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This WebQuest challenges you to investigate techniques of persuasive writing and critical reading skills. It allows you to strengthen your technology skills, exercise your creativity, practice your research skills, and visit newspaper editorials to discriminate between fact from opinion.

"10 Ways to Develop Expository Writing Skills With The New York Times"

Film Studies Unit

Camera Shots A camera shot is the amount of space that is seen in one shot or frame. Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of a film's setting, characters and themes. As a result, camera shots are very important in shaping meaning in a film. Reviewing the examples on the right hand side of this page should make the different camera shots clearer.

"One-Minute Monologue" Builds Communication Skills

Expository Writing

What is Expository Writing? Exposition is a type of oral or written discourse that is used to explain, describe, give information or inform. The creator of an expository text can not assume that the reader or listener has prior knowledge or prior understanding of the topic that is being discussed. One important point to keep in mind for the author is to try to use words that clearly show what they are talking about rather then blatantly telling the reader what is being discussed. Since clarity requires strong organization, one of the most important mechanisms that can be used to improve our skills in exposition is to provide directions to improve the organization of the text.

Some of my colleagues might really frown on this, but I've found that poetry is an obstacle for many students because they lack a basic technique for making sense of it. They've heard all about the sound and the rhythm and the imagery and all that good stuff. And yeah, yeah, that's important, but it has to come later. It has to come after you figure out what the darned thing means in the first place. Contrary to what you might think, you already have the skills to do that. Here are three quick tips that might take the mystery out of reading poetry.

Targeting Text A Guided Writing Project Targeting Text was a collaborative project undertaken by teachers from a cluster of three schools in the Bowen District - Lindisfarne Primary, Lindisfarne North Primary and Cambridge Primary. The purpose of the project was to focus on the place of guided writing in a balanced writing program. Inspired and supported by Dr Jan Turbill of the University of Wollongong, the teachers were able to develop and share their own skills in using guided writing as a key teaching strategy.

Flipping the Script: Critical Thinking in a Hip Hop World , is designed to help educators teach media literacy concepts and media production skills around the exciting and engaging theme of Hip-Hop culture and music.

Listening to Themselves: Podcasting Takes Lessons Beyond the Classroom Student-produced podcasts bolster knowledge and communication skills.

In this lesson, students consider the educational value of video games by examining what books and video games have in common and debating whether playing video games leads to improved literacy skills.

Here's how to start using SpellingCity: the online spelling program that makes practicing for spelling tests fun: If you are a student, start by entering some words into the "Start Here" box and test your spelling skills. If you are a teacher (or parent), start by using the site like a student to get familiar with the site. Then, teachers (and parents) should create an account so you can save word lists. The reason to register for SpellingCity is to save spelling lists.

You already spend a lot of time trying to persuade your parents or teachers to allow you to watch more TV or do less homework. Now you can use those same skills to write a persuasive essay!

This lesson encourages students to use skills and knowledge they may not realize they already have. A classroom game introduces students to the basic concepts of lobbying for something that is important to them (or that they want) and making persuasive arguments. Students then choose their own persuasive piece to analyze and learn some of the definitions associated with persuasive writing. Once students become aware of the techniques used in oral arguments, they then apply them to independent persuasive writing activities.

"A Word About Reading Workshop Reading workshop gives students the opportunity to read a wider range of material than might be found in a basal reading series and to respond to the material in a many ways (Atwell, 1989). Teachers have used this rather broadly defined model to create various experiences for their students. Generally, a considerable block of time is set aside each day for reading workshop. During that time students typically engage in the following activities: * reading and responding to literature * having group minilessons on skills and strategies * participating in individual conferences with the teacher to review progress, receive individual instruction, and make plans for future activities * sharing reading responses with the group "

These sites have tips and examples for writing strong leads for paragraphs and structuring personal narrative writing. Students can learn how to capture and hold their readers' attention. There are classroom activities, online quizzes and exercises, and ideas to help writers develop their skills. Includes links to eThemes on grammar and interactive writing activities.

This unit is intended to familiarize students with some of the basic skills required to write news articles. Students will learn about the structure of news articles, and will practice writing, editing, and critiquing news articles.

Excellent tips, very practical steps a teacher can take to begin improving their classroom management skills

For commentary unit monologues