Reading Websites for Students
Interactive Reading Websites
Interactive reading websites are not hard to find, but there are so many that it is difficult and time-consuming to weed through them and find the best ones. Below is a list of 4 sites that I have found to be very useful for students who need help with reading. They cover all grade levels and a multitude of skills. Most interactive sites have games that teach or reinforce skills and assessment tools. There are also helpful parent and teacher links as well.
This site provides interactive website links for grades K-12. They are divided into subject categories, one of them being reading. Many of these reading links are for beginning readers. They focus on letter recognition phonics, vocabulary and comprehension.
This site has what they call an internet hotlist on comprehension skills for grades 3-5. It was created by an elementary school teacher. A wealth of comprehension skills are alphabetically ordered including skills such as author's purpose, cause and effect, context clues, drawing conclusions, fact and opinion, figurative language, plot, sequencing, and summarizing. The site is divided into 3 main sections: comprehension skills, testing, and reading strategies. This site has an incredible amount of resources for both teachers and parents.
Bookmarks to Color
- Bookmarks to Color - Home
Students love to color. These 'bookmarks to color' inspire reading. They can be used as a ready-made center, rewards, holiday-themed activities and time-fillers.
Students Can Learn Through Games
This site contains a collection of game links mostly for younger students. The game topics are very specific and would be worthwhile when teaching or reinforcing very specific skills. Some of these include: anagrams, letter writing, fact or fantasy, opposites, inference, tall tales, and fact or fantasy.
- Reading Glasses Interacitve Reading Website
This site also has a collection of reading based games. These game links are divided by age-appropriate categories: ages 3-6, 6-10, and 10 and up. Each game link has a brief description of the skill being addressed. For instance, Web Tales: Kids can create their own wacky tales by imputing phrases. It also has a list of parent resource links including topics such as reading tips, strategies, building skills, and promoting reading.
Reading Links
- Why Children Should Read
It is important for children to read for numerous reasons. In order for them to be successful in our world today, they must be able to read well. - The History of Children and Books
The history of children and books begins in the late 17th century with books teaching children about how to behave. Children's books have evolved over the years to a variety of genres. - Best Historical Fiction and Biographies
Historical fiction and biographies can both provide excellent sources of reading for pleasure and gaining knowledge. There are qualities that each should contain to make them worthwhile.
Helpful Sites Are Well-Organized
- Starfall Interactive Reading Website
This site is for beginning readers. It has 4 components: ABC's, Learn to Read, It's Fun to Read, and I'm Reading. Starfall uses phonics to teach children to read through a systematic approach. This site is appropriate for pre-school through 2nd grade, as well as English language development, special education students, and children who are home-schooled. It also features fun holiday-inspired activities that are reading centered as well.
This site contains interactive whiteboard games for language arts, the arts, math, and social science. These games are animated and very entertaining. Even though they were created with the whiteboard in mind, they are very effective for students to use via the computer. Using shows such as Between the Lions, Sesame Street, and Clifford, reading skills are taught in a way that will interest young children and keep their attention.
- Global Classroom Interactive Reading Website
This site contains a well-organized list of language arts and reading websites. It contains sites for students, teachers, and resources for Sadako and the Thousand Cranes. Very specific skills can be accessed here such as parts of speech, synonyms and antonyms, homographs, main idea, and poetry.
