This link takes you to a study guide of A Tale of Two Cities. It provides vocabulary words, character analysis, plot and chapter summaries, major themes, as well as essay ideas. As a teacher, I would definitely consider using this because it covers all aspects that students might need to adequately learn the material. I would also refer students to this page as a reference if they ever need help and I'm not there. When studying a novel like this, with a language very different from what today's students understand, these kind of sources are very helpful to them.
This link, like the first provides a study guide of the novel containing vocabulary words, character analysis, plot and chapter summaries, major themes, and also essay ideas. However, the difference between this source and the first is that the chapter summaries are more in depth, on top of themes, there are also motifs, and aside from essay ideas, there are also essay questions for discussion, and quizzes to help test students' knowledge. I would love to use this as a teacher as not only a reference for students and myself, but also to gain ideas for teaching my A Tale of Two Cities lesson.
This link, similar to the previous two contains a study guide to the novel. However, unlike the others, this one does not contain as many helpful insights to the novel. Providing mostly just a plot summary, the site also presents discussion questions throughout the summary. For example, as it explain the first few chapters of the book, it will take a moment to ask a few questions regarding that portion of the novel while the section is still fresh in the readers' minds. Also, unlike the first couple of links, this site is mainly for teachers and therefore, more advanced in its analysis. As a teacher, I would probably use this source with Honors or AP classes because unlike the links, this site is not as captivating and therefore, harder to follow. Honors and AP students could most likely follow this sight much easier than other classes.
This particular link is very different from the others. Whereas the first three links are sources that students can refer to as well as teachers, this link is strictly for educators. In addition, this source is an instructional strategy for teaching autistic students. I think it's important to not only look at instructional strategies for regular classes, but also special needs students as well. Though the site is not narrowed down specifically to teaching A Tale of Two Cities, I feel that the strategies they provide for teachers can be relayed to such lessons if necessary. This site also provides descriptions of different special needs cases (autism, asperger's, dyspraxia, emotional disturbance, etc) so that teachers may better understand each case and how to reach them individually to better their learning.
This link I found to be interesting because although I did not find it on an educational site, it provides thoughtful insight to the novel. It is actually on Oprah's website and she asks discussion questions about the novel that could definitely be used in a classroom because they require critical thinking and the actual reading of the novel. I would not give this source to my students to refer to, but I would consider using the questions in my classroom to assist the student's learning.
This strategy is another study guide type link. It provides plot summaries, character analysis, and vocabulary help. However, what I feel makes this source so helpful and different is that rather than only giving essay ideas, it also gives activities, examples of those activities, background info on the novel and the time period it was based in, and also a biography on Charles Dickens. This study guide seems to cover all the basics but again, it is also more of a teacher's guide rather than a student's because of all the activity ideas. It is something that I find would be very helpful as an educator, especially if that educator has never taught A Tale of Two Cities.
This site is strictly vocabulary help for the novel. Providing nearly 300 words that students may find confusing, this site helps them to understand these words so that they may understand and follow the novel better. As a teacher, I can see myself for each day of the unit, putting up some of these words on the board that relate to that night or the previous night's reading to copy down as bellwork so that students may better understand what they are taking in as they read.
This link contains a very interesting instructional strategy. It requires that students compare first several forms of communication: email, text messages, phone calls. Then they complete a character study chart to provide character analysis for the story. After that, they choose two or more characters and write emails, text messages, or phone conversations to present they relationship between these characters. It's an interesting assignment to help students understand the different characters and their importance in the novel. I would definitely use this in my classroom because it allows students to use technology and put their everyday uses to work in the classroom. It would be an easy assignment for them that still requires creativity and critical thinking.
I chose this particular link because it shows how not only to use the book in the classroom, but also the movie. It gives in depth descriptions and examples of applying a teacher's guide to the film, as well as background info on Dickens and his time. As a teacher I would refer to this source because students like and usually prefer visuals, so watching the movie might really benefit their learning and understanding of the novel. It utilizes the film in a way that most teachers don't understand.
This source provides a venn diagram that can be used for students to individually compare three different aspects of the story. These aspects can be either characters, ideas, themes, versions of the story, or the novel itself and pieces of art relating to it. This would be an interesting assignment that could broaden students understanding of the novel and encourage them to branch out to different works of art that may relate to it. I think students would enjoy this activity because it gives them a choice and and an opportunity to show what they knows without narrowing it down to specifics of the novel.
This strategy refers back to the texting idea between characters. However, this source provides a chart for students to use and also questions to think about while forming the conversation. It also requires a rationale to be stated for each comment made by each character. I would use this in my classroom because it once again allows students to bring in to the classroom things they are interested and find to be fairly simple.
This link is strictly for helping teachers teach A Tale of Two Cities. It provides assignments and activities that can be used, pop quizzes, discussion and essay questions, as well as challenges and opportunities to give to students throughout the lesson. This could be very helpful when looking for new ideas for such a lesson and I know I would definitely refer back to it in times of need.
This link is a great source for teachers when planning units for this novel. It provides 30 daily lesson plans, 20 activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, and 20 essay questions quizzes, homework assignments, tests, and more. I would definitely use this source because in times where it may be hard to find lessons or activities that help all of the students, this site gives you hundreds of options.
