Monday, December 21, 2015

Gluten Be Gone



Hints for Newly Diagnosed Celiacs


Although it can take years to become fully familiar with the task of living gluten free, it is possible to quickly learn how to be safe and still eat and live well. I am not a doctor or a medical practitioner of any kind. I am not an expert. I am not a pharmacist. I am not a nutritionist. Always check with a professional if you have a question of any kind.

 The information and resources presented in this book are not intended to replace or substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your doctor for professional medical advice.

 This book is in no way a scientific document. It is a summary of the steps my family took to go gluten free when my grandson was diagnosed with celiac disease at the age of six. I am happy to say, so far we have not had one incident in which he ingested gluten.

 We rarely eat at restaurants, and do not trust them, but we have learned how to eat well at home. It has become second nature to us. I hope this information will help you get started. After a while you will have a system of your own, and this way of life will become second nature to you as well. It is not easy, but it is possible to stay safe, live gluten free, and have a great life.

Click here to find Gluten Be Gone in the Kindle Book Store.. You can read the eBook on any tablet, smart phone, or computer.

I also invite you to take a look at my other books in the Kindle Store and to sign up for my free newsletter here.

Thanks for reading,


Friday, December 11, 2015

Practice with Sentence Patterns for Christmas

Practice with sentence patterns for Christmas


Good writers vary their sentence patterns by sometimes placing phrases or clauses at the beginning of their sentences. The twenty Christmas-themed sentences in this exercise all begin with the subject and the verb.


Learning to rewrite the sentences without changing their meaning is good practice for students to achieve sentence variety. At the same time, they will be reminded of things that are associated with the Christmas season. Enjoy!


If your students need more help with recognizing and using phrases and clauses correctly, Simple Steps to Sentence Sense explains everything clearly and provides notes, practice exercises, tests, and writing connection exercises.

Simple Steps to Sentence Sense by Charlene Tess
Click here for more information about Simple Steps to Sentence Sense. You may wish to purchase the book, or just the individual steps on phrases and clauses.

Simple Steps to Sentence Sense by Charlene Tess

Click here for Step 6 Phrases


Simple Steps to Sentence Sense by Charlene Tess

Click here for Step 7 Clauses


Have a blessed Christmas and Holiday Season!

Thanks for reading,


signature and photo Charlene Tess










Saturday, December 5, 2015

Teaching Tip for the Winter Holiday Season

On the day or two before the Winter Holiday begins, students have usually completely shut down their studious brains and fully engaged their frolicsome personalities. On such days, giving students free time is about as much fun for the teacher as having a root canal.


Some teachers need activities to keep students engaged during seemingly endless class periods, and others need good activities for students to work on after they finish semester exams.

I always had a couple of holiday-themed exercises ready that would be fun for the students to do, but would also stimulate their higher order thinking skills. A little planning on my part made the hours leading up to the much needed Winter Break a whole lot easier on everyone.

Please click here or on the photo below for two FREE exercises. I hope you and your students enjoy them!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!



Thanks for reading,



Saturday, November 28, 2015

Cyber Smile Sale at TpT



TpT Cyber Smile Sale

Don't you just love a sale? 


I certainly do. TeachersPayTeachers.com is having a Cyber Smile Sale November 30th and December 1st. You can save up to 28% on everything in my store and many other sellers are participating, as well. 

Enter promo code SMILE at checkout.


I stock up on clip art, photos, and valuable lessons that I will use to homeschool my grandson. Because of TpT, I can develop a complete curriculum and feel confident in the lessons I present to him because they were developed by certified teachers and tested on students in real classrooms. 

I have found that so many of the materials found in workbooks sold in stores were written and prepared by people who have never been in a classroom. My grandson used to attend a private school, and although his workbooks were filled with valuable lessons about the Bible and about how to treat others with kindness, the actual language arts, history, and science lessons were filled with errors.

I taught English and creative writing in public schools for thirty-five years, and although I am officially retired, I have never stopped teaching. Now, I write instructional materials for teachers to use in their classrooms, and I teach my grandson five days a week.

If you need a comprehensive curriculum to teach grammar, usage, and writing, I think you will like what you find in my books. Everything you need is included.


Click here or on the book covers below to visit my store and read more about the Simple Steps way to learn grammar and writing. And the best part is, that for a few days, THEY ARE ON SALE! Don't miss it!




Thanks for reading,







Saturday, November 21, 2015

Thanksgiving Prayer


It is not only on the fourth Thursday of November that I am thankful. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best, I think, in his prayer in the photo above. 


I take a long morning walk as often as I can. The first thing I do after leaving the house is look to the east where the beautiful sunrise greets me and say a few words of thanks for the privilege of living another day.


I have lost many people that I love with all my heart, so I do not take the gift of life for granted.


May your season of Thanksgiving last all year long.


Thanks for reading,




Monday, November 9, 2015

What Can I Help You With?




I accidentally took a picture of the question that Siri put on my iPhone screen after I said, "Hey, Siri!"
Then it occurred to me that maybe it would make sense to ask teachers who follow me to let me know which lessons would be most helpful for them to use in their classrooms.

Of course, I know you can write your own lessons and prepare your own materials, but if you are busy with instruction and many other details during your hectic days, it might help to have a lesson ready to print and present to your classes.

I know. I remember. It has not been that long since I stood in front of a classroom and tried to present a meaningful, engaging lesson to a group of teenagers. If I can help you in any way, just contact me at www.booksbycharlenetess@gmail.com, and I can prepare a lesson for you to use for a minimal charge.

It's also possible that one of the lessons in my store is exactly what you need. Some of them are FREE. Be sure to take a look when you have a minute.



Thanks for reading,