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IPL: Literary Criticism - U of Michigan; Drexel U
Grades
9 to 12
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One of the most valuable (though visually plain) sections of the Internet Public Library, this site offers students reliable sources for literary criticism on the authors most studied...more
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One of the most valuable (though visually plain) sections of the Internet Public Library, this site offers students reliable sources for literary criticism on the authors most studied in high school. For most students, writing their first research paper is a daunting task and a great temptation to plagiarize from a vast Internet. Walking your students through the maze of biographical and literary criticism explained on this site can show them how to incorporate their own thoughts about a work with support from the academic world. They can search via the author's last name, by the title of the work, or by period in literary history. Students can also access the Online Literary Criticism Guide for assistance within the site or the Literary Criticism Pathfinder, a nice guide to directing students how to find resources within their own libraries.
tag(s): literature (218)
In the Classroom
You might choose an author and, using an interactive whiteboard or projector, have students find sources for that author and discuss their own ideas of his work in contrast to what others have said. Together, write a brief essay as an example. As a bonus, you get to show them how to cite the source correctly!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Elementary School Literacy - Thinkport
Grades
1 to 6
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This wonderful site has an extensive list of free video clips of favorite children's books, author interviews, and author documentaries. Users can open them with Windows Media or Real...more
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This wonderful site has an extensive list of free video clips of favorite children's books, author interviews, and author documentaries. Users can open them with Windows Media or Real Player (the listings tell which one is needed). Some clips offer both options. Get the plug ins from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..This site MUST have a high speed connection! It can be slow to load during "peak" times (11 a.m. to 2 pm Eastern time in the U.S.). Be patient while clips download, even on a peppy network. While the videos are downloading, you may not think anything is happening. TURN OFF your pop-up blocker (including the ones built into the Google and Yahoo toolbars) so you can see the video pop-up windows.
tag(s): literacy (110)
In the Classroom
Preview the video clips before recommending them to students or using in class, since the quality of video and audio varies significantly. None is designed for full screen projection, though some will project about half-screen. Share a partial video with the class or as a center to inspire children to read a book or allow them to watch videos after they have read books. (A Dark, Dark tale would be great for Halloween week). Remember to turn up speakers for group viewing or provide headphones at your center. If you are ready to try podcasting, use these dramatic readings as models for students to record some of their favorite selections as a podcast (and possibly illustrate with student artwork). Share this link with parents on your web page or in your newsletter to encourage reading at home. Most of the books will be in our school library, so students can follow along. School librarians should know about this site as well! ESL students and weaker readers always benefit from listening to different voices read the same story as they follow along.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Science Fair Project Resource Guide - The Internet Public Library
Grades
4 to 12
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This site provides a good introduction to science fairs to help teachers, students and parents. There are separate sections of information on getting started, choosing a topic, completing...more
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This site provides a good introduction to science fairs to help teachers, students and parents. There are separate sections of information on getting started, choosing a topic, completing the project, displaying the project and the Scientific Method. The section and links on Scientific Method are quite useful, even if your school does not do a science fair.
tag(s): air (105), scientific method (47)
In the Classroom
As you study scientific method, use the science fair examples as exercises for students to identify independent and dependent variables for the various projects. Give students the links to "find" experiments and analyze them with a partner or do this analysis as a class, sharing the project ideas on a projector or interactive whiteboard. The whiteboard tools would allow you to color code and highlight the various steps of scientific method consistently to help learning support students.Include this site on your teacher web page for students and parents to access as a reference. Consider directing students and parents to particular links within this site that apply to the science fair students are participating in.
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Listening to Poetry: Sounds of the Sonnet - National Endowment for the Humanities
Grades
8 to 12
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If you want to make your students love the SOUND of poetry, this is the site for you. While knowing the terms for rhythms, meters, etc. is important to teachers ...more
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If you want to make your students love the SOUND of poetry, this is the site for you. While knowing the terms for rhythms, meters, etc. is important to teachers and for testing, it seems more important for students to understand the sound that comes from language and appreciate it. The terms can always come later and will be connected to a meaningful experience students can recall. This site provides seven sound experiments to whet your students' appetites for poetry. The site provides step-by-step instructions on the seven "experiments" used to involved students in the music of language. It also provides multiple links to different eras from the early Elizabethan sonnets to the Romantics through Victorian and American poets.
