Tech+Tools+for+Teaching+Reading

There are many ways to integrate Internet resources, hardware, and application software to enhance reading instruction. The following is just a start. Feel free to add more ideas.

**Fluency**:
"...reading text with speed, accuracy, and proper expression." (National Reading Panel Report 2000) The most effective instruction is repeated guided oral reading with frequent, carefully structured feedback. Student fluency goals include: sprrd, accuracy, expression, and comprehension. __**Phrasing**__: Create an electronic reading passage in a Word document. Ask students to chunk together words into meaningful phrases using a //**different colored font, or highlighter pen**// for each phrase. Use the //**SMART Board highlighter**// or **//Interwrite pad pens//** to mark the phrases.

__**Group Assisted Reading**__: Use the //**document camera and data projector**// to display text from books and other print sources. The teacher and the students read aloud at a fluent and expressive rate from the selection.

__**Repeated Readings**__: Create //**podcasts**// for students to listen to as they practice reading orally.After they improve, let the students record their own podcasts to listen to themselves read. Podcasts are an effective tool, as students are motivated to rehearse until their fluency improves when they know that their podcasts will have an audience. Podcasts create files that can be played on the computer or mp3 player. These can be created using //**Audacity**// software and a //**microphone**//.

[|Audacity] software for Windows. You will also need to download the [|Lame 3 encoder].
 * Video**: [|Podcasting in Plain English]

Students create a //**spreadsheet**// to record their timed reading/errors. To reinforce their progress, have students create graphs showing their growth using the spreadsheet application.

__**Choral Reading**__: Use the //**document camera and data projector**// to display poetry or other text from print sources for group reading.

__**Reader's Theater**__: Many resources online for scripts including these:
 * [|Reader's Theater Links] Scripts for grades K-8.
 * [|Aaron Shepard's Reader's Theater Pages] A collection of scripts and tips for RT. Lessons to teach students how to script.
 * [|IRA: Reading Online: Reader's Theater] Article with research, resources for scripts, and tips for implementation and assessment.


 * __Other Internet Resources with resources for fluency__:**

[|Storyline Online] Students can read along with various actors and actresses. [|International Children's Digital Library] A collection of children's books from around the world in many languages. display on data projector for group reading. [|Put Reading First] Publication by the National Institute for Reading Literacy and the Reading Partnership (Pages 21-37 are about fluency) [|Reading A-Z] Subscription site with leveled books and Reader's Theater scripts. Sign up for 30 free samples. [|Reading Rockets 101 Fluency] Several articles and a video clip about fluency [|StoryNory] Audio stories [|Reading is Fundamental]* Read-along stories and songs

** Vocabulary: **
Vocabulary instruction leads to increased comprehension. Students need direct instruction with many repetitions and multiple methods. Research suggests that students need as many as 20 repetitions to learn vocabulary words. There are many technology tools that can be used to support vocabulary development.

__**Sight words:**__ There are many resources for basic sight word lists online. [|Dolch Word Lists] Basic and graded lists, Dolch word story and book [|Sight Word Lists] Basic Word lists [|Fry Lists] Several variations of the Fry lists, some with simple sentences


 * __Creating graphic organizers for vocabulary__**:

Use the Draw tools in Word or PowerPoint applications to create vocabulary maps.

Other sources for creating graphic organizers include:

[|**Kidspiration**], [|**KidPix**], [|I**nspiration**], **SMART Board software**,

Web applications: [|**Bubbl.us**] Create mind maps and webs


 * __Other technology integration ideas:__**

Using **Excel**, place vocabulary terms in column A and definitions in random order in column D. Students use cut and paste to match the definitions in column B, and then type a sentence in column C and add Clip Art to illustrate the term.



Create **vocabulary flash cards using PowerPoint** slides. Place the definition with a picture on slide one. On the following slide, place the word with an example in a sentence. These are especially effective when students create the slide show for themselves as a study tool.

