English Information

Instead of just using English anthologies, think about using primary sources and other alluring short texts. See the titles listed; they may excite you.

My Name is America

Dear America, My Name Is AMerica and THe Royal Diaries are each series where nonfiction short texts based on real on authentic journals, diaries and letters from history provide a unique perspective on America's history. A wonderful companion to many themes and periods represented in literature.

Grimm's Fairy Tales

What a great resource! Not only are "unvarnished tales" as 1914 here, but so are some great interactive ideas for using them in your teaching.

Scholastic's Author's Online Library

The Author's Online Library focuses on selected authors who have currently released books. This site allows you to view their biographical information as well as titles of their other works.

Scholatic Bookfinder

Want a title of a book? Want ideas of current books by genre, topic or theme? This site will give you tons of ideas. It also has an option which allows you to put in the age of your readers and search for that type of book.

Time For Kids - Home Page

Even though the target audience is grades 4-6, this is a fabulouso site to access for compelling writing and reading for junior high students, especially for lower skilled readers and writers.

The History Channel

Although this site revolves around historical information, some of short the articles may provide fertile topics for reading, discussing and writing. There is the option to select the decade you would like to read about - a nice feature!

The Salt Lake Tribune

Another source for compelling short texts which lend themselves to teaching and practicing of literacy skills.

Carol Otis Hurst

If anyone knows books pour students will enjoy, it is Carol Otis Hurst. Her site reviews current titles, and provides lists of recommendations. Many titles include explanations. There are also activities and other teacher information. One caveat, use the activites as off-shoots of well-informed, explicit literacy instruction more than as ways to actually teach literacy.

NASA's Literacy Site

Compelling and up-to-date, NASA's topics and short texts provide some terrific opportunities to extend literacy into the real world.

Tales of Wonder

Delightful folk and fairy tales from around the world.

Blue Web'n

One of my favorite sites, Blue Web'n provides lists of other wonderful sites. An easy tool for you to use to find other istes that may fit your needs better than the ones I have on my web page!

Best Children's Books of the Year

Wonderful list!

Children's Literature in an Integrated Curriculum

Another great list of books for your use in teaching reading and writing strategies and skills.

CLWG: Children's Literature Web Guide

This site provides book lists too, excellent lists, but the thing I like is that it alos has a feature called Readers Helping Readers. This is a place where you can post requests for ideas, titles, whatever, and all of the teachers using the site can respond. It's like a national question and answer bank!

American Memories Collection Finder

This site provides a way for you to search for writing on various curricular topics.

Education World

This is a large site, but the accessible arrangement of choices allows you to find rich short texts on a myriad of interesting topics. Wonderful tool for providing text for students'individual interests.

Education World - Site Reviews

This is one great example of the service the Education World site provides. It reviews books and sites that go along with them, giving each a letter grade and a written rationale for the grade. It reviews sites like: Kids Love A Mystery, The Mayflower Webpage, Decisions.

Kids Love A Mystery

No Kidding! This is one area where almost all students love to be challenged. The genre of mystery provides some great short texts for instructional purposes.

Deseret News

Once again, connections to the world and issues our students live in from day to day provide compelling reasons to reaaad and write. Our local news sites provide both current and archival resources.

Author: KATI BURNINGHAM - Email mary.burningham@granite.k12.ut.us