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

<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>

Creative writing English Literacy Reading 10 places to find reading and writing resources for primary school learners – part 1

Submitted by Fiona BealOne 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 som…

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