English novelist Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812 – 1870) not only achieved fame in his lifetime, but continues to be popular to this day. He is known for his iconic characters, such as Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Oliver Twist, David …[Continue]
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American poet and short-story author, known as a master of the macabre, but also credited with pioneering work in the detective genre and science fiction. Born in Boston, MA, Poe was orphaned at an …[Continue]
To Do Lists
Free browser-based to-do lists have proliferated like weeds over the last few years. These five sites are my favorites, and include a variety of approaches to goal tracking and productivity management. Whether you are looking for a simple list making …[Continue]
Active and Passive Voice
The passive voice is frowned upon by many teachers. Or should I say, many teachers frown upon the passive voice? Today’s sites illustrate the differences between active and passive voice, bust some common grammar myths, and will help you write …[Continue]
Children’s Books
Whether choosing books for avid readers or finding titles for reluctant readers, these websites are sure to help. In addition to book reviews, they offer games, printable worksheets, author bios and an opportunity for kids to interact with others who …[Continue]
Where the Wild Things Are
Although Maurice Sendak’s 1963 children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” consists of only ten sentences, it has been a phenomenal international hit, selling over 19 million copies as of last year. Now that it’s been adapted into a hit …[Continue]
Phonics Games
Phonics is a widely used method of teaching children to read. It is based on connecting the sounds of spoken English with the letters that represent those sounds. Today’s crop of websites stand at the intersection of education and recreation, …[Continue]
Book Exchange
Have you ever swapped paperbacks with a friend? Then you’ve participated in a book exchange, also known as a book swap or trade. Now imagine a website that gives you access to thousands of book-reading friends and keeps track of …[Continue]
Folklore
Folklore generally refers to stories and traditional beliefs spread informally, usually by word of mouth. The term was first coined by British antiquarian William J. Thoms in 1846, replacing phrases such as “the lore of the people” and “proverbs of …[Continue]
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee published her first and only novel in 1960, at the age of thirty-four. It won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction the following year. “To Kill a Mockingbird” tells two stories at once: one about attorney Atticus Finch’s defense …[Continue]