In the Classroom
Conduct these lessons in their "traditional" ways or consider letting students make a podcast of one or more of the experiments so their peers can "hear" the lesson over and over with explanation and commentary from their peers. These podcasts could be the start of a library to accompany the teaching of poetry in your school. If you have never tried podcasting, the relatively simple structure of these "experiments" gives you a structured place to start.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Acceptance Speech by Doris Voitier - Doris Voitier/ John F. Kennedy Memorial Library Foundation
Grades
K to 12
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Doris Voitier, Superintendent of the St. Bernard Parish Schools in New Orleans area gave this speech in acceptance of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation's Profiles in Courage Award...more
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Doris Voitier, Superintendent of the St. Bernard Parish Schools in New Orleans area gave this speech in acceptance of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation's Profiles in Courage Award in 2007. Her account of the challenges during and after Hurricane Katrina and the response by the staff of the St. Bernard Parish schools is awe-inspiring and heartening to educators. Her oral history also provides a powerful view of FEMA and the U.S. government from the eyes of hurricane survivors and local public officials.
TeachersFirst is fortunate to have Doris Voitier as a member of the board of directors of our parent company and is proud to congratulate her on this prestigious award.
TeachersFirst is fortunate to have Doris Voitier as a member of the board of directors of our parent company and is proud to congratulate her on this prestigious award.
tag(s): hurricanes (36)
In the Classroom
Educators anywhere will respond to this account on a very personal level. In the classroom, however, this account can also spark discussion about the role of the government in natural disasters, the structure and functions of local government agencies, such as the schools, and the very nature of local economies. Share this real-life story as the beginning of a class discussion on history, government, or economics at the local, state, and federal level.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Fun Activities at Your Library: So much to See, So Much to Do - American Library Association
Grades
K to 5
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This page of fun activities to help children become more familiar with and more involved in using the school library includes making and printing out bookmarks, Mad Libs games, taking...more
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This page of fun activities to help children become more familiar with and more involved in using the school library includes making and printing out bookmarks, Mad Libs games, taking part in scavenger hunts, and Story Theater. It even includes a rap song about the library. Downloadable Word documents have all the details.
In the Classroom
School librarians and reading teachers will want to use these activity offerings to familiarize children with the library. Make your library a happenin' place with a bookmark contest!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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literature.org - knowledge matters limited
Grades
6 to 12
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This online digital library offers authors only in the public domain but its advantage is that the list of authors is manageable, and items are easy to find. From ...more
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This online digital library offers authors only in the public domain but its advantage is that the list of authors is manageable, and items are easy to find. From Aesop to Lucy Maud Montgomery to the Bronte sisters, the featured writers are of high interest and often used in middle school and high school classrooms. Besides classical literature, works of philosophy by Descartes and Hobbes, a play by Voltaire, poetry by Milton, and children's favorites by authors such as L. Frank Baum, Louisa May Alcott, and E. Nesbit make up the body of selections. Users can search for the desired text by author.
tag(s): literature (218)
In the Classroom
Use the texts from these sites as samples for grammar study, literature, and more. Since the works are in the public domain, you may copy/paste the text into files to print, for use on an interactive whiteboard, or as the text portion of multimedia projects.Some ideas: Students can use these digital texts and add digital photographs, for example, for creative projects using poetry and images on a specific theme. Students could also collect examples of different literary devices and put them into a PowerPoint show with images or explanations.
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Librivox
Grades
K to 12
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Download audio recordings of books and poetry in the public domain (free from copyright issues). All books are read and recorded by volunteers for this site. Several options are available...more
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Download audio recordings of books and poetry in the public domain (free from copyright issues). All books are read and recorded by volunteers for this site. Several options are available for downloading, including podcasts. Hear selections read in other languages (Note that the public domain applies in the U.S. and may not in other languages/countries). You can search for works by category, genre, author, title, or reader. The site welcomes volunteer readers. The collection is constantly growing, so check back often.