This link is yet again another study guide. However, what makes it different than the others is that it's strictly discussion questions. There is no summary, character analysis, or anything else; only questions. These questions cover every chapter of every book in the novel separately. Because this study guide is a student copy, it would be great to give students to study with for upcoming tests or quizzes. I think I would use it by giving Book I, II, and III study questions all separately and giving those tests separately as well. Then, at the end of the lesson for the final test or assignment, they would have all of the study guides and the tests/quizzes to refer back to. By giving them each separately, it keeps the students from feeling overloaded with work.
This link is provided by a first year teacher who did an experiment with his students that ended up working out really well. For his A Tale of Two Cities lesson, he first made a mock-contract for students to sign that is fun and comical to look over. He then provides a list of projects that the students can choose from-they only have to pick one. Each project covers a different aspect of the novel and holds different requirements. This method gives students the feeling of being in control while still having a good time. I admire this teacher's creativity and I would definitely use it in my own class.
This link, like many of the others is another study guide. There are discussion questions on each chapter of every book, but whereas a lot of the other study guides have more insightful questions, this study guide focuses mainly on basic facts in the novel. What separates this guide from many of the others as well is that it also has vocabulary quizzes for each book. I really like that rather than simply listing the vocabulary words and definitions, it provides quizzes to actually test their knowledge of the unknown words.
This is a page with links to lesson plans,teaching guides, and more focusing solely on A Tale of Two Cities. It's yet another source for teachers who need help on ideas for this kind of unit and I think that I would consider checking it out if I ever needed that assistance.
This link is actually for teachers who do homeschooling. There's chart for a reading schedule, links to assist the reading and forming lesson plans, Q and A's, summary pages, and project ideas. Though the focus is for home schooling, I feel that it could still be beneficial being used in an actual classroom as well because of all the options it holds.
This is a very interesting link because it's not just any regular study guide. The site holds flash cards of characters, vocabulary words, and themes, as well as discussion questions and games to play to build literary understanding. I think the games are very interesting and they are something that the students would enjoy. It's different and new and completely online.
This last and final link is a source that lets teachers know what exactly students need to learn by the end of the lesson. It also provides ways and questions that will help students get to that final understanding. This is a great source for teachers because it can help them learn as well. It may point out facts and understandings that even they didn't have before regarding the text.
Strategy #1:
This link takes you to a study guide of A Tale of Two Cities. It provides vocabulary words, character analysis, plot and chapter summaries, major themes, as well as essay ideas. As a teacher, I would definitely consider using this because it covers all aspects that students might need to adequately learn the material. I would also refer students to this page as a reference if they ever need help and I'm not there. When studying a novel like this, with a language very different from what today's students understand, these kind of sources are very helpful to them.Strategy #2:
This link, like the first provides a study guide of the novel containing vocabulary words, character analysis, plot and chapter summaries, major themes, and also essay ideas. However, the difference between this source and the first is that the chapter summaries are more in depth, on top of themes, there are also motifs, and aside from essay ideas, there are also essay questions for discussion, and quizzes to help test students' knowledge. I would love to use this as a teacher as not only a reference for students and myself, but also to gain ideas for teaching my A Tale of Two Cities lesson.Strategy #3:
This link, similar to the previous two contains a study guide to the novel. However, unlike the others, this one does not contain as many helpful insights to the novel. Providing mostly just a plot summary, the site also presents discussion questions throughout the summary. For example, as it explain the first few chapters of the book, it will take a moment to ask a few questions regarding that portion of the novel while the section is still fresh in the readers' minds. Also, unlike the first couple of links, this site is mainly for teachers and therefore, more advanced in its analysis. As a teacher, I would probably use this source with Honors or AP classes because unlike the links, this site is not as captivating and therefore, harder to follow. Honors and AP students could most likely follow this sight much easier than other classes.Strategy #4:
This particular link is very different from the others. Whereas the first three links are sources that students can refer to as well as teachers, this link is strictly for educators. In addition, this source is an instructional strategy for teaching autistic students. I think it's important to not only look at instructional strategies for regular classes, but also special needs students as well. Though the site is not narrowed down specifically to teaching A Tale of Two Cities, I feel that the strategies they provide for teachers can be relayed to such lessons if necessary. This site also provides descriptions of different special needs cases (autism, asperger's, dyspraxia, emotional disturbance, etc) so that teachers may better understand each case and how to reach them individually to better their learning.Strategy #5:
This link I found to be interesting because although I did not find it on an educational site, it provides thoughtful insight to the novel. It is actually on Oprah's website and she asks discussion questions about the novel that could definitely be used in a classroom because they require critical thinking and the actual reading of the novel. I would not give this source to my students to refer to, but I would consider using the questions in my classroom to assist the student's learning.Strategy #6:
This strategy is another study guide type link. It provides plot summaries, character analysis, and vocabulary help. However, what I feel makes this source so helpful and different is that rather than only giving essay ideas, it also gives activities, examples of those activities, background info on the novel and the time period it was based in, and also a biography on Charles Dickens. This study guide seems to cover all the basics but again, it is also more of a teacher's guide rather than a student's because of all the activity ideas. It is something that I find would be very helpful as an educator, especially if that educator has never taught A Tale of Two Cities.Strategy #7:
