Kathy+Santersero

[|Sur La Lune Fairy Tales: Index to the Annotated Tales] [] This informational site contains links to a large number of fairy tales from different countries with internal annotation links for terms and concepts that may be unfamiliar to students. It would be useful for Language Arts classes for 5th through 12th grade, even through college. The information available in most classroom anthologies is very limited and superficial in the area of folklore and fairy tales given the importance of this genre in our literary tradition. Created and updated as a pet project by an individual with degrees in both English and Library Science, this site is of high quality and has tales that are both familiar and more esoteric.

[|Hercules: Greece’s Greatest Hero] [] This informational site is part of the //Perseus Digital Library// //Project// maintained and updated daily by Tufts University allows students to explore the Labors of Hercules through links to each of the Labors, with maps and pictures of the areas involved, pictures of ancient artwork related to Hercules and ancient Greece, and a section that explores the women of the stories. Several of the plays and tales that students study in middle and high school literature classes could be scaffolded for them using this site, as most students do not have much background knowledge of the tales of the Greek heroes or of life in ancient Greece.

[|Poetry Resources for Teens] [] This informational site for teens is sponsored by the Academy of American Poets through their Poets.org. It has a number of sections for teens to explore for writing and reading poetry, including terms and types of poetry, blogs, and publishing links. It would be appropriate for use in any Language Arts classroom 6-12. The broad variety of activities makes it useful for both class and individual assignments. Students could work on assigned tasks or just explore, making it perfect for both remediation and extension activities.

[|Giggle Poetry] [] Meadowbrook Press maintains this interactive site for kids. There are informational links, but also interviews with poets where students can submit questions, a section with poetry that is designed for students to perform for their class, word games, Poetry Class lessons, and a GiggleMeter where students can rate poems. This site would be fun and engaging for students 4th through 8th grade learning about, reading, and writing poetry in both Literature and Composition classes.

[|Library of Congress: American Memory] [] This informational site is the perfect resource for teachers in every subject showing students how to find and use primary sources. It is probably best suited for secondary grades 6-12. The site has collections searchable by topic for students, as well as an “Ask the Librarian” feature for help in finding information. I found this site when searching for resources for teaching //Narrative// //of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave// (1845), and was very impressed by the collection of slave narratives and background information available through the site. Other topics seem to have just as impressive a store of information.

[|PBS: American Experience Online //Surviving// //the// //Dust// //Bowl//] [] This PBS site includes multiple resources for teaching students about the dust bowl years. I found this searching for resources for teaching //Out of the Dust// by Karen Hess to my 6th grade class. The lessons include timelines, discussion suggestions, photos, and the option to view the PBS video online for free.

[|ReadWriteThink’s Interactive Comic Creator] [] This interactive online tool from NCTE/IRA’s ReadWriteThink site allows students to create a two- to six-frame comic with captions, objects, and characters. The tool has no save function, so any project needs to be completed and printed in one session. Students in both elementary and secondary Language Arts classes can use this interactive to create original cartoons, make summaries of short stories, even illustrate poetry or other literature. The site has lesson plans for teachers to help them use this and other great interactive tools.

[|The Kennedy Center: ArtsEdge //Characterization in Literature//] [] This is a teacher site that offers a lesson for teaching students 9-12 how authors create characters through having students create their own characters. Students create their own character, write a script and act out their scene. This kind of lesson offers great differentiation for kinesthetic learners and higher engagement for all students. It can easily be adapted to younger students with more scaffolding and simplified activities.

[|Houghton Mifflin’s //Power// //Proofreading//] [] This grammar game from the well-known publishing company Houghton Mifflin is suitable for grades 2 through 8. Macromedia flash player is required. Students play a proofreading technician for a TV station, fixing errors in scripts, memos, and other business communications. Students can compete against each other for high scores. The graphics are fairly engaging and the game offers grammar tips relating to the skill being practiced, so there is a learning component to this Language Arts game.

[|Scholastic Games //Esperanza// //Rising// Journal Activity] [] This interactive offers students grades 6-8 the chance to watch a slide show about the Great Depression before composing their own journal entry pretending that they lived at this time. It is intended for students who have read or are reading the novel //Esperanza// //Rising// by Pam Munoz Ryan, but could be used for any study of Depression-era historical fiction.

I like the idea of watching a slide show about the Great Depression and then having to compose a journal entry. What a great way to try and put thier own lives into perspective. However, in this society many of the kids of today are living in their own kind of depression. So some of the journal entries might depict their own lives. I also enjoy the PBS website. My son loves to go to this website and learn and play. Tosha Skilling