Each Coaching Guide provides 8 full length lesson plans with ready to copy activity sheets for your students. All materials are delivered on Compact Disc! This ensures the files are easy to access, navigate, print, use, and store for next year. The following Coaching Guides are available for immediate delivery by US Mail. Please see our Ordering Information page for ordering and pricing information.
Each of the eight one-hour lesson plans includes detailed instruction and learning activities designed to familiarize students with the dictionary and prepare them for the types of questions they will encounter in competition. The activity sheets provide ample practice and are located at the end of each lesson plan. Answer keys are provided.
The final practice test consists of 30 comprehensive questions. It provides opportunity to test all of the skills taught in the lesson plans, and includes each type of question normally found in competition. Additional practice test sets are available (see bottom of this page).
Merriam Webster's Intermediate Dictionary is the current Texas UIL Official Competition dictionary and is the one associated with the UIL Dictionary Skills Coaching Guide.
Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary is the current PSIA Official Competition Dictionary and is the one associated with the PSIA Dictionary Skills Coaching Guide.
Listening Skills is a three-CD set which includes Graphic Organizers, Lesson Plans, printable Text Files, and audio Text Files. The eight one-hour lesson plans are designed to prepare students for UIL competition. These lesson plans form the base of instruction, providing the coach with everything needed to practice the skills necessary for successful competition. Lesson plans include note taking strategies, listening tips, and practice tests. Passages increase in length and complexity throughout the guide. All text passages are included on audio CDs for easy listening.
Ready Writing consists of eight one-hour lesson plans and bonus materials. In these lessons, topics such as descriptive writing, letter writing, persuasive writing, and narrative writing will be covered as well as voice, punctuation, and grammar. The concept of planning and organizing thoughts prior to writing is stressed. Examples of graphic organizers are included in specific lessons.
Creative Writing consists of eight one-hour lesson plans and bonus materials designed to help your second graders be successful. In these lessons, topics such as voice, creativity, expression, organization and grammar will be covered. The introductory lesson includes an overview of the contest format and criteria for judging.
Editorial Writing consists of eight one-hour lesson plans designed to help your seventh and eighth graders be successful. In these lessons, topics such as third person writing, thesis statement creation, voice, and editorial criteria are presented. The concept of planning and organizing thoughts prior to writing is stressed. Examples of graphic organizers are included in specific lessons.
Writing prompts for Invitational Meets are available which meet UIL standards for competition. These materials may be emailed to you with no additional charge for shipping and handling, and may be copied as needed for all competitors at a single meet. All prompts will be NEW for 2010/2011.
Dictionary Skills Practice Test Sets are available for grades 5/6 and 7/8. Each set contains FIVE 40-question competition grade tests saved to compact disc, ready for printing and distributing as necessary. Dictionary Skills practice tests are intended as a supplement to the Dictionary Skills Coaching Guide. The practice tests allow additional preparation for competition, but do not contain any coaching information and are not intended to be used as the sole preparation materials.
