Curated Video
The Battle of Fort McHenry
The War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain ultimately ended in stalemate, but in the aftermath of one U.S. victory, a poem was penned that would become the new nation’s national anthem.
Curated Video
Shirley Jackson
A master of the macabre, Shirley Jackson explores the creepy underbelly of domestic life, with a sharp focus on the challenges that women face.
Curated Video
Richard Wright
At a time when Jim Crow laws made racial segregation legal across much of the United States, author Richard Wright gave voice to a struggle – as the first African American author to achieve widespread critical and commercial success.
Curated Video
Octavia Butler
First popularized as a genre of literature in the 1920s, for decades science fiction was dominated by white male authors. That is until Octavia Butler, an African American woman, rewrote the script.
Curated Video
Beverly LaHaye
At a time when many women in the United States were campaigning for greater rights, Beverly LaHaye raised her voice for traditional values. An expert activist and founder of Concerned Women for America, today she is admired and reviled...
Curated Video
Angela Davis
Despite being on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted list, Angela Davis went on to become an international symbol of resistance against social injustice.
Curated Video
Alice Walker
As the first Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, Alice Walker helped to bring the Black experience to readers across the globe. A true trailblazer, her work continues to entertain and enlighten.
Curated Video
Who's the Author?
Miss Palomine explains what an author is. She shows your student where he can find the name of the author on a book. Miss Palomine then makes up her own story and encourages your student to become an author by telling a story to you, his...
Curated Video
What's an Illustrator?
Miss Palomine explains what an illustrator is. She shows your student where he can find the name of the illustrator on a book. Miss Palomine draws an illustration using the poem “What Are Little Boys Made Of?” She then encourages your...
Curated Video
Atmosphere and Allusion
“Atmosphere and Allusion” describes two literary techniques that contribute to an author’s style. Atmosphere includes sensory details to describe the mood that the author creates. Allusion occurs when an author references people, places,...
Curated Video
Leo Lionni
Miss Palomine tells the student about the biography of Leo Lionni and gives examples of some of his best-loved storybooks.
The Guardian
Is this inclusive? Why only 4% of children's book heroes are BAME
More than 33% of students at UK schools are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, but only 4% of the protagonists in children's books in the UK are BAME. The publishing industry has made big claims about its push for inclusivity...
Curated Video
Dashes in Sentences
Dashes in Sentences demonstrates correct English grammar and conventions by using dashes in sentences to set off nonrestrictive, parenthetical elements.
Curated Video
Author’s Purpose
Author’s Purpose determines the importance of writing for purpose by reading passages and identifying the author’s purpose for writing.
Curated Video
Credible Sources
Credible Sources recognizes if a source is credible by looking at examples of various sources and determining their credibility.
Curated Video
Supporting the Main Idea –Informational
Supporting the Main Idea –Informational analyzes informational text by showing how paraphrasing and quotes support the main idea.
Curated Video
Bibliography
Bibliography teaches how to create a bibliography page that includes citations for sources used to research an assigned topic using correct format, capitalization, and punctuation.
Curated Video
Figurative Language and Tone
Figurative Language and Tone interprets figurative language and shows its relationship to tone.
Curated Video
Author’s Purpose Types
Author’s Purpose Types explores the three types of author’s purpose: to entertain, to persuade, and to inform.
Curated Video
Interpreting Literature
“Interpreting Literature” looks at the technique of making meaning from what an author writes both literally and figuratively within a literary work. This skill is known as interpretation. Readers can use various techniques to interpret...
Curated Video
Incorrect Shifts in Pronoun Persons
Incorrect Shifts in Pronoun Persons demonstrates proper English grammar by editing a paragraph with incorrect shifts in pronoun persons.
Curated Video
Intended Audience
Intended Audience explores the importance of keeping the intended audience in mind when writing by identifying types of audiences.
Curated Video
Formal and Informal Style
Formal and Informal Styles compares and contrasts formal and informal styles by analyzing examples of each style.
Curated Video
Citing Sources: Encyclopedia Article
Citing Sources: Encyclopedia Article shows how to cite a print source when provided with the title, author, publication, and copyright information by writing the correct citation for an encyclopedia article using correct capitalization...