Standard: Students adjust their language to communicate effectively for a variety of purposes and apply knowledge of writing strategies, language structure and conventions, media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.

• Real Kids, Real Adventures
  This is a charming site put together by author Deborah Morris, who began her writing journey at the early age of 11. She shares the lessons she learned on the road to becoming an experienced, savvy author of eight published books. She offers quite a convincing argument that writing is more fun than work!
  
  
• The Teacher's Desk
  This great website is designed for teachers of 9- to 12-year-old students. The section on lesson plans includes writing tips that both students and teachers will enjoy. Impromptu writing and story structure, creative writing, audience and voice, writing topics, and much more are discussed. In the pages on spelling and vocabulary, teachers can explore how to integrate art with spelling, spelling bee board games, dictionary and definition practice, anagrams and palindromes, prereading activities, proverbs, synonyms, rhyming words, and numerous other subjects.
  
  
• Writing and Grammar Resources at Ms. Smith's English Page
  This rich site, the creation of an eighth grade teacher in Massachusetts, offers children help with their writing. Find links to topics such as characterization, publishing, and much more. For example, by clicking on the link to the Writing DEN, students can learn how to use the process approach to paragraph writing. Access Paradigm's Online Writing Assistant for tips on how to write various types of essays, organize ideas, and edit and revise. The Writing Papers of Literary Analysis site provides young authors with general strategies for improving writing. Other links take visitors to style guides and grammar references.
  
  
• Guide to Grammar and Writing
  This excellent site, the creation of a community college professor, provides guidelines on grammar and writing at the sentence, paragraph, and essay level. Also included are models of communication, interactive grammar quizzes, grammar FAQs (frequently asked questions), grammar logs, a grammar bookshelf, and links to other online resources.
  
  
• Common Errors in English
  This area of a site created by a university English professor provides an exhaustive alphabetical list of common errors in English, practical grammar guidelines, and links to useful grammar sites.
  
  
• Word Wizard
  Lovers of words will want to unite at the home of the Word Wizard, who has an infectious playfulness about words. This site highlights word games and focuses on new words, snappy quotes, contests, and a spot called “Coining It” where visitors can find the newest additions to the language. A no-cost membership is required to access most of the site's resources.
  
  
• A.Word.A.Day
  This site is for those who love to wade through the dictionary just for fun. A new word, along with its definition, usage, and an audio file of its pronunciation, is posted each day. Visitors with insatiable appetites for words can access the site's archives or choose to receive each word daily by e-mail.
  
  
• Creative Writing in a World Classroom on the Internet
  Under “III. Activities” at this website, part of the Mendocino (California) curriculum framework, the teacher is given instructions on how to connect via telnet to the Global Learning Corp.'s World Classroom. Once there, you can choose to join one of three conferences. Contact information for Global Learning is provided so you can gain information on how to plan for and use this resource that allows children of different nationalities to interact in well-defined classroom activities.
  
  
• Wacky Web Tales
  This website, part of publisher Houghton Mifflin's K-8 “Education Place” online resources, is for very young children who need a lot of hand holding in weaving their first tales. Electronic templates that can be filled in quickly and easily to create a story are provided, giving kids a sense of accomplishment while they effortlessly enter the thoughts that come into their minds. Templates change quite often, but at the time of this writing, “Top Ten Ways to Get out of Doing Chores” and “The Wish Maker” were posted at the site.
  
  
• Holiday Silly Story at Wic-kid
  Using an electronic form similar to those offered at the Wacky Web Tales site, very young children can write their first “holiday silly story.” There's little room for creativity, but this site offers an interesting approach to getting shy children jump started with their writing.
  
  
• Creative Writing for Kids
  About.com offers this site, where children have wonderful opportunities to learn about and participate in creative writing. “Writing areas” at the site display young authors' work and invite viewers' own submissions. Topics include A Picture Tells a 1000 Tales, Autobiographical Poems, Black History, Countries of the World, Favorite Quotes, Folk Tales, Friendship, Fun with Films, Haiku, the Holocaust, and News Reports. Young artists are also invited to submit their illustrations.
  
  
• KidPub
  This is another place where children can publish their stories. Some 30,000 pieces written by children from many countries have already been posted. Young authors are identified by first or family names, age, and home town or country.
  
  
• Writes of Passage
  Teenagers have a ready outlet for their writing at the Writes of Passage submission desk. Poems, stories, essays, articles -- just about any type of writing -- is welcomed for sharing with other teens. Model pieces are showcased for easy viewing by visitors.