Reading on Starfall

It is fun to read on Starfall.

Under the, 'It's Fun to Read' sign, click here, you will find some interesting reading under 8 different signs. You can choose to have the computer read the whole page to you first or just read the words you highlight.

The 8th sign, 'Next Level: I'm Reading!' click here, gives you 6 more categories to read from with many stories in each category.

You can also read from, 'Talking Library' click here, where some titles are available for you to enjoy.

Mastery Reading

When you practise reading, try to get to a mastery level with each story, book, poem, riddle, or whatever you are reading, before you move on to the next one. Mastery reading means you can read it   -  fluently (smoothly so your reading sounds like talking),
     -  with expression ( use different voices for each character, loud/soft, excited, etc.),
     -  with no mistakes,
     -  and observe all punctuation (voice goes up for a question, pause at a comma, stop at a         period, sound excited/upset/surprised, etc. at an exclamation mark).

Of course, you can retell, or explain the story or text you are reading in your own words! If you can not, you do not understand the story or text. Read the story or text again. If you still can not retell or explain it, it is too difficult for you and not a good fit. Try another text or story.

Enjoy improving your reading skills!

Stories You Can Read Along With on the Computer

Get  a copy of one of the books listed below so that you can listen to the story and then read along with the story reader. Listen to the story reader to get ideas about how to improve your expression when you read aloud. This activity will also help you to improve your reading fluency. (Read each page many times until you can read it fluently.)

There is a basket in our classroom library with a copy of each of the books listed below. You may sign out one book to take home overnight in your Book Bag for your nightly reading. Check my post under, Activities with the title, Summer 2014 to get more ideas about how to read along with the computer.

* One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss, click here.
* Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman, click here.
* The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman,click here.
* The Hat by Jan Brett, click here.
* The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, click here.
* The PaperBag Princess by Robert Munsch, click here.
* Sadie and the Snowman by Allen Morgan, click here.
* The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, click here.
* The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, click here.
* Silverlicious by Victoria Kann, click here.
* The Chick and the Duckling by Mirra Ginsburg, click here.
* Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig, click here.
* Miss Nelson Is Missing by Harry Allard, click here.
* The Bike Lesson by Stan & Jan Berenstain, click here.
* The Wheels on the Bus by Maryann Kovalski, click here.
* Sideways Stories From Wayside School by Louis Sachar, click here.
* The Big Storm by Rhea Tregebov, click here.
* Franklin In The Dark by Paulette Bourgeois, click here.
* Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, click here.
* Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger, click here.
* Jesse Bear, What Will YouWear? by Nancy White Carlstrom, click here.
* The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss, click here.  (Start at 1:53, there is a long introduction)
* Hop On Pop by Dr. Seuss, click here.  (This book is sung as a song.)
* Red Is Best by Kathy Stinson, click here.
* Six DinnerSid by Inga Moore, click here.  (Start at 1:00,

How To Use Spelling City To Improve Your Writing

Spelling City is a great site not only for improving your spelling skills, but also for practising writing. After you login, you will find yourself on  'My Teacher's Page'.

Here are some activities you should do.

1. Under the Spelling City logo you will see blue tabs with white words on them, 

click on the blue tab that says Videos -FAQs.

Find the Handwriting video.

Click on it to learn how to print out handwriting practice sheets of all of our lists. These help you to practise writing neatly, as well as providing a written list of the words you are learning for studying and reading them.

I know I can write better than that!

2. Go to Play A Game. (We have a Premium account, which means you can play any of the games.)

Make sure you try both of the writing activities (Sentence Writing & Paragraph Writing) for each spelling list you work on. This is a great way for you to improve your writing as I mark each sentence and/or paragraph you write and give you specific comments, questions, and ways to improve your writing right on the page where you wrote your sentences. You are expected to rewrite your sentences using the advice I give you to help you make new connections and improve your writing skills. (You can find my comments to you by clicking on My Records and scrolling down and clicking on the writing activity you completed.)

3. Go to Play A Game. Try to complete all of the Vocabulary activities under the Pink Premium Activities title. There are 5 activities there, plus Vocabulary Test Me and Flash Cards. Play these to increase the number of words you know the meanings of, so that you can confidently use them in your writing.

4. Take the Spelling and Vocabulary Tests online for each of the Assignments. Challenge yourself and see how much you really know.

Prodigy Game

This is an engaging math game for students to play that gives them practice with various math skills, and is linked to the Ontario Math Curriculum. From time to time I will add various questions to the game, specifically geared towards the particular math skills we are learning about, or working on in class.

This is a free game to all students and only costs money if you choose an upgrade for your child. The game works perfectly well without the upgrades.

Each student has his/her login information. They can see me if they need this information again.

Click here to play Prodigy.