Curated OER
Are You Thirsty? The Effects of Pollution on Drinking Water
Discuss the availability of clean, plentiful water and the causes of water pollution. In groups, sixth graders discuss problem-solving methods for keeping water clean. They explore the function of water treatment plants and perform...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Building Word Knowledge Through Informational Websites
A lesson plan through which students identify, understand and work with important vocabulary words found in an online article on biodiversity. Based on the "Ten Important Words Plus" strategy that teachers can employ as part of...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Avalanche, Aztek, or Bravada? A Connotation Minilesson
Interesting lesson which stresses the importance of connotation in writing by examining car names. Students participate in an interactive lesson in which they learn the value of connotation and begin to master the technique.
Read Works
Read Works: Passages: The Mountain
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read a fiction text about an unexpected love and answer questions about comprehension, setting, vocabulary, transitions, and more. A paired text and questions are also available.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Common Words With Multiple Meanings
This lesson explains common words with multiple meanings: some similar and some very different meanings and the impact of parts of speech on meaning. It discusses six common words with their multiple meanings and different parts of...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Using Sentence Structure (Part of Speech)
This slideshow lesson focuses on using sentence structure and parts of speech to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. It explains how to look for parentheses or commas after unfamiliar words to help determine meaning; it also shows...
University of Victoria (Canada)
U Vic Writer's Guide: Literary and Rhetorical Terms: An Alphabetical List
This is an alphabetical list of literary and rhetorical terms; each includes a definition and examples.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Understand New Vocabulary Within Context (English 6 Reading)
You will learn how to use context (e.g., cause and effect or compare and contrast organizational text structures) to determine or clarify the meaning of unfamiliar or multiple-meaning words.
Other
Streeter: Semiotics and Advertising
A slide show that offers a good study of connotation and how it refers to semiotics. Symbols are not the things they represent. L.11-12.5b Nuance
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Imagery and Figurative Language (Grade 6)
This lesson focuses on the use of imagery and figurative language in writing to aid understanding and create images in the mind.
PBS
Pbs: Academic Vocabulary in the Common Core: Middle School English Language Arts
This video [14:33] shows a demonstration of academic vocabulary instruction through the context of a complex work, a poem. The teacher demonstrates how to access the literal meaning of new vocabulary and then infer the deeper meaning....
City University of New York
Cuny Brooklyn: Literary Terms
Site gives definitions of many literary terms including "characterization."
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Classroom Strategies: Frayer Model
The Frayer Model is a strategy that uses a graphic organizer for vocabulary building. This technique requires students to (1) define the target vocabulary words or concepts, and (2) apply this information by generating examples and...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Classroom Strategies: Mnemonics
A mnemonic is an instructional strategy designed to help students improve their memory of important information. This technique connects new learning to prior knowledge through the use of visual and/or acoustic cues. The basic types of...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Using Technology to Support Struggling Students: Vocabulary
To be scientifically literate, students must be able to express themselves appropriately. Learn how to help struggling students master specific vocabulary and be able to use it in their science writing activities.
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Content Area Literacy: Science
The demands of comprehending scientific text are discipline specific and are best learned by supporting students in learning how to read a wide range of scientific genres. Besides text structures emphasizing cause and effect, sequencing...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Linking the Language: A Cross Disciplinary Vocabulary Approach
A strategy for vocabulary instruction that involves introducing new vocabulary in related clusters. This approach can help diverse learners, including those students learning English, to make important vocabulary connections.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Foreshadowing
This is a glossary entry for the term "Foreshadowing" including a definition, examples, and a link to more information.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Analogy
This is a glossary entry for the term "Analogy" including the definition, an example, and links to more information.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Metaphor
This is a glossary entry for the term "Metaphor" including a definition and links to simile, personification, hyperbole, anology, and other figures of speech.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Personification
This is a glossary entry for the term "Personification" including a defintion and two literary examples.
Ted Nellen
Cyber English (By Ted Nellen): Simile
This is a glossary entry for the term "Simile" including a definition and examples in a cartoon and in literary works. Links are provided to more information and examples.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Death Personified
In this lesson plan, students will personify an object within a poem. They will focus on voice and word choice in order to fully convey their message.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Figure of Speech
Wikipedia provides a detailed definition of figure of speech, and then includes hyperlinks to different types of figures of speech.