News for today's 2018: 04/04/12

take a seat part 4

10:22 PM Anonymous 0

Raise your hand if you have a half dressed couch in your garage. Wahoo!<br /><br />I'm feeling good. I'm in control, as 80's Janet Jackson would say. I made legitimate progress, and there wasn't even excessive cussing. (no more than the normal daily amount that is)<br /><br /><div>But you are looking for the details, so lets go back to where we last left off.<br /><br />My lovely little settee was sanded, primed and given two wonderful coats of black spray paint.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8R0NdkuhJR0vYAEwG5rTXSZay_OAZyD3PfkNQVv3XO3eWGCQEIrPncLQNoKzfZrLTtnz8MSlOnm12olg0DsdyZtIK7pSmjNdEkDbD9VBv3kloEEuDrVp2117q55RBj22hpMbinDsRYRRw/s1600/P4045732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8R0NdkuhJR0vYAEwG5rTXSZay_OAZyD3PfkNQVv3XO3eWGCQEIrPncLQNoKzfZrLTtnz8MSlOnm12olg0DsdyZtIK7pSmjNdEkDbD9VBv3kloEEuDrVp2117q55RBj22hpMbinDsRYRRw/s640/P4045732.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea what those hieroglyphics are btw</td></tr></tbody></table><div>Fabric was purchased and my staple gun was ready. There was no busy work left. No more procrastinating or stalling. It was time to 'get to gettin'. </div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to start with the outside side panels. They didn't have any batting in them when I pulled the fabric off, so I thought it would be the most straight forward place to start.</div><div><br /></div><div>I pulled the old smoke filled fabric out of the biohazard bag and laid it down on my pretty, new, clean linen to make my template.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZGlZVo3tr-UOf8R9cAR1hK6ZY0RWj6YcBw8RwEsVcLEsXE_JNZnB98Ntr68oNeyz3je8rDssstAjHTvZU2ch4Mhnsx3KpnoisOM5PW07ILEqBrBND1UnoQSJtzEhNynt58TfljhZmr3c/s1600/P4045743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZGlZVo3tr-UOf8R9cAR1hK6ZY0RWj6YcBw8RwEsVcLEsXE_JNZnB98Ntr68oNeyz3je8rDssstAjHTvZU2ch4Mhnsx3KpnoisOM5PW07ILEqBrBND1UnoQSJtzEhNynt58TfljhZmr3c/s640/P4045743.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I was sure to trace my line about an inch or so away from the template itself to give me a little wiggle room when installing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ps7Se4rPwufAkn6Q9HW59nZIJ-5emQoBX8lP3z6LLBczqd2jC3Zt-jb_oewSLsDaMN7qWjrBnFZNPHmsqhx9hYEIMrrWw7M_tYN0ELb_83QjABbvwIn6j1_1nJPPXzYEo0UxY2cTGSN8/s1600/P4045740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ps7Se4rPwufAkn6Q9HW59nZIJ-5emQoBX8lP3z6LLBczqd2jC3Zt-jb_oewSLsDaMN7qWjrBnFZNPHmsqhx9hYEIMrrWw7M_tYN0ELb_83QjABbvwIn6j1_1nJPPXzYEo0UxY2cTGSN8/s640/P4045740.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then I cut out my inaugural piece.<br /><br />Next up was ironing out any and all wrinkles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuKVzZLs8Atq8yNJVqH0SsZNS36Rybb6O98O9kuUKE4unafjdx1RR_v3PlW-Aegdi7bFKtaFkk_SJO2U9ZxC3B43l-DzoiN0lYiTWU7k7noPGz5TAEZzoOT1-6AjRs7YxcW_wlQ2Cj8Er/s1600/P4045745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuKVzZLs8Atq8yNJVqH0SsZNS36Rybb6O98O9kuUKE4unafjdx1RR_v3PlW-Aegdi7bFKtaFkk_SJO2U9ZxC3B43l-DzoiN0lYiTWU7k7noPGz5TAEZzoOT1-6AjRs7YxcW_wlQ2Cj8Er/s640/P4045745.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then folding over and ironing the edges for one staple ready template.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpCIV5Ulw1OlafS3bWV0OsoQvLcJbDs7KN4-wV99_IDRiH6KqjqUIDfkSlBwXyfBPx2vrOekq6YSK404N7uWAnoE6eo5LXz9M6C5ZGKG35lCpYQd74-dAnG2AicvI47K3EhxSg2Un2bmT/s1600/P4045755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpCIV5Ulw1OlafS3bWV0OsoQvLcJbDs7KN4-wV99_IDRiH6KqjqUIDfkSlBwXyfBPx2vrOekq6YSK404N7uWAnoE6eo5LXz9M6C5ZGKG35lCpYQd74-dAnG2AicvI47K3EhxSg2Un2bmT/s640/P4045755.