Pinky Dinky Doo November 23, 2009
Posted by eatonblog in Digital Storytelling, Educational Resources, Reading/Language Arts.add a comment
Pinky Dinky Doo harnesses the power of television, print, and interactive media to promote reading and imaginative storytelling. To achieve this, Pinky invites children to participate in funny and fantastic stories, games, and songs that support critical early literacy skills.
The series has four primary goals. It aims to:
Celebrate the power of inventing and sharing stories.
Pinky showcases the storytelling process, demonstrating to children that stories come from ideas in people’s heads. It shows children that they can use their imaginations to create their own wonderful and surprising stories.
Introduce basic narrative elements.
Pinky’s stories and games call attention to the following elements:
- Characters (what are people’s names, characteristics, and roles in the story?)
- Dialogue (who said what?)
- Main ideas (what happened and where did it happen?)
- Sequence of events (what happened and when did it happen?)
- Details
Provide opportunities to use effective listening comprehension strategies.
The more time children spend reading, being read to, and talking about what they read, the more they are able to think about and understand stories they hear. Pinky’s stories are designed to:
- Engage viewers in the language and interaction surrounding the stories.
- Promote children’s ability to listen, think along, and learn.
Expand vocabulary through stories.
Listening to stories is an effective way to build vocabulary. Pinky’s stories and games:
- Focus on the meaning of words and concepts within the context of the story.
- Feature fun activities containing rhyme, rhythm, and alliteration.
Expo Writing Center November 20, 2009
Posted by eatonblog in Educational Resources, Reading/Language Arts, Writing.add a comment
Expo Writing Center from Scholastic has writing lessons by grade level.
Explore the Literacy House November 20, 2009
Posted by eatonblog in Early Learning, Educational Resources, Reading/Language Arts.add a comment
Family Literacy Council – Explore the Literacy House
Explore the rooms of theLiteracy House, and see how simple it is to help
your child learn through daily activities using everyday household items.
The main ingredients are you and your child, and the payoff is big!
Discovery Box November 20, 2009
Posted by eatonblog in Digital Storytelling, Educational Resources, Lesson Planning, Reading/Language Arts, Science Resources, Social Studies Resources.add a comment
Discovery Box provides the tools for you to build up an argument or description of an event, person or historical period by placing items in a virtual box. What items, for example, would you put in a box to describe your life; the life of a Victorian Servant or Roman soldier; or to show that slavery was wrong and unnecessary? What if you had to try to convince people that intensive farming was wrong? What pieces of evidence would you assemble to help convince others you were right? You can display anything from a text file to a movie. You can also view and comment on the Discovery boxes submitted by others.
Vocab Sushi November 20, 2009
Posted by eatonblog in Educational Resources, Reading/Language Arts.add a comment
Vocab Sushi.Com is a new, free site for vocabulary development and practice. It is probably too advanced for most of our students, but those of you with middle/high school students may enjoy the site. It’s also a fun way to enhance your own vocabulary!
Watch Know Educational Videos November 18, 2009
Posted by eatonblog in Early Learning, Educational Resources, English Language Learners, Health/Fitness, Lesson Planning, Math Resources, Reading/Language Arts, Science Resources, Social Studies Resources, Special Education, Technology.add a comment
WatchKnow is both a resource for users and also a non-profit, online community that encourages everyone to collect, create, and share free, innovative, educational videos.
WatchKnow is now officially launched, after being developed for over a year. Whether you’re a student, a parent, a teacher, or just someone who cares about the education of children, you can now use our service and get involved to make it even better. Please sign up! (But did you know that you can add new videos to our system without signing up? They’ll have to be approved first.)
There is no better online cause than the future of our children. And just imagine how fantastic it would be if there were a resource online we could go to, or send our kids to, that would explain every topic they study in school instantly and reliably. Many of the resources needed for such a site already exist online; they just need to be organized.
National Geographic Kids November 16, 2009
Posted by eatonblog in Educational Resources, Games, Lesson Planning, Promethean Resources, Reading/Language Arts, Science Resources, Social Studies Resources.add a comment
National Geographic Kids is a site many of you already use, but in case you’ve missed it, check out the wealth of resources — perfect to use with Promethean Boards.
Education World Thanksgiving Activities November 11, 2009
Posted by eatonblog in Art, Early Learning, Educational Resources, Games, Reading/Language Arts, Seasonal/Holidays, Social Studies Resources.add a comment
Education World Thanksgiving Activities offers dozens of links to student centered learning activities related to the theme of Thanksgiving.
Shape Poems November 8, 2009
Posted by eatonblog in Desktop Publishing, Educational Resources, Graphic Organizers, Lesson Planning, Reading/Language Arts.add a comment
Shape Poems allows students to choose between four general themes — school, sports, celebrations, and nature. Then, students organize thoughts with an organizer. Finally, students give the poem a title and write the verse online before publishing.
Inkless Tales October 26, 2009
Posted by eatonblog in Early Learning, Educational Resources, Games, Promethean Resources, Reading/Language Arts.add a comment
An entertaining and educational sampling of stories, crafts, games, and poetry for young children. Attractive and easy to navigate, this site also includes children’s book reviews and other “cool links” for kids.
— The American Library Association, Great Sites for Kids.
