These websites offer word lovers a little something for everyone!

Oxford Word of the Year. Drum roll, please...

Amazing Coincidences. Of language, that is.

Free Rice. Fight poverty with vocabulary.

Oration. Recitation. Rhetoric. At one time these were the foundations of a classical literary education, an education that not only prepared you to write and communicate -- but taught you how to think. This style of learning, however, has largely gone the way of the top hat. But is it time for rhetoric to make a reprise? We had a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation with Harvard Professor James Engell, author of The Committed Word: Literature and Public Values, who revived the study of rhetoric at his university after a 60 year hiatus -- and who argues that a classical literary education is critical for today's communicators.  Continue reading...

Professor James Engell, who we interview in this week's "Word Count" feature, recommends these books on rhetoric and oration:

The Art of Public Speaking By Stephen Lucas

Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student by Edward P. J. Corbett

Analyzing Prose by Richard A. Lanham

Lincoln, Douglas, and Slavery: In the Crucible of Public Debate by David Zarefsky

Norms of Rhetorical Culture by Thomas B. Farrell ("Not for the absolute beginner but tremendously rewarding.")

Linguist Michael Erard, the author of Um. .. Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean who we recently interviewed, graciously sent us this article, which he first wrote and published in the magazine Lingua Franca:

Despite the intent stare and accusatory index finger, when Uncle Sam glowers down from recruitment posters and announces "I Want You for the U.S. Army," it is not absolutely clear what he means. Does he mean you in particular? Or you in general, as in "all of you eligible citizens"? Uncle Sam's ambiguity is not unique.  Continue reading...

Bubbl.us is a "simple and free web application that lets you brainstorm online." Want to create a "mind map" you can share with friends and colleagues? Click here to learn more.

Visual Thesaurus subscriber Debbie Shults is a veteran Sarasota, Florida, teacher, literacy coach -- and now blogger -- who we recently interviewed about her work defining a "new literacy" at her middle school. She graciously contributed the following article:

Middle school students have gained a great deal of notoriety for being difficult to teach. And while it is true that middle school is the New York City of the teaching profession, ("If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere."), veteran middle school teachers know that middle school kids are exceptional learners.

 Continue reading...

These websites offer a wealth of resources for teaching Language Arts:

Reading Rockets

Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators

Youthlearn

ERICdigests (search for "language arts")

Teaching Language Arts with Technology