Browse best practices

Arts of persuasion

Strategies for teaching middle school students to think critically, analyze persuasive arguments, and use speaking and writing to persuade others.

Format: series (multiple pages)

Bring history to life with a Living History Day!

In Rethinking Reports, page 3.4

A Living History Day turns students into teachers and challenges them to think historically.

Format: article

By Melissa Thibault.

Caucusing in the middle school classroom

In Arts of persuasion, page 1

Caucusing enables students to practice the elements of responsible citizenship, including persuasive writing and speaking.

By Pamela Myrick and Sharon Pearson.

Debates in the middle school classroom

In Arts of persuasion, page 2

A plan for staging a debate, including choosing a topic, "debate do's," and assessment.

Format: article

By Pamela Myrick and Sharon Pearson.

Evaluating multimedia presentations

A PowerPoint presentation is just another form of communication, and the same rules apply to multimedia that apply to writing or verbal communication. This article offers guidelines for using and assigning multimedia presentations in the classroom and includes a rubric based on the Five Features of Effective Writing.

Format: article

By David Walbert.

Holding a poetry slam

Introducing students to “the competitive art of performance poetry” builds enthusiasm for literature among even reluctant readers. This article explains how a high school in Cleveland County, North Carolina, held its first poetry slam.

Format: article

By Nancy Blalock.

Incorporating oral history into the K–12 curriculum

In Oral history in the classroom, page 3

Oral history techniques for use with students at all levels, from kindergarten through high school.

Format: article

By Kathryn Walbert.

Oral history and student learning

In Oral history in the classroom, page 2

Oral history enriches historical knowledge; enhances research, writing, thinking, and interpersonal skills; gives students a connection to the community; and helps all students feel included.

By Kathryn Walbert.

Persuasive speaking: A classroom model

In Arts of persuasion, page 3

A plan for teaching persuasive speaking in the middle school classroom, with tips for speakers and on how to recognize bias.

Format: article

By Pamela Myrick and Sharon Pearson.

Rethinking Reports

Creative research-based assignments provide alternatives to the President Report, Animal Report, and Famous Person Report that ask students to think about old topics in new ways, work collaboratively, and develop products that support a variety of learning styles.

Format: series (multiple pages)

The value of oral history

In Oral history in the classroom, page 1

Why use oral history with your students? Oral history has benefits that no other historical source provides.

Format: article

By Kathryn Walbert.

Resources on the web

Speaking of Speech.com

An interactive forum for speech and language pathologists to help their students with communication skills. (Learn more)

Format: website/general

Provided by: Pat Mervine

Web English Teacher

Find the best K-12 English Language Arts teaching resources on the internet with this online directory. (Learn more)

Format: website/general