Ideas from a Reading Specialist–Current blogs consist of free online sites and programs for a reading classroom.
12 Ideas to Promote Independent Reading in Your School or Class Librarians can be your best friend! Our school librarian provided monthly opportunities for our kids. They KNEW kids and they KNEW teen literature. They provided information on library resources,book talks, book speed dating, lessons on research, special presentations for banned book weeks, and information […]
Fakebook Looking for an alternative way for students to write about a character in the book they are reading or a historical figure? Wanting a fun activity for back to school getting to know each other? Try FAKEBOOK from classtools.net. Fakebook is an educational tool, with no connection to the social networking site. After navigating […]
Looking for an alternative review activity your students will enjoy and that will give you instant formative data? Check out Plickers! This game is an alternative to the traditional “clickers”–with the advantages without the expense! This free tool is easy to use after the initial set up. There is no need for individual devices for […]
A nonprofit organization, The Global Space Education Foundation has created an inspiring program where astronauts share children’s books with children on earth. This program was created by Patricia Tribe who was the director of education at Space Center Houston. Her vision was to merge STEM and literacy. Astronauts video themselves reading books while in space. […]
Storybird Studio Storybird Studio, a free tool will inspire the most reluctant writer! Aligned with the common core, this resource is very user friendly. Teachers create a free account with robust features your kids will enjoy and which will save you time. Unfortunately, print access is a premium feature–but there are plenty of extras on […]
Welcome to Reading Specialty! As a classroom reading teacher in a district with a significant financial and time commitment to technology, I have constantly been on the lookout for ways to combine the learning targets of my class with technology. I started this blog to showcase technology resources which are free (although some may have […]
Freekidsbooks.org One of my students showed me a really great site. This student was a life skills student. Our high school library did not have a large number of books for a student with a lower reading level. Free Kids Books to the rescue! My student was excited about the book she was reading. As […]
Another site recommended by a student was Children’s Storybook Online. As you enter this site you will find books for young children, older children, and young adults. An audio button indicates an audio file is available to read the selection. A new feature at the top of the page provides quizzes. There are very few books […]