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Now I don't profess to know a stinkin thing about upholstery (as we've established) so maybe this is common but I was thrilled to have these wonderful pre-paved roads for me to follow. They were like a big neon sign, "Hey rookie, staple your fabric here!" </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMOygQbgPjLd5Ub_88I3g2pinf1-X8olTuA0OS2pc6DVRKnBUHFIr2xqPoGjo24zHwikJ9RHl6xNytcPR0Q0HYOvCl96CqleXeWh20-NbF4tJr4dKvHfO9rRrL_zCrHjAroqMb7YDZ5GE/s1600/P4045733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMOygQbgPjLd5Ub_88I3g2pinf1-X8olTuA0OS2pc6DVRKnBUHFIr2xqPoGjo24zHwikJ9RHl6xNytcPR0Q0HYOvCl96CqleXeWh20-NbF4tJr4dKvHfO9rRrL_zCrHjAroqMb7YDZ5GE/s640/P4045733.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">don't worry, all old staples were removed before new stapling began</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div>I eyeballed the positioning of the template, making sure that all sides would be covered. Then I lit a candle, turned on Pandora and got to stapling.<br /><br />One staple at the top, the bottom, left side and then the right to hold the fabric in place. And then back to each side, pulling, holding, stapling.<br /><br />Lather, rinse, repeat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTHwmh-cwRrW3iVCfuhpdNV1ThnGRNurVnx3roAlb-3BDqW76uF4HUZeAFNqCSr9QxJovQXxhhjHF3Jie_XthHsNFPZDI0yrEQgEXbJTdMxASNtbcJT0Llt7AwjI5_yi6CbmW4Bd4tqCF/s1600/P4045751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTHwmh-cwRrW3iVCfuhpdNV1ThnGRNurVnx3roAlb-3BDqW76uF4HUZeAFNqCSr9QxJovQXxhhjHF3Jie_XthHsNFPZDI0yrEQgEXbJTdMxASNtbcJT0Llt7AwjI5_yi6CbmW4Bd4tqCF/s640/P4045751.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Some staples wouldn't go in all the way, as you can see. So I'd have to pull it out and restaple. But again, not nearly as bad as I had feared (so far).<br /><br />It actually went a lot quicker than I had planned (knock on wood). So quick in fact that I got both outside sides down in just a little over an hour.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n5r23jlcM2HS1TfI-T1TufrVUk7k7UafGDDRCJb8k69YyNPjJCMVi2ErU15Ydn-oH819xRS-Pn5Cbcx4Af-fIim2lOBnn5OGex299uDXKeEyjdX39gIedv_MJSI0uUrpvVT8_1nm7X6G/s1600/P4045759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n5r23jlcM2HS1TfI-T1TufrVUk7k7UafGDDRCJb8k69YyNPjJCMVi2ErU15Ydn-oH819xRS-Pn5Cbcx4Af-fIim2lOBnn5OGex299uDXKeEyjdX39gIedv_MJSI0uUrpvVT8_1nm7X6G/s640/P4045759.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />High and tight - just like a good soldier haircut.<br /><br />I will pause now so you can raise the roof with me.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yk0ESxl-4kjsDA2rSoi_xkfYFRY83SMoKrUxa0j3qeTpkZZKrl3BZmuW39VgtgKkkdQndk9IA5L-JvAbp-FLIEBubi501gUpWs_tbKOvJPHHjrYGk0jZqvd_gZkH-E85WqWPCUfL3uZ1/s1600/P4045752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yk0ESxl-4kjsDA2rSoi_xkfYFRY83SMoKrUxa0j3qeTpkZZKrl3BZmuW39VgtgKkkdQndk9IA5L-JvAbp-FLIEBubi501gUpWs_tbKOvJPHHjrYGk0jZqvd_gZkH-E85WqWPCUfL3uZ1/s640/P4045752.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>There was a bit of excess to trim, but for the most part, the template did a great job of using just the right amount.<br /><br /><div>Already a vast improvement from her former life and she's only gonna get better.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jfjCri8BAFyCVYWIgKKN3mkR26iWVJDH-kfDqA3jYYeW8trUUHAN0gzZQCa0JPS5Qyr8qrpX7TabT3WnGCzVLqBtkrCWnrl_VC716y0ZCj72X3NRRhaP59KN2nSXk6zkYigvRfXItjdS/s1600/P2254630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jfjCri8BAFyCVYWIgKKN3mkR26iWVJDH-kfDqA3jYYeW8trUUHAN0gzZQCa0JPS5Qyr8qrpX7TabT3WnGCzVLqBtkrCWnrl_VC716y0ZCj72X3NRRhaP59KN2nSXk6zkYigvRfXItjdS/s640/P2254630.