This site is strictly vocabulary help for the novel. Providing nearly 300 words that students may find confusing, this site helps them to understand these words so that they may understand and follow the novel better. As a teacher, I can see myself for each day of the unit, putting up some of these words on the board that relate to that night or the previous night's reading to copy down as bellwork so that students may better understand what they are taking in as they read.Strategy #8
This link contains a very interesting instructional strategy. It requires that students compare first several forms of communication: email, text messages, phone calls. Then they complete a character study chart to provide character analysis for the story. After that, they choose two or more characters and write emails, text messages, or phone conversations to present they relationship between these characters. It's an interesting assignment to help students understand the different characters and their importance in the novel. I would definitely use this in my classroom because it allows students to use technology and put their everyday uses to work in the classroom. It would be an easy assignment for them that still requires creativity and critical thinking.Strategy #9:
I chose this particular link because it shows how not only to use the book in the classroom, but also the movie. It gives in depth descriptions and examples of applying a teacher's guide to the film, as well as background info on Dickens and his time. As a teacher I would refer to this source because students like and usually prefer visuals, so watching the movie might really benefit their learning and understanding of the novel. It utilizes the film in a way that most teachers don't understand.Strategy #10:
This source provides a venn diagram that can be used for students to individually compare three different aspects of the story. These aspects can be either characters, ideas, themes, versions of the story, or the novel itself and pieces of art relating to it. This would be an interesting assignment that could broaden students understanding of the novel and encourage them to branch out to different works of art that may relate to it. I think students would enjoy this activity because it gives them a choice and and an opportunity to show what they knows without narrowing it down to specifics of the novel.Strategy #11:
This strategy refers back to the texting idea between characters. However, this source provides a chart for students to use and also questions to think about while forming the conversation. It also requires a rationale to be stated for each comment made by each character. I would use this in my classroom because it once again allows students to bring in to the classroom things they are interested and find to be fairly simple.Strategy #12:
This link is strictly for helping teachers teach A Tale of Two Cities. It provides assignments and activities that can be used, pop quizzes, discussion and essay questions, as well as challenges and opportunities to give to students throughout the lesson. This could be very helpful when looking for new ideas for such a lesson and I know I would definitely refer back to it in times of need.Strategy #13:
This link is a great source for teachers when planning units for this novel. It provides 30 daily lesson plans, 20 activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, and 20 essay questions quizzes, homework assignments, tests, and more. I would definitely use this source because in times where it may be hard to find lessons or activities that help all of the students, this site gives you hundreds of options.Strategy #14:
This link is yet again another study guide. However, what makes it different than the others is that it's strictly discussion questions. There is no summary, character analysis, or anything else; only questions. These questions cover every chapter of every book in the novel separately. Because this study guide is a student copy, it would be great to give students to study with for upcoming tests or quizzes. I think I would use it by giving Book I, II, and III study questions all separately and giving those tests separately as well. Then, at the end of the lesson for the final test or assignment, they would have all of the study guides and the tests/quizzes to refer back to. By giving them each separately, it keeps the students from feeling overloaded with work.Strategy #15:
This link is provided by a first year teacher who did an experiment with his students that ended up working out really well. For his A Tale of Two Cities lesson, he first made a mock-contract for students to sign that is fun and comical to look over. He then provides a list of projects that the students can choose from-they only have to pick one. Each project covers a different aspect of the novel and holds different requirements. This method gives students the feeling of being in control while still having a good time. I admire this teacher's creativity and I would definitely use it in my own class.Strategy #16:
This link, like many of the others is another study guide. There are discussion questions on each chapter of every book, but whereas a lot of the other study guides have more insightful questions, this study guide focuses mainly on basic facts in the novel. What separates this guide from many of the others as well is that it also has vocabulary quizzes for each book. I really like that rather than simply listing the vocabulary words and definitions, it provides quizzes to actually test their knowledge of the unknown words.Strategy #17:
This is a page with links to lesson plans,teaching guides, and more focusing solely on A Tale of Two Cities. It's yet another source for teachers who need help on ideas for this kind of unit and I think that I would consider checking it out if I ever needed that assistance.Strategy #18:
This link is actually for teachers who do homeschooling. There's chart for a reading schedule, links to assist the reading and forming lesson plans, Q and A's, summary pages, and project ideas. Though the focus is for home schooling, I feel that it could still be beneficial being used in an actual classroom as well because of all the options it holds.Strategy #19:
This is a very interesting link because it's not just any regular study guide. The site holds flash cards of characters, vocabulary words, and themes, as well as discussion questions and games to play to build literary understanding. I think the games are very interesting and they are something that the students would enjoy. It's different and new and completely online.Strategy #20:
This last and final link is a source that lets teachers know what exactly students need to learn by the end of the lesson. It also provides ways and questions that will help students get to that final understanding. This is a great source for teachers because it can help them learn as well. It may point out facts and understandings that even they didn't have before regarding the text.