Software Resources

I have searched the web over and found three fun and exciting, educational based websites that I would like to share with you. They are:

Software Title: SpellingCity.com
Grade/Age Level: K/1
Subject Area(s): Spelling
Platform: Both Mac and PC
Review: I like the fact that this site has many activities related to spelling and they are formatted in fun ways for young children including hangman, word search, matching, alphabetizing and more. This site has games rooted in both audio and visual cues depending on what the student may need. This does however mean that you would need a pair of headphones to work on this site. It has spelling activities sectioned out also, so if you would like your student to work on only "at" works, there is a place for that. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't find a place to input your own classroom spelling list, but the variety of methods for teaching spelling outweighed that. I like that you can play without having to give any personal information and there were no prompts to do so at any time while I was on the site. There also were no ads on the site at all, which I found to be a bonus. This is a site for mostly individualized play, but with a little training students could learn to work together on a few of the games such as the match version offered. Overall, I would recommend this site for young emerging readers.

Software Title: Sight Words With Sampson
Grade/Age Level: K/1 /2/3
Subject Area(s): Reading with a focus on sight words.
Platform: Both Mac and PC
Review: There are many things that I like about this program, starting with the idea that it seems to cover a large variety of words that could be useful up until third grade depending on the level of the readers that you have in your class. The program gives the students a chance to learn the word by saying it to you (you would need headphones for this) and allowing you to then spell the word. Then you move to the section prompting you to build words which again is telling you the word and having you spell it. The third section is identifying words where they say the word, you click on the tile with the word on it and finally they give you a quiz on the words from your list. I really like the way the program slowly builds on what it is teaching you, and the idea that it really could work for just about anyone. At the end of each exercise you can print a certificate that tells you everything from the basics of your name to how long it took you to complete the exercise and how many you got correct and incorrect. If you were to print these certificates, or at the very least record the data, you could use it to track progress over the course of the year if you wanted to allow this as one of your choices during reading time. It also has added programs such as flashcards. I also like the fact that you can set up a log-in, but it is not required to use the page, and again, there are not ads present on the page. Both of these are a huge bonus. I would use this in my class in a heart beat!

Software Title: Starfall
Grade/Age Level: K/1 /2
Subject Area(s): Reading, Math
Platform: Both Mac and PC
Review: I like this site because of the variety it offers. You can find everything from counting lessons to ABC's to reading a book about Greek Myths. This site gives you the options of having the books read to you, or you reading them yourself. This would require headphones, but what a great tool for emerging readers. I particularly like the section that tells you the ABC's out-loud, then the girl on the screen makes the American Sign Language sign for the letter, then it gives you the sound for the letter. What a great inclusion tool if you had a hard of hearing or deaf student! They also have a series of seasonal and holiday related games that are available also. There is no log-in required to play, and no ads, but there is a store available to shop in if you wish. The store is not in huge letters, so would not detract from what the students see on the page. This seems like a great website for students, and would be an excellent site to offer students during computer free time.

Hope you all enjoy using these websites as much as I have!
Lisa :)