Writing tip: keep a list of "wasteful words" #blogchat

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/18090920@N07/4927034897" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="clutter" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="80" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4927034897_e11e273c25_m.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 240px;">clutter (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/18090920@N07/4927034897" target="_blank">Sean MacEntee</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table>Write compelling words that promote action. If you're writing online, it probably isn't just because you want to read it. Study impactful bloggers. See how they use words. Learn from them.<br /><br />Here's a trick that has helped me craft better blog posts. I keep a list of wasteful words. They are enemies of clarity.<br /><h2>What is a wasteful word?</h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J_Gxph_6sW2v-armd6mwTp6h031_bE72EjxKvjdMlsFzGQ02gpnhwPuYEZuzgSmxB0VF_20RSqWf5Z9pQIq6W-uJNyCHfuUyy4wGFVNras9tq-nuPgKKftQ57Yaa1yRgjrEIiM3R_3es/s1600/2013-07-04+11.48.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J_Gxph_6sW2v-armd6mwTp6h031_bE72EjxKvjdMlsFzGQ02gpnhwPuYEZuzgSmxB0VF_20RSqWf5Z9pQIq6W-uJNyCHfuUyy4wGFVNras9tq-nuPgKKftQ57Yaa1yRgjrEIiM3R_3es/s320/2013-07-04+11.48.22.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my list of wasteful words.<br />What are yours?</td></tr></tbody></table>A word that clouds meaning or takes up space. Word clutter makes you hard to read.<br /><h2>My list of wasteful words</h2><br /><ul><li>There are / There is</li><li>It is</li><li>very * extremely * really * actual</li><li>Given the fact * in fact * the fact is that</li><li>had a * have a * had an * have an * have on * had on</li><li>on how to</li><li>of the</li><li>say that * think that</li><li>successfully</li><li>along </li><li>has </li><li>ones </li><li>specifically </li><li>again * available</li><li>with regard to * with respect to * in reference to * in connection with * for the purpose of</li><li>advance * together * basic * close * end * free * past</li><li>you need to</li><li>a lot</li></ul><h2>Find and eliminate</h2><div>If you press <b>Ctrl + F </b>(on a PC) or <b>Command + F</b> (Mac) you can find and remove these words. Most offending words take up space, clouding your point. </div><h2><b>Create a Word clutter collection</b></h2><div>Add your own crutch words to your list. (Mine is "a lot.") If you put them in your computer, save time by copying and pasting the words in the find box.</div><h2>Teach powerful writing and blogging</h2><div>If you teach writing, keep a word list or add to the list throughout the year. Teach students (especially bloggers) to search for and remove these words as part of writing.</div><h2>4 Times I always clear word clutter</h2><div><ol><li><b>Before I turn anything in to my editor.</b> All chapters or articles get searched for every word. For frequent words, save time and turn on the advanced search feature and check "match exact word."</li><li><b>"Epic Blog posts"</b> - If it takes longer than 30 minutes to write, I'm going to check it. If a post starts going viral, I'll recheck it for clutter words.</li><li><b>When I'm trying to communicate simply.</b> Less clutter words, more meaning. I've used this in important emails and letters.</li><li><b>This post. </b>I am afraid of using these words and harming my thesis here. I've already searched three times! ;-)</li></ol></div><div>Clutter words are a problem for me. I have to intentionally take them out.</div><div><br /></div><div>What are your offensive words? Please share in the comments.</div><br /> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=9d0f2b78-ec47-4e0a-a63e-707fa6d1fc7c" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

Blogging Writing Writing tip: keep a list of "wasteful words" #blogchat

clutter (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee ) Write compelling words that promote action. If you're writing online, it probably isn't just ...

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Creative Writing #13: An African Storybook Project Report back from Stirling Primary in East London

