The Internet and Its Resources
Danielle Paxton
EDCI 519
GeorgeMasonUniversity
October 14, 2007
Website #1: Reading Rainbow
Rating (out of 5):
Overview:
I spent much of my childhood watching Reading Rainbow on PBS. As a result, this was one of the first websites I examined. I am happy to report that the website is as fantastic as the television program. The website, in fact, seems to serve as an extension of the show on PBS. Students can access quality literacy activities that are colorful and engaging while teachers can find excellent book titles and suggestions for extending those lessons. The headings “Games”, “LeVar”, and “Contest” relate best to students. Teachers will find the headings of “Books” and “Parents & Teachers” most useful.
Language Proficiency
Considering both the content and the language of the website, it would be most appropriate for navigation by elementary students with at least an Intermediate language proficiency. Beginning English language learners could certainly participate in some of the activities under “Games”, but with explanative support. Students of any proficiency, however, can participate in the “Make a Book” game activity.
Methods
The Reading Rainbow website contains suggestions for lesson plans that coincide with all of the books featured on show. The ideas are especially appropriate for teachers conscious of meeting the diverse learning needs of their students. Many of these suggestions include hands-on activities that would appeal to students with kinesthetic, visual, and musical intelligences. The interactivity aspect of the Cognitive Anti-Method also corresponds with many of the lessons on the Reading Rainbow website. Many of the books relate to content-area subjects, so teachers using CALLA would find plenty of literature to use.
Use in Classroom
The books featured on the Reading Rainbow website are excellent examples of literature. Many of the selections are especially appropriate for the multicultural classroom. In addition, the book list and the accompanying lesson plan suggestions provide literature that can be used within content areas outside of language arts. Students could use the website games to extend upon the concepts within the content areas of mathematics, science, and English language learning. Using the website would also help teachers meet the push for technology within the classroom.
Examples
For teachers:
- Featured book and accompanying lesson suggestions:
- Book finder:
For students:
- Sequence game:
- Math place value:
Website #2: National Geographic for Kids
Rating (out of 5):
Overview
Although the National Geographic magazines – both adult and youth – are outstanding, the National Geographic for Kids website did not meet the same expectations. The site is colorful and engaging but is almost too busy. One feels somewhat overwhelmed as when navigating the site and the organization is not quite clear. While the heading categories (Animals, Games, Videos, Stories, Activities, My Page) and the subcategories are organized, the majority of the pages are filled to the max. The result is distracting for the use. In addition, the language of the site places it out of reach to many English language learners.
Language Proficiency
The language on the website is fairly advanced. It would be most ideal for middle school and above. In addition, the level of independency upon the site would depend upon the language proficiency of the student. Lower-level English language learners would need to be guided through the activities and resources, while more advanced students could probably explore on their own.
Methods
The information on the National Geographic for Kids website could be used within the CALLA and Total Physical Response methods. Teachers could structure the presentation in a structured manner, as is appropriate with CALLA. In addition, students could react to videos or articles in the ways suggested by Total Physical Response.
Use in Classroom
The articles and videos available on the site could be used within science or social studies courses or as an extension of a language arts lesson. The “Games” feature are not wholly academic in nature, but most of the other headings could be appropriate for the classroom. Teachers would probably want to direct students to certain pages within the site or guide use through a whole class lesson.
Examples
Animal Features:
Cultural Article:
Website #3: Starfall
Rating (out of 5):
Overview
Starfall.com is directly designed for teachers to use to build the literacy skills of their students. The site is divided into four levels, beginning with phonemic awareness activities for non-readers and building up to easy picture books. The activities and books are engaging and highly visual. Students work through all of the levels, each of which contains either multiple activities for books.
Level 1 – ABC’s: Students work through an overview of each alphabet letter.
Level 2 – Learn to Read: Small books that show phonemes in words.
Level 3 – It’s Fun to Read: Very beginning, interactive books
Level 4 – I’m Reading: Beginning fiction and nonfiction books
Language Proficiency
This website is appropriate for elementary age English language learners who have not yet learned to read or are at the beginning stages of English literacy.
Methods
The Starfall website can be used with a variety of ESOL methods. The activities are highly appropriate for the sheltered instruction rationale that underlies the CALLA method. In addition, those who use the Audiolingual Method (ALM) would also like this website. Many of the activities require that students listen in a repetitious fashion.
Use in Classroom
The Starfall website is a fantastic way to help elementary-age English language learners read. The books have wonderful pictures and illustrations and all of the components are visually stimulating. In addition, students can listen to any of the activities and books, helping them acquire key phonemic awareness and sight words. Some of the levels also contain worksheet printouts for teachers.
Examples
Word Families:
Nonfiction Easy Reader:
Website #4: The Kids Know It Network
Rating (out of 5):
Overview
The Kids Know It Network website was recommended to me by my school district. It is searchable learning network with the following categories: Animals, Biology, Dinosaurs, Geology, Geography, Math, Memory and Spelling. Teachers can search for games, activities, and worksheets within the website that students can use. The subcategories under each heading are quite extensive. There are a few drawbacks to this site however. For example, the information cannot be easily printed. In addition, advertisements make the site harder to navigate.
Language Proficiency
The majority of the Kids Know It Network website is appropriate for students in middle school and high school. Elementary students could perhaps use the spelling section, but the remainder of the information is probably too advanced for that age group. Since the website does not contain as many pictures as is probably necessary for English language learners, this does limit which students can benefit from the site.
Methods
Teachers using the CALLA method for teaching ESOL students would probably use this website the most. Given its heavy concentration of content-area information, CALLA teachers could incorporate this information in a sheltered instruction lesson.
Use in Classroom
Teachers could have students use the Kids Know It Network for project research. The wide range of information the website permits its use in a wide range of subject areas – social studies, science, and language arts. One neat feature is the spelling activities. Teachers can create spelling lists or have students play any of the several spelling games.
Examples
Specialization of Labor:
Spelling Letter Drop:
Website #5: PBS for Teachers
Rating (out of 5):
Overview
The PBS site for teacher is a wonderful resource for any educator. Teachers can search by grade and a plethora of subjects. The website provides already lesson plans with engaging activities, extensions, and cross-curricular connections. The lesson plans are extremely thorough – they even give time estimations. To use the site, you can click on the subject matter (The Arts, Health & Fitness, Math, Reading & Language Arts, Science & Tech, and Social Studies) in the left-hand corner, then input the grade range and choose a subcategory. The site is especially ideal for ESOL teachers because the subjects are culturally sensitive and encompassing. Additionally, there are also resources for librarians, media and technology specialists, and early childhood educators.
Language Proficiency
Since there are lesson plans for every age group, teachers will have to make a determination of which lesson plans will be appropriate with their particular students. It is likely that teachers will have to differentiate lessons across language proficiency levels.
Methods
Given the number of lesson plans on the PBS Teachers website, a variety of ESOL teaching methods could use this resource. Teachers using CALLA, for example, will find that the information can be altered for the sheltered instruction goals. The activities are highly adaptable to the TPR and TPRS methods. Many of the lesson plans examined incorporated movement into the sequence of instruction. Those using the Natural Approach could also benefit from this website, because the lessons are interactive and full of rich vocabulary.
Use in Classroom
The lesson plans on the PBS Teachers website can be used in virtually any content area. There are lesson plans available for all K-12 ages as well as early childhood. Users can search for lesson plans in the following age groups: PreK, K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12.
Examples
Latin American/Chicaco Studies for Grades 3-5:
Folklore for Grades 6-8: