Some parents are asking me about reading websites for their kids. They are kids reading about high first-high second grade level. I know about Starfall and Sight Words with Samson. Most of my parents would be willing to pay a little money if it was a good program. What do you like for home practice?
There is one my son used last year that was FANTASTIC! I'm trying to figure out what it was. The class had an account with it. I know several that look good for hearing students. I'll keep an eye out.
I found it! It was www.raz-kids.com! Fantastic website! Another one you might look into is Mrs. P. I don't have direct experience with it nor do I know if it is what you are looking for. Here's the main page (for info):http://www.mrsp.com/Default.aspx Here's her Magic Library (kid friendly): http://www.mrsp.com/v1/mrsp.html
Tumblebooks is one my kids love and the stories range in age. It's a pay-service however, lots of public libraries carry it. This is one of them: http://www.acfpl.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=159&Itemid=540 I also like Storyplace:http://www.storyplace.org/
We use Tumblebooks through the public library. They love it. I wish I could find more sight word practice.
My son's Special Ed teacher sent home a note saying he has a Raz-Kids account. Reading is not part of his homework in his classroom (yet). In the past I have struggled to even get him to WANT to read as part of homework or otherwise and even let ME read to him. The second I told him about this account, his eyes LITE UP! He has been on it 3 days this week and it wasn't part of his homework and he didn't have to do it. I didn't even have to supervise. There was one point where he invited his older brother to read a page out loud (for recording) and then he reads a page. Anything that has that effect on even some of the kids is AWESOME!
Thank you for this post. I was inspired to write his teacher. Particularly since I know that school is going to be somewhat rocky for my child, it is important to me to not only get positive messages from the teacher but to send them as well. It works both ways. Here's what I sent: Dear Ms. X, I have a folder at home that I put all pending things in or things I need to get to soon. One of those items happened to be the log-in you sent for Raz-Kids. I was going through my folder on my catch up with business day and pulled it out and showed Bill*. Bill* was introduced to Raz-Kids last year and loved it! His face just LIT UP! Since then he has been on it several times, without supervision, without prompt and without having it as part of his homework. Yesterday I noticed he was inviting his older brother to read a page and then he reads a page. A few short years ago Bill* wouldn't even let ME read to him (or anyone else in the family). He had a block with wanting to read. Now he does awesome. He has come such a long way. I just wanted to drop a line and thank you for signing him up an account with Raz-Kids. I have also copied his teachers from last year as well just to share with them that this choice for homework and/or support is worth it for some families. I never forget last year though when Bill* discovered that instead of reading, he could record "God Bless America" (which he was so proud for learning for a concert last year) just so his teacher could hear it when she logged in. He does mostly use it for reading, but that was just so cute and clever too. Whether he uses this account a lot or a little, all that really matters to me is that he is finding ways to love reading. I love that!
Omigosh, I just love www.readingeggs.com. It is a subscription site but teachers get a 4 week trial and parents get a 2 week trial. Maybe you could combine those trials so that the students can get 6 weeks out of it. I stumbled upon it this year.
That will be perfect for my low group. One of my students parents asked me this week if I heard of it.
