National Endowment for the Humanities
A “New English” in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: A Common Core Exemplar
To examine the “New English” Chinua Achebe uses in Things Fall Apart, readers complete a series of worksheets that ask them to examine similes, proverbs, and African folktales contained in the novel. Individuals explain the meaning...
Curated OER
Create a Community that Promotes Academic Language
Set your elementary, middle, and high schoolers up for success by implementing a variety of strategies to build academic language.
Curated OER
The Poetics of Hip Hop
The Bard, Nikki Giovanni, Mos Def? “Sonnet 18,” Ego Tripping,” and “Black on Both Sides”? Sure! It’s the poetics. Class members compare the lyrics, rhythm, and rhyme in classic poetry to hip-hop in a richly detailed resource that...
Curated OER
"Their Eyes Were Watching God": Folk Speech and Figurative Language
Using or considering using Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God? Then this packet is a must for your curriculum library. The examination of how Hurston combines folklore and folk language to create the voice of her...
Curated OER
Vocabulary and Concept Development
After introducing your class to root words and affixes, present them with this short review and practice opportunity. To start, they share definitions of root words and affixes with their partners. Then, after looking at some affixes and...
Curated OER
Comma Splices
Ah, the comma splice; somehow it works its way into middle and high schoolers' writing quite often. To start, this worksheet defines comma splice and focuses on the four ways to correct them. For practice, pupils correct the comma...
Curated OER
Best Websites for English Teachers
Bookmark these grammar, writing, and literature websites to build your teaching arsenal, making life just a little bit easier.
Curated OER
Adapting the Game Concentration
I love classroom games, and this plan deftly describes how you can use the game Concentration across the curriculum to reinforce skills. I wish I would have thought of this when I was teaching this age level. These kinds of games are...
Curated OER
Grammar Bytes PowerPoint Presentation: Parallel Structure
When preparing students for standardized tests, this presentation about parallel structure could be a great way to review. Using concrete examples, and providing detailed explanations, students could use this as an independent review.
Curated OER
Identifying and Using Parallelism and Balance in Literature
Analyze the use of balanced sentences and parallelism in a narrative. Included in this resource is a narrative about serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan titled, "The Train Ride Home". Middle and high schoolers review...
Curated OER
Parallel Structure, Exercise 3
As the third worksheet in a series about parallel structure, this worksheet continues to challenge students' writing skills. It includes twenty multiple choice questions; students must select the correct phrase to complete each sentence...
Curated OER
Parallel Structure Practice
Practice parallel structure with a multiple-choice exercise. Twenty questions challenge learners of all ages to correctly fill in blanks with phrases that are parallel in structure to what is already there. Tip: As noted, this activity...
Curated OER
Major Regional Dialects
What does your dialect sound like? Examine variation in English as it relates to geographic regions with your class. They recognize some of the major differences between regional dialects and determine that everyone speaks a dialect....
San José State University
Parallelism
What is parallelism? Novice writers learn about parallelism and practice balancing 10 sentences for better syntax and parallel structure. A clear, straightforward worksheet with answers included.
Curated OER
Commas and Colons and Semicolons? OH MY!
Take a close look at both the definitions and uses of commas, colons, and semicolons. Commas set off clear parts of sentences, colons come before an explanation, and semicolons join two complete thoughts. Review these types of...
Curated OER
Sustainable Livestock
Students investigate healthy eating habits by researching livestock. In this food sustainability lesson, students research the negative impact factory farming has on our environment due to pollution. Students define agricultural...
Curated OER
Welcome to the Blogosphere
Create a blog spot for your classroom and promote online discussions. There are several blogging websites listed here, and you can create one specific to each class or one collective site. Teach your learners how to post on the blog, and...
Curated OER
Business English at Work: Verb Tense, Voice and Mood-Verbals
Demonstrate the various tenses of irregular and regular verbs. The verbs be, do, and have are charted out for the present tense, past tense, and past and present participles. Likewise, many regular verbs are conjugated into present,...
Curated OER
ASL Lesson 8
Another awesome ASL lesson! Teach ASL to a special ed class, hearing impaired child, or for your own enrichment. This lesson provides comprehensible ASL language development. Each highlighted blue area links to a video, printable image,...
San José State University
Semicolons
This worksheet provides a good description of when to use a semicolon, followed by 6 sentences to practice inserting punctuation. A key is provided.
Curated OER
Asking Questions
Review the basics of forming questions with this resource. ESL learners can practice forming questions, answering yes and no inquiries, and asking how long something takes. This resource provides a comprehensive exploration of the topic.
Curated OER
Building ELD Confidence Through Games
Fun ways to get your English Learner's involved in the classroom.
San José State University
Commonly Misused Words
After reviewing two pages of commonly misused words: effect/affect, accept/except, there/their/they're, etc., learners must choose the proper word in ten different sentences. Note: Answers are listed at the bottom of page three.
K20 LEARN
The War of the Words: Grammar and Parts of Speech
Here's a lesson that adds some zip to a study of parts of speech. Class members read two versions of the same article, one loaded with evocative nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, while the other is missing this sensory language....