1. Spelling City  Spelling City is a fun new educational site that can help children improve their spelling skills:
   -  contains over 25,000 words, including plurals, contractions, future and past tenses. -  uses a REAL human voice that says both the word and the word in a sentence -  a 'Teach Me' function that spells out the word using both visual and auditory input to improve retention -  teachers and parents can enter and save their own spelling lists for their students/children
   -  students can play games with their words or any saved lists
   -  teachers and parents can save and share their lists.
   -  the forum allows teachers and parents to share lists and ideas   4 Star
2. Words with multiple meanings - students fill in the blanks from a word list.
3. Context is the Key - students use context clues to determine the meaning of a word.
4. Using Multiple Meanings - students decide which sentences use a word correctly .

2.   Apply knowledge of connotation and denotation to determine the meaning of words.

1. Literary Terms quiz - Choose whether the line from a poem is an example of alliteration, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification, or simile
2. Simile Poem - Read a simile poem, then write one of your own.
3. Simile Riddle - Read a simile riddle, then write one of your own.
4. Alliteration or Simile? - Choose whether each statement is an alliterative phrase, simile or neither.
5. Do you know your similes? - drag the nouns to complete a Simile (Refresh the page to get a new set.)
6. Metaphor Quiz - drag words to complete the metaphor (you have one minute to finish)
7. Simile lesson with a printable quiz
8. What is a Simile - explanation and a short quiz

1. Foreign Words and Phrases-The English meanings given are not necessarily literal translations.

1. The following ON LINE quizzes are a result of the following two people:  Created by:  Miss Stephanie Weston   Inspiration by Miss Harman English Teacher Willoughby-Eastlake Schools 

   1. Prefixes
   2. Suffixes

   3. Latin root words A-G

   4. Latin Root words H-O

   5. Latin Root words P-Z

   6. Number Prefixes

   Word Roots from EdHelper-This web site has over 20 printable worksheets and puzzles that cover word roots, prefixes, and suffixes, including Greek and Latin examples.

2. Rooting out Words - Funbrain-This web site is an interactive game dealing with root words, prefixes, and suffixes. You can pick several levels of difficulty and different subject matter.
3. Bingo Lingo game-This is a printable document (in PDF form) with directions, game boards, and game cards for Bingo Lingo. To play the game players match words on their bingo cards with word roots drawn at random. The winner is the first player to get three words in a row, column, or diagonal.
4. Root Words from Skillwise-At this web site you work with root words in three sections. First, you can read two fact sheets to learn about root words. Second, you can take three online quizzes over what you learned. Third, you can do a printable worksheet on the material.
5. Roots and their Families - Part 1-At this great interactive web site, students complete words in sentences by typing in the correct root, sort roots to complete sentences correctly, and answer questions about new words by using their roots as clues.
6. Word Parts (with Harry Potter words)-At this web site students study Latin and Greek bases for words. For each base listed, an onsite worksheet provides its meaning, practice with the base, sample words and their meanings, and fill-in-the-blank sentences. Several of the bases relate to the Harry Potter books.
7. Suffixes from TV411-In these online lessons, students choose definitions of words based on their suffixes and on context clues, make new words by adding a suffix to a root word, and use suffixes to complete words. Suffixes include -able, -ful, -less, -ly, -or, -er, -ment, and more.
8. Prefixes Say Plenty-This web site has interactive exercises that help students understand the role of 10 prefixes, including pre-, post-, uni-, bi-, tri-, quad-, pro-, anti-, and more.

1. The Thesaurus - a reference book that lists words and their synonyms - Drag and drop the words to the right thesaurus entry.
2. On Line Quiz Vocabulary Quiz  Created by:  Michelle Brothers

1. Book Pals  Don't just read a story; hear it read to you by actress and actors from the screen actors guild.  On line streaming video with many special affects.   This is a fantastic website for kids of all ages.   4 Star  
2. Video on Elements of Literature  and major Genres of literature.  *by Debbie Cattell

1. Drawing Inferences in Text: Some Key Ideas
2. Teaching Students to Make Inferences
3. Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions - descriptions of the various ways to aid you in reaching a conclusion
4. Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions - descriptions of the various ways to aid you in reaching a conclusion
5. Drawing Conclusions - Read the story and select the letter of the correct response.

