For+Early+Childhood

The Early Childhood years in this wiki refer to children aged 0 - 7 years.

The role of parents in developing children's reading before they begin school should not be underestimated. The [|bedtime story experience]is an example of how parents show skills of demonstration, engagement, and sensitivity towards their child. The significance of these behaviours and the skill with which parents so naturally perform them illustrates how valuable parents are in the reading development of their children without explicitly teaching them. Parents should have their confidence restored to them and understand that leaving the job of 'teaching' reading to the experts may not be most appropriate. The activity should be demystified and parents should be told of the significance of what they do (Raban, 2001).

In order to provide support to parents, educators such as librarians, teachers, child health nurses and childcare workers can access a diverse list of strategies to help parents assist and promote reading with their children. Some useful websites educators could suggest to parents to view online are:

http://www.babystepstoreading.com/index.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2147355_promote-early-reading-home.html

http://www.letsread.com.au/pages/index.php

http://www.bripblap.com/2007/reading-in-early-chiildhood/

Listed below are online programs that the children themselves can use to assist with their reading. Many of these programs can be used by children as young as two to promote and assist with reading!

Magic Keys is a [|website] where you will find many wonderful, free and online children's books.

Starfall is a creative //website// designed to teach children to read.

Learn how to read and practice reading skills with these interactive books and online stories that are not only fun but educational.  Educators often have expectations that their students read or be read to as part of their daily homework. This YouTube video is a valuable tool that teachers can suggest parents view in order to offer some strategies to assist them when helping their children learn to read.

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As new technologies change the way that information and literacies are presented and processed, preparing students to understand and adjust to these literacy demands is critical to current and future expectations for pleasure and work (International Reading Association, 2001; Leu, Mallette, Karchmer, & Kara-Soteriou, 2005).

Educators are constantly faced with the task of creating a consistent, positive, and flexible learning environment. It is important that educators build a setting that helps to maximize the learning potential of students and inspires a sense of community. Web 2.0 technologies can assist educators with creating such an environment.

Below you will find a list of Web 2.0 resources to assist you to teach your Early Childhood students. The list is by no means exhaustive but merely a start to what will be an expansive list of classroom web tools. Check back here regularly for updates of new Web 2.0 technologies and classroom resources.

Early Childhood students will require scaffolding to use these sites, but when shown how to use them and with practice, your students will become independent users.

[|Storybird]? Storybird is a tool for creating on-line "books" which can be collaborative in nature.media type="custom" key="5871331" align="right"

[|Webquest]?A webquest as "an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners' time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners' thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation." (Dodge, 1995)

[|Read The Words]?Read the words is a sight where the student types text in a box. When they click on the word 'read' the words are read to them. This helps the students to identify whether what they have typed is really what they meant to type. If not written correctly the words will make no sense when they listen to the speaking of their text.

[|Blog]? A [|blog] is a versatile, powerfully engaging tool with an authentic audience and authentic purpose. If not for use by your students, it's fantastic as a teacher to inform parents and the community about what is happening in your classroom. Some examples of Early Childhood Classroom [|blogs] are; [|Grade one], [|Grade Two] and [|Teacher Blogs].

There are also many fantastic, interactive and educational sites on the web. They are ideal to help your students have fun and learn to read and comprehend. As many classrooms now have access to interactive whiteboards these and the many more websites that will be added to the weSTILLread wiki will be invaluable teaching aides.

[|Ziptales] Offers exciting, engaging, interactive stories for primary or elementary aged children with downloadable worksheets. Perfect for independent readers of all levels.  [|ABC Reading Eggs] makes learning to read an enjoyable experience. The program is designed for 4 – 7 year olds and each child is matched to a level that suits their ability.  //Story Jumper// is the online way to find & create stories for kids. //StoryJumper// makes is easy for anyone to create a kid's story.