It is very important that teachers work as a team to ensure that students will gain from a holistic form of education. There are number or articles, websites, and books that can help us become the best educators possible.

Lesson Planning Ideas

• www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=884 ~This is an amazing lesson plan idea. This lesson revolves around the novel Night by Elie Wiesel. With this lesson students are required to disect the novel  with fun student centered activities. There is also a link where students can see Elie Wiesel himself in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

• http://eduscapes.com/reading/bud/teacher.htm ~ Bud Not Buddy is an amazing book about the evolution of a young man.  Therefore this site gives student oriented teaching techniques that will ensure the evolution of our students. This website gives wonderful ways on how to create an entrire unit using Bud Not Buddy  with numerous secondary short stories and poems.
• http://sharondraper.com/lessonsdetail.asp?lesson=2 ~ Sharon Draper has been noted as one of the top YA authors of today. Her novel Forged by Fire is a staple in many curriculums. Sharon Draper an educator turned author created this site where she gives lesson plan ideas for teaching her novel. The ideas are fun, well planned, and created with the students interest in mind.

 Articles for Professional Development

Jupp, James C. "Speaking my mind". English Journal (High School edition). Urbana:Nov 1998. Vol. 88, Iss. 2; pg. 15, 2 pgs.
There were many interesting facts and ideas in this article. A major topic in education is globalization; preparing American students to embrace the global community. Many teachers answer this dilemma by adding short but engaging world literture. The author argues that this is not effective because these short infrequent spurts of literature on an endless amount of cultures is too mush information. Therefore it becomes tokenism; therefore no true learning takes place. The author suggests that the world literature taught should directly relate to the culture of the students. This way teachers are not over generalized but clear, specific, and useful. Students can take their world literature knowledge and directly apply it to thier cultural lives.

Kerschner, Linda Milanese. "Teaching world literature: Preparing global citizens". English Journal (High School Edition). Urbana: May 2002. Vol 91, Iss 5; pg. 76, 6pgs.
This amazing article is filled with sound lesson plan ideas and curriculum ideas. We are appproaching a time where we must work together globally. Therefore students are taught in forms that prepare them to be global citizens; with understanding, tolerance, and respect for all cultures. This article suggest that such learning will make students better people overall. Students realize that they have more in common with these other cultures than they may think. Through lessons that creat compare and contrast questions on different pieces of literature students learn that the third world is closer than they think.

 Newell, George E; Sweet, Marcia. " 'Headed into more and more important things': Transforming a world literature curriculum". English Journal (High School Edition). Urbana: MAy 1999. Vol. 88, Iss. 5; pg 38, 7pgs.
This article is a deep explanation from a teacher and two professors who are trying to transform a discunnected wolrd literature program, into an effective student centered learning experience. The author gives clear ideas on how to make the classroom the perfect place for stduents to make sense of the world around them. With the unit entitled, "Choices" Marcia (the teacher) contives lessons that encourage students to discuss their role in the world. Coupled with world literture students realize thow much our ethics are based on our own cultural experiences. Students also realize that some things are universal conflicts and all students have to make universal choices.