1. Video on the importance of settings.  Will run faster if you download first prior to running.  Very good video.

1. Movie transcripts   You will find the transcripts from many if not all movies made on this website.  You will notice how they identify and explain various types of characters.  4 Star

1. Grade 7 Interactive Online Reading Assessment from 2005 TAKS-This is an interactive online reading test that gives the student several passages to read, and then has several multiple choice questions after each passage. When done, the student can click the "Score Test" button and get a detailed report on how they did. This is from the 2005 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
2. Grade 7 Interactive Online Reading Assessment from 2003 TAKS-This is an interactive online reading test that gives the student several passages to read, and then has several multiple choice questions after each passage. When done, the student can click the "Score Test" button and get a detailed report on how they did. This is from the 2003 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
3. Literacy Learning Resources from CBS and CNN-This site has dozens of actual stories from CBS and CNN, including the full text, the abridged text, an outline, a video of the story, and the audio read aloud. After the student reads the story they can take online interactive quizzes over the material covering vocabulary, word selection, sequencing, conclusions, and more.
4. Brainchild Test - 12 questions - Students should use the summary page after finishing this test to practice their areas of weakness.
5. Literal Understanding - Interactive quizzes with factual information on planets
6. News Quiz Archive - over 50 news stories from the BBC. Each story has a ten question quiz associated with it. They also have a section of stories which include math in the news and the quiz
7. Read a Contract - and answer questions
8. Reading Comprehension stories - Interactive quizzes online for 5 stories - Each text is followed by a grammar exercise and summary writing exercise.
9. Reading Comprehension Quiz- Online quiz
10. Reading Exercises - Comprehension, Fill in and Sequencing
11. Main Idea - Building Blocks of Comprehension
12. What's the Big Idea? Exercise 1 - Write the common subject for each group of words, or "write a good title for each list." - a worksheet to print, not interactive
13. What's the Big Idea? Exercise 2 - Write the common subject for each group of words, or "write a good title for each list." - a worksheet to print, not interactive
14. What's the Big Idea? Exercise 3 - a bit harder than 1 & 2 - Write the common subject for each group of words, or "write a good title for each list." Then add another example that could be included in that group. Be as specific as you can. - a worksheet to print, not interactive
15. Reading Comprehension - free reading comprehension worksheets for teachers and parents - includes original stories, poems, essays, and articles
16. Main Idea - The main idea of a paragraph is what all the sentences are about. Read the paragraph and ask, “What’s your point?”

1. Seventh Grade Reading - Read the introduction and the passage that follows. Then read each question and mark the circle next to the correct answer.

1. Book Adventure-Looking for a good book? Put in your grade level and topics of interest and find your next story to read.
    

1. News Quiz Archive - over 50 news stories from the BBC. Each story has a ten question quiz associated with it. They also have a section of stories which include math in the news and the quiz

1. Cause and Effect Graphic Organizers-This web site has a collection of Adobe PDF files of Graphic Organizers that teachers can use for helping to teach Cause and Effect. (Contributed by: Linda Lindquist)
2. Fact or Opinion Quiz - Decide which of these statements are fact or opinion from the drop-down list, then click on the "Finished" button to obtain your score out of ten.
3. Fact or Opinion? (quiz 1) - a Quia quiz
4. Fact or Opinion? (quiz 2) - a Quia quiz
5. Fact or Opinion? - In the following three sentences, two are facts and one is an opinion. Can you tell which is which?
6. Fact, Habit, Opinion or Schedule? - an English-Zone quiz
7. Fact or Opinion? - When a sentence is a fact, click the circle next to fact.
8. Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion
9. Fact and Opinion Self-Test
10. Martin Luther King Jr.: Fact or Opinion? (a worksheet to print)
11. A mix of factual information and the opinions of the author. Often the opinions are disguised as fact, to make the author's argument seem more believable.
12. Making The Relationship Explicit Between Your Ideas - from UniLearning - Academic Writing
13. Cause-and-Effect Writing Challenges Students - The cause-and-effect relationship is both a way of thinking and a format for writing. Teachers who emphasize cause-and-effect writing say that they are helping students learn to think critically as well as write cogently. Read what three experienced teachers have to say about this teaching approach, which can be used with students of all ages. This is an article from Education World magazine .
     

