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Technology Wiki
This is the Wiki that was created for a technology workshop I participated in this summer. There are lots of good resources and tutorials linked here. I've linked some of my favorites directly to this wiki, but this is a good one to click around to discover some new technology resources for the classroom.
http://techteachhistory.wikispaces.com/
Wordle - www.wordle.netThis is a great website that allows you to pull important words from a text in a creative and visually exciting way. Simply click "Create" on the homepage of Wordle, paste whatever text you're studying into the box, and hit "Go." It's pretty cool - play around with it! Here's a sample Wordle:
{Test Wordle.pdf}

This is a novel that I teach every year in 11th grade English. I think it's a great eye-opener for students, especially those who are somewhat isolated within their communities. It really gets kids thinking about other children around the world and how we can develop a global community by helping others overcome terrible obstacles.
http://alongwaygone.com/
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
This is an awesome website! There is also a podcast associated with it and a book available. This helps teach all those nit-picky rules like less vs. fewer. It's great! (By the way...you use "less" with non-countable nouns - i.e. It rained less today than yesterday. You use "fewer" with countable nouns - i.e. Kate has fewer Silly Bands than Samantha.)
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

American History on About.com
If students need to look up quick facts or do some basic research on some major historical events, this is a helpful site to click around. http://americanhistory.about.com/
A Long Way Gone Website
This is a novel that I teach every year in 11th grade English. I think it's a great eye-opener for students, especially those who are somewhat isolated within their communities. It really gets kids thinking about other children around the world and how we can develop a global community by helping others overcome terrible obstacles.
http://alongwaygone.com/

Resource Comments
What does everyone think of these resources, and how do you use them in your classroom? I'm always open to new ideas!

Spice up PowerPoints
I've got to admit that not all of my PowerPoints are "spicy" enough, but I'm working on making them better. This tutorial is helpful if you're going at it on your own.
American History on About.com
If students need to look up quick facts or do some basic research on some major historical events, this is a helpful site to click around. http://americanhistory.about.com/

Wordle - www.wordle.netThis is a great website that allows you to pull important words from a text in a creative and visually exciting way. Simply click "Create" on the homepage of Wordle, paste whatever text you're studying into the box, and hit "Go." It's pretty cool - play around with it! Here's a sample Wordle:
{Test Wordle.pdf}
Spice up PowerPoints
I've got to admit that not all of my PowerPoints are "spicy" enough, but I'm working on making them better. This tutorial is helpful if you're going at it on your own.

AddCool American Literature Textbook Features
Okay, this may sound silly, but I'm commenting on my textbook here. I've found that some English teachers use the textbook simply as an anthology of literary works, which it is. However, there are some other resources in there that can really help in the classroom. The book I'm using right now is Prentice Hall's Georgia Edition of The American Experience: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes (ISBN 0130624578). On the artifacts page of this wiki, I linked a lesson to introduce American Literature. Here are some things I've pulled from the textbook to assist in my creation of the PowerPoints there:
1. Timelines: the first one is on pages 2-3. There are many others throughout the text. I find that referencing these timelines often helps students to put the literature into context.
2. Introductions to time periods with historical background: the first one in our book is on pages 4-11. Again, I think this is something many teachers skip but can be a useful resource in contextualizing the literature that comes later on in the book.
Vocabulary Resource
I've found the book Painless Vocabulary by Michael Greenberg (ISBN 0764132407), and it teaches vocabulary in a way that is fun and easy for students at most secondary levels. It takes those words that we assume our students already know (and in many cases don't know) and focuses on them, rather than on huge multisyllabic words the students will never again see.
Writing Resource
I'm going to try using this book as a supplement this year for GHSGWT. Hopefully, it will help - it looks great! It's called Writing in 15 Minutes a Day and is published by Learning Press (ISBN 9781576856635). I think the lessons will take longer than 15 minutes, but they do a great job of breaking down the writing process and making it simple for the students.

{American Lit EOCT Terms Review.pptx}
{American Lit EOCT Terms Review 2.pptx}
Introduction to American Literature Lesson
This lesson is a comprehensive introduction to American Literature through an historical lense. The linked Word document includes objectives (with standards), materials needed, procedures, assessment, and follow-up. The PowerPoint presentations for the lesson and the quiz are embedded in the original Word document, but I have also uploaded them here just in case the embedded documents don't open. Also, check out some of the American Literature websites and readings I've listed to use as supplements or further activities to go along with this lesson. Enjoy!
{Introducing American Literature Through American History.docx}
{Major Historical Events That Influenced American Literature.pptx}
{Major American Literary Movements.pptx}
{Introduction to American Literature Quiz.docx}