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbv_XVJfYFhtPCIRl6SKtJcRqJVD0QM60n_T5DEe55MaiCU40stxhInOs8JlhrHaQy-Oab30pnwidnWJqCZI2_-ACzSHHVztBIccUi8XLoZ2dxul-jfW6rU6CP4P-he58eORsYH5DU54T/s1600/P4045757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbv_XVJfYFhtPCIRl6SKtJcRqJVD0QM60n_T5DEe55MaiCU40stxhInOs8JlhrHaQy-Oab30pnwidnWJqCZI2_-ACzSHHVztBIccUi8XLoZ2dxul-jfW6rU6CP4P-he58eORsYH5DU54T/s640/P4045757.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Only one small change of plans so far. I'd originally thought I would do nailhead trim but my little paved roads are too wide for the nailhead. It looks like I'll have to go the piping route. Which means a dip into the sewing pool. Damn. I'm not ready for swimsuit season.<br /><br />Next up, we'll go inside - arms, back and seat baby. Oh yeah.</div>

take a seat part 4

Raise your hand if you have a half dressed couch in your garage. Wahoo! I'm feeling good. I'm in control, as 80's Janet Jackson ...

10 places to find reading and writing resources for primary school learners – part 1

1:21 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i>Submitted by Fiona Beal</i><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of my passions is developing reading and writing in kids. Nowadays the web is full of the most amazing sites – is it any wonder that some of us feel that free internet should be a basic human right!  Today I came across some amazing new sites and thought they would be great to share in a blog post.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">I have written two previous posts about reading resources for primary school learners so would like to add the links to those in case you are interested in looking them up:</span><br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/01/bring-technology-into-your-foundation.html" target="_blank">Bring technology into your Foundation Phase reading lessons</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/2012/01/12-more-places-to-find-reading-material.html" target="_blank">12 more places to find reading material for Foundation Phase learners </a></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Share what you are reading</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b><a href="http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/swyar/">http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/swyar/</a></span></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddjT76h4VEamggHHVKo4ALH79hrOeG4AIJf6ugR0N8bVIG-iJhvjNX1GJpJBsU8qmUX452efCFkYJJlKvEL5QIrkWm1WSS9KY5WfhXWPy6yABeKwRmzkEF18cFvwae7i0oSvcWr6D7-I/s1600-h/image2.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64LNH3exJyCH4pafz_DEVLwEU7JdpDNGeLfcPJ3Te15O_uIoFEhff3XYZ0vRdeaY14-80tPetkpO5arr0hdlnZM9aP68fNbJSk3Vdf1mVuJR92uOoerVnoSHr6YyNmK3GA63oXb6qYNE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a>  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB9OERkSmkfGk0YKKs3MKBrfI_xNgIgXT8PL_p4dy6CurEo19aY0SKuwbEX5_DQ4QrBxc4GwNZuOrzMeLaTiWYfyDRhS1GOp1fCnfKv3v0QZY11DXfySI2JD0GMed8bxlh0jNPaZG4dM/s1600-h/image5.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1iGl7_5YlyNm1-ltEnxNER3dQWfO_X6BdTl17GHldX19oaxhNs-wIfI0kOGJF0LilCWwhL_Rz-Y0TI79zSiuaWChWl0fRYeeExHTp72cJyLM1ybREaw00tS6iT7q-gMBqEc2BSBoYKM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a great site where children can write reviews about their favourite books - fantasy novels, biographies, mysteries, sports... They can then also  share with other students what they are reading and discover new books based on other kids' recommendations.