Photo retrieve from busemd.edublogs.org on March 3, 2014
Source
http://www.starfall.com/
What is it???
Starfall is a website that teaches children to read using phonics. This site works with children on phonemic awareness skills to help children learn to read. This site can be used for children in preschool to those students in second grade even students that are being home schooled. This tool is an interactive set of instruction that ignites children’s imagination and the engagement in the learning. This tool is even used to help ESL students learn to read!
Educational uses
The major educational uses of this website is to teach students to read using the phonemic awareness skills this tool emphasizes. An example of using this tool in the classroom could include using this at centers. I’ve seen this used in the classroom as a center while the teacher is working with students at the guided reading table. This was an effective and enjoyable center for the students.
Content Standards
Possible content standards could include: Kindergarten RF.K 2. Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and phonemes. A. Recite and produce rhyming words. B. Count and produce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words. or C. Blend and segment onsets and rimes of single syllable spoken words. These are all kindergarten standards that could be used when using this tool in a classroom.
Assessment
Assess the students when using this site could be difficult because it is an open site and there isn’t an account for each student to keep track of scores on games and activities that they do. An assessment outside of this tool could be improvement during guided reading or even during a phonics lesson.
Value
Pros: Phonics based reading skills, interactive, fun, engaging for the students, and this tool pushes the students to learn about reading.
Cons: Public website, and pop ups that the students might not know how to handle.
Reference
Information taken from http://www.starfall.com/ on March 3, 2014