1. Persuasion in Advertisements-This web site teaches about persuasive techniques in ads including testimonials, bandwagon, and transfer. An interactive quiz is included.

1. Movie transcripts   You will find the transcripts from many if not all movies made on this website.  You will notice how they identify and explain various types of characters.  4 Star

1. An Overview of Poetry - a comprehensive show on the topic of rhythm and rhyme

1. Communicating    You have the opportunity to create a Poster, Newspaper and or a Cartoon.  This website is very good and will allow students to learn how to transform their ideas to a hard copy that they may printout.   This is great for an LCD projector or a computer lab.  4 Star
2. Communicating through Garfield  Your students may create a cartoon and depending on your experience with technology they may create a complete story.  You will only be limited by your technology background and your imagination. 4 Star 
3.   

1. Techniques for Writing: Writing Thesis Statements for Essays-This web site has extensive information on writing a thesis as well as interactive exercises the students can take online to check their understanding.
2. Thesis Builder and Online Outliner-Enter your topic, main opinion, strongest supporting arguments and main argument against your opinion to get an auto-generated thesis statement and research paper outline.
3. Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements – from the OWL at Purdue 11/12/05
4. Trailblazing Introductions (6 - 8) Students develop a sense of beginning by using strong leads. (Author - Laurie Ayers)
    

1. Purpose and Audience-This online study guide from Encyclopedia Britannica is on purpose and audience. It covers an explanation for determining why we write and to whom, in a variety of settings and styles.
    

1. Graphic Organizers-Various printable graphic organizers.
2. Family Tree-Family Tree shows how family members are related.
3. Graphic Organizer Maker-The teacher tools below will allow you to make graphic organizers by filling out a simple form. The materials are made instantly and can be printed directly from your computer. Your creations are exclusive to you. If you would like to keep your creations, save them when you make them.
4. Graphic Organizer Worksheets
5. Library of Graphic Organizers

1. How to Write a Book Report-Follow the steps for writing about a particular book which often gives the writer’s opinion. Includes an example paper, idea organizer and proofreading checklist.
    

1. Paragraph Organization-This online study guide from Encyclopedia Britannica is on paragraph organization. It includes a discussion of the creation of logical and cohesive paragraphs, including topic sentences, paragraph unity, coherence, and transitions.
2. Techniques for Writing: Writing Topic Sentences for Paragraphs-This web site has extensive information on writing a topic sentence as well as interactive exercises the students can take online to check their understanding.

1. Nouns    Smart Board presentation with video on this part of English Language.  SB  Created by:  Shannon Weston
2. Adjectives  Smart Board presentation with video on this part of English Language  SB  Created by:  Shannon Weston
3. Verbs  Smart Board presentation with video on this part of the English language. SB  Created by:  Shannon Weston
4. Techniques for Writing: Using Specific Language- This web site has extensive information on precise language as well as interactive exercises the students can take online to check their understanding.

1. Kids Magnetic Poetry Page-On this web site you click on a poetry kit and it brings up a Refrigerator and over 100 different magnet words that the students will use to create a magnetic poem, sentence, or story! The student can also submit their work or look at some of the already submitted examples.
   (Submitted by: Kurt Huffman)

1. Techniques for Writing: Giving Examples and Explanations-This web site has extensive information on elaborating on an idea as well as interactive exercises the students can take online to check their understanding.
    

1. Guide to Grammar   You will find that this is an outstanding site to assist you and your students in learning proper grammar  4 Star

1. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary and Thesaurus-Excellent dictionary and thesaurus. Easy to use with lots of good information on each word. This site will even pronounce the word for you.

