Effective Literacy Website #4

            Reading Rockets is a literacy initiative that offers information and resources to help young kids learn to read, help educators and parents understand why so many of them struggle when reading, and how caring adults can help foster literacy growth. The website is easy to navigate with a menu at the top of the home page that includes categorized drop down tabs. Some resources available on the teaching reading tab include classroom strategies and reading basics. Each strategy in the library includes instructions on how to use the strategy, a classroom video, downloadable templates, examples, recommended children’s books to use with the strategy, differentiation for second language learners, students of varying reading skills, students with learning disabilities, and younger learners. If educators or parents are unsure of which strategy to use and when, an easy to follow chart is also provided on this page which simply identifies if a strategy should be used before, during, or after reading. Educators are also offered professional development through the site’s Reading 101 course. Reading 101 is a self-paced course for K-3 teachers and is developed by Reading Rockets. The website offers articles and videos on topics of why some children struggle with literacy. Strategies to target the problem in understanding the specific problems a child may be experiencing with reading can be found on the Helping Struggling Readers tab as well.  A quick video overview for parents and teachers is also provided on the same page but can also be accessed here à Target the Problem activity.

Reading Rockets is a national multimedia project that has a plethora of research-based reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help children learn to read or become better readers. The website provides a variety of platforms parents and educators can explore, to include children’s audio books where you can find summer booklists, holiday gifts, and award-winning books to name a few. They also provide videos on their PBS shows with their current series Launching Young Readers, as well as literacy blogs, and newsletters to connect and share. Additionally, there are links to headlines on their Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, RSS, and Youtube. The reading topics A-Z tab offers an overabundance library of classroom strategies, articles, parent tip sheets, and information on assistive technology to name a few. All resources and topics available provides research-based and best-practice information for parents, educators, and anyone who works with young children to help improve their literacy skills.