Use [|**Wordle**] to create vocabulary maps of a vocabulary word, antonyms, synonyms, and parts of speech.

Create interactive vocabulary activities for your **SMART Boards or Interwrite pads**.

[|Vocabulary Lesson Plans] Lessons, strategies and resources [|Vocabulary Interactives for SMART Board Use] Grades 1-5 across content areas [|Wordle/SMART Board vocabulary game] and [|course]to create it [|Quia]- Create or share vocabulary and reading quizzes and activities [|Sample] [|Quizlet-] Share online flashcards [|Flashcard Exchange] [|Flashcard Machine] [|Teacher's Pet Toolbar] Applications for creating many different vocabulary practice exercises [|Tips and Techniques for Teaching Vocabulary]
 * __Online vocabulary resources:__**

** Comprehension: **
Reading comprehension is the process of constructing meaning from and interacting with text. Meaning is derived from the text itself and the prior experiences of the reader. It is important for students to receive explicit instruction in the application of comprehension strategies.


 * **Schema theory** suggests the use of interconnected memory structures**. Graphic organizers** can be helpful tools to organize and build upon prior knowledge.
 * **Transaction theory** indicates that readers benefit from interaction with the text, particularly opportunities to respond to the text. Personal responses in **blogs, literature circles** and **book clubs** including **online discussion groups** are examples.
 * **Constructivist theory** proposes that learners construct their own meaning and that understanding is enhanced through **meaningful collaboration** and by completing a **product** as a response. **Again,** collaboration tools such as **blogs, wikis,** and **online discussions** are some technology resources that can be used. There are multiple **software applications** that can be used to create final products which reinforce the comprehesion at higher thinking levels.

__**Tools for Comprehension**


 * Online Resources:**

[|Eduplace] A variety of organizers for reading comprehension, thinking and writing [|Enchanted Learning] [|Read, Write, Think] Interactive materials
 * Graphic organizers**:__
 * Kidspiration** [|Character Map]
 * Kidspiration** [|Story Elements]


 * Microsoft Word**- Create tables and charts for KWL, etc. [[file:What's the Big Idea.doc]]
 * Microsoft Excel**- Create timeline of sequence of events, plot __[[file:Timeline Example.xls]]

[|Class Blogmeister] Blog accounts for teachers and classes [|School Blogs] ePals School Blogging community [|21 Classes] Blogs for students [|Literary Analysis framework] from ClassZone-Some can be used to frame blog writing or group discussions [|Google Docs] Students are able to collaborate on shared documents [|Skype] Internet phone and web conferencing application Sample: [|Conference with high school students and author Daniel Pink] [|WiZiQ] Virtual classroom and meeting place [|Twiddla] Online meeting and collaboration space [|Chatmaker] Set up a classroom for collaboration [|PB Wiki] Educational accounts for classroom wikis
 * Collaborative tools: blogs, wikis, discussion boards:**__

Software: [|**Audacity**]-Free audio software to create simple podcast recordings. [|**Animoto**]-Web application to create multimedia project. Includes a library of copyright free music and slick automatic animations. Upload images, add text labels. Use the education version. [|**VoiceThread**]-Online application for sharing images and recording discussions by typing, microphone, web cam, or phone. Also good for collaboration. Samples: [|Fantasy Book Summaries] [|Tall Tale Summaries] [|**Google Literature Trips**] Students travel through their novel using Google Earth as a comprehension tool From Edutopia: [|Google Lit Trips-Bringing Travel Tales to Life] [|Read, Write, Think Comic Creator] [|Tarheel Reader] Create online books. Add pictures, then create together with your class or allow students to view along with text readers.
 * __Technology Tools for project-based learning:__**
 * Photostory 3**- Free from Microsoft. Create simple "video" presentations with images, text, and sound.
 * Microsoft PowerPoint** Create multimedia slide shows.
 * Windows Movie Maker**- Free from Microsoft. Create video presentations with multiple tracks of audio.
 * KidPix Deluxe**-Creative multimedia software for elementary students. Includes many images and draw/paint options.
 * Microsoft Publisher**-Create desktop publishing documents like flyers, brochures, newspapers,posters.
 * WebQuests**- [|Literature-based WebQuests] [|Literature-based Projects] [|WebQuests Across the Curriculum]
 * Scavenger Hunts** [|Sample Hunts] from Education World
 * Comic Strips**: Use the autoshapes in Word and PowerPoint or an online application to create comic strip projects. [|7 Resources]


