This resource explores instructional practices for persuasive essay writing in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies classes. It uses original content from the Texas Adolescent Literacy Academies: Focus on...

This lesson is a final step towards supporting students to practice writing an informative/explanatory paragraph conveying complex ideas and presenting information clearly and accurately. Second-grade students can usually write a...

Thse instructional practices use model or mentor sentences to help students learn how authors use conventions to clarify and convey meaning in their writing. These instructional practices are described in detail in Handout 14: Teaching...

This lesson plan serves as an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing and focuses primarily on teaching some basic approaches to recognizing rhetorical strategies adopted for persuasive effect in essays and non-fiction. The...

This site focuses on teaching essay writing to high school students including the basic five-paragaph essay, tips for teaching essay writing, and examples of guides.

Critical thinking, comprehension and analysis skills are the focus of this physical activity. Good beginning to teaching different ways of looking at things.

Contains plans for three lessons designed to improve comprehension of nonfiction, especially nonfiction texts on the web. It focuses on identifying text features, locating specific information, and generalizing that information. In...

Reading unit plan focusing on picture books. It contains ten days worth of teaching suggestions that use a variety of reading strategies including modeled as well as independent reading and writing. Also includes five printable...

Designed as an online companion for instructors using the Heath Anthology, this site focuses on "Babylon Revisited" and "May Day" (two stories found in the anthology). It discusses classroom strategies for teaching Fitzgerald, along with...