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>  <br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Children’s books forever</b></span>  </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.childrensbooksforever.com/">http://www.childrensbooksforever.com/</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii49UnEverBRstE5VPVtqcEATbtPUWapdo-nxNFo8q5QP_5PLiosj8bhD7gdHY1tjbvbMQ6IUOlkBeCAigDt9RK017xfu8yPxFvMfLdS6bTBy_jP_39qnrW6xxXjAkzDxcUbM2ni96Yzc/s1600-h/image61.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5c8nuXO_GilLFmmF9iVJh64Adn0rdtiiFrKoreAeGj4SMG2LK4_yI0UV6gARbzTXuL5EqcnFikipiDyGhknQI0WvNKPGrcuYrTWo97myzQFXK29zsWoAJIo1HkTAocaMj1Wu1JHylRo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This site features free and children’s books written by  Frans Wilhem. As I was paging through the site I recognised the Waldo books. </span></div><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. McGenius</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://meegenius.com/store/books/free/">http://meegenius.com/store/books/free/</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qMDnxOyoK1YbIZ8XI0tV0GMdm6VT0YG5SkM3n8-bZ4onHzlY8alZzH0zdZQRuo49M9s8kCjSKT9uA_VPkxNBxSAFtGvgDqe_68f8m8TVM0ifYoUccZok5MJ5Cz-GifLbyyGpEbW97u8/s1600-h/image13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jTo4FG1s82VimJS3sYN10kwqrEv0uf1KuQb_9U7YpgQsmcrsxuzzjZ9JOlgjWRwggdXkSzr_M3Z3siGAPp8styyy1Kv1xO8KUFjmg7YwokB6vtg9YQBKQjs0ufXX7tnWmn59p94fiwU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a site that has free and paid resources. One really good feature is that the books have  automatic word highlighting to accompany the narration of each book so that the readers can follow along.</span></div><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. The Woodlands Junior School website</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/onlinestory.htm">http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/onlinestory.htm</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSfaboaLPCwfl6kubsNKmUiJKVMoFuoMhjRFOz0jBoz2PaLQHhWty7JKu_IazPPXTkpxeTNo4bLlp66JuUIzaEozZYrDVduaBNcJpqoWPaIVJaKAH46C9gKBKj7YFFCWc0CPgvhhzwYQ/s1600-h/image17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-xuIW1T2p_43RMq6Vs_Y7_7ssTHmurK3atjYfNdXLuc9q0y-s65j6edEYwzWw6pCAgur8ZhD2WMETKbdadNDZOwNEPwJDmJkJNddnWyKXDOWQhQLMmh3PViSIG9kGDC7erX4KBH5nc8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This site is a good place to find educational games for elementary age students. They also have a great collection of links to free online talking storybooks.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Magic keys</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.magickeys.com/books/"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.magickeys.com/books/</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiQRjxEfeV1MBm-mFLUjNs7xrKUeC80lHuP2w7U27CZaYDHVDHy8wn4k1nidYXgfhPMey3HNZMAsN71Svwboptdl9reeJysWau6KFeoeTMDBaNTBbrBH0GWpCsNoBlE8ZxlrLkGip79c/s1600-h/image23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBYvxpR0Qrj4J2kytkhjw9o-qBmfa4CnKKN9zeJteIFDo2Aucakw7Yhj8A-hbmQn2VQ-RpmmSOJG487Vqs1IlwID0cSJRmnJq9lW3CJ9nWf011u0jJCf4zhR2Uh6u3oUUaO_aw2kkAYA/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is another site with a good collection of talking picture books for children.</span> </div><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. Skype an author network</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/">http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0QT5zy_f823ZrP2F_AxpiUU6CXASZMRfr8ysROuHGOpVagX2urieMBNR_WOpBOTG7MO462lzB8pszSzhzyUmpMYyUdWyAfoDZK8zuzpgb7y4XnRGCYj5KkxSSy9WJ4AL948MwShNYOo/s1600-h/image241.