tag(s): air (105), audio books (23), listening (73), literature (218), poetry (190)
In the Classroom
Use these for read-along listening, to help weaker readers or ENL/ELL students, or to practice listening and pronunciation. World language and literature teachers can play poetry or passages from lit texts in class or assign them as homework. Make sure you have headphones or speakers for your computer, if needed. High school club advisers might like to offer this as a service opportunity for students to become readers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hatrack River- The Official Website of Orson Scott Card - Hatrack Enterprises
Grades
8 to 12
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As official websites go, this one is comprehensive.The menus at the top of the page will take you to Card's biography, a "library" of his works --that allows you to ...more
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As official websites go, this one is comprehensive.The menus at the top of the page will take you to Card's biography, a "library" of his works --that allows you to download one copy of any of his works from novels to short stories, reviews, articles, plays, and a writer's workshop with an area just for teachers. This is a real find for anyone who teaches Card or is interested in getting students who do to write and research online.
tag(s): authors (105)
In the Classroom
There is plenty here to like. Card has made this site as user-friendly as possible and still include a wide variety of things. Clicking on the research area will give you the teacher links. Caution: there are ads on the left column and a store; however, you must register to purchase anything, so it's fairly safe at school. The site is too good to pass up because of ads, but you might want to just pull some of this yourself for your class. If you want to watch his version of "Romeo and Juliet," you must have Quicktime.You will definitely want to include this among your authors links if you have students doing research and reports.
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ALAN Book Club Online - The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents
Grades
6 to 12
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The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents invites teens to join an on-going online book club. They read the selected book, contribute one question per book, and join the discussion...more
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The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents invites teens to join an on-going online book club. They read the selected book, contribute one question per book, and join the discussion set up in chat format. After the book chat, an opportunity to speak with the author is available in an "author chat" a few days later. Requires Userplane Webchat download.
tag(s): authors (105), literature (218)
In the Classroom
A great outlet to suggest to your teens who love to read but don't find enough others with similar interests! INclude this as a link from your teacher or school library web site. If you decide to use the web chat feature at school, you may have difficulty getting through filtering on your school network. Pretest this and get tech help, if you plan to have your class "chat" with an author in class on a projector.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Interviews With Children's Book Authors and Illustrators - Reading Rockets/ WETA
Grades
2 to 8
4 Favorites
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Get to know favorite children's and young adults' authors and illustrators by seeing and hearing from them directly. The videos/audios can be accessed directly on the site or downloaded...more
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Get to know favorite children's and young adults' authors and illustrators by seeing and hearing from them directly. The videos/audios can be accessed directly on the site or downloaded to your device for listening on the go. You can also listen to the interview as a podcast. Bring your classroom of readers to life as writers or just fill in some background knowledge as you approach a new book or selection in your reading series. You are certain to have students lining up for works by these folks at the library. The videos reside on YouTube. If your district or school blooks YouTube, they may not be viewable.
tag(s): authors (105), interviews (14), rockets (11)
In the Classroom
Grab a projector and bring the author right into your classroom, or turn down the lights and listen to what she has to say before you start reading. You can also create a shortcut to this page right on the computer desktop and allow students to "visit with" them as a center in your classroom. One great student writing prompt: Which author is most like you? Maybe even ask students to write about their own writing process on your class blog after sharing some of the interviews. A good resource for a class blog is edublogs, reviewed here. Libarians may want to set up a kiosk with this web site opened for children when they come in. They will LOVE this site!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Children's Picture Books - Pan Macmillan
Grades
1 to 3
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This site provides guidance for teachers and parents in selecting the perfect picture book for a child and offers suggestions for instilling a life-long love of reading in young students....more
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This site provides guidance for teachers and parents in selecting the perfect picture book for a child and offers suggestions for instilling a life-long love of reading in young students. Includes book reviews and links to author and illustrator Web sites. This is a wonderful resource to share with parents via your classroom, school, or library newsletter.
tag(s): reading lists (79)
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Story Place - Charlotte & Mecklenburg County Library
Grades
1 to 12
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Created by the Charlotte & Mecklenburg County libraries, this is an interesting, bilingual resource for finding children's books and related activities. In addition to a kid-friendly...more
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Created by the Charlotte & Mecklenburg County libraries, this is an interesting, bilingual resource for finding children's books and related activities. In addition to a kid-friendly book search, there are theme reading lists for both elementary and preschool age groups. Inquisitive reading teachers - especially those working with Spanish-speaking students, will find this a welcome addition to their web lists.
tag(s): book lists (162), reading lists (79), spanish (105)
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Citation Maker - Secondary - Oregon School Library Information System
Grades
6 to 12
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Secondary students will appreciate this user-friendly bibliography helper. They still have to do the work of collecting all of the necessary information, but after entering it into...more
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Secondary students will appreciate this user-friendly bibliography helper. They still have to do the work of collecting all of the necessary information, but after entering it into the site, a citation with correct MLA format and punctuation is created for them. The citations can then be copied and pasted into a word processing document.
