English Lesson Plans: Available Websites and Resources

First Place:

Web English Teacher This easy-to-use index page provides links to lesson plans found all over the web. It covers topics from specific grammar and vocabulary lessons to activities and assessments connected to authors and texts. (http://www.webenglishteacher.com/)

Second Place:

Lesson Ideas This NEA hosted site provides a search through their professional articles for lesson ideas. However, I would use this site for browsing purposes rather than looking for specific ideas. Like the NCTE released English Journal, these articles will give you ideas for the future in addition to the here and now, and provide invaluable ideas to be shaped and adapted for the classroom. (http://www.nea.org/app/search/performSearch.do?queryText=English&searchArea=Lesson+Ideas&viewDir=%2Flessons%2Farchive.html&alternateSearchArea=Lesson+Ideas)

Third Place:

Ideas and Strategies The National Counsel for Teachers of English (NCTE) has been shifting to an online format for some time now, providing all of the wonderful, creative, and scholarly ideas in an easy-to-access arrangement. This is an easily browsed index of articles found in their middle-and high-school journals, Voices from the Middle and English Journal. Disadvantage: members only to access many of the available articles. Luckily, I am a member. J (http://www.ncte.org/second/ideas)

Honorable Mentions:

Literature Units Formatted a bit differently than Web English Teacher, this edHelper provides literature units on specific texts. The advantage to this site, however, is that it provides quiz questions and handouts on the text you are looking for. Two disadvantages: could be a copyright snarl somewhere and you have to be a member (although it is free). (http://www.edhelper.com/books/literature_units_grade9.htm)

OneStopEnglish Hosted by Macmillan, this site is valuable for its grammar instruction alone. It provides free access searchable lessons and ideas in addition to free worksheets and handouts. Again, using this site is a little nerve-wracking in light of my recent loss of innocence in the copyright department. Otherwise, an easily navigable, useful source of information! (http://www.onestopenglish.com/)