Friday, November 23, 2007

TextWord Press Launches Blog for HS Lit/Lang Teachers to Share Methods & Resources

TextWord Press has launched a weblog for high school teachers of literature and language arts to share teaching ideas and resource recommendations. The moderated site offers English teachers:


  • a forum for discussing current trends in the teaching of literature
  • a platform for sharing lesson plans and methods
  • a notice board for upcoming training events and conferences
  • a quarterly newsletter based on content from teachers' materials and contributions

Content suggestions or submissions can be sent to: textword@gmail.com.

Call for Content - Share Your Best Ideas with Other Teachers

There are many ways to make lessons compelling, and many teaching techniques that can minimize the pain students "think" they feel when it comes to learning grammar, writing papers, studying vocabulary. or reading literature in which they are not particularly interested. How do YOU make the acquisition of these often groan-eliciting-- but crucial--skills interesting and challenging? Please share your ideas with us. If you have recently given an unusual lesson, if you have an interesting resource to recommend, or if you have an idea that will work well in the classroom, please submit it. We will, of course, acknowledge your work, crediting you as the author unless you specify otherwise.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Introducing The TextWord Press Newsletter

For English teachers who want their teaching to make a difference.
Join us as we expand our service to the educational community.
During the first eight years of our existence, we have published eight highly-acclaimed NYSTL-approved high school literature/language textbooks and four test bank CDs. We have never lost sight of our goal of presenting students with values-driven literature that enriches the mind and the spirit. We have chosen literature that has withstood the test of time, builds strong, committed ethical personalities, promotes critical and analytical thinking, expands comprehension, and develops oral and written competency.

We welcome you on board, and we want to enlist your participation. We know you have so much to share — you gave a great lesson yesterday; you had a fabulous idea how to teach vocabulary last week; you have some great writing tips; you would love to know how another teacher deals with teaching Shakespeare's language. We want your input and your questions, and we want to address your needs. So many wonderful teachers have so much to share. We see this weblog as a clearing house for ideas, suggestion, model lessons, and comments. So climb on board and let's take off.

Some of the ideas we thought might work are listed below. Please help us by adding your own suggestions.
  • Newsletters featuring your ideas, essays, educational tips, and general input.
  • TextWord web seminars/workshops/in service courses in all areas of high school English instruction.
  • Personalized conferencing.
  • Blog pages featuring your comments and suggestions.
If you would like to join the TextWord weblog, please contact Deborah Schechter at 718-765-9221 or email us at Schechter@textword.com. We welcome your comments, suggestions, and direct involvement. Let us know if you have some ideas that you would like to incorporate into our next newsletter. Perhaps you have a teaching tip, a classroom management idea, or perhaps you are an administrator who has a general message for teachers. Whatever your interest, don't hesitate to be in touch. And of course, there is no obligation whatsoever.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

TextWord Press Releases Two New Short Story Collections


Following two years of intense editing and design, TextWord Press has released two new collections of short stories for high school literature students titled Implications of the Short Story. Both the Pathfinder Edition (for grades 9-10) and the Vanguard Edition (for grades 11-12) feature the familiar TextWord format. Each contains 15 meaningful and engaging short stories that encourage analytical and critical thinking. Review copies are available on request at: info@textword.com.