ALEX Learning Assets
Title: CNN Student News
Digital Tool: CNN Student News
Digital Tool Description: CNN Student News is a 10-minute news program designed specifically for middle and high school students. There is a program each day (Monday-Friday). Each show comes with a daily transcript, daily curriculum, and additional support materials to use in the classroom. Each show is designed with the Common Core standards in mind and aligns with the Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards.
For additional information on how to use CNN Student News in the classroom, visit http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/22/studentnews/sn-what-is-student-news/index.html.
Title: Consider Connotations
Digital Tool: Word Matrix
Digital Tool Description: The Word Matrix is a tool designed to assist teachers in vocabulary instruction, but it has flexible applications in literary analysis and writing instruction as well. The interactive tool can be used to teach students the concepts of connotation and register; to help clarify differences between seemingly similar words; to explore the concept of diction in literary analysis; or to encourage more precision in word choice in student writing.
Title: Trading Knowledge with Character Cards!
Digital Tool: Character Trading Cards
Digital Tool Description: The Character Trading Cards interactive from ReadWriteThink allows students to create trading cards for characters in any reading selection. The interactive tool features questions about a character’s appearance, personality, thoughts, feelings, conflicts, and actions. Additionally, students are encouraged to make personal connections to the character in the last section of the trading card. (A planning sheet is available to print for planning purposes before the students use the online tool.)