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is another class hard at work creating stories for the African Storybook Project.  I have written about the African Storybook Project in a number of posts. The website is hopefully going live in July with stories written by South Africa teachers. If you would like your class to write stories suitable for Grade 3 students across Africa to read, please submit them by 21 June and use the guidelines found in this post. <a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2013/05/theres-still-time-to-submit-story.html">There’s still time to submit a story suitable for a Grade 3 reader for the African Storybook project. Join us!</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a picture of Liesel Kruger from Stirling Primary School in East London. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOb8laQlH29Rf9rNDq114TeN-SDgNrtpcMN5-hCPKtmb6mtU5zHgSANtT5bNj5B4pa9qlfEBrjEJweq5i93xX4xA7-1EVm4gSo8aAKKjsy2UPbweyH36r6JeChiYiHQBN4EIEEaXsR5qe/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liesel Kruger from East London</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVLhAfur3wLIMFJ8vvBENnHABegoUKgIy9-iV9cSwiSZSirY2W4Qz5s-R8Ea1xKm7JRwRIFGuQfBjboqafQkrxAdVzIQgPXcsvbtYz5n_fmtWJIjblOCLMqycX5-FKD2EU_STvPKzn4lN/s1600-h/image%25255B20%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We are finally finished writing all the stories and I am nearing the end of</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the editing.  We will be using Story Jumper to illustrate our stories and<br />then we will snip the pictures to use them in our PowerPoint shows.  My children<br />are so  enjoying Story Jumper.  In fact, my class today asked if they could<br />stay in at break and carry on! That says it all don't you think?  Still<br />quite a way to go, but so far so good... Thank you."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are photos of the Grade 3s at work with their stories. </span><br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Jcweoq03-tzlyZk6_lcV_J7Aa6AP4qvV1Si4WzFg-HS1lFG3nNWdbRu6vAS_4eiEAHYxd4GGDRI7cmAMrzdyrMl6Tmf8cmiU3POC-xKd61D_DeTii88Sl9c1cB9w5LkVSwYvmtdes8l7/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYBVfgLVhSCqJpGXt32gerkNnkWdSwwS0kS-2jLJfBFHMDWCinLO069P9UU4x-dGLnG4vGTpaooAowtkuniLorrESQp1J-1Tc3niDGNiSzg0BRaBsN82c1RbqtiaO9YN3InrgCMR9BXjv/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></span></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE0gkVNQzrI4qprB84RQ82NcFUhFFkgZZTx5-StUQzdrf9Lax3Y3t8QQK_1sDa1B0aE89zdwQfFm6oLTi5nwt58l370C3YihJy_pnsxM3yFijfp-S2xrdi2Mnk4U2PJgdYvkJ3dtucrwG/s1600-h/image%25255B5%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53tbfSCCUYb_mwCZesXTL93WPRhJ15ipmidvO-qE5NIyrd46MJs3XQCTFkckVPKWLJUypPrLUfEwPEtmym94ZLnBKFDVHwDW5mFHARJuMrKsot0H8_P7dxRzkKbI2xzkU5AEVAdVHqGvq/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></span></a></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"></td> <td valign="top" width="200"></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr-KjvaDF-tum00hifNZZZuHXuTG0YrfNXIj0kFKM6fThy72Y4pidxlTbevHMAapN9yq8Yn47y0oL-GsxD1-evNvgIfMYDAErEwoKSJepNlRfsWXR4O7Wtwn72q4ScfYh7hb0m3eLLTnz/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-tXDJ4FQfM0F9v8CeKPColVv6aZD_CVGiFdoraKGynh6xFf30mPlSP1RtsLC09pl13pZdU1CnFyjd8emXn15kZo4MTzoKjQQq1uyv7Aw1D0tfSq2GO1VdI_zHsyDjpm88rHghiB212Jb/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></span></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN63fcNUEalk9-fB-B7CMqyl_8e04YWPCY8wtdabpf8tFL4xgxNRvDkWPbMGp97cABu-OnCSlcJBDShPqhpeBYGnCEGwbZX6Z9HVZ7bMZUugeZsBo1jKKjE6djezqcZ_PVWMmRDxqn42A/s1600-h/image%25255B11%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZAoVmRW636PEUCPSQgs2IgC23yOgP2IdnHCn8ds2KOdJbF8B_VZYwdQoTvf4wlGHos6n9FE4GMOHRv-IcBzK3tNF9IW95rLAuwD9EdsPughzY6vSmcvyT7aqju-zzt4oSQ0O_TCwujLz/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></span></a></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"></td> <td valign="top" width="200"></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAX1fOSK6WO38H6Ol7oXx5P8QQuS_fw-4pzSxf3BUx0kntqkgmkqvL3k3wPC8RPgP0R7td1NXbmDbR0MBeUW6FuM2aRDkUcdMfFs1PzbaHR7wb5m7zQh7rx48SlpUoAKPRzMGTgzzUKWo/s1600-h/image%25255B14%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjuVJxZByJd-l48jkfrDh51UxZ30mkIS1cBMswXi-jUT0xPXC3CXbSODQmawD7Cj565SLL1AIERsv3fLx_tjQizWuODqkTEIrsHy9DQ_fvCtQ6IMWDtWgR0TI3ghs6hwUvRTZjNYC_wKP/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></span></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KRJuiyJbhjfPqh628UsLU219UUntFt97IiZ7esbN7V0BrqTiOh7DISrkXaod1eDjQO9X5_xxPtlUoourj5GDp0iEEFO9yoes5zUHdjarFxSzwYd3z13zI-8UkcUNfpSaKvIBa8S9QR1i/s1600-h/image%25255B17%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB5OQdNkAc0r3TkQ1xFcdeI0E5Wt22NlKzaXXWtAGoeEk0SHO_AbHwt9DL18T11Kc3YYuid1XcBK-3qfucgKTxdzLHIYjn-XPJe3-fmV6tDJfaumuXqZwXvyWvJBJTWOjX2UQlPOoIru-/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></span></a></td></tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"></td> <td valign="top" width="200"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you so much Liesel for sending this lovely report back. </span><br /><br /></div>

African Storybook Project Creative writing Writing Creative Writing #13: An African Storybook Project Report back from Stirling Primary in East London

Here is another class hard at work creating stories for the African Storybook Project.  I have written about the African Storybook Project i...

