Writing
Choosing Color Words - an article teaching how to best use color words to describe nouns
Describing a Person: Adding Details - an article with ideas on how to best describe physical descriptions of people
PIZZAZ Writing Assignments - Created for ESL teachers, these assignments are also easily adapted for use with beginning writers. (Y,M)
Biography Maker - Biography Maker - help students take dry dull facts about a person and turn them into a biography. (M,O)
Citing Primary Sources - With the availability of so many primary sources online, research has opened up for those who care to delve into the vast array of web collections. With this new availability of sources, however, comes the confusion of documentation. (T,O)
Young Naturalist Awards - The theme for the Young Naturalist Awards is the same each year: Scientific Discovery Begins with Expeditions! "The Young Naturalist Awards program invites you to plan and conduct your own scientific expedition, one that will provide original data, questions, and observations on a topic in the natural sciences." (M,O)
The Misadventures of Foot In Mouth Man - "A loveable but bumbling communicator, FIMM stumbles his way through life!... FIMM Fans have watched him through many episodes sticking his foot in his mouth so often he has Athlete's Tongue!" (Y, M, O, T)
Story Paper with Lines - Requires Adobe Acrobat reader (Y)
Read Write Think Student Materials - The Student Materials are part of a larger project from NCTE, Marco Polo, and and International Reading Association. The larger site includes many lesson plans, easily sorted by topic and grade. The Student Materials include online tools that teach students concepts like acrostics, bio-cubes (for biographies), comic creators, drama maps, essay maps, and much more. Kids who don't like the physical aspect of handwriting will enjoy using the tools on Read Write Think to show off their writing skills. (Y, M, O, T)
Notebooking Pages - Debra at NotebookingPages.com has a very large collection of free resources available at her site in addition to the resources she has for sale. At NotebookingPages.com, Debra shares how to get started notebooking, gives many pages to get you started, and offers dozens of useful printables. If notebooking is a part of your homeschool, you will enjoy browsing the site for ideas and downloads. If you would like to learn more about notebooking, check out our notebooking page on TheHomeSchoolMom. (Y,M)
How to Study - We all know that studying is a skill to be learned, not a talent one is born with. From Taking Notes in Class to how to succeed on an Essay Test, this site gives useful and practical ways to succeed. When you click a link, scroll down to see the results - the page will not appear to change when clicking links since what changes is out of site below. The site is provided by two education professors who developed more detailed study skills programs that can be purchased from the site. (O)
Lightning BUG - Lightning BUG is intended to be a writing companion, a resource to draw on as you craft a narrative. The site has been deliberately published with a focus on fostering inspiration, finding voice, developing structure and encouraging an interest in writing. Recently, a short story section titled Firefly was added. Each month, visitors to the site are challenged with a new short story topic. A teacher resource section is available with lesson plans and worksheets to download. (m,o)
10 Big Myths about copyright explained - This is a particularly muddy issue with the ease of copying and pasting (or forwarding) online, whether in email or to a website. Since many people have varying ideas about what copyright does and doesn't protect, reminders about this topic are useful and relevant once in awhile. I particularly like the examples and explanations found on this site. Enjoy, and remember: violating copyright breaks the food chain! (Y, M, O, T)
Merriam-Webster Online - Not just a dictionary source. Also offers Free games on line such as Daily Crossword, PuzzleWord Game, Daily Buzzword For Kids, Word of the Day and a Daily Podcast (Y, M, O, T)
Just For Kids Who Love books - Are you a kid 8 to 14 years of age? If you are, you can send messages about books and reading which I will post on this site. Other kids can read your messages and respond to them. You can also read and write book reviews as well as read previews of books. (Y M)
Cheeky Monkey Magazine - This new online magazine (it's in PDF format) features the artwork and writing of homeschool students. There is no cost for the subscription and some of the work is quite good. They even pay a small fee if the work is published. Whether you just want to see what other homeschoolers are accomplishing or want to submit work of your own, Cheeky Monkey is worth a look (Y, M, O, T)
The Exquisite Prompt - A series of monthly writing challenges designed as a classroom activity for kids in grades K-12. Teachers can engage their students by selecting just one of the monthly challenges or try a new challenge every month. (Y, M, O, T)
Book Punch - Book Punch provides interactive writing prompts about books commonly taught in schools today. It takes students through the steps of thinking and writing about well-known upper-elementary core literature. Based on their personal experiences, students write paragraphs relating to themes in the books. They also write brief responses connecting details with ideas in the book to infer a deeper meaning. Hundreds of built-in supports and tips guide students step-by-step as they work through the program. A management system automatically saves student work and allows teachers to check student progress easily and create reports. In addition, printable vocabulary activities, graphic organizers and a writing rubric are provided for each book. Get Book Punch FREE for a year!!! (M O)
