I am a huge fan of Wordle.net and I think it can be a useful literacy tool.

If you've never used Wordle, you should definitely spend a little time learning how to use it. If you're an avid reader, copy a block of text from your favorite novel or poem and make a visualization out of it. For example, I put all of the lyrics to Paul Simon's classic album Graceland in and got this.

Wordle can be a gre… Continue

Dawn Hogue has created a Ning for AP teachers at Teach AP.

Just another way to communicate!

Thanks, Ms. Dawn!

I can already see how blogging can help me be a better writer. Every sentence produces some anxiety knowing that other English teachers might read it. Will it affect my students like this? Maybe they're so used to MySpace and Facebook that blogging in class won't make much of a difference.

Instead of working on a home improvement project, reading for pleasure, or taking naps, I decided to spend this summer researching my profession. I have spent most of my time reading the blogs of other English teachers. I've learned that, technologically speaking, I am way behind! I want to incorporate 21st century literacy into my teaching, but I'm not sure where to begin. No one at my school is doing this! I've created a web-site at Teacherweb.com where I plan to post lesson plans, handouts, h… Continue

Nings allow us to form our own social network, a place where like-minded individuals can connect to share, discuss, debate, collaborate, create. It is my hope that Literacy Lighthouse will connect high school English teachers around the globe.

The 21st Century demands our students be able to read and evaluate texts in a multitude of genres and formats, that they can communicate and collaborate both face-to-face and virtually using a myriad of digital tools, that they can think critically and cr… Continue