business. I know, sounds kind of boring.

At night, I attended a Meet the New Clergy party with several friends and acquaintances. While visiting with others, something black fell off of the inside of my skirt and onto the floor. At first I thought it was a napkin but quickly realized it was a pair of my black undies. I snatched them off the floor and shoved them into my pocket. A couple of young people saw and had a good laugh.

The twenty-one-year-old told me she always worries about that.

"No need to worry." I chuckled. "I did it and survived," I said.

Moral of the story: Check yourself thoroughly before heading to school! You may survive, but getting your kids to stop laughing and focus on schoolwork is a little tougher.

Joyce

Catch My Products

Why the Dog Logo?

Whose That Dog on My Logo?

You may have wondered why my store and blog logos feature a dog and a dog paw. It started simple. I love dogs, and my granddog Ruby was cuter than me. We bought this fur ball for our son's 18th birthday, and she saw many years with him before passing around 2021. Ruby went to the College of Charleston, where she hung out with frat boys. She learned to burp and fart with the best of them.

She grew old with Daniel and helped ruin his proposal to his now wife (by rolling in something stinky as he was ready to pop the question), and became a big sister to their oldest son. Unfortunately, dogs don't live as long as we'd like them to. 😢

Dog Rescue

In the past few years, I've gotten into dog rescue and have hence grown into my logo. I spend most Wednesday afternoons at Memphis Animal Services attempting to get dogs adopted, fostered, or rescued. I take a lot of dog photos and videos, which get uploaded to social media.

I also spend money I earn on TpT to save dogs through donations. The more pledges a specific dog has, the better its chance of being taken under the wing of a rescue organization, especially dogs with heartworms or other medical needs.

With a pledge, I have promised to send the money to any rescue agency that takes the dog into their organization. The more pledges, the more likely a group will save a dog, so this is important. This is where I financially save most of my fur babies from resources you purchase: Critical Memphis Animals. If you feel inclined, pledge to a dog. If a rescue saves a dog, you will receive a notification about where to send money. If the dog is adopted or euthanized 😢, you will not pay.

So there you have it. If you are a dog lover like me, check out these dog resources. I also have a few more works in progress. 

Logic Puzzle Fun for Back to School or Year Round

If you've never used logic puzzles in your classroom, this is a great time to start! These engaging activities will engage your students as they work alone or in groups to solve these brain teasers. They will love it!

In each puzzle, kids are given a challenge, a grid, and statements to use to figure out a specific scenario. 

How to solve logic puzzles

Here is an example of a basic logic puzzle:

I treat the rows of the grid as ownership. For example, Aundrea owns all of the boxes next to her name; however, ownership is shared with the colors. Blue owns all of the boxes in the column below the word.

Next, I'll point to different boxes and ask, "Who owns this one?" Once the kids understand how the grid works, we move on to the symbols.

I say, "When you make a mistake on a paper, how does your teacher let you know something is wrong?" I am looking for the idea of an /X/ to show incorrect. Once that is understood, I introduce /O/ to show that something is right.

We will then work a puzzle or two together. Here is an example with a basic logic puzzle. I like to start easy, so kids get the idea of how the matrix works.

Practice with Lunch Boxes Logic Puzzle.

Once the kids know how to solve a puzzle, I will move on to a puzzle within their grade level or ability. Multi-grid puzzles work the same as single-grid puzzles, we just complete more puzzles at once. I tell kids to look at other grids they've solved to find answers.

What's New?

Back to Middle School Logic Puzzles

I just posted a new resource on TpT. This back-to-school logic puzzle includes a six-part multi-grid logic elimination puzzle and an enrichment writing prompt to push for higher-level thinking. The topics in these puzzles are great for back to school or any time of year.

Inside this no-prep logic puzzle pack, you'll find:

• 3 logic puzzles
• Enrichment writing prompt on each
• Pre-writing & story prompt page
• Complete answer key
• Printable PDF. file
• Link to Google Slides
• Easel worksheets

Check this new resource out on TpT at:  Back To Middle School Logic Puzzles   

Hurry! This resource is half off now until a day after TpT sends a mailing about it.

Read what teachers, like you, have said about logic puzzles from Catch My Products. 

