Links to Literacy
Abracadabra
"Abracadabra is an online, highly interactive, evidence-based literacy tool designed for students, teachers, educators, and parents. " (http://abralite.concordia.ca/pd/index.php , 2007)
Active Young Readers & Active Readers Documents
Nova Scotia's Department of Education Literacy Success host the Active Young Readers program who's "initiatives centre on the need to provide effective reading instruction for all learners; provide effective intervention for learners who are experiencing difficulties in their literacy development; and to focus on the individual learning strengths, needs, styles, and interests of learners who may be disadvantaged in their literacy development." (ACTIVE YOUNG READERS: GRADES PRIMARY–6 Background Paper, May, 2002). http://ayr.ednet.ns.ca/ayr_docs.shtml
Canadian Language & Literacy Reseacrch Center
Excellent resource with what students at each grade can and should be accomplishing. A toolkit for effective reading and writing.
English/Language Arts Internet Classroom
There is quite a range of resources available on this website. The website is categorized into grammar, letter writing, reading, books and novels, reading comprehension, for teachers, and professional resources. Many activities can be cross curricular. http://www.internet4classrooms.com/lang_elem.htm
Mailbox Magazine: The Ideas Magazine for Teachers
A magazine resource for teachers but also has website with helpful literacy ideas for elementary. This site has more than just Lanuage Arts resources, it has math, science, and classroom managment tips and lessons as well.
http://www.theeducationcenter.com/tec/af/nl/tec/core/search/companionSearchResult.do
http://www.theeducationcenter.com/tec/af/nl/tec/core/search/companionSearchResult.do
Misunderstood Minds
This PBS documentary tells about the journey of children with learning disabilities. What I find most interesting about this site are the simulations of specific learning disabilities. (These are found under the links on the left: Attention, Reading, Writing, Mathematics and labeled "experience first hand.") They put into context the struggles that children have and the challenges to overcome their disability.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/attention.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/attention.html
Reading Rockets
A site for Teachers, Parents and Students aimed at to create successful readers. A multitude of useful resources and lesson plan ideas for educators. http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/teachers
Signed Stories
This amazing website not only reads the book with you, it signs the whole book in ASL. There is an excellent selection of stories and the layout of the website is very user friendly. Terrific for Deaf students in your classroom or anyone interested in ASL. http://www.signedstories.com/
Star Fall
The “Starfall” websites are a great resource for engaging children in phonic awareness. It is a good website for emergent readers as well. The website offers some free printables as well as an option to purchase a membership. The website offers free worksheets and cut-up take home books featuring the stories from their online series. http://www.starfall.com/
The Teacher's Desk
A collection of over 150 lesson ideas for Spelling, Writing, English, Reading, and Vocabulary activities, with a few extras thrown-in, currently being utilized in a fifth or sixth grade classroom. This is an American site but lessons connect to the Canadian curriculum. http://www.teachersdesk.org/lessons.html
teAchnology
Hundreds of lessson plan ideas for Language Arts and beyond. Worksheets on Grammar, Phonetics and much more. A handy site with lots to explore.
http://www.teach-nology.com/
http://www.teach-nology.com/
Tumble Books Library
Tumble Books are accessed through the Halifax Regional Library. They are engaging and great for children of all ages. http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/kids/tumblebooks.html