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Creative Writing #9: How are teachers going about writing stories with their classes for the African Storybook Project? Here is one example from Laerskool Heledekruin…

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have just completed our online course on Digital Storytelling and now we are waiting for stories suitable for Grade 3 readers around Africa to be submitted from teachers and schools in South Africa by June 21st. It is planned that these stories will be displayed on the African Storybook Project website when it is launched in July.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SchoolNet was thrilled when we were invited to view a lesson presented by one of the teachers who participated in the course and I thought I would write a blogpost about this exciting lesson. Megan Rademeyer from SchoolNet went to observe the lesson at the school and this is what Megan says: </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The school is Laerskool Heledekruin an Afrikaans School in Johannesburg where Yolandi (the English teacher) and Nolene (the computer teacher) are busy running with the African Storybook project. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpVrGT2a7JJm2NzkJBGyOSYNhYBL_XmXIcxsvVLBnqaaQ240GyWA98-IlWeMfl87isq2dOQu8ntuK56szxYa3NZGVRR_zfxCJ1pEXclFTN2VQuROOc2n5AE04n1le-wksXe3xIXSMSnY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="331" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yolandi from <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Laerskool Heledekruin in Johannesburg</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are asking every child from Grade 4 - Grade 7 to develop a story and I saw the pictures and text that they had started on using PowerPoint. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffsSMkLQeXIDL76fT_t0gwCYnOQpQm3sDHSHvL8cjxclSOBbDEDwwzXWbVyUU5I2vh3XhIBX302k6Tc55AOuEBFizdo7NOkjBlhx0taEtoxz7LjPBiJ1DVI3KfiFH9UjTjmKNu6C35E4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They did a session launching the project in the hall using two of the videos from the course videos and said how useful the webinars have been. Yolandi showed a PowerPoint while I was there using some course examples that seemed to get the class excited for the task. As a class they also used the Smartboard to collectively brainstorm one example story so they could get used to the terminology like "theme", "character", "plot" etc.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBlKyFPhhSlFY97bWZxCUHtnL0fBFZ8wypBf4v55y_T4fnyANPsRYPY_fZQpShkdjCoG-NObih24H5vbVvkXxUPyRHjOikISlNgh4fzi8yTVTWvq7rtVI8tAYsuA6isHb0suEJ3LFiS0/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids are very excited about writing a story for a genuine audience and purpose.  They have been told that only the best ones will make it to the website - so they are really keen to make sure that their stories are good.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />This is a really exciting project. The portal of stories will be great - but<br />the African Storybook Project is also doing worthwhile work in terms of encouraging good writing.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeq_TWNaTQc81yeOWdxMmnt_5M8cEMwY_7Rcd8fwB8mgNir8mpO26zqrne6_MYvFzi1ZHo8cx5aykU2xoMbUvAhNhXcAgjrS0-KQwH7UIzH5oZBzfCoDbs3GRGngGTEitQNOUKnF1cyk/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Enter your story for the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert competition</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to Yolandi and Nolene for running with this project at their school and presenting such a fantastic lesson. We would like them and anyone else who is writing with a class to consider entering their Learning Activity for the <em>Microsoft Innovative Educator: Expert Competition</em>. They way they present teaching about the story at their school will be unique and really worthy of using for the competition. See the blogpost <em><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2013/05/microsoft-innovative-educator-expert.html">Calling all innovative teachers! Apply to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator: Expert</a></em></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Write for the African Storybook Project before June 21st</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would like to find out more about your </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">class writing a story for the African Storybook project and the incentive for the school that submits the most usable stories see the blogpost </span><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2013/05/theres-still-time-to-submit-story.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s still time to submit a story suitable for a Grade 3 reader for the African Storybook project. Join us!</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Send us your 'writing' story</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are writing for the competition please send us a short report and some photos to use as a blogpost. We’d LOVE that. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/ca/u/0/images/cleardot.gif" /></span></div>

African Storybook Project Writing Creative Writing #9: How are teachers going about writing stories with their classes for the African Storybook Project? Here is one example from Laerskool Heledekruin…

We have just completed our online course on Digital Storytelling and now we are waiting for stories suitable for Grade 3 readers around Afri...

