http://www.starfall.com/
This is an interactive website geared to improve reading skills of students in kindergarten through grade 2. The content of the website focuses on five essential componenets of reading: phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
The website has four levels: ABC's, Learn to Read, It is Fun to Read, and I am Reading. The levels will allow you to differentiate instruction according to the needs of emergent readers. Level 1 contains basic reading activities geared towards developing grapho-phonemic awareness. Whereas Level 4 provides a variety of reading pieces of different genre (play, comics, fiction, non-fiction, fables, etc.) for more advanced readers. The reader on the website sounds out and blends the sounds as they are highlighted in the word. I find it extremely useful for young learners who are still developing letter-sound awareness. I also like how the website combines literacy instruction and content are instruction in Science and Social Studies. The website is phenomenal: very visually stimulating and engaging. It is also very easy for a child to navigate, as the icons show and tell the children exactly what to do. Using this website is a great way to incorporate a technology piece into the lesson for the little ones.
I would use this website to supplement literacy instruction to emergent ESL readers of beginning levels, as well as a reteaching/reinforcing tool for a bit older struggling readers. I would need to have a computer available for student use in the classroom. I would allow time for all students to be able to participate in this activity, however, I would have to select the piece that they would be working on according to their proficiency level and identified areas of struggle.
This is a great tool for emergent readers! I got on the website and took a look at the ABC's level. It was great because it gave the upper case and lower case, pronounced the letter, and also gave examples of objects that start with the letter. Great tool, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnother really cute website! Your plan to integrate into the ELL classroom is superb. I'd be wary of diminishing their confidence by the introduction to the page, since it somewhat implies that the students can't read. Ego is everything when working with the youngest learners. Great Finds :)
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