The 7-12 Enlgish Webliography
Useful sites for teaching the classics:

1. PBS "The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: Emancipation ended slavery but not its legacy." http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/
There is everything including primary sources, lesson plans, historical timelines, interactive maps and even links to oral history sites.
Commentary: All lesson plans are standard oriented and easy to follow. Using this site will build background knowledge about the time period so students can truly appreciate the classic. Very easy to use, but bookmark favorite pages--it is easy to get lost in the plethora of information.

2. The Blues: Identity, Oppression, and Protest" http://www/pbs.org/theblues/classroom/identity.html
Again, in building background knowledge students need to be exposed to all parts of the culture present in the novel. A history of the Blues is included along with lyrics and makes connections between the themes of the Blues and themes that Harper Lee used in her novel.
Commentary: This is a great resource for differentiating lessons because of the wide array of resources included. The site breaks lesson plans down into grade level and gives all standards along with any resources needed to complete the lesson.

3. Famous American Trials: The Scottsboro Boys" Trials
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/Ftrials/scottsboro/scottsb.htm
To get a complete picture of what America was like for the blacks during the time period of the novel, students can look at a real trial. The Scottsboro Boys were charged with the same thing as Tom Robinson, with similar results in their trials. It is difficult for students to understand that this could happen in the U.S.
Commentary: Although some parts of this site may be difficult for students to understand there are many links that are easier to understand. This site can reach most learners because of the variety of resources used. This site has many famous trials that can be used in the classroom.

4. Romeo and Juliet Resources. http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/eng9/romeo.htm
Shakespeare is difficult and intimidating for most students. Through the use of the site you can find many resources to help meet the needs of all students in your classroom. Don't try to re-create the wheel...just tweak it to fit your needs with these resources.
Commentary: This is a wonderful compilation of resources such as book summaries, quizzes and answer keys, to examining theme, vocabulary, writing prompts, and study guide questions. If you just need to add something "new" to your unit, look here for ideas.

5. Interactive Folio: Romeo and Juliet http://www.canadianshakespeares.ca/folio/folio.html
This interactive site contains vocabulary words underlined that provides the definition for students. Vocabulary and the Shakespearean language is difficult for students to understand...and often makes them "shut down" in the reading. Through the use of this activity it may help some students stay focused.
Commentary: While I really like this site, I admit it took me awhile to learn to navigate it. Students like the interactive use of the Smartboards in the classroom. This site may make it more interesting for students.

6. FolgerSHAKESPEARE LIBRARY http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=2779
This site includes links to resources from Folger Education that include activities, lesson plans, teaching tools, audio and video resources. Romeo and Juliet is not the only story included on this tremendous site--so bookmark your favorite resources and use it often.
Commentary: While I like this site, it is important to bookmark as I could easily find things when I went back sometimes and other times I felt totally lost. The lesson plans include resources needed, standards addressed and are easy to understand.

7. Resources for The Great Gatsby
Lone Star College - Kingwood: American Cultural History 1920- 1929
http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade20.html
This is an amazing place to start for building background knowledge in your students. This site helps them get a brief, but broad, idea of what the "Roaring 1920's" was like. This site also offers links to other decades you can use for other literature. This is a social bookmarking site where you may contribute to the resources.
Commentary: You can link to: historical sites, "The Lost Generation", the Harlem Renaissance, famous authors, pictures, information on architecture, as well as many books are listed. For a crash course in the 1920's you should start here.

8. "The Lawless Decade" http://www.lawlessdecade.net/20-1.htm
This site provides an overview of the decade beginning with the end of WWI. Students can use this site to provide them with information about society, music, pictures, culture, politics, specific people of the time (Al Capone) and primary documents and pictures.
Commentary: Everything needed for background information can be found here. If the full information is not here, there is a link where you can find the information! Students love the music and pictures. In formation is presented in brief and interesting formats.

9. Web English Teacher http://www.webenglishteacher.com/fitzgerald.html
F. Scott Fitzgerald Lesson plans for Gatsby and other works.
You can find background information, lesson plans, biographical information on Fitzgerald, music Web Quest, actual text of the novel, and ESL lesson plans.
Commentary: This is a great site for teachers looking to begin a new curriculum as well as teachers who need to "spice up" their current lessons. Lesson plans are clearly written, resources needed are given along with many links to primary sources.

10. Novelinks
The Great Gatsby http://english.byu.edu/novelinks/Novel%20Pages/The%20Gatsby.htm
This site is not exclusively for this novel, so bookmark it to use frequently with the classics. Contains author information, music of the 20's, poetry, reference book titles, reading strategies, materials to use pre-reading, historical information, Jazz connections and significance.
Commentary: immense amount of information at your finger tips. There are crossword puzzles, study questions on quotes and themes, post reading activities. There is a lesson plan for students to publish their own 1920s magazine making connections from the novel to the events of the Jazz Age. Students will be engaged! Easy to navigate.