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30 days of writing ideas #3: A request to share a true story based on Internet-sharing from Alan Levine

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: magenta;"><b style="background-color: white;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">___</i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">_________________________________________</i></b></span><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">If you are a South African teacher reading this we would like to tell you about a writing opportunity and a free online writing course that is coming up with SchoolNetSA  as part of the amazing <a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2013/03/30-days-of-writing-1-welcome-to-african.html" target="_blank">African Storybook project</a> and website that is being developed for Africa. Our 30 days of writing posts will lead up to giving more information about this. WATCH THIS SPACE!</b></i></span><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">__________________________________________________________</b></span><br /><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alan Levine is someone I have come to appreciate when it comes to writing ideas - in fact I would call him a digital writing guru! His two wikis, <i>Cogdogroo</i> (found at <a href="http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/" title="http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com">http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com</a>) and <i>50+ Web2 ways to tell a story</i> found at <a href="http://50ways.wikispaces.com/" target="_blank">http://50ways.wikispaces.com/ </a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> give loads of wonderful ideas for writing. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Purely by chance I came across this video of his on YouTube made in January 2013 asking people to… <i>(he can say it better than I can</i>) ...</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Yes, it is another call for what I call "True Stories of Open Sharing" - examples of people's experiences of unexpected outcomes when they share something openly online. I will be building a new collection at  </span><a href="http://cogdogblog.com/stuff/truestori..." style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://cogdogblog.com/stuff/truestori...</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - and if you have one to share, either make it a video response here or submit a URL for a video to </span><a href="http://bit.ly/truestories13" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://bit.ly/truestories13</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you go to Alan’s blog <a href="http://stories.cogdogblog.com/" title="http://stories.cogdogblog.com/">http://stories.cogdogblog.com/</a> you’ll find a collection of these stories to listen to.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_dl1TFRbWY0hohjLofaF57kU1czBeSR2XGhWRkNiv-yGFBvWoTFTTiVZFj00j3mrntm4OBoLx_EhbOh-_IHqui3DajSsTR55M_fuUIh0oBYZ4cV7wWkYRmBDTrWyxT4N-0KhXijuY-0/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0yDqQ62xI_HWvnyBl44I2XgoI8g9IKmgaUQgKvCayuT5V-pu_n-fUBp8sYq3VXJG6QFLo7klwszGVi4R0ZjMgOSxd64X7RJh4Qk_VwbNM2MM44M1be-wf-Oi4zxs9v-lyK76Iv2zR7o/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listen to what he says on the video below and then decide….</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MB7eAGS5_0U" width="420"></iframe></div>

30 Days of Writing Writing 30 days of writing ideas #3: A request to share a true story based on Internet-sharing from Alan Levine

___ _________________________________________ If you are a South African teacher reading this we would like to tell you about a writing oppo...

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30 Days of writing #2: Get your students writing for 60 seconds with oneword.com

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>_____________________________________________</b></i></span><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>If you are a South African teacher reading this we would like to tell you about a writing opportunity and a free online writing course that is coming up with SchoolNetSA  as part of the amazing <a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2013/03/30-days-of-writing-1-welcome-to-african.html" target="_blank">African Storybook project</a> and website that is being developed for Africa. Our 30 days of writing posts will lead up to giving more information about this. WATCH THIS SPACE!</b></i></span><br /><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>__________________________________________________________</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More and more one can see how amazing it could be if all the students in a class have tablets. Imagine having just one or two minutes each day to get the students writing! This website <a href="http://oneworld.com/">http://oneworld.com</a> is designed for just that. All you have to do is:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’ll see <strong>one word</strong> at the top of the following screen.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have <strong>sixty seconds</strong> to write about it.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click <strong>go</strong> and the page will load with the cursor in place.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t <strong>think</strong>. Just <strong>write</strong>.</span></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihx9GHB4MGHcDBzdrTLBOcFbUA11g3c3dteUnR4QBFAQoiayETj3sqXXNDNOSkPrI7rOiCKB4sDO2dpPCCHSVu1ooEhsPzDAMfwMt6mOFYDytbnYYdd6STgFm0Nwr_KwYl82L1YZNMM5E/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Advantages of daily writing practise:</b></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This could get students into the habit of just writing and thinking out of the box. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By writing every day, the students gain fluency while getting a chance to practice important punctuation, spelling, and style skills in context</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The students will soon start writing more fluently. </span></li></ul><div><br /></div></div>

30 Days of Writing Writing 30 Days of writing #2: Get your students writing for 60 seconds with oneword.com

_____________________________________________ If you are a South African teacher reading this we would like to tell you about a writing oppo...

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Inspire your students to write the right stuff - a TeachMeet presentation

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Submitted by Fiona Beal</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I am attending a TeachMeet in Somerset West at Somerset House Primary School. I thought I would talk on creative writing sites and end off by telling the attendees or should I say 'Keen Beans' and 'Enthusiastic Lurkers' about the upcoming African Storybook Project and the writing opportunity it presents for our learners. </span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to place my presentation on my blog just in case anything goes wrong - at least it will be safe and sound on the Internet!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/16505653" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="427"> </iframe> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><strong> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/inspire-your-students-to-write-the-right-stuff" target="_blank" title="Inspire your students to write the right stuff">Inspire your students to write the right stuff</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal" target="_blank">Fiona Beal</a></strong> </div></div></div>

African Storybook Project Slideshare teachmeets Writing Inspire your students to write the right stuff - a TeachMeet presentation

Submitted by Fiona Beal Today I am attending a TeachMeet in Somerset West at Somerset House Primary School. I thought I would talk on creati...