1. Activities for ESL/EFL Students-Don't be fooled by the name of this site. It is an excellent resource for all students of the English language. There are over 1,000 quizzes, exercises and puzzles on every topic of grammar, punctuation, writing, and more. Begin by looking through the Easy, Medium, and Difficult Grammar Quizzes.
2. Power Proofreading- This site has many fun proofreading exercises for grades 2 through 8, covering many areas of writing.
3. Grade 7 Interactive Online Writing Assessment from 2005 TAKS-This is an interactive online writing test that gives the student several passages to read, and then has several multiple choice questions after each passage related to grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization. When done, the student can click the "Score Test" button and get a detailed report on how they did. This is from the 2005 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
4. Grade 7 Interactive Online Writing Assessment from 2003 TAKS-This is an interactive online writing test that gives the student several passages to read, and then has several multiple choice questions after each passage related to grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization. When done, the student can click the "Score Test" button and get a detailed report on how they did. This is from the 2003 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
5. Grammar Gorilla-Our friends, the Grammar Gorillas, need help identifying parts of speech. If you click on the right word in the sentence, our friends get a banana. And you know, a gorilla with a banana is a gorilla with appeal.
6. Seventh Grade Writing - Read the introduction and the passage that follows. Then read each question and mark the circle next to the correct answer.
7. 
    

1. Peer Editing Strategies-This site has several articles on peer editing such as "Do's and Don'ts" and a peer editing guide.
2. Techniques for Writing: Giving and Receiving Peer Responses- This page has good guidelines for giving and receiving peer feedback on writing.

1. Create your own Cartoons   This site will allow the student to design and create their own cartoons and printout a story.  You will discover that there is much detail to this page.  Students may use their imagination and be totally engaged when learning. 4 Star

1. Smart Board assignment for writing works with settings.  Good idea  SB

1. Poem writing   Create your own "I Am" poem by filling in each blank. Be sure to select all the words (and parentheses) that are already in each blank before entering your own words.  4 Star

1. Letter Writing-This online study guide from Encyclopedia Britannica is on writing letters for a variety of purposes. Covers job applications, letters to the editor, letters asking for information, and personal letters.

1. The Five Paragraph Essay

1. Giggle Poetry-Learn how to write nursery rhymes, limericks, and list poems. Fill-in-the-blank poems,poetry theater, and more!

1. Spelling-This web site has extensive information on spelling as well as quizzes the students can take online to check their understanding.
2. Online Spelling Quizzes - numerous quizzes in TCAP format

1. Guide to Grammar   You will find that this is an outstanding site to assist you and your students in learning proper grammar  4 Star
2. Commas-This is a great interactive review site all about commas. Included are fact sheets, games, quizzes, and worksheets.
3. Capitalization and Punctuation-This web site has extensive information on punctuation as well as quizzes the students can take online to check their understanding. Specific sections include commas (6), end marks (3,4,5), and quotation marks (9).
4. Punctuation Marks-This is an excellent site explaining punctuation. Here you will find explanations, online quizzes, and great PowerPoint presentations you can download for use in class.
5. Apostrophes-This is a great interactive review site all about apostrophes. Included are fact sheets, games, quizzes, and worksheets.
6. Using Commas-This web site teaches about using commas and includes many good examples and an interactive quiz.
7. More Using Commas-This is another web site that teaches about using commas. There are many good examples, an online quiz, and a printable quiz.
8. Power Proofreading - Choose 7th grade then select; Climb Every Mountain, , or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
9.  

1. Guide to Grammar   You will find that this is an outstanding site to assist you and your students in learning proper grammar  4 Star
2. Punctuation Marks-This is an excellent site explaining punctuation. Here you will find explanations, online quizzes, and great PowerPoint presentations you can download for use in class.
3. Capitalization and Punctuation-This web site has extensive information on punctuation as well as quizzes the students can take online to check their understanding. Specific sections include semicolons (8) and colons (7).
4. Power Proofreading - Choose 7th grade then select; Letter to Ms. Flack, , or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
5. Repairing Run-On Sentences - After each run-on sentence below select the remedy that would best repair that sentence.
6. Fragments and Run-On's - After each sentence, select the option which best describes that sentence.
7. Avoiding Comma Splices - Click on "The sentence, please!" and a sentence containing a comma splice will appear in the top text-area. Repair the sentence.
8. Avoiding Comma Splices II - Click on "The sentence, please!" and a sentence containing a comma splice will appear in the top text-area. Repair the sentence.
9. A sample of a good 239-word sentence - It's not the kind of thing you'd want to read very often, but it does work. Remember, this is not a run-on sentence.
10. Run-on/Comma Splice/Fragment Quiz
11. Run on's and Comma Splices - Look at the passage and decide whether the sentence is correct or whether it is a run-on.

