Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This author page features plenty of ideas about how to help kids enjoy reading and includes many stories. Hear Mem Fox reading her own stories (click Hear Mem Read Aloud). She gives advice on how to read to children and gives great examples. This author page has many good suggestions for promoting literacy and love of reading. There is also a section of advice on writing your own picture book for children.

tag(s): authors (108), literacy (122)

This site, a companion to a print book, focuses on ideas and activities for book clubs, including short summaries of books, recipes, and activities paired up with featured books. Books included are of many levels and genres, all of high interest for children. Children's authors write some of the book reviews; book club members are welcome to list their book club, book descriptions, and activities on the site as well. Links include an author section with a comprehensive list of authors who will speak to your book clubs by phone and authors and illustrators willing to visit your school.

This library-prepared website is all about helping parents develop early literacy skills. Options include video demonstrations of how to read books to kids and many developmental activities including things to do around the house, pre-reading activities, early reading skills information available in TWENTY-SEVEN languages, and many printable reading activities. Check out the Make and Take section: hands-on activities that help children develop the habit of using books. Activities include Activities for Print Motivation, Print Awareness, Phonological Awareness, Vocabulary, Narrative Skills, Letter Knowledge etc. These well-explained activities are fun and original. Many parts of the site are available in Spanish as well as English. Videos on this site require RealPlayer and Windows Media Player. Get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

tag(s): literacy (122), preK (291)

Imagine being able to give students (or parents) an exact link to a specific quote within a web page. Why would you want to? Perhaps you want to send students to a certain paragraph for an activity: for reading comprehension, for reading a specific portion of text, or even for highlighting a literary device within a text or poem. Students will no longer waste time, announcing, "I can't find it!" or return to school saying they couldn't do the homework! Use for FireFox, Safari, and Internet Explorer browsers.

tag(s): internet safety (116), literacy (122), quotations (18), safety (67)

This 3-in-one online magazine for elementary to middle school kids has attractive graphics, sound, games, news, e-cards, etc. and serves as a companion to paper magazines at three levels: Chirp, Chickadee and Owl. The Owl magazine for upper elementary to middle school is includes an online calendar with moveable stickers, word searches, jokes, a mystery in graphic novel style, and features including international, gender, and environmental awareness. All three magazines promote reading and get children into the habit of "looking" at a magazine for fun, news, and information.

tag(s): puzzles (148)

Read the tips on this web page or download a single sheet of suggestions to make reading together fun and funny for parents and kids together, while encouraging the skills to make a lifelong reader. Teachers can download the tips for third grade in NINE languages in addition to English to print out and send home with your ESL/ELL students. Their parents will appreciate the opportunity to participate in their learning, and everyone wins. Printables require Acrobat Reader.

tag(s): literacy (122)

We've found a golden ticket! The Roald Dahl Story Company offers a colorful PDF that will enhance any classroom's reading of this cherished chocolate tale by Roald Dahl. We love the simple but well done literacy activities accompanied by illustrated by cartoon characters. Be sure to project them as you explain the lesson. Story questions, themes, and excerpts are organized by chapter. There is a list of materials and lesson plans for sale at the end, but this review is only for this free lesson plan.

tag(s): chocolate (4), literacy (122)

PravdaReport (english.pravda.ru) is an online Russian news and opinion platform that publishes articles on global politics, science, society, culture, and current events. The site states that it aims to give "voice to the voiceless," providing a space for diverse perspectives and reporting through openness and diversity. PravdaReport's mission centers on offering its engaged audience unbiased and plural viewpoints, with a strong belief that accurate information can only emerge from transparent and inclusive dialogue. While the content may reflect distinct editorial choices and cultural viewpoints, the website can be used as a resource for exploring international perspectives and media literacy in the classroom.

tag(s): diversity (46), media literacy (113), perspective (20), russia (34), russian (26)