TeachersFirst's Interactive Audio Books
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These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books in interactive form so all students, including emerging readers and ESL/ELL learners, can experience reading with audio and visual prompts or interactivity to reinforce and inspire literacy skills and enjoyment as they read. Be sure to explore each site, as many include multiple types of activities, including the interactive books. The helpful reviews suggest ideas for ways to use the interactive books in the classroom or outside of school to reinforce literacy skills, improve English skills, or study literature in new ways. See TeachersFirst's full collection of audio book resources and collection of audio books with accompanying text.
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Clifford's Big Dig - Scholastic
Grades
K to 2tag(s): phonics (47)
In the Classroom
Demonstrate how to use this website on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Then have students work on at their own pace on individual computers or with a partner to read/listen to the story. Be sure to include headsets! An audio version of the story is provided, so even non-readers can easily navigate this website.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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SUPER WHY! - PBS Kids
Grades
K to 2tag(s): alphabet (59), phonics (47), preK (271), sound (86), sounds (58), spelling (113)
In the Classroom
Turn up your speakers and use your interactive whiteboard or projector to display these engaging activities, and get ready for some excited students! Once the site is introduced, set this website up as a learning center (with headphones!) during your language arts block. Go to Super Stuff for printable language arts pages to use for extra practice. Share this link with parents via your teacher web page so they can help struggling readers enjoy learning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Here, Clifford! - Scholastic
Grades
K to 2tag(s): phonics (47)
In the Classroom
Demonstrate how to use this website on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students work at their own pace on individual computers or with a partner. Don't forget the headsets! An audio version of the story is provided, so even non-readers can easily navigate this website.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Emily Elizabeth Goes to School - Scholastic
Grades
K to 2tag(s): phonics (47)
In the Classroom
Demonstrate how to use this website on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students work on individual computers at their own pace. (Headsets would work best). An audio version of the story is provided, so even non-readers can easily navigate this website. This story is a perfect activity for the first week of school!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Scratch - Lifelong Kindergarten Group, MIT Media Lab
Grades
1 to 12Material created can only be viewed within the program. Drawings are not saved as a JPG or pic file. However, a "snapshot" of the screen can be created by using these keys in Mac: apple, shift, and 4 and click/drag to surround the portion to save. In PC use: control/print screen. These snapshots can be uploaded or used as a picture in other applications.
tag(s): animation (63), coding (75), computational thinking (32), critical thinking (109), design (85), drawing (65), problem solving (261), STEM (206)
In the Classroom
Quick start: Click stage and in the center pane, click on backgrounds. Click on paint to make a new background. Different colors, pens, and materials can be used to create the background or an image can be brought in from your computer. Objects in Scratch are called a Sprite and can be added in by choosing the folders below the screen. By clicking the script tab, blocks can be moved in to create motion, add sounds (even record your own message), and change the look of the Sprite. Blocks are linked on to each other to create a series of events. A control block dragged to the top of the blocks control which key starts the event. Advanced options include adding variables and other controls.Be sure to check with your Technology Department, as many districts require authorization to download or install new applications. Projects can be shared online; however an account is required.
Work is saved to the computer itself and only shared online via an account. To avoid problems concerning content made by outsiders or issues with sharing, save the work locally and either create your own gallery on a supervised class website/wiki or set up a single account where you share the "best" projects online via your own log-in. Remind students of the school's Acceptable Use Policy and consequences of violations, if you do allow them to join/share. Images used should adhere to all copyright rules. Use pictures taken in class or those with Creative Commons licensing (and provide attribution!).
Practical tips: Students quickly catch on to this program when allowed to play and easily see what they can make from it. Provide a simple assignment with defined rules/tasks to learn the tools. Younger students may familiarize themselves more easily working with a partner. Have students use a storyboard to write down what they will do/draw/say in their creation in order to keep tabs on what students and their creations.
Possible uses: For the lower grades, Scratch provides unlimited possibilities. Use as a new way to show vocabulary usage. Use the paint program to add information to a picture from your class field trip or science experiment. Use Scratch to help in storytelling a concept in a new and unique way, such as how rocks are formed. In the upper grades, use Scratch to show complex material in a new way. For example, students can draw DNA and show replication, etc. through their drawings and storytelling. Draw the different movements of landforms in plate tectonics. Draw or illustrate solutions to Math problems.
Edge Features:
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be shared by URL
Requires download/installation of software
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CAST UDL Book Builder - CAST
Grades
K to 12Be sure to try the model books and read the tips for writers and illustrators. Take the time to learn the tool. Click to see a sample we made for you and placed on our site.
tag(s): digital storytelling (132), reading comprehension (123), reading strategies (54)
In the Classroom
Locate or create your own copyright-free text and images for which you have the rights to make more than one copy (Fair Use does not apply!). Copy/paste the text and resize/upload the images--following simple directions to create the pages and accompanying hints. Be sure to learn about the three interactive characters who teach the strategies! Publish and download the files of the finished "books" and save on your computer. Extract the zipped files and save locally, on your network, or burn to CD so your students can access them directly.The uses of this one are endless. If you take the time to get permission from the publisher to use text from some of your textbooks or reading books, you could create interactive versions to use in your classroom or with special ed students. More simply, use student-written stories and artwork (scanned -- or created in Paint) to create the "book." Imagine creating a class "book" at the end of a unit on Communities or Animals, and including images you take with your digital camera. If you copy the CD's, students could sign out the "book" and read it to relatives using their home computer. You can keep the "library" of past books to help future classes. Or ask your middle/high school or gifted students to create books as writing/service project for struggling readers to use.
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Children's Storybooks Online - Children's Storybooks Online
Grades
1 to 3tag(s): literacy (89), literature (223)
In the Classroom
Include this link on your teacher web page for students who have Internet access to reinforce reading skils at home. NOTE: Turn on your pop-up blocker to avoid annoying pop-ups form this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Clifford the Big Red Dog - PBSkids
Grades
K to 2In the Classroom
Use this site as a center (if several computers or laptops are available) or as an activity that students can do when finished with other work. Don't forget headphones to prevent distractions to other students. Provide a link on your teacher web page for parents to visit the parents and teachers section for activities they can do with their child at home after reading other Clifford books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sesame Street - CTW
Grades
K to 2tag(s): classification (28), counting (94), listening (78), numbers (170), preK (271), sound (86), sounds (58)
In the Classroom
Use this rare find to motivate your students. Have students work on individual computers and explore this site on their own. With younger students, you may want to introduce the site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. This is definitely one that you will want to share with your parents in your newsletter or on your class website.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Learn to Read - Starfall.com
Grades
1 to 3tag(s): sound (86), sounds (58), vocabulary (249)
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