Effective Literacy Website #7

In 2002, Starfall was launched as a free service to teach children to read.   This program was made possible by Dr. Stephen Schutz and provided by the Starfall Education Foundation.  The targeted learners were students in kindergarten to third grade.   Starfall.com offers resources for language arts and mathematics.  The skills addressed for language arts include phonemic awareness, systematic sequential phonics, and common sight words with the integration of audiovisual.  All the activities are research based and aligned with Common Core State Standards in ELA and Mathematics.

Since the targeted grade level is kindergarten to third grade the program highly emphasizes learning through exploration, play, and encouraging learners to become intrinsically motivated in their learning development.  Although the article mentioned that the program is effective for students with special needs and learning difficulties, I have found some valuable resources that can also help ELL students.  An example is the 47 songs provided under nursery rhymes, all the students in kindergarten will love this learning activity because it includes learning about letters and words through the use of music.

The home tab https://www.starfall.com/h/index.php includes store, parent-teacher center, how to join, sign in, and resources for Pre-K& Kindergarten to Grade 3.  The Pre-K & Kindergarten tab offers other tabs for language arts and music.  There are a variety of resources to tap into for phonics, reading, nursery rhymes, motion songs, and sing along activities.  The Learn to Read tab offers over ten books to choose from to help learners develop reading skills.  The books include games and videos to learn from.  I especially liked the “The Big Hit”.  The Motion Songs tab offers songs and videos for students to follow and learn about letter sounds and words.  This will be very effective for kinesthetic learners.

This is another website that will enable teachers to collect resources that can enhance their lessons in Literacy.  I find the resources very useful.  It addresses the basic skills for students to develop in English reading and writing.