Using Web-based Resources in Literacy Programs

1. Stretch Your Technology Budget: Using Web-based Resources in Literacy Programs Patsy Gibbs Reading First Coach Madison Parish Schools Karol Osborne Extension Agent 4-H Youth Development Juanita Johnson Professor 4-H Youth Development

2. What this Computer Lab Offers • Access to Free Resources, Information, and Materials • Annotated links to the “best-of-the-best” Web sites that provide information on research-based reading literacy strategies • Lesson plans • Online student tutorials • Help for parents • Online Professional Development

3. “Tour” of Web-based Resources via Scenarios Topic: Reading Literacy ● Scenario #1: Lesson Plans● Scenario #2: Computer-based Projects ●Scenario #3: Online Books● Scenario #4:“The Arts” ● Scenario #6: Professional Development

4. Scenario # 1: Lesson Plans • Research clearly indicates that the effective use of technology can result in higher levels of learning. • You are looking for ready-made templates and lesson plans for elementary students. • Awesome Library: Organizes the Web with 35,000 carefully reviewed resources. • Go to:http://www.awesomelibrary.org

5. Awesome Library: http://www.awesomelibrary.org

6. Fluency is the ability to read text with speed, accuracy, and proper expression.  Fluent readers: Recognize words automatically Read aloud effortlessly and with expression Do not have to concentrate on decoding Can focus on comprehension To locate lessons: Go to the Harlan Community School District of Harlan, Iowa’s Web site. Additional lessons on Fluency Go to: http://np.harlan.k12.ia.us/reading_center.htm

7. Click on:Word Lists and High Frequency Phrases Click on the links on the page to open a PowerPoint presentation of word lists or high frequency phrases. There is a ‘beginner’ and ‘advanced’ levels. Word Lists High Frequency Phrases

8. Go to:http://np.harlan.k12.ia.us/reading_center.htm

9. Scenario # 2: Computer Projects • Researchers consistently find that tools for youth to create computer-generated projects helps to build motivation. • You are looking for web-based software. • Go to: http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp

10. http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp

11. Scenario # 3: Online Books • A teacher is looking for varied reading materials to meet the needs of parents in a youth and family literacy program. • Unfortunately, she has no budget for purchasing books. • Someone suggested using online books. • Where can she find recommendations?

12. Go to: Starfall.com • First, she would go to: www.starfall.com • Second, she should click on ‘I’m Reading.’ • Starfall is primarily designed for first grade students, but materials are also useful for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and second grade.

13. http://www.starfall.com/

14. For additional activities, go to: Scholastichttp://www.scholastic.com/ispy/play/ • I Spy is a series of books, software, puzzles, and games for children. It combines intriguing photographs of familiar-object with rich rhyming riddles to create visual brain-teasing puzzles. • The activities focus on clever object associations, word play, and themes that help children build important learning skills, including reading, problem solving, and creativity. I Spy

15. Scenario # 4: “The Arts” • A team of parents are concerned about their children’s poor reading comprehension, particularly the performance of struggling students. • They have been reading about the powerful role the arts can play in promoting learning. • What they find most intriguing are strategies for infusing arts and crafts and multimedia into literacy instruction. • Where can they go to find some good ideas to launch their program ideas?

16. Go to: Crayola.com • First, go to: http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/ • Second, then go to the section, “Coloring Pages.” • Third, then begin to search through the sections: • Parents • Teachers • Craft Ideas

17. http://www.crayola.com

18. For additional “Arts” activities, go to: Tammyyee.com http://www.tammyyee.com/origami.html Origami Projects: Paper folding projects from your favorite books!

19. http://tammyyee.com/origami.html

20. For additional “Arts” activities…go to: SEDL (formerly the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory) • http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/toolkits/ • The toolkit includes promising practices and sample lessons in: • Arts • Reading Literacy • Math • Science • Technology • Homework

21. http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/toolkits/index.html

22. Scenario # 5: Professional Development • A 4-H volunteer leader needs more information on how to organize a literacy program. • Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the time to go and take a class at the local university. • He considers the possibility of taking an online course. • Where can he find online, free training on literacy programming?

23. Go to: Thinkfinity http://www.thinkfinity.org/pd/request_training.aspx

24. What Is Thinkfinity? Thinkfinity.org is a Web site that contains thousands of free lesson plans and student materials for every core subject, designed by the leading educational organizations in the United States. • A partnership between the Verizon Foundationand the nation’s leading educational and literacy organizations • 55,000+ FREE education and literacy resources • FREE professional development

25. Thinkfinity’s Content Partners

26. Dissemination • Who will you tell about this Computer Lab? • Why? • When and how?

27. Contact information: Patsy Gibbs Reading First Coach Madison Parish Schools patsy.gibbs@madisonpsb.org Karol Osborne Extension Agent 4-H Youth Development LSU AgCenter Madison Parish kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu Juanita Johnson Professor LSU AgCenter Department of 4-H Youth Development jjohnson@agcenter.lsu.edu