INSPIRING WRITERS

Kids Say the Darndest Things
http://www.inspiringteachers.com/classroom_resources/inspirational_humorous/kids_say_the_darndest_things.html

READ!! WRITE!! THINK!!

http://www.readwritethink.org/

"Book Report Alternative: Characters for Hire! Studying Character in Drama" (9-12)
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/book-report-alternative-characters-198.html
Students read a Shakespearean play and write résumés for one of the characters.

"Book Report Alternative: Creating Careers for Characters" (6-8)
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/book-report-alternative-creating-245.html
Students use Internet resources to read and interpret classified ads, then write original résumés for a fictional character.

GRAMMAR USAGE

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
http://www.grammarbook.com
The website provides an on-line resource for grammar and punctuation usage with lessons, quizzes, tests and more!

Online English Grammar
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/index.cfm
Whether English is your mother tongue or you are learning English as a second language, this site has a wide range of information and activities.

Guide to Grammar and Writing
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
Includes the Guide to Grammar and Writing and Principles of Composition, interactive Quizzes and Grammarlogs.

Education Place -- Grammar
Grades K-5: http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/hme/k_5/index.html
Grades 6-8: http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/hme/6_8/index.html
Resources that include textbook support, Professional Development, Intervention, Author Spotlight, Wacky Web Tales, Grammar Practice, Quizzes, Enrichment and Bilingual Resources.

Grammar Bytes! Interactive Grammar Review
http://chompchomp.com
An appealing site generous with explanations, handouts and interactive exercises.

NARRATIVE WRITING

Using Picture Books to Teach Characterization in Writing Workshop
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/using-picture-books-teach-101.html
Need a great picture book to stimulate better narrative writing among your students? Learn some different ways to develop story characters with this lesson and bibliography.

Tracy's Ten Prewriting Exercises for Personal Narratives
http://www.tengrrl.com/tens/006.shtml
Use these exercises with the traditional journalist's questions before beginning writing.

Composition Patterns: Narrative and Descriptive
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/narrative.htm
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/biggers.htm
Study descriptive elements in narrative writing and then read examples by well-known authors.


The Five-Paragraph Essay
http://www.studygs.net/fiveparag.htm
The Five Paragraph Essay, an online writing tutorial for high school students, provides the following sections: Getting Started; How to Write the Essay; Editing, Revising, and Evaluating; and Writing Prompts.

2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Electoral College 101*
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/opinion/electoral-college-101.html?_r=1&
This video provides a wonderful explanation of the Electoral College. 

The Right to Vote*
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/opinion/the-right-to-vote.html
This video discusses the U.S. Constitution and the "Right to Vote".

10 Great Resources on the Electoral College
http://scan-werecriticaltothinking.blogspot.com/2012/10/10-great-resources-on-electoral-college.html?goback=%2Egde_108447_member_174763356

*The videos are both short in duration.  Be sure to preview them prior to sharing with your students.