IRA Newsletter Project: Effective Literacy Website #

As a teacher, I'm always eager to share ideas with my colleagues.  I apologize for my obliviousness to share my work.  Here is one of my assignments for the IRA newsletter on effective literacy websites.

Vanessa Leon Guerrero

ED638 Spring 2014

Dr. M. Rivera

IRA Newsletter Project: Effective Literacy Website #1

In 2007, I was searching for websites that had free interactive reading software or games as a different approach to teach alphabet sounds and recognition that would make learning more fun and interesting for my son.  During that time, he was about two and a half years old.  Then, I was first introduced to Starfall (www.starfall.com) by a dear friend of mine who highly recommended this free “Learn to Read” website.  My son was instantly hooked and entertained!  Furthermore, I started to utilize and integrate this educational reading resource tool in the classroom with my G.A.T.E. Preschoolers.

Starfall was envisioned and initiated by Dr. Stephen Schutz and Susan Polis-Schutz with the intention of designing a “free public service” online reading resource to help struggling young readers, as he too, was once described.  Their team consists of educators, artists, musicians, writers and computer engineers who work collaboratively to generate researched-based and field tested methods to provide a comprehensive reading and language arts curriculum as a resource guide for teachers, parents and students.

Furthermore, Starfall is an effective literacy educational resource tool that targets an audience of early language learners from preschool through second grade and students in special education, homeschool, as well as English language learners (ELD, ELL, and ESL). 

The main index page features four learning levels: 1) ABCs, 2) Learn To Read, 3) It’s Fun to Read, and 4) I’m Reading.  In addition, beside the levels there are short seasonal interactivities that are colorful, fun, and entertaining.  Throughout each level a child’s voice is heard sounding out letters, words, phrases, and reading short stories.  In the ABCs section, a child clicks on the letter and learns to recognize the letter and sound.  It displays a few pictures and simple animated activities.  In this section, there is no particular order in which to begin.  Majority of the activities ends with a simple evaluation asking the user if they liked the activity and depicting three faces to select the choice of “yes”, “kind of” and “not really”.  

The Learn to Read section, helps the reader blend initial and final consonant sounds with short vowel to create a word.  Animated pictures are used to match words created.  Short vowel stories are also included as a reading reinforcement.  In these stories, the beginner reader clicks on each word to hear its pronunciation said slowly by the voice prompt then reiterated fast and clearly. 

It’s Fun to Read is an interesting section that incorporates the fine arts content, such as an art gallery featuring the famous artist Vincent van Gogh, music from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and poetry by Robert Louis Stevenson.  Additionally, children can also create an All About Me book, learn riddles and tongue twisters.  An ear icon is positioned at the beginning of each reading passage to hear the voice reading.

The last section, I’m Reading provides some virtual non-fiction read aloud books, fables, myths, comics and plays. 

Starfall was my first and favorite free literacy website that I engaged my children and students in.  It’s a fantastic reading and language arts resource learning tool that actively engages, motivates and teaches the child to read with enjoyment.  It gradually builds and develop their phonemic awareness and builds reading skills.

Over the years, they’ve added a preschool curriculum, piloted a common core standards-based kindergarten curriculum, and a first grade common core reading and math curriculum.  It provides detailed instructional guides, weekly lesson plans and activities, and assessment tools for data collection.  However, these products must be purchased.  Additionally, there are free off-line activity worksheets to print for teachers and parents to accompany some of the reading lessons.

Presently, my preschool students are actively engaged in Starfall.com.  It’s a terrific Learn to Read website program that is free, uncluttered, easy to manipulate, attractive and features colorful, artistic pictures that keeps the learner focused, entertained and interested.