 * __Technology Tools for Teaching Comprehension Skills:__**

Samples: Hatchet Great aniticipation guide for prereading How to Eat Fried Worms Example of a book summary
 * SMART Board lessons** [[file:Water Comprehension.notebook]] Sequencing sentences in a paragraph for meaning
 * PowerPoint presentations** for pre and post reading


 * PowerPoint presentations** work well for **anticipation guides** using multimedia to set the stage. Try creating a Fact or Fiction presentation. Slide 1 presents a "fact" and students must predict whether it is true or false. Slide 2 will provide the answer and an explanation and so on. Teachers may choose to have students make predictions first and then go through the answer slides after reading.

[|**Bubbl.us**] is also a great **brainstorming tool for prereading**. Once the reading is completed students can revisit the bubble map and add to their ideas.

Use the **Insert comment** feature to make comments when reading in a Word document. Students can also insert comments with answers to questions, or definitions.

Use video clips from [|United Streaming], [|YouTube], or [|TeacherTube] as prereading activities to prepare the reader.


 * __Online resources:__**

Checklists for Reading: [|Prereading] [|During reading] [|After reading][|Interactive reading websites] Internet4Classrooms [|Skills Site] Resources across content areas [|Reading Passages and questions] [|Mrs. Dowling's Reading Comprehension Corner] [|ABC Reading Comprehension Resources] K-12 activities and lesson plans [|Cloze Comprehension exercises] [|Dolch SMART Cloze Sentences] [|Elements of a Story] Interactive lesson Grade 3 [|Kidspiration templates] for comprehension activities from Global Classroom [|Starfall Reading] Geared towards first and second grade readers-stories, plays, comics [|TeenReadNC] Site for teens to recommend and discuss the books they are reading [|A-Z Reading] Leveled books and comprehension exercises-free samples. Also has related literacy sites Raz Kids, Vocabulary, and more. Literature Circles [|Getting Started] [|Thematic book lists] [|Reading Strategy of the Month] [|Reading Strategies] [|Online Practice Reading Tests] [|Technology and Literacy] Ideas for integrating technology and literature

** Reading in the Content Areas **

 * PowerPoint or Kidspiration/Inspiration outlining** features-As students read content area or non-fiction selections, ask them to outline the main ideas and details, then print notes. Inspiration/Kidspiration can be exported into Word documents.




 * Wordle**- To find the key words and main ideas of an online article, copy and paste a paragraph into Wordle. The most often used words will be displayed the largest in the Wordle. This is a great tool for writiers to see if they are over-using words.

Create **Excel** timelines of events from texts.

Use the **Control F key** to locate key words when trying to locate information or answers to questions.

[|**Diigo**]**-** This online applications allows students to highlight text online and attach notes and comments about what they are reading. Notes can be saved and printed out. Education accounts allow teacher access to student accounts to monitor the notes. [|**Diigo in Education**]

[|Reading Strategies]- Scaffolding Students' Interactions with Texts [|Reading Strategies That Assist Content Area Reading] [|Reading Stratgies for the Social Studies Classroom] [|Comprehension tools] for Content Areas (Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies grades 6-8) Class Zone for McDougal-Littel

[|Dictionary.com] [|Merriam-Webster] [|Your Dictionary] [|One Look] Reverse dictionary lets students look up definitions to find the exact word [|Thesaurus.com] [|Cambridge Idiom Dictionary] [|Math Dictionary for Kids] [|Math Words] Beginning Algebra to Calculus
 * __Study Skills:__**