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The joy of writing

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPKvCXSxZTmGmisNEd5CAlfGmhjo9L8ig0uFHDveqnMO1a1M0r7e-62IouVXanTpDAUCTWW8IdsV_eaubuByooDShAaNsQ-ZO70xp3Qg8a4Az2kTJBZ3YibVuQ29B059UHt6ANNsYKRDU/s1024/Photo%252520Feb%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525208%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; " target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignright" height="667" id="blogsy-1360459832049.2124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPKvCXSxZTmGmisNEd5CAlfGmhjo9L8ig0uFHDveqnMO1a1M0r7e-62IouVXanTpDAUCTWW8IdsV_eaubuByooDShAaNsQ-ZO70xp3Qg8a4Az2kTJBZ3YibVuQ29B059UHt6ANNsYKRDU/s500/Photo%252520Feb%2525209%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525208%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" width="500"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books are beautiful gifts... but you can write words to improve other's lives too.</td></tr></tbody></table> <blockquote><p> "No man is an island..."</p></blockquote> <p>These words were penned by John Donne as he thought he lay dying from the plague. Masterful words as he pondered the meaning of life and death 'for whom the bell tolls."</p> <p>Truly, some of the most heart wrenching, agonizing circumstances, squeeze from the pen of great authors words full of meaning that distill rich drops of life onto the pages of history.</p> <blockquote><p>"Never, never, never give up."</p></blockquote> <p>said Winston Churchill to a people who were pondering just that. The words meant so much because the nights were, quite literally, so black, punctuated by fiery death dropped from the sky and sirens that kept sleep at bay. Who could understand a sleep deprived people with tear encrusted eyes working through the day to live to face another unfaced foe again that night?</p> <p>Yet, the words became immortal when uttered at the darkest moment. They gave hope and stay written because they are repeated - this one is even on the magnet on my fridge as I teach my children to face the giants of their lives with pitiful stones and slings and a God who sees.</p> <p>But as I ponder the words of so many great authors. The things written that we remember... and I wonder if all such words must be penned in some sort of prison - a prison of circumstance or solitude. If one hopes to write well, are we also wishing upon ourselves such a prison? Are the walls we erect around ourselves in order to observe the world, also separating us from the mankind upon which we ponder and reflect.</p> <p>Writing is a gift and yet, there are times when I am deprived of her sweet release - stuck checking email or grading papers - I feel like my love of writing is a curse just because I can't do it. There are other times that things are so personal, that they are only suitable for journal -- indeed, that is what John Donne was writing. </p> <p>Yet, his words and conclusions as he traveled through the darkest days of his life have taught me so much. He eventually concluded that one must either fear God or everything else. Such a conclusion, perhaps, could only happen from days of torment, although as one who aspires to write, I wish it wasn't so.</p> <p>My own mortality raises her head at me as my body ages and small things happen... the little pop in my knee. The need to get progressive lenses and write everything down are reminders that I am at least changing in some way. </p> <p>Yet, the passion I feel for my students as they walk in my room is stronger than ever. The thing is, I am also a writer too. And I feel passion for anyone who chooses to read my meager words upon the cybersphere. I am not a John Donne lifting my head to write upon a creased page as I sweat and am bled of my life's marrow by physicians ill informed and even unable to properly diagnose my malady. No GK Chesterton writing tomes of ponderings for newspapers and ready to debate and captivate audiences or Winston Churchill laying out words late into the night to secretaries who will type and return the first draft the next day as he travels to state events and insults Lady Astor. I'm no Emily Browning writing her words alone or one of the Bronte geniuses writing of love and insanity. I'm no Hemingway, getting up at 3 am to write until heading out to fish around noon - although I have to admit that his existence is one that makes me most envious. I love to fish...and write.</p> <p>And yet, I realize, that the new form of writing - one which allows me to write and ponder in near real-time allows certain opportunities. While not truly a journal - surely my inner thoughts are not worthy of anyone but me and my Maker -- it is still somewhat a pondering of the current state of my life.</p> <p>I write as I am living through a turmoil and lava hot level of stress that no one could truly understand as I seek to be and remain a teacher. I type as I try to balance and keep those Baskerville Hounds that seek to voraciously gobble up my positive attitude so that the marrow of my being is consumed. I scribble down thoughts I attempt to stave off the pendulum that sometimes swings overhead as I alone detect its subtle lowering of the blade upon my ability to thrive amidst the chaos. </p> <p>As these struggles surround me - the network of cables tentacling through the campus like the demon beast in 20,000 leagues under the sea - or the extra curricular activities that scream into my brain like the locked up bride of Heathcliff when I'm trying to sleep. Or the precious children that I ponder daily as I plan lessons, teach, and assess and try to provide feedback that not only teaches my subject but will shape their lives.</p> <p> As I work to parent the three beautiful children in my care and feed them good, healthy food. As I climb Mt. Laundry feeling as lost as the passengers in "Alive" -a book that I read as a child and made me afraid to fly over snow capped mountains. As I work to juggle an online life that would easily choke me like the tentacles of the sea that wrapped around Jonah's throat when he was thrown overboard by a crew anxious to stave off an angry God. </p> <p>I watch for the threats to my peace of mind like the family in Swiss Family Robinson watched for the pirates they knew would come, and invariably, like them, those pirates come when I'm not looking.</p> <p>So, while I'm not all those other masterful authors - those men and women I admire. It is easy to forget that they were flesh and blood, just like me and you, writing admist the struggles and pressures of life. They didn't always want to write, but like the prophet Jeremiah perhaps the words were "shut up like fire in my bones, I tried to hold them back but I could not." I think of Peter Marshall, the amazing Irish pastor who settled in DC, perfectly formatting sermons that would live long after him, and his grieving young widow, Catherine, who would first write "A Man Called Peter" but proceed to have a career of her own writing such novels as "Christy." I think of Philip Yancey's long struggle with God and pain and penning the book "Soul Survivor" about how he reconciled his faith in God amidst a church that falls short that has helped me with my own heartache over my childhood church's departing from the Truth.</p> <p>As I ponder these great authors who have punctuated my own life with their beautiful words and prose. These people who reach through time and space like Dale Carnegie did for me as a child reading his book in the bathtub trying to figure out how to win that student government election in high school. </p> <p>These authors were great because they wrote from experience and had a somewhat creative genius of seeing the world. Indeed some of them got along better with the characters in their writing than with the humans in their lives (i.e. Tolstoy). </p> <p>Truthfully, my heroes have most often been speakers and authors - with a focus on the latter. From the author and finisher of my faith to the great authors of the ages - I just don't think there's enough time to read all of them. I'm so thankful that so many of the great works of the ages are converted and put on the amazon store for free so I can absorb their words as I absorb my hot bubble bath every night. Oh such mastery! Oh such beauty and such heartwrenching sadness. </p> <p>This has truly been a meandering piece and one I'm not sure I'll ever publish but one I write as I grapple with my small tiny place in this scene. For writers can write, but they truly become alive when readers read. While I write nonfiction, I'm no less tenacious about the words I choose and the stories I tell. I read the manuscripts I draft for publishers and when I tire, I mark red through the page and write "boring" in the margin and rework the page. </p> <p>I dream of writing and yet I write now. Even this, these are words. They are here for you to read or for you to ignore. For me, writing is a joy. As I sit here and type on my ipad and watch these letters appear upon my Blogsy app, I'm spellbound and captivated by the joy of expressing something to another person in the hopes that one person will read it.</p> <p>It makes it worth it to endure the criticism of the typos and run on sentences and fragments that I intentionally allow in blog posts. This blog is a conversation of types - albeit somewhat onesided, until I get the kind comment or email - or sometimes the irate comment or email -- who do I think I am, after all - a normal, average teacher in a very small town in a very tiny school on a very large globe? Really, who am I?</p> <p>It matters not who I am, but rather, what I do with what I have. My words are a love affair with other teachers who need encouragement and perhaps this post is a love affair with other writers -- anyone who writes a paragraph online in the hope that another will like, retweet, comment, or be inspired by. As for me, I live for those who send me messages that their lives are changed.</p> <p>A while back a woman wrote me a note that it had been since 2011 that she had been to school without being kicked or hit or bit by her special needs students. Struggling with an unsupportive admin, she came across a blog post that I wrote one day and saw the words "All you have is enough." She wrote it in sharpie and put it on her desk -- then soon replaced it with a paraphrase of "the Lord is my shepherd..." that related to the same thought. She said it got her through November and December.</p> <p>I want people to write things to help me get through February, March, April, and May this year. So, if that is what I want, that is what I'll try to be for you. You might need that encouragement too. You might need that glimmer of hope. </p> <p>Writing is such a powerful medium. The pen may be mightier than the sword but enough keyboards can defeat an army. We now have the ability to escalate and elevate the great writing among us faster than ever in the history of mankind. It is a dream that we will escalate good writing, I'm not sure that it is the case, but we can dream such a dream. And right now, with the embattled educators whose hearts and minds are cast aside by a society that has lost the art of respecting educators, we need keyboards to write the encouraging words that can transform this generation. </p> <p>Writing is a beautiful thing, but good writing is surreal. It lifts us from our struggles and helps us rise above the trials of life. I'm so grateful to live in an age when books are so accessible and little people like me can write and share with the world our thoughts, until, eventually, perhaps, we can become better writers worthy of a larger audience. Yet, just one improved and helped person is enough of an audience for any person. The first three months of my blog I had 7 readers, I loved those readers - they meant so much to me. I still think of them and wonder who they were. </p> <p>While the authors mentioned here are truly some of the greats, it is great to be an author of any kind in any place.</p> <p>Remember your noble calling, writer. I'm glad to be among you. Your words are very important and make a difference. Be the writer you want to see in the world, you live in a day where you can do that.</p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Written by Vicki Davis, author - Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds - Posted with Blogsy from my iPad</a></div>

