With the click of a mouse, a semester's worth of spelling lists pops up on the monitor.

It's just one of the possibilities available on teacher Web pages in the Bismarck Public Schools. The sites are gaining popularity as teachers head back to school.

The sites are a way for teachers to keep in contact with families and students away from school.

"They can look things up like expectations, syllabi, notes and recommended Web sites," said Melissa Ochsner, an instructional technology specialist with Bismarck Public Schools.

Teachers take a class to learn to make the Web sites, then put the sites together. The sites are an addition to the updated school Web sites.

It puts the teacher in charge of what's available on the site, as well as how often it's updated.

Assignments, pertinent Web links and other items are on Bismarck High School English teacher Brenda Werner's Web site. She hopes parents and students uses it equally.

"I'm hoping to make it a resource for parents and students," she said.

The syllabus will spell out class expectations. A link lets students turn in papers on line, and another link gives examples of top-notch papers. Then she also hopes to have a spot for students to have discussions based on questions she or classmates ask.

"We know from best practices that if we show them sample work, it will help" students, Werner said.

The online program she uses for students to turn papers in records the papers and checks for authenticity - that way, she knows if students are copying off each other or the sample papers.

The Web pages are expanding beyond classrooms use. Werner will use it for the writer's club, and other club advisers and coaches have shown interest in creating a page, Ochsner said.

People can find the Web sites through the school's Web site. To find a school Web site, go to www.bismarckschools.org. Click on "schools" and select the school of choice. Once on the school's Web page, the teacher Web pages will be under "classroom pages" or "academics."

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)