Bibliography

This resource was designed for middle and high school English teachers who are looking for classroom materials on literary terms, grammar, vocabulary, literature, and high school assessment preparation.

Literary Terms

1. Dr. Wheeler’s Website: Literary Terms and Definitions – A college professor created this page in order to assist her students with using these terms. It offers both definitions and examples of foundational English terms such as diction, connotation, and denotation. Date visited – 9.22.09

http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_D.html

2. Gale: Glossary of Terms – This page offers a wealth of literary terms and examples. It also offers information on how to write a term paper, and how to cite resources from the Gale website. Date visited – 9.22.09 http://www.gale.cengage.com/free_resources/glossary/glossary_de.htm#d

3. Poetry Lessons for Teachers and Students – This page features lessons and worksheets that can be used to teach common literary terms such as metaphor and simile. Teachers can either print the worksheets, or have the students complete them online. Date visited – 9.22.09 http://volweb.utk.edu/school/bedford/harrisms/spotlight.htm

4. Lesson Planet: Literary Device Lesson Plans – This site provides a range of lessons on literary terms. Most of the lessons teach the terms through poetry. Choosing specific grade level is an option on this page. Date visited – 9.22.09 http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?media=lesson&keywords=literary+devices&grade=All+Grades&rating=3&x=43&y=2

5. Literary Elements: Literary Terms – This page offers both a ”Literary Terms” and a “Short Literary Glossary” handout in addition to definitions and examples of terms. This page is useful for teaching the elements of fiction such as point-of-view and conflict. Date visited – 9.22.09 http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/yorba/literary_elements.htm

Grammar

1. The OWL at Purdue: Grammar and Mechanics – This site offers definitions and examples of common grammar terms. Under the “Grammar and Mechanics” it is possible to choose from a number of subcategories such as “Adjectives and Adverbs.” While this is obviously geared towards college students, it is also useful for high school students. Date visited – 9.22.09 http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

2. Grammar Bytes – This is an interactive site that offers terms, handouts, and exercises on English grammar. It has great materials for studying commas. However, there are not handouts and exercises for simple topics such as parts of speech. Date visited – 9.22.09 http://www.chompchomp.com/menu.htm

3. Grammar Monster – This page is separated by grammar subjects and it offers a quick test, a lesson, and several activities with each subject including punctuation and parts of speech. Date visited – 9.22.09 http://www.grammar-monster.com/index.html

4. Cengage Learning: Grammar Mini-Lessons – This page offers grammar activities that students can do online and then print. The most useful activities for high school students are sentence combining and semicolon usage. Date visited – 9.22.09 http://college.cengage.com:80/english/white/argument/1e/students/grammar/index.html

5. Ohio State University Department of English: Tried and True – On this page, scroll down to the “Grammar” section to access suggestions for teaching grammar, grammar games, and other resources. Date visited – 9.22.09http://english.osu.edu/programs/firstyearwriting/resources/teacher/triedandtrue/default.cfm

6. Web English Teacher – This page has many different kinds of reliable grammar activities available. Some activities are designed to last multiple days. Date visited – 9.23.09 http://www.webenglishteacher.com/grammar.html

Vocabulary

1. Free Rice – This is a funny name, but this site is great for helping students to practice vocabulary. Students view a word, and then select the correct answer from 4-5 answer choices. Students move up or down levels based on their choices. Also, according to the website, students are donating rice to an underdeveloped country with each correct choice. This is a fun activity for spare time in the computer lab. Date visited – 9.24.09 http://www.freerice.com/

2. ProTeacher Vocabulary Tips – This page has all kinds of suggestions for ways to teach vocabulary including Word-of-the-Day and Word Study Notebooks. There are many, many ideas for teaching vocabulary on this page. Date visited – 9.24.09 http://www.proteacher.com/070169.shtml

3. High School Vocabulary Practice Tests – This page offers vocabulary practice for 9^th grade through AP. Students can test on definitions, spelling, synonyms, and many other aspects of the words. The site keeps score for the students. Date visited – 9.24.09 http://www.vocabtest.com/hs/

Literature

1. Web English Teacher – This page offers links to literature resources that are organized by author. There are pre-reading, during reading, and after reading activities available for immediate use. Date visited – 9.23.09 http://www.webenglishteacher.com/litmain.html

2. PBS Teachers: Reading and Language Arts – This page offers many varied and valuable resources for the classroom such as poets reading their work aloud. This site is wonderful when a teacher has some time to explore, but it’s not for someone who is looking for an immediate resource. Date visited – 9.23.09 http://www.pbs.org/teachers/classroom/912/reading/resources/?page=2

3. Discovery Education: Literature Lesson Plans – This page offers some thorough lesson plans on books such as The Scarlet Letter and Great Expectations. However, popular novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men are not included. For the novels that are listed, however, the materials could be quite useful. Date visited – 9.23.09 http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/lit.html#9-12

4. Teacher Vision: Literature Resources – Besides simply offering guides for novels such as Of Mice and Men, this page offers resources for Shakespeare, Historical Fiction, and Science Fiction as well. Date visited – 9.23.09 http://www.teachervision.fen.com/literature/teacher-resources/6641.html

High School Assessment Preparation

1. School Improvement: MD K-12 – This page offers practice assessments, and it also offers links to resources. Teachers can choose from writing or multiple-choice practice. This site also has basic information about the assessments and the MOD H.S.A. Date visited – 9.24.09 http://mdk12.org/assessments/high_school/index_d.html

2. Montgomery County Public Schools – This page offers access to great online H.S.A. practice tools. Teachers can have students print off results for a quiz grade or a class grade. Teacher must sign-in to site using email, and must also make a password. Date visited – 9.24.09 http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/HSA/