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMXd71CdE4eoWMOkP7aEcB7DLvvrgb1TXcHA3xP8WVDIh7uVH7uljbtD8TYC3lyUVyCZ0w_vqa_hfi8iB5gpeVq4gJ598ek7Imx4uAwDjqYRnQT6cnl9oTh68K-MK0zuvA0LbtmSSF4E/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="260" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a fantastic way to bring authors into your classroom – arrange a Skype meeting with an author. The site gives directions for authors and directions for teachers.</span> </div><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>7. You are what you read</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://youarewhatyouread.scholastic.com/kids/"><span style="font-size: small;">http://youarewhatyouread.scholastic.com/kids/</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88neGZgwlmrKKWD2ynSlYKrw4L6aWwJ5pNaYowoGuloIEcWkGeK9gSl4nbPxNv9jhHNHZRiMWVLHI7B9oLtHj82fq96FDIoB3VVTtfJRGhFL0fPfDyaMJQJIvOoRYteyb6FOLc7eXR2w/s1600-h/image29.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqAD_YOrH0gHemen1gg2ryd24tk-dFsKehhe0zKOrfHl9MnxKvXT2Bkif7f-QdXpXh8jSOBAZQJZ4yEezEGpsJTekKl5mTFe5Y7xLtpP8sAAlaTxfv9OA-nG1zSioBvHZ60cpI2M1aI8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">This is a place where kids can share information about their favourite books. After creating a simple profile <i>You Are What You Read</i> asks participants to name the five books that mean the most to them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>8. Scholastic’s summer challenge</b></span><br /><a href="http://www.scholastic.com/summer/"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.scholastic.com/summer/</span></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8m9Rjm4q4HyyNmZEDnDIXIcaPVdkIE4wNuYIJk34FPyBbMjgEYrohtdyzsajZh9DG5r0GQhhkBMQ4-K55JVHEPU8wBT9TJcQ8YRPFlMcjxQL8-O22RjWg4d0cu0UImz09vIoxVbfo9xs/s1600-h/image32.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8vCwsi-v3-IsSglaWKJUyymbNewZvktzDFFyQ5qBn3XQ_C3VBts8dCuhhmENmZk0LLj6u_Vjfgj8jnbwJbpnGHDk2nUn2KYlwB3zXxpEbxR26PiUHHJ9-4bVwEvyWPiF0x8yOyAKaFo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">9. International children’s digital library</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.childrenslibrary.org/books/index.shtml"><span style="font-size: small;">http://en.childrenslibrary.org/books/index.shtml</span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgPjz9A1ZVjLWugmOFfOdS4eb1q6ViKUQ7lSNjns4INJSrh3BayQW34UE6_39DGfvzLVjsO4hzG8g2ytvYtYzDOZ1FZgRWw0MTLf9wsLPScI4nrRs5uVrEO6W69oJMe9Ak9PhHvks-RI/s1600-h/image35.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJ6zqdr5Y5D1Ezw3QHpyWinIGVA854cRXoWBP4CMgLMjpFyqnEyODYBHijFQXCH5h0CO1Xzlk8N7Iiy8f3hTdDsqkf6jPg8u3ElYw8ACEkLat514nVegJiDVltKZ0CSwvy8iRDVsi6yg/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Read books written by authors of all cultures. This site has a wide selection of reading material. </span></div><br /><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">10. Character scrapbook</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/02/character-scrapbook-tool-for-student.html">http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/02/character-scrapbook-tool-for-student.html</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WzYo2pl25PPjEjKf7e2eJei3XZkca92qpPjWdSaD3rOOwLSgM1bGk9jCJ63NxN4gVfLzIIiDtS8drlp6_b6JWqnpKarhkxtqfio1lKnZpdXvD7Rej8z5NRilmr3858fubrDJhYCeFvY/s1600-h/image38.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTg_NVAbgVmTqH7nghWeYZWZMrkzLr7Qpuqdc12OEZ22aDej0AbnDS2yUHe4La6_s2xjwRQNrxzR5ILV8WMh6vZFRJogPl4JFgupaoXfVgWNzyeCJRkjFQPViaaCfw0t8zV3KxXVvkQE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This site has a template that elementary school students can use to write about and reflect on the characters in their favourite stories.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is just a start! Watch this space for another ten amazing reading and writing resource site - coming soon! </span></div></div>