Teaching children how to pick out best-fit books increases their willingness to read.
Links to 25 lessons that focus on skills within third grade reading standard RL.3.10.
Links to 94 lessons and activities that build student skills in standard RL.4.10: By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, in the grades 4 and 5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
Links to 8 lessons and activities that build student skills in standard W.4.9a: Apply grade 4 reading standards to literature (e.g., Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions]).
This site has the complete text of James Joyce's collection of short stories, "Dubliners."
Guide to Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima, including historical information, author biography, discussion questions, and a ten-lesson unit of study with activities, homework assignments, project ideas, and essay topics. A radio show, with transcript, features readings from the novel as well as discussion of context and important themes. [28:56] A video guide has interviews with the author and gives important insight into the novel and it's background. [9:17]
A description and guide to Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, with historical information, author biography, discussion questions, and a ten-lesson unit of study with activities, homework assignments, project ideas, and essay topics. A radio show, with transcript, features readings from the novel along with discussion of context and important themes. [29:07] A video guide showcases the author discussing the history of the novel and its significance. [7:30]
Contains plans for five 30-40 minute lessons that ask students to create BioBags, a kind of literature autobiography. In addition to student objectives and standards, these instructional plans contains links to PDF handouts and links to sites used in the lessons as well as assessment and reflection activities.
This site is on the book "Bird Watch" by Jane Yolen. It includes a review of the book, a listing of things to notice and talk about, activities related to the book, other related books, and links to other resources.
This modular ELA collection for grades 7–12 invites students to explore the complicated world of belonging and the tangible and intangible borders that shape it.
This collection includes:
- Introductory lessons
- Multimodal text sets
- Unit Planning Guide for developing a unit on a book of your choice
Diverse stories and counter-stories introduce students to a variety of perspectives on the collection’s themes of borders and belonging. Some perspectives may resonate with a student’s own experience of belonging, while others may challenge and expand their thinking. Along the way, students consider their own agency to cultivate a sense of belonging for themselves and others, and develop their capacity to participate fully in conversations across difference.
Contains plans for five 50-minute interdisciplinary lessons that ask students to write about math-related, informational books such as "Actual Size" (Jenkins, 2004) and "If You Hopped Like a Frog" (Schwartz, 1999). Students use books like these as models to write their own math-related books about animals. In addition to student objectives and standards, these instructional plans contains links to PDF handouts and links to sites used in the lessons as well as assessment and reflection activities.
A nice discussion of the characteristics and attributes of modernism in literature.
Tony Ganzer works as a host and producer for WCPN, Cleveland's popular NPR affiliate, but he's covered everything from tourism in Arizona to banks in Switzerland and revolution in Egypt, and has reported stories in multiple languages. In this video we follow his career over several continents and learn why journalists must often delve into the complicated world of finance.
Read these fairy tales at this student-friendly site. You can adjust the display to fit your own learning needs. See the actual cover and illustrations, and read the text in whatever size and font family you find most comfortable.
Changes is a downloadable storybook about a Metis child speaking to a spirit about the seasons. The art work is lovely and the reading level is at about mid-primary.
Taken from the perspective of a children's literature writer, this website offers several tips and suggestions for conducting an efficient interview. A detailed and informational article.
The annual Choose to Read Ohio (CTRO) booklist features 20 notable titles by Ohio authors.
Toolkits for all 115 books previously selected to CTRO since its inception in 2009 are also available for free download.
Coverage of many aspects of Mongol history, from A.D. 1000-1500, including conquests and important figures in Mongol history
This modular ELA collection for grades 6–12 invites students to explore the complexity of identity and develop a sense of agency as they reflect on what it means to grow up in the world today.
The collection includes:
- Back to School Toolkit
- Introductory lesson
- Multi-genre text sets
- Unit Guide for teaching Jacqueline Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming
- Unit Planning Guide for developing a unit on a book of your choice
- Book Club Guide
- Whole School Read Planning Guide
The resources in this collection help you diversify the range of stories that students read and combine reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills with ethical and empathic reflection.
This lesson plan gives students a chance to explore the art and literature of Indians, Africans, Mayans, and Native Americans. Provides plenty of links to photo examples, and lesson extension ideas.