Kimberley

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I used this as a supplement during a GT meeting in the first semester. The students LOVED that this was challenging but still achievable! My admin also loved this for a quick brain game. Thank you!"

Cassie A.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Logic puzzles are such a great thing for early finishers, my kids love to hate them, but can't stop until they're solved!"

SCP

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Absolutely love your logic puzzles! You are a wizard Harry! Thank you brilliant as usual!"

Thanks for reading!

Joyce

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P.S.  Check out this FREE high school logic puzzle to practice with new puzzle solvers.

Winter Dog and Winter Teaching Resources on TpT

Head below the snowflakes, by Write Lovely,

to see my winter TpT resources and more.

Those who know me, know I love dogs and work trying to save innocents from our high-kill shelter here in Memphis

Two to three weeks ago, I met a beautiful pup named Winter and was determined to save her from euthanization the next day.

We had our annual Christmas adoption event the next weekend, so I wrote to two people at the shelter about fostering her until Saturday and bringing her back for the event, so she'd be saved. Word got that Winter was not safe, so I called. When the shelter told me she was unavailable, I went ballistic. I was frantic, as I inquired, "Is she dead?"

She wasn't euthanized but once they go to the ER for the procedure, they may not be fostered. Once again, I pitched a fit and was connected to someone else who reluctantly agreed to let me foster. They kept telling me she would be back on the urgent list if no one rescued her at the event.

I went to the shelter to sign paperwork and was told she couldn't go home until she was fixed. I would get a phone call. The call never came, so I called them. They hadn't gotten around to neutering her, so she would have to stay at the shelter. That's okay! She was alive.

When I came to the shelter on Saturday, I was alarmed by her not being in her kennel. Turns out, someone had fostered to adopt her! Being a little suspicious, I repeatedly asked, if I was the foster? I was told by multiple people, including the director, that someone else had agreed to foster her.

After the event, I learned that I was indeed the foster, and she had missed the event I'd worked hard to save her for. I explained that I was fostering her until after the event, but they didn't quite get it because other people called me, including someone two weeks later telling me she was fixed and ready to be picked up. I once again explained.

Meanwhile, I contacted a friend who did a great job advertising her situation. I don't know how she survived multiple weeks and was not put back on the euthanization list, but it could be the many people pledging money for a rescue to take her.

The day before I was scheduled to take her on a foster field trip to get strong notes on her for advertising, someone came in and adopted this beautiful girl! I pray she went to a good home because she is a sweet and lovable dog.

If you don't have a dog, please consider heading to your nearest shelter. Dogs are great at calming our stress and giving unconditional love. ❤️

Dog rescue can be both rewarding and heartbreaking! Click here to see dogs at our Memphis Animal Shelter. I also work with transporting dogs to forever homes or rescues, so if you see a dog you want but live out of town, we can work to send you a furrever friend.

I have plenty of resources for all ages, but my newest is two logic puzzles for high school. These are tough and made me sweat!

I have winter resources for all ages.

Littles

Winter Logic Puzzles or Winter Activities for Critical Thinking Skills

$3.25

Winter Brain Teaser or Critical Thinking Activities with Winter Logic Puzzles

$6.94

$9.25

Winter Math Word Problems or Math Worksheets 2nd Grade in Print or Digital

$3.00

Elementary

Winter Activities Logic Puzzles and Sudoku Brain Teaser in Print and Digital

$3.45

Winter Logic Puzzles or Winter Brain Teasers as Printable and Digital Resources

$3.25

Winter Logic Puzzles and Brain Teaser Activities in Print or Digital Worksheets

$3.00

Middles

Winter Short Story with Open Ended Questions for Accountable Talk Discussion

$1.35

Reading Comprehension Passage and Questions Snow Leopards

$4.25

Photo Writing Prompts Powerpoint

$3.00

High School

Winter Logic Puzzles, Brain Teasers, or Brain Games for High School

$2.70

January Logic Puzzle Brain Teaser in Print or Digital Worksheets for High School

$1.37

Winter Logic Puzzle or Winter Brain Teaser for High School

$1.37

Please stop by my store and have a happy new year!

Joyce

Catch My Products