Easy Essay - An automated information organization program helpful for people who have a hard time organizing their thoughts. Through an interactive form, the user inputs a basic 3 point outline with a thesis statement. The outline form guides you through the addition of facts to support your points then gives you a split screen with the generated outline on one side and a text box into which you type your essay on the other side. Students who have trouble coming up with a consistent and logical outline will find it helpful. (Y, M, O, T)
Give Me Scholarships - Learn how to improve your chances at getting scholarships by taking advice from someone who has spent a lot of time awarding them at Give Me Scholarships. (O, T)
Monster Exchange - Monster Exchange is designed to encourage the development of reading and writing skills while integrating Internet technology into the classroom curriculum. Classrooms from a variety of schools worldwide are paired together; the students in each classroom are split into groups, each of which designs an original picture of a monster. The students must then write a description of the monster. The partnered classes then exchange their descriptions via e-mail and the Internet. These students are then challenged to use reading comprehension skills to read the descriptions and translate them into a monster picture. The true challenge involves creating a redrawn picture as close to the original picture as possible without looking at the original and using only the written description of the monster. Kindergarten-8th grade level. (Y, M)
Spelling
Spelling: A lost Art - An excellent article with 29 spelling rules that will encourage you to teach your students to spell using logical rules rather than memorization (T)
Spelling It Right - This no frills site is a great help if you are teaching spelling and do not want to use a purchased spelling curriculum. Spelling it Right comprises seventy pages of advice and free worksheets on spelling divided into logical categories that will help you (Y, M, O, T)
Spelldown lesson plan - This lesson plan is written around the online story Spelldown. "It gives modern and non-Appalachian students a taste of what school was like for both extremely poor children who were seen to be less than human and for children who were poor but avidly worked to improve themselves. Almost every student can relate to the situation described in "Spelldown" on some level, especially since spelling bees are still a part of many classrooms. There are always students who surprise us in so many different ways. (Y, M)
File Folder Game - Want a fun and effective way to review spelling words or the phonograms? All you have to do is sign up for the free spelling newsletter at All About Spelling and you can download this game. Have you heard of file folder games? They are a good way to review facts. All you need are the game board and some flashcards. You can use them to practice spelling, phonograms, math facts, geography facts, or any other subject. (Y)
Super Teacher Worksheets - Free, Printable Worksheets (Y, M, O, T)
Spice Up Your Spelling Words - When rote doesn't work, it's time to reach into your bag of tricks to make spelling special. Third grade teacher Sally Engle is the inspiration for this list of interesting things to do with spelling words. Many of these exercises can be done at home, with a parent sending a note back that the words were completed. (Y, M)
SpellingCity.com - SpellingCity is an online spelling program that makes practicing for spelling tests fun. (Y,M)
Fun Brain: Words - Online kids games for spelling, grammar and vocabulary. Grades K-8 (Y, M)
Grammar
Humorous Grammar Rules - Check out these little ditties to help point out errors in your student's work. (Y, M, O, T)
Grammar Gorillas - Interactive game for identifying parts of speech; beginner and advanced setting. (M,O)
Guide to Grammar and Writing - Prepared by a community college English professor, this site is like an online grammar textbook. You can chose from Word & Sentence Level, Paragraph Level, or Essay & Research Paper Level, as well as extras like Peripherals, Ask Grammar, and more. (Y, M, O, T)
Irregular Verbs - Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow the usual pattern of grammar. (Y)
Daily Grammar - Welcome to Daily Grammar! Improve your writing with this great instructional tool for all ages and skill levels, Daily Grammar lessons will transform you into a grammar pro! You are welcome to visit our free Lesson Archive at any time. (T,M,O)
Crazy Libs - The best way to learn Part of Speech! Read brief stories with your words strategically inserted to produce whacky results. Original stories, excerpts from classic literature, and excerpts from elsewhere on the RinkWorks site are featured. It's silly nonsense fun every time. (Y,M,T)
Power Proofreading - This interactive online editing game is part of the Houghton Mifflin English website. Stories to edit are available for grades 2-8 although I found the 2nd grade games too advanced for my late reader who is just finishing 1st grade. (Y,M,T)
Online Grammar Games - These games are for younger elementary students (some older ones may find them fun as well) and give practice for parts of speech, vowels and consonants, and rhyming words. Requires free Shockwave player. (Y, M, O, T)
Online educational software - This free math, phonics and science worksheets and games website for elementary grades includes customizable games and worksheet generators. (Y,M,T)
Grammar Girl - If you have ever wondered whether to say you feel bad or badly for someone, Grammar Girl is the place to go. (If you are describing an emotion the correct word is bad according to Grammar Girl. Visit her site for the reason.) Fans of Eats, Shoots, and Leaves will enjoy Grammar Girl's grammatically correct approach to current events and everything else. Available in written and audio format. (M,O)
Common Errors in English - (T,O)
Super Teacher Worksheets - Free, Printable Worksheets (Y, M, O, T)
Fun Brain: Words - Online kids games for spelling, grammar and vocabulary. Grades K-8 (Y, M)