Useful Links for Language Arts classroom resourcesHolt Interactive Graphic Organizers
A Pedagogy of Belonging
A website on student success and it's correlation to a feeling of belonging.
Ed Helper
Many activities, worksheet plans and other resources for Language Arts and other subjects as well. Some things are just ideas that need adapting, but also printable worksheets. Some features require signing up, but many things are instantly accessible. This website seems like a one stop location for classroom materials.
Pete's Power Point Station
This website has many links, but I especially liked the author index. This provides links to author based power points that probably should be adapted, but provide a start for presentation ideas. The power points have works cited that provide links to more information. Has power points of some of my favorite writers such as Ray Bradbury, George Orwell and John Steinbeck. Also, has links to authors popular with much younger kids as well. More "classical" authors such as Charles Dickens and Shakespeare are included as well. Well known multi-cultural authors such as Sherman Alexie or Toni Morrison are missing. Apparently not of interest to the website creator.
Multicultural Literature Resources
Links of articles that help incorporate a wider variety of voices into the classroom. Has link to an article called "Beyond Good Intentions" that gives sort of a laundry list of what to look for in selecting book that honor they culture they represent. Also has a link to a website called Oyate that gives pointers on choosing Native American books that are not biased. Also includes excellent part that helps deconstruct popular misconceptions about Thanksgiving and recommended books for various Native American perspective. This website provides other links as well that seem quite useful.
Scholactic.com Recommended Books for Women's History Month
Scholastic is a publishing company that is known for their educational books. This section of the website is a beginning website for books by and about women. This is especially important because many protagonists in stories are often men. This presents a problem for half of our student population, girls. Because boys already see so many heroes that are of their own gender in their everyday life, they do not need role models presented to them as badly as girls need. I would still like to find maybe a better source for women’s literature, but this is a start. This website has other resources as well.
YALSA’s Book Awards & Booklists
Young Adult Library Association’s list of various book awards. These awards are divided into different categories and are chosen by people who are experts in the study of young adult literature. In case a larger library of good books are needed this is one of the best sources available. My favorite part is that the lists are very current. This is important because the genre of young adult literature is fairly new and is still evolving. In my opinion books such as Catcher in the Rye, although “classic”, are not current. Adolescents could often care less that adults consider a book classic and therefore important to read. In my philosophy give students books that they relate to, not books that are older and valued by adult readers. Has other resources as well that relate to the subject of adolescent literature.
American Library Association- Banned Books Week
Banned books can be an excellent way to engaged students who may be reluctant readers. Controversy is an excellent way to engage a certain type of student. The ALA supports our first amendment right to freedom of speech and banned books help facilitate many teachable moments. The main idea of supporting banned books and freedom of speech is that oppressed voices are generally the ones that get silenced. In order for a democracy to function properly all voice must be heard. The banned book list creates excellent opportunity for students to hear voices that are sometimes silenced. Not to mention many excellent books just so happen to have been on a banned book list.
Human Rights .com
This is an excellent kid friendly website that introduces the concept of human rights to students. It includes text and videos that are presented in a very comprehendible manner. I have used this with students and found that they very much like the videos. The main one gives a history of human rights and documents that were meant to protect humans and their rights all the way up to the UN Declaration of Human Rights. I also liked the main video because it admits that we are still trying to achieve human rights for all. It an excellent resource for 6th grade students and I also used it on younger students. Probably could also be used on high school students as well. Very engaging and very simplified, which makes it a perfect classroom tool. After showing some students, one student replied “I didn’t know that we have rights”.
Bonus link- The United Nations website for the Declaration of Human Rights.
So Just- Speeches on Social Justice
Good site that has a beginners collection of speeches on social justice such as Sojourner Truth’s Ain’t I a Woman, JFK’s Inaugural Address and Nelson Mandela’s Release from Prison, among others. Not only are these excellent pieces of literature that can be used for study and analysis, they also help teach the concept of social justice. During the confusing time of adolescents, students will love to learn about social justice and how it can make their life better. It is never too early to teach justice. Your future will thank you.
Fun Brain
More for younger students, has some education games such as practicing parts of speech. It also some online reading such Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Has some other games that are probably less educational, but are still school approved. What’s wrong with a little fun sometimes?
National Council of Teachers of English
Major organization of language arts teachers in The United States. Has scholarly level journal articles and lesson plans. Excellent website and resource.