Writing The joy of writing

Books are beautiful gifts... but you can write words to improve other's lives too. "No man is an island..." These words wer...

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62 Ideas, Lessons and Humor for English Teachers #engchat

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLg4_6gpwEzM4YG2-NgvtmBK5btQRTY8vdF0wKK_Y5OKGVlyUfoL5tJKdvAQ_l-POATkdDz2bCdvGdRz0My82lFP1Tuh9g9AZB2tYCbaIdMQepf5bp-lKm3EW3G1H7z4bb2w5WPDeqcQ/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLg4_6gpwEzM4YG2-NgvtmBK5btQRTY8vdF0wKK_Y5OKGVlyUfoL5tJKdvAQ_l-POATkdDz2bCdvGdRz0My82lFP1Tuh9g9AZB2tYCbaIdMQepf5bp-lKm3EW3G1H7z4bb2w5WPDeqcQ/s400/IMG_2582.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Caldwell won another STAR award in 2012.</td></tr></tbody></table>I start back to school today for my eleventh year of teaching next door to my own high school English teacher. Mrs. Caldwell taught me to write and love literature.<br /><br />She's a fantastic teacher who is always innovating. Just yesterday, she showed me something new she'd created for her class. She never settles and has won STAR teacher over 20 times.<br /><br />There is no wonder I admire and want to be more like her. I dedicate this list of 62 ideas in her honor on this first day of school 2012. Here's to one of the best English teachers on the planet- Betsy Caldwell.<br /><ul class="diigo-linkroll"><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/article.aspx?storyCode=50005563">Common Core English Language Arts Index via @sharemylesson #engchat</a></div><div class="diigo-description">An indexed list of Common Core English Language Arts standards and lessons aligned with those standards. A must-share for grades 6-12 English/ Language Arts teachers using Common Core.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/sharemylesson">sharemylesson</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/book">book</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_news">edu_news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/common-core-lesson-plans-speeches-heather-wolpert-gawron">Lesson Planning and the Common Core: A Unit Based on TED.com | Edutopia</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Using a TED.com video in a Common Core aligned writing assignment as students learn about speech patterns with the purpose of driving a TED-like conference at the school.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ted">ted</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/bestpractices">bestpractices</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://engageny.org/resource/curriculum-exemplars/">Curriculum Exemplars | EngageNY</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Engage NH has some examples of lessons that they consider exemplars for English Language arts grades 6-12 and math grades 1,2,7, and high school. IF you're looking to see what this looks like in practice, here are some that you'll want to review.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/mathchat">mathchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/math_teacher">math_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/math">math</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/curriculum">curriculum</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/bestpractices">bestpractices</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/professionaldevelopment">professionaldevelopment</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.fireandknowledge.org/archives/2007/01/08/a-guide-to-writing-well/">A Guide to Writing Well :: Fire and Knowledge</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Excellent material compiling information from On Writing Well and the elements of Style. This is an excellent piece for writing teachers.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-ways-to-reduce-wordiness-in-your-writing/525">10+ ways to reduce wordiness in your writing | TechRepublic</a></div><div class="diigo-description">For writers, this excellent article points out great ways to reduce wordiness.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.wiseinkblog.com/publishing-industry/10-twitter-lists-every-author-should-follow/">10 Twitter Lists Every Author Should Follow #writing</a></div><div class="diigo-description">An excellent list of authors and interesting people that would interest authors (and many teachers.) Each list is curated and updated by the person who creates the list, so follow those you'd like to use.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://connect.nwp.org/national">National Writing Project: National Community open to anyone #engchat</a></div><div class="diigo-description">The National Writing Project (NWP) has a community open to anyone who is interested in writing. If you teach writing, you should consider joining this community. They also have a "Twibe" (for sharing tweets) that you can use to disseminate tweets on the topic of writing. They've always been on the forefront of writing and research. Great organization and some great conversations about common core as well.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/blogger">blogger</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ccchat">ccchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.carnegielibrary.org/kids/storymaker/">My StoryMaker : Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Storymaker is a website that lets young students make stories with graphics and more. It will create a pdf for you that you can save. The pdf can be put on an ipad and tablet, but storymaker itself requires flash.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/eduapps">eduapps</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://blogs.jefftwp.org/wordpress/walker/2012/01/20/649/">Collaborative Writing In Elementary Classrooms | Mr. Walker's Technology Blog</a></div><div class="diigo-description">"A wiki is a forum in which students can collaborate, share and contribute content, and peer review each others work. For example, the students in Mrs. Daly’s (White Rock), Mrs. Young’s, (Stanlick) and Mrs. McLoughlin’s (Stanlick) grade 5 classes have been working with grade 5 classes in Buckingham County, Virginia on a shared wiki. Each student was paired with a student in Virginia who is at or near their writing level. We created a wiki for the project and a page within that wiki for each student. The goal of this collaborative project was to provide an authentic opportunity for students to develop their writing skills. Each student was responsible for authoring a writing piece based on a common writing prompt. After the students added their written work to their page they were responsible for peer editing the work of their partner. The students followed a common template for peer review that was shared with all six teachers involved. The students provided the feedback to their partners in Virginia through the discussion feature that is available on each of their pages. This project has been a success. The students were provided with the opportunity to write for an audience. They enjoyed learning about their partners in Virginia. It was a great opportunity to experience writing from their peers in other states. The opportunity to send and receive feedback provided an opportunity for reflection regarding their writing. The student’s in Mrs. Young’s class and their partner class in Virginia will be continuing this project. They are in the process of organizing a wiki in which each pairing of students will co-author a single story." This is a great example of collaborative writing in the elementary classroom. These teachers are using peer review to cover first drafts.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/collaborativewriting">collaborativewriting</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Reviews-of-Resource-Books-for-Teachers-50001525/">Reviews of Resource Books for Teachers - Resources - SML</a></div><div class="diigo-description">I think that #engchat and reading teachers would be interested in downloading this list from Linda. She has shared a spreadsheet of reviews by graduate students of teacher books for teaching reading in the content areas. This is an example of how college professors can understand and share resources to help K12 teachers. </div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reading_teacher">reading_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/books">books</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reviews">reviews</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/robertsonwriting/home">Roberts On Writing</a></div><div class="diigo-description">My friend Jennifer Roberts is a digital lead teacher in San Diego. She copresented with us at ISTE on Common Core in the Cloud and rocked it. Here's the website she built about Writing Response groups and what she does in the classroom. She's very knowledgeable and I love what she's doing with her students.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program</a></div><div class="diigo-description">national Novel Writing month is in November but this website is so much more. I heard Jennifer Roberts share this with our Panel on Writing with Common Core at ISTE 2012 and this website is a phenomenal way to meet the 3rd standard W.X.3 about Writing narratives. Students collaboratively work together. You can do this any time but November is the big emphasis. I think every school should participate in Nanowrimo -- just love it.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Quick-vocab-maker-3003173/">Quick vocab maker - Resources - SML</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This cool excel spreadsheet lets you put in vocabulary and quick fits the spreadsheet so you can print them out and share them easily (for those still using paper this is a great download.)</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/vocabulary">vocabulary</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/vocabulary_teacher">vocabulary_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/taxonomysearchResults.aspx?parametrics=90007,90067,90956&mode=browse&SFBC_FilterOption=8">Reading Standards for Informational Text (Grades 3-5)</a></div><div class="diigo-description">As you work to integrate Common Core standards into your classroom, it may help to look at sample lessons. In this set, you can see lessons, presentations, and assessments working with informational text (grades 3-5). Remember that you can search the site by grade level and common core standard and that other subject areas besides Common Core are included on the site.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/elemchat">elemchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/elementary_teacher">elementary_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Student-Journals-for-Literature-Circles-50001018/">Student Journals for Literature Circles - Resources - SML</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This webpage has eight activities to use in literature circles and instructions for you to use as well.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literatre">literatre</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/circles">circles</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/AsVdAS">9 Amazing Word Cloud Generators For The Classroom …Word Clouds in Education Series: Part 3</a></div><div class="diigo-description">9 Amazing Word Cloud Generators For The Classroom http://t.co/g1b6jPlL #flatclass #edtech #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edtech">edtech</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/9-amazing-word-cloud-generators-for-the-classroom-word-clouds-in-education-series-part-3/">9 Amazing Word Cloud Generators For The Classroom …Word Clouds in Education Series: Part 3 | 21 st Century Educational Technology and Learning</a></div><div class="diigo-description">If you use wordclouds to help extract meaning on a topic before beginning, (try pasting the Gettysburg address into one) then these 9 word cloud generators will be of use to you.