Additional Resources
Here you will find additional information about the technology solutions for each literacy challenge.
Decoding Words - Starfall
1. Educational Freeware provides a great overview of Starfall.
2. EdTechReview provides a review of Starfall as well as a demo video.
3. Roaring Forks School District conducted a study using Starfall. You will find their research in this PDF download.
4. A study conducted on preliterate adults using Starfall. This research is presented in a PDF download.
5. This lower elementary class is using Starfall on a Smart Board. Watch their interaction here.
Fluency - Natural Reader
1. Disabled World provides an overview of Natural Reader.
2. Graphite provides a review of Natural Reader.
3. Reading Online wrote an article about how text-to-speech assists students who struggle with reading.
4. Colorado State University's Assistive Technology Resource Center provides a quick start guide for using Natural Reader.
5. Cast provides a downloadable Word document resource guide to using text-to-speech technology.
Comprehension - Raz-Kids
1. Graphite provides a review of Raz-Kids.
2. Silver Creek Schools provides information about differentiated learning using Raz-Kids and other Reading A-Z tools.
3. Raz-Kids website created several tips for how to utilize the tool effectively in the classroom.
4. Learning A-Z provides a wide variety of questions and answers on how to set-up and use Raz-Kids.
5. Literacy Matters created a step-by-step PDF educator's guide for using Raz-Kids.
Reluctant Readers - TumbleBook
1. Most libraries provide a link for login, however, here is the link to my local library to access TumbleBook. Scroll to the bottom of the homepage to find the TumbleBook logo.
2. The Joplin Globe has an article that provides an overview and review of TumbleBook.
3. Follett provides and overview of TumbleBook.
4. The School Library Journal provides an article answering the question "Are Ebooks Any Good?"
5. Response to Intervention provides ten ways to use TumbleBook in the classroom.
Writing Process - Kidspiration
1. Education World provides an educator's review of Kidspiration.
2. Inspiration provides a detailed overview for how to create different types of visual mapping.
3. Here you will find an article that provides an outlined quick start for how to use Kidspiration.
4. The University of Wisconsin provides 50 different uses for Kidspiration.
5. Inspiration has created an article full of ideas and lesson plans for not only writing but other subject areas.
Decoding Words - Starfall
1. Educational Freeware provides a great overview of Starfall.
2. EdTechReview provides a review of Starfall as well as a demo video.
3. Roaring Forks School District conducted a study using Starfall. You will find their research in this PDF download.
4. A study conducted on preliterate adults using Starfall. This research is presented in a PDF download.
5. This lower elementary class is using Starfall on a Smart Board. Watch their interaction here.
Fluency - Natural Reader
1. Disabled World provides an overview of Natural Reader.
2. Graphite provides a review of Natural Reader.
3. Reading Online wrote an article about how text-to-speech assists students who struggle with reading.
4. Colorado State University's Assistive Technology Resource Center provides a quick start guide for using Natural Reader.
5. Cast provides a downloadable Word document resource guide to using text-to-speech technology.
Comprehension - Raz-Kids
1. Graphite provides a review of Raz-Kids.
2. Silver Creek Schools provides information about differentiated learning using Raz-Kids and other Reading A-Z tools.
3. Raz-Kids website created several tips for how to utilize the tool effectively in the classroom.
4. Learning A-Z provides a wide variety of questions and answers on how to set-up and use Raz-Kids.
5. Literacy Matters created a step-by-step PDF educator's guide for using Raz-Kids.
Reluctant Readers - TumbleBook
1. Most libraries provide a link for login, however, here is the link to my local library to access TumbleBook. Scroll to the bottom of the homepage to find the TumbleBook logo.
2. The Joplin Globe has an article that provides an overview and review of TumbleBook.
3. Follett provides and overview of TumbleBook.
4. The School Library Journal provides an article answering the question "Are Ebooks Any Good?"
5. Response to Intervention provides ten ways to use TumbleBook in the classroom.
Writing Process - Kidspiration
1. Education World provides an educator's review of Kidspiration.
2. Inspiration provides a detailed overview for how to create different types of visual mapping.
3. Here you will find an article that provides an outlined quick start for how to use Kidspiration.
4. The University of Wisconsin provides 50 different uses for Kidspiration.
5. Inspiration has created an article full of ideas and lesson plans for not only writing but other subject areas.