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Need Ideas? Step Into The English Room

Web site name: The English Room
Web site URL: http://the-english-room.tripod.com
Web site creator: Marsha Rogers, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

"When I first began The English Room, there were few sites on the Web for secondary English," recalled Marsha Rogers, a retired teacher and educational technology consultant. So Rogers created the site to meet the educational goals of her own students. Now, with its content and activities aligned with national standards for English/language arts in grades 6-12, the site is useful and accessible to all teachers. "Educators share information freely with one another," Rogers told Education World. "This is another method of sharing."

One part of her site that Rogers doesn't want teachers to miss is 30 Days of Poetry. "I am a working poet," she said. "I've found an effective way to introduce even the most reluctant student to writing poetry. Not only are many students reluctant to write creatively, many teachers are hesitant to teach poetry writing.

"The 30 poetry lessons include copies of student work that was generated by the lessons available online," Rogers continued. "By giving students a pattern to follow and to break away from, they have the security of knowing they are 'doing it right.' They also know that if other students can do the work, they can too."

Rogers also recommends that teachers use her Writing with Traits rubric as a quick reference guide for grading written assignments, and the Internet Treasure Hunts to help students learn how to use the Internet for research.

"Future additions to the site may include more advanced poetry writing and other creative writing activities," said Rogers. "Too many students are reluctant to creatively put words to paper. They always asked me, 'Is this right?' I hope to provide some exercises that will launch them on their own in writing."

Article by Cara Bafile
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