English Companion Ning Group

* See what your friends are reading. * Keep track of what you've read and what you'd like to read. * Get great book recommendations from people you know. * Answer book trivia and collect your favorite quotes.

Site at SFMOMA that corresponds to the exhibit of the 1000 journals project.

Goes directly to the Tough Choices Tough Times report (a summary of it) which is the latest version of the SCANS report several decades ago. Tough Times looks at what the workplace says kids need to graduate knowing how to do if we are to remain economica

tips on how to use blogging with students

Important, essential blog for English teachers

info on using blogging in the classroom

Edward Tufte's website!

Useful digest of current educational issues, reports, trends from Scholastic. Intended audience if administrators but is good for all.

Collection of tips and curriclum for blogging in the classroom with students.

The Isis Lecture Pullman gave which focuses on his thoughts about education and literature. A remarkable speech.

Good, updated blog for English teachers

an interesting application/site that allows you to examine "semantic relationships" between elements in an online site/discussion.

This is my blog, a place where I can reflect on a variety of subjects I consider in the course of my studies, writing, and teaching.

The Yale Grand Strategy Program offers a compelling instructional model for 6-12 to consider in both English and Social Studies classes. One might compare it to a literary/text-based think tank used to hone critical and political thinking.

A classic painting from English Romantic artist that has been used for many book covers. Most recently encountered on cover and as guiding metaphor in Gaddis's "The Landscape of History" (very interesting book). Plan to use this first day of class to generate discussion in AP Lit about painting, literature, art, and their lives.

Excellent article from Teachers College Review. Here is passage from abstract that captures the focus: "But what exactly is "teaching thinking"? Do the many theories and programs of teaching thinking speak of the same "thinking," "good thinking," and "teaching thinking"? I claim here that there is actually not one approach to "teaching thinking" but three-three approaches to teaching thinking that compete with each other for control of the field. A conceptual mapping of the approaches to teaching thinking will, I hope, enable further theoretical development of this field and its more effective application in teaching."

So important to consider the role of brain-based instruction and such faculties as creativity and imagination at this point. This USA Today article sums up some of those issues and concerns and names the books, especially Pink's Whole New Mind, that teachers need to know about and incorporate the ideas of into their teaching.