tag(s): citations (34)
In the Classroom
Have a student demonstrate how to use this tool on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Share this link on your class web page for easy use any time students have a research project. Model ethical use of resources by using it yourself to cite sources on handouts, etc.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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World Advent Calendar - Woodlands Junior School
Grades
2 to 6
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Make this interactive calendar part of your daily routine during the holiday season. Each day of Advent, students can click to open a window and discover all sorts of Christmas ...more
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Make this interactive calendar part of your daily routine during the holiday season. Each day of Advent, students can click to open a window and discover all sorts of Christmas information, answers to questions about Christmas celebrations throughout the world, Christmas Caroles and Songs, Corny Christmas Jokes, and much more! There are numerous categories to click on, so you might want open class with this and end your class with this.
tag(s): calendars (37), christmas (37), holidays (167), seasonal (18)
In the Classroom
Be sure to put a link to this Advent Calendar on your website for students and parents to enjoy at home. Use some of the activities at stations around your room the days before the holiday break. Allow students to explore when finished early with required work and at recess and lunch time, or you could ask your media center teacher to put this site on the library computers for students to use.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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On-Lion for Kids! - NY Public Library
Grades
1 to 8
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The New York Public Library offers this just-for-kids portal featuring links to sites by subject (science and technology, arts, games, sports, people and places), reading and book lists,...more
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The New York Public Library offers this just-for-kids portal featuring links to sites by subject (science and technology, arts, games, sports, people and places), reading and book lists, book reviews written by kids, and helpful resources for parents and teachers.
tag(s): book lists (162), reading lists (79)
In the Classroom
Post a link for this site on your teacher webpage or in your newsletter. Talk about it with parents at back-to-school night or at parent conferences. Share with your middle school reluctant readers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ask a Librarian - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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If your local library just can't help, try this online service that puts you in contact with Library of Congress research librarians. Live chats are available for some topics. Other...more
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If your local library just can't help, try this online service that puts you in contact with Library of Congress research librarians. Live chats are available for some topics. Other inquiries will receive a response within 5 days. Be sure to read the Reference Correspondence Policy at the bottom of the home page for directives on how this resource should be used. This is an "adult" reference tool, not a student's homework assistance hotline!
tag(s): resources (88)
In the Classroom
Have students use this as a resource while working on a research project. Just check with your school technology policies and make sure it's acceptable to use the live chat option.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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StudyCard Studio - Digital Meadow
Grades
4 to 12
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Mac owners will want to check out the "lite" version (free) of this downloadable program that makes study card stacks based on teacher or student notes. It's further evidence that ...more
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Mac owners will want to check out the "lite" version (free) of this downloadable program that makes study card stacks based on teacher or student notes. It's further evidence that the Mac, while now a "minority platform" retains a strong library of useful educational software.
In the Classroom
If your school uses MACs, you may want to get permission to load this software ( the free version) for students to create their own study cards, especially your learning support students who may be more motivated to study with such an electronic "aid."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Children's Internet Protection and the Courts - A Context - American Library Association
Grades
6 to 12
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Here's a concise explanation of what the Supreme Court did and did not do when it ruled that public libraries cannot consitutionally filter web content. Written by an attorney, but...more
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Here's a concise explanation of what the Supreme Court did and did not do when it ruled that public libraries cannot consitutionally filter web content. Written by an attorney, but in layman's terms, the site sheds light on the principles behind the decision, and may be useful for school librarians or those interested in first amendment issues.
tag(s): freedom of speech (13), internet safety (113), speech (66)
In the Classroom
This would be a great case study for a discussion on freedom of speech.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Poetry 180 - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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Poet Laureate Billy Collins has created a collection of 180 poems - a poem a day - for the school year. This Library of Congress site offers the poems themselves, ...more
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Poet Laureate Billy Collins has created a collection of 180 poems - a poem a day - for the school year. This Library of Congress site offers the poems themselves, tips on reading poetry aloud, and information on poetry sources and permissions. It's an interesting collection that could add variety to any middle or high school poetry study.
tag(s): poetry (190)
In the Classroom
Use these poems as a warm up to start class. Have kids analyze the poem to find symbolism, meter, rhyme, etc.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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