LITERACY RESOURCES

Understanding LITERACY is important in order to be able to teach it to students. Under this category you will find an assortment of information pertaining to how to teach literacy, resources for literacy, and how students learn literacy skills.

As I continue on my search for websites that offer information and resources for literacy, I will add new links and I will also remove links that no longer work or no longer serve a purpose.

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A to Z Teacher Stuff
http://atozteacherstuff.com/

This particular website I have found very useful. While doing Teachers College, I did my inquiry project for Language Arts on Learning Centres. During my research I came across this website which offered me with a number of useful links to information on creating literacy centres.

The following are a few samples that can be found on several of the links provided:

Literacy Centres: 60 Literacy Centre Activities and Blacklines (Sample)

ABC Centres (Sample)

Learning Centres/Literacy Centres (Sample)

The site also offers the user with many useful links for teachers. At the top of the site there are tabs that may be of interest to the user like themes, lessons, tips, articles etc…


Primary Resources 
~ Free lesson plans, activity ideas and resources for primary teachers.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/index.htm

This website has a lot to offer the user, from curriculum units, themed pages, and information on behavioural issues. Under each subcategory, the user can find relevant information for that topic that can be used within the classroom. There is also information on assemblies. The information provided comes to the user in a variety of means, from documents to power point presentations.

What I particularly like about this website is the section on photos, which gives the user several categories to choose from with several images to click on. Some pictures depict class work, bulletin boards, and visual aids.


National Literacy Trust
~ Literacy Changes Lives
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/index.html

This website offers many useful literacy resources for both parents and teachers. The site offers parents and teachers with information on how to teach reading, books to use, recent news, and subcategories that match your student/child's learning level.

I have read many of the research articles offered on this site.


First School Years
http://www.firstschoolyears.com/

This website has a number of links for various curriculum areas that are taught to students on daily/weekly basis, from literacy to history. Under each curriculum link the user can find website links and suggested resource books. Under the "general" tab, the user can find forms to be used by the teacher along with other links to educational websites.

I have used the Reading Record to track my own child's reading progress. This is one website that I will use again in the future with my own class.


Teaching Ideas for Primary Teachers
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/index.shtml

This website offers the user with many useful links for teachers who are looking for ideas to supplement their lessons. This site has subgroups for language, math, science, geography, and other curriculum areas. Under each subcategory there is a list of links relevant to that particular content area. There is even a subgroup for religion classes.

What I really like about this site is when you click on the more subgroup, you are taken to more subgroups one of which is display photos. Within this group are curriculum areas with photos of bulletin boards with an explanation. It provides the user with a great visual of displays that can be utilized within the learning environment.


Literacy Matters
http://www.literacymatters.com/

This website has much to offer the classroom teacher when it comes to teaching literacy. In particular this website offers literature ideas and lesson plans for such topics as narratives, nonfiction, poetry, etc...

It has information for preschool, early childhood, and years 1 through 7.

Little Red Hen Here is a sample lesson for Little Red Hen one of many that the site has to offer.


KinderPlans.com
http://www.kinderplans.com/content.cfm?pageid=326

This website offers the user lesson plans and other resources for Kindergarten and Preschool classrooms. Worksheets include learning the alphabet, themed and seasonal, fairy tales, songs, literacy, etc... The site also offers users ideas for creating bulletin boards, learning centres, and teaching strategies.

I have used some of the information provided on this site. There are "freebies" but the majority of the information is for paying members only.


Early Childhood Links
http://www.earlychildhoodlinks.com/teachers/worksheetselementary.htm

This website provides the user with links to many sites that offer worksheets (that either have a coast, membership fee, or are free) to use within the home or classroom. I have visited several of the sites listed, and used materials to supplement a lesson I taught. These sites may be listed for early childhood but, I have used them in older grades as well.

Along with the list of worksheets, there are other links for the user to click on. Also offered are links to Homeschooling, Montessori, Teacher links, etc...


Get Ready to Read
http://www.getreadytoread.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=64

This website offers the user many sources for early reading within early childhood. It is perfect for educators and parents to use. Many of the items that can be found here are information guides for the adult. There are printables for students to use.

I have used some of the information to assist in writing a paper during my graduate studies.


Resources for Primary Teachers
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/teacher/

This website offers teachers many resources to integrate into the educational program. The user can find game ideas, worksheets, spelling ideas, handwriting, story ideas, and themes.