Reading and Writing SandBox

More fun than they sound.

Google Lesson Plan Search cuts to the chase when you're seeking lesson plans, not ads or overly busy web pages.

Effective lesson openers focus student attention and increase motivation for learning, and good openers can double as closure and reflection pieces.

Good possibility for a writing exercise, but proceed with caution before sending to this site.

Primary documents and archival footage document America's response to the Holocaust.

In other words, find books similar to those you already dig, but also play with the book's "DNA" (its attributes) to go a new direction.

Cool interactive literature, poetry, and drama, with suggested questions.

Cool infographic; helpful if you're venturing into this instructional mode.

Surprisingly easy to "get" once you read this article, participles should be a part of every young writer's toolbox. Links here to other interesting grammar and usage articles.

Funny and smart cartoons which provide a relief from the stress of teaching!

Nice articles, lesson ideas, resources for teaching grammar in context.

Some pretty cool ideas for writing poetry, fiction, and more in the classroom, complete with printable hand-outs.

Great discussion here with several teachers (and, of course, lots of readers) weighing in with their opinions.

Bleached Out T's at Design Mom. Fun craft project with cool results!