Reading Rockets is a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.
What does this website offer you and your students? Honestly, it should become one of your go-to sites for all things reading! It's jam-packed with a vast library of information for the most discriminating educator among us!
Selecting the For Teachers tab, here's an overview of SOME of the resources, with links intact:
Children's books & authors
- Author video interviews
- Author study toolkit
- Writing prompts inspired by children's authors and illustrators
- Themed booklists
- Poetry
- Multicultural books
- Award-winning books
- Do an effective read-aloud
- Find the right book level
- Find great informational books
- Set up a classroom library
- Find free or low-cost books
Struggling readers
- Reading Rocks!
- Target the Problem!
- Put Downs & Comebacks
- LD resources
- ELL resources
- Tutoring
- More resources to help struggling readers
Impressed? I thought so. But that's just a taste of what's in store for you. Let's look specifically at Classroom Strategies, 54 of them in the areas of:
Each includes:
- Instructions on how to use the strategy
- Downloadable templates
- Examples
- Recommended children's books to use with the strategy
- Differentiation for second language learners, students of varying reading skill, students with learning disabilities, and younger learners
- Supporting research
There's even a chart that tells you when to use each strategy - before, during, or after reading.
My favorite thing about the strategies? That each one has recommended books to be used when teaching the strategy. Not dull, low-level textbook stories. Not excerpts. Not paraphrased sections of a piece that is age or reading level inappropriate. Real books that your kiddos can hold in their hands, read for themselves, and understand. I couldn't ask for more, and I don't believe you could, either!
So. Bookmark Reading Rockets (or just go ahead and put a link on your desktop!) Read a section every chance you get. Choose resources that fit your needs in making your class the best it can be for your students. Enjoy this fabulous, FREE site and all that you can find within it!
And have a great week!
