I don't know about you, but as a reading teacher, when I hear the words free and books in the same sentence, you better watch out. I'm there. Front row.
It's always fun to have a few different ways to introduce literature to your students. There's nothing like a good 'ole picture book reading from the carpet during a mini-lesson.
Sometimes, however, it's fun to have other options.
I've used these sites many times and in many ways in my classroom. Fluency rotations (students used the computers, read/listened to the books and then completed a graphic organizer to practice comprehension skills), during a mini-lesson on a projector, as rewards (students go to sit at *my teacher desk* and read/listen to these books on my computer) and at the end of the day, sometimes I'd turn on my projector and we'd choose a fun book and a student would read the book to my class.
There are tons of ways you could utilize these sites in your classrooms for your students. I'm excited for you to check them out!
So, without further ado, here are...
The Library of Congress: Read.gov
www.read.gov/kids
Read.gov has many chapter books, that would be great to use as a read-aloud in the afternoons. You can bookmark where you leave off, and pick up the next day.
Here is the classic Jack and the Beanstalk. It's a chapter book, with lovely illustrations, and perfect for 3rd-5th graders.
This would also be a great way to implement buddy reading on iPads.
Check out: www.read.gov/kids
We Give Books
www.wegivebooks.org
I absolutely *adore* We Give Books! There are so many reasons to love this free book site! Let me just list a few:
1) Their selection of books is large! The variety of topics and age ranges is wonderful.
2) This site would work for K-5 grades.
3) The site switches books ever so often. Students can visit this site multiple times in a school year and never have to read the same book twice.
4) The books list age ranges underneath each title. PERFECT for choosing books if you need one for a mini-lesson.
5) They feature both fiction and nonfiction books that are high-interest for students!
Here is what you see when you enter the site. A cute little digital book shelf! Totes-adorbs!
I loved to put these up on the board in the afternoons for my students to read aloud to my class. Of course, they loved that!
Once you click on a book to read it, I love that in the top right hand corner, it tells the number of students around the world that have read this same book! How cool!
Check out: http://www.wegivebooks.org/
Storyline Online
www.storylineonline.net
Ok. I am like *obsessed* with this site.
I found this site years ago when I was student teaching and have used each every year in my classroom in one way or another. It's just precious.
I always had this a fluency option. Students would listen to the reader at a computer (I'd decide which books they could choose from). Then, they'd practice reading the *same book* with a pvc pipe phone at their desk.
This site features top children's literature, read aloud by celebrities and children's authors. It's sponsored by The Screenactor's Guild and since 1993, they have been sharing these lovely books with children to love.
For example, one of my favorites is A Bad Case of the Stripes read by Sean Astin.
The site doesn't have all of it's videos posted, so they have all their current and past read alouds on their YouTube site here: https://www.youtube.com/user/StorylineOnline
OH! And I can't forget this one...I love listening to Pamela Reed read aloud Stellaluna. So sweet! I always showed this before our Halloween parties at school! :)
I hope you can use these sites this school year with your students! I know they will love them!
Have you used any of these sites in the past at school? If so, how? I'd love to hear!