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6211106">Persuasive writing - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Lots of ideas for teaching persuasive writing. It is important to have students write about the things that are of interest. This is why blogging is such a great platform - typiclaly first person is allowed students can share their opinions.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/taxonomysearchResults.aspx?parametrics=10216,40000,40001,49440,50908,50920,50930,50936&mode=browse&SFBC_FilterOption=8">Post 16: German: Grammar: Verbs and Tenses: Passive Voice teaching resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Some lessons to teach students about the passive voice (in multiple langages.)</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/grammar">grammar</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Shakespeare-for-all-ages-and-stages-6067956">Shakespeare for all ages and stages - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This booklet is about Shakespeare for all ages and stages. Download this for ideas about how to integrate this important author into your curriculum at all ages.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english">english</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/Shakespeare">Shakespeare</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/ResourceDetail.aspx?storyCode=6015882">Myths and Legends - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">An introduction to “Myths and Legends” and “Mythical Monsters”. Text studied, Robert Nye’s “Beowulf”.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/beowulf">beowulf</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/irasocol/transition-to-college-reading-and-writing">Transition to College - Reading and Writing</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Very interesting presentation by Ira Socol about how students are using the MITS Freedom stick - preloaded with some apps - for their reading and writing. If you're a high school language arts teacher or a curriculum director, you would benefit from browsing through this presentation to see what college students are expected to be able to do. It isn't just about paper any more.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.resourceroom.net/comprehension/index.asp">Resource Room: Reading Comprehension</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This website has a treasure trove of reading comprehension resources that you can download and use including a chapter by chapter comprehension guide to accompany Harry Potter.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reading">reading</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reading_teacher">reading_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6218952">Comprehension collection - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Help students with their reading comprehension with these lesson plans. Reading comprehension is such an  important thing and many of these lessons are cross curricular.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/Z2lmdz">creative writing prompts . com ideas for writers</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Hundreds of creative writing prompts (great for journaling) http://t.co/d57iM57l #engchat #writing</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/taxonomysearchResults.aspx?parametrics=10216,40000,40001,40002,40003,40017&mode=browse&SFBC_FilterOption=2&page=1">Writing lesson plans</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Here are some lesson plans for phonics and writing for younger students to use in your classroom. I've sorted it by the most popular first including some Outdoor ideas and some phonics games you could play.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/elemchat">elemchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Haiku-Poems-6096486">Haiku Poems - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This lesson plan for middle school teaches about Haiku and also reviews the concept of syllables. Very extensive resources to use on this one.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/Education">Education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/haiku">haiku</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Forms-of-Poetry-Haiku-6033671">Forms of Poetry: Haiku - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">A nice downloadable resource to teach students about Haiku. (via TES)</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/Teaching">Teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/haiku">haiku</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/printouts/haiku-starter-30697.html">Haiku Starter - ReadWriteThink</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Haiku starter printout.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/haiku">haiku</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/8r4ceH">Shakespeare’s birthday collection - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Happy Birthday William Shakespeare! http://t.co/ABYdvyr9 #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/5N2aO4">Teaching Resources, Classroom Resources & Lesson Plans - TES Resources</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Shakespeare's birthday is tomorrow - April 23 - lesson plans http://t.co/8vS5vsqs #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Autobiographical-Writing-6097385">Autobiographical Writing - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">An autobiographical writing skills powerpoint and activity including a differentiated lesson plan and more traditional one. I like having different options. This is for older (high school) students.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/autobiography">autobiography</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Jacobean-England-presentation-6070118">Jacobean England presentation - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">If you're teaching Shakespeare or Webster, this Jacobean England presentation will be a nice introduction for you.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/shakespeare">shakespeare</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Doctor-Faustus-intro-OCR-A-level-6051183">Doctor Faustus intro (OCR A level) - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">A friend of mine passed this lesson plan on to me with this note to Literature teachers: "Sick of Jacobean literature meaning Shakespeare? Check out this resource on Christopher Marlowe's Faust. " I think that this is a very good point and is the type of lesson that AP literature would use in the US. There is a reading guide, powerpoint, and it also incorporates John Milton's Paradise Lost as a comparative text.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplan">lessonplan</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/reading-is-not-a-race-the-virtues-of-the-slow-reading-movement/2012/01/25/gIQA4RVCbQ_blog.html">Reading is not a race: The virtues of the ‘slow reading’ movement - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This article in the Washington Post, I've seen several mentions by teachers. The slow reading movement is one that advocates really getting into a book and also becoming intimate with the "author" even to the point of memorization. It is about relaxing and getting into a book instead of rushing through a lot of them. "I have therefore joined the slow reading movement. Like the slow food movement, it is about more than just slowing down, though that is part of it. It is about an intimacy with authors; it is about paying attention, about caring, about rereading and savoring what we read. It is about finding the right pace. About pleasure more than efficiency. Slow reading is also about recovering old practices that have traditionally aided readers in paying attention — oral performance, annotation, exploring complex and difficult passages. It is about reading that generates ideas for writing, what Ralph Waldo Emerson called “creative reading.” And even memorization."</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/TaxonomySearchResults.aspx?parametrics=44354,44816,44918,45148&event=23&mode=browse">Secondary: English: KS3 Poetry: Poetic Forms teaching resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Teaching resources covering the different types of poetry.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/ResourceDetail.aspx?storyCode=6033671">Forms of Poetry: Haiku</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Japanese Haiku resources and worksheets.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/haiku">haiku</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6186799">Shakespeare’s birthday collection</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Great collection of lesson plans and information on Shakespeare. There are a lot of downloadables here for literature teachers.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/FBbhvG">Open Educational Resources infoKit / What are Open Educational Resources</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Get started! Open Educational Resources infoKit http://t.co/WWA25DYr #flatclass #edchat #edtech #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edchat">edchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edtech">edtech</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/affect-versus-effect.aspx">Grammar Girl : Affect Versus Effect :: Quick and Dirty Tips ™</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Grammar girl has so many great ways to remember things in grammar. I've missed the words "effect" and "affect"  in the past and am working on improving my own grammar. It is one of those things i've been taught all of this and when I was valedictorian I knew it but somewhere in there between there and here I've forgotten some of it. I go to grammar girl to give me ways to remember it. OK affect - verb; effect - noun.  Grammar teachers will enjoy her.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplan">lessonplan</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/grammar">grammar</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6183197">World Poetry Day - TES English - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Get ready to read poetry! World Poetry day is March 21. Here are a lot of lesson plans and ideas for that day including some digital e-poetry booklets that you could download as well as mp3's and videos that you can use as well as lesson plans.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/poetry">poetry</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/march">march</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Year-8-English-Booster-SoW-Writing-Styles-6114910">Year 8 English Booster SoW - Writing Styles - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Great lesson that turns writing students into music producers to improve writing. Designed for the middle school classroom.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/music">music</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplan">lessonplan</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literacy">literacy</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkaQztcVWEA&feature=g-all&context=G24f939fFAAAAAAAAAAA">Google Lit Trips Video.mp4 - YouTube</a></div><div class="diigo-description">An excellent video about Google lit trips and how it works.