1. Capitalization-This is an excellent site explaining capitalization. Here you will find explanations, an online quiz, and a fantastic PowerPoint presentation you can download for use in class.
2. Capitalization and Punctuation: Capital Letters-This web site has extensive information on capitalization as well as quizzes the students can take online to check their understanding.

1. Definitions of Basic Sentence Parts-This web site has extensive information on all the parts of speech as well as quizzes the students can take online to check their understanding.
2. Wacky Web Tales-This is an online version of Madlibs, where the students can brush up on their parts of speech, while having fun making a silly story.
3. Adverbs Quiz-Select a level and test your knowledge of adverbs.
4. Power Proofreading - Choose 7th grade then select; Around the World, Five O'clock News, E-mail to Debbie, or any one of the mixed practice exercises.
5. Practicing adverbs, adjectives, nouns, pronouns, verbs - Word Skills 1 | Word Skills 2 | Word Skills 3
6. Breaking Down Compound Words - In the following sentences, find the compound word and type it in as two separate words.
7. Forming Compound Words - Match the words in the center with the words in the corners to form compound words that are found in a kitchen.
8. Compound Word Characters - read a passage then select the appropriate compound words
    

1. Embedded Thoughts-This web site has extensive information on clauses as well as quizzes the students can take online to check their understanding.

1. Verb subject agreement -This is a great interactive review site all about subject-verb agreement. Included are fact sheets, games, quizzes, and worksheets.
2. Subject-Verb Agreement -This web site has extensive information on subject-verb agreement as well as quizzes the students can take online to check their understanding.
3. Recognizing Prepositions - The following paragraph is taken from Ernest Hemingway's short story "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber." Click on the prepositions in the order in which they appear and they will appear in the text-area below the paragraph.
4. Quiz on Prepositions - For each question, choose the single best answer
5. Prepositions at the Crossword I - Type the correct letter in each box. Use the tab key to move from box to box or use your mouse-button to place the letter in each box.
6. Prepositions at the Crossword II - Type the correct letter in each box. Use the tab key to move from box to box or use your mouse-button to place the letter in each box.
7. Prepositions at the Crossword III - Type the correct letter in each box. Use the tab key to move from box to box or use your mouse-button to place the letter in each box.

1. Verbs -This web site has extensive information on verbs as well as quizzes the students can take online to check their understanding. Sections 5, 6, and 7 deal specifically with tenses.

1. KnightCite Citation Machine-A free bibliography creation tool. The user can choose the citation style from MLA, APA, or Chicago. They are prompted for information regarding the resource used, and then are given the citation in proper format. (Submitted by: Paula Cline)

1. KnightCite Citation Machine -A free bibliography creation tool. The user can choose the citation style from MLA, APA, or Chicago. They are prompted for information regarding the resource used, and then are given the citation in proper format.
   (Submitted by: Paula Cline)

    a.  demonstrate an understanding of the topic and present events or ideas in a logical sequence;

b.  support the controlling idea or thesis with well-chosen and relevant facts, details, examples, quotations, statistics, stories and anecdotes;

c.  include an effective introduction and conclusion and use a consistent organizational structure (e.g., cause-effect,
compare-contrast, problem-solution);

d.  use appropriate visual materials (e.g., diagrams, charts, illustrations) and available technology; and

a.  establish a clear position;

b.  include relevant evidence to support position and to address counter-arguments; and

c.  consistently use common organizational structures as appropriate (e.g., cause-effect, compare-contrast).