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edapp">edapp</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/eduapp">eduapp</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/Google">Google</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/maps">maps</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lit">lit</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/trips">trips</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/epXX4Y">ALERT: Have you cleared your Google web history?</a></div><div class="diigo-description">ALERT: Have you cleared your Google web history? http://t.co/JGfoyry9 #privacy #edchat #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/privacy">privacy</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edchat">edchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/KS3-Shakespeare-Schemes-of-Work-6107289">KS3 Shakespeare Schemes of Work - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This is a fascinating holistic through through Shakespeare by English teacher, John Field. Including Much Ado about Nothing and Romeo and Juliet. He calls these his "tudor hall shakespeare units." If you teach Shakespeare, you may want to look at this and the other items here. Here's a tip: If you look at the classification at the bottom KS3 means high school and then you can click on Plays by Title and click on just about any play you will teach to find a lot of lesson plans and information for that play. If you're a beginning teacher or looking for new things, you'll want to drill down. I hope you'll share too. I'm having a love thing this February. ;-)</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/learning">learning</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/shakespeare">shakespeare</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Crucible-CAT-Speaking-and-amp-Listening-Assignment-6086745">The Crucible CAT - Speaking & Listening Assignment - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Debate the crucible as the Salem Witch Trial anniversary approaches. This is a lesson plan and assessment rubric, and a character sheet for assignment of roles.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/debate">debate</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/beaverton/index.ssf/2011/04/hazeldale_elementary_school_kids_use_ipad_app_to_learn_pronunciation_grammar_and_vocabulary.html">Hazeldale Elementary School kids use iPad app to learn pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary | OregonLive.com</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Using ipads to teach vocabulary. In this mainstream media article, students are using Toontastic to create stories and learn new vocabulary. My students enjoy Puppetpals, another great one to use.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/ipad">ipad</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/vocabulary">vocabulary</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/elemchat">elemchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Superhero-Unit-comics-in-the-classroom-6033870">Superhero Unit - comics in the classroom - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">there is a reason that this resource is going viral over at Tes. This masterful set of lesson uses comic books with a wide range of writing activities: short story, informative, biography, and comic strip. You have lesson plans and instructions for how to use this. Use comics to teach biographics. Many teachers groan about teaching nonfiction. I love this.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/composition">composition</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16871715">BBC News - A Point of View: Mourning the loss of the written word</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Is the written word gone? Is it lost? I know fore me, I have a cross pen and waterman with beautiful ink. I still write in my journal and I still write letters, although I have to admit, not as much as I used to. This is a great post to share and use for reflection and debate in your composition classes. With over 239 comments as of the writing of this, it has a lot of meat and thoughts in the comments as well.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.mrthorne.com/">Mr Thorne Does Literacy</a></div><div class="diigo-description">mr. Thorne is out of the UK. He has great phonics lessons. Yes, he has a british accent, but you could listen and redo these lessons in your own classroom if you are US. </div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literacy">literacy</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/reading">reading</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/phonics">phonics</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/resourcecalendar.aspx?nbday=0&nbmth=2&nbyr=2012&evcode=4304">Charles Dickens Lesson Plans and resources</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Charles Dickens birthday is February 7th. Here are resources and lesson plans to help you.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessons">lessons</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/charles">charles</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/dickens">dickens</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Ask-Shakespeare-February-2-2011-6067819">Ask Shakespeare February 2, 2011 - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This will be a fascinating Twitter-centric event on February 2nd. Sign up now to participate. "Organised by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Ask Shakespeare is a one day, online event taking place on February 2, 2011. From the SBT: "On 2, February 2011 we are asking Shakespeare organisations, enthusiasts and scholars and professionals worldwide to sign up and join us on the Ask Shakespeare panel through their twitter accounts. On February 2, 2011 this panel will be ready to answer your Shakespeare questions." If you would like to represent TES English on the Ask Shakespeare panel, please message me."</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/shakespeare">shakespeare</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://elalp.cbalwiki.ets.org/">CBAL ELA Competency Model and Provisional Learning Progressions - home</a></div><div class="diigo-description">This is interesting. ETS has launched a website about: "Educational Testing Service (ETS), the world's leading measurement and research organization, has launched a new website to stimulate discussion, debate, and promote empirical research to help teachers and students meet the goals of the English language arts (ELA) Common Core State Standards." but this is most definitely a wiki (looks like wikispaces.) I find it fascinating that a company would use a wiki because so many have resisted this. I wonder who can join and who can edit. Interesting. It says you can join. It will be interesting to see what they are doing with this. Perhaps some of you common core experts should join.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/commoncore">commoncore</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/composition">composition</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Twenty-Dyslexia-Friendly-Writing-Tips-3012073">Twenty Dyslexia Friendly Writing Tips - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">20 Dyslexia friendly writing tips. (Yes, I've spent the evening browsing the ideas on the Tes website.)</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/?popular#top-tabs">Lesson Plans - ReadWriteThink</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Language arts teachers of all ages will love the free lesson plans on this website. They are standards based and organized by grade level.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/composition">composition</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/composition_teacher">composition_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/bestpractices">bestpractices</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/all_teachers">all_teachers</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/scrutinizing-stand-ins-working-with-nouns-and-pronouns">Lesson Plan | Scrutinizing Stand-Ins: Working With Nouns and Pronouns - NYTimes.com</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Lesson plan on pronouns using the New York Times.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/grammar">grammar</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/endchat">endchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sKZ76CJs4Rwn2NKEgtK3LZVKYvFEv2IDcTQlAPKC6J8/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1">Paula Naugle's Irregular Verb Resources</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Paula has collected resources for helping students with irregular English verbs. I'm struggling with helping my fourth grader learn them and have a whole week to get ready for the test and will be using these sites, review games, and activities! Thank you Paula!</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/grammar">grammar</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Mario-and-Sonic-English-6118378">Mario and Sonic English - Resources - TES</a></div><div class="diigo-description">So you need a writing prompt or ideas to get students excited about writing. Here is an idea that used Mario and Sonic to encourage writing. This describes how a games based approach can be used for collaboratively building descriptions of characters and or settings. It can be used as the initial stimulus for imaginative writing by providing "concrete" experiences for learners.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplans">lessonplans</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://lessonplansos.blogspot.com/2011/12/theres-no-time-literally-like-present.html">Lesson Plan SOS: There’s No Time (Literally!) Like the Present!</a></div><div class="diigo-description">I love this lesson plan linking Christmas, New Years, and writing to help children focus on work ethic and goal setting. Nice lesson plan blog.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/lessonplan">lessonplan</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/922">30 Ideas for Teaching Writing - National Writing Project</a></div><div class="diigo-description">30 Ideas for Teaching Writing - National Writing Project http://t.co/OlLaokHH via @writingproject #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://www.studygs.net/writing/prewriting.htm">Organizing and pre-writing</a></div><div class="diigo-description">Nice overview of exercises and activities for prewriting.</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature_teacher">literature_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/composition">composition</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/literature">literature</a></div><div class="diigo-tags"><br /></div></li><li> <div class="diigo-link"><a href="http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/66fJ5Y">The 56 best/worst similes</a></div><div class="diigo-description">HUMOR: 56 best/worst similes "sardines were packed as tight as the coach section of a 747" http://t.co/gR4gRu6I Via @donnaroman #engchat</div><div class="diigo-tags">tags: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/engchat">engchat</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/english_teacher">english_teacher</a></div></li></ul><div class="zemanta-related" style="margin-top: 20px; 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engchat Literacy Writing 62 Ideas, Lessons and Humor for English Teachers #engchat

Mrs. Caldwell won another STAR award in 2012. I start back to school today for my eleventh year of teaching next door to my own high school ...

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