Online
Literacy Organizations and Other Literacy Related Web Sites
International
Reading Association (http://www.reading.org)
The International Reading Association seeks to promote high levels of literacy
for all by improving the quality of reading instruction through studying the
reading process and teaching techniques; serving as a clearinghouse for the
dissemination of reading research through conferences, journals, and other
publications; and actively encouraging the lifetime reading habit.
Virginia
State Reading Association (http://www.reading.org/councils/counc_va.htm)
Information about the current officers, local affiliates of the VSRA and a
link to their web page - www.vsra.org
National
Council of Teachers of English (http://www.ncte.org)
The National Council of Teachers of English is dedicated to improving the
teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education.
Its membership is composed of elementary, middle, and high school teachers,
supervisors of English programs, college and university faculty, teacher educators,
local and state agency English specialists, and professionals in related fields.
Reading
Recovery (http://www.nyu.edu/education/teachlearn/reading/descri1.htm)
Reading Recovery is an early intervention program for first graders who are
having difficulty learning to read. This site, hosted by New York University's
School of Education, provides information on the Reading Recovery Program
components, Reading Recovery sites, research findings, information for administrators,
and frequently asked questions.
American
Library Association: Kids, Parents and the Public (http://www.ala.org/publicpage/index.html)
This section of the American Library Association has great resources, including
booklists and web sites for parents, kids, teens and families.
Council
for Exceptional Children (http://www.cec.sped.org)
This is the site for the largest international organization dedicated only
to special education. It includes information about the organization, its
special interest groups, and its publications. It also includes information
about professional standards and accreditation, training and events, public
policy, and legislative information.
National
Research Center on English Learning and Achievement (http://cela.albany.edu/)
CELA is dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of English and language
arts. CELA's research seeks to learn what elements of curriculum, instruction,
and assessment are essential to developing high literacy and how schools can
best help students achieve success. We provide that information to teachers,
schools, and communities so that they can choose the approaches that will
work with their students.
Resources
for the Center for Critical Thinking (http://www.sonoma.edu/cthink/K12/k12class/trc.nclk)
This site provides links to a variety of teaching resources related to critical
thinking. The resource list also includes instructional guides and lesson
plans to help educators implement critical thinking strategies in classrooms.
Center
for Applied Special Technology (http://www.cast.org)
CAST is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to expand opportunities
for individuals with disabilities through the development of innovative uses
of technology. This site has publications, sample software programs and teaching
strategies that are interactive and demonstrate the universal curriculum concept
for students of all learning abilities and disabilities.
Center
for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (http://www.ciera.org)
The purpose of this site is to improve reading achievement by generating and
disseminating theoretical, empirical, and practical solutions to persistent
problems in the learning and teaching of beginning reading.
National
Center for Family Literacy (http://www.famlit.org)
This resource promotes the advancement and support of family literacy services
for families across the US through programming, training, research, advocacy,
and dissemination of information about family literacy.
National
Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST)
(http://cresst96.cse.ucla.edu/index.htm)
The National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing
(CRESST) conducts research on important topics related to K-12 educational
testing. This site provides publications, research reports, parents' guides,
sample assessments, and a searchable database of alternative assessments in
practice.
National
Institute on Child Health and Human Development: Publications (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/)
This web site provides a list of publications available from the National
Institute on Child Health and Human Development.
National
Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education (http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/ECI/)
This comprehensive site focuses on research and resources for families, educators,
communities, and policy makers, in an effort to assist all children, regardless
of societal, economic, family, linguistic, and/or disability conditions.
National
Center for Educational Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/)
NCES is the primary federal entity for collecting an analyzing data that are
related to education in the US and other nations.
Cross-Curricular
Thematic Instruction (http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/res/vogt.html)
This site provides the full version of an article written by Mary Ellen Vogt.
It explores the advantages of cross-curricular thematic instruction in helping
students to succeed in reading and writing.
Curriculum
Resources Laboratory (http://www.uiowa.edu/~crl/)
This site is the home page for the Curriculum Resources Lab at the University
of Iowa. It includes bibliographies of materials on many subjects including
picture books for secondary students who are reading at early levels, as well
as links to other web sites on children's literature.
CyberGuides
(http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/cyberguide.html)
CyberGuides are supplementary, standards-based, web-delivered units of instruction
centered on core works of literature. They are designed for the classroom
with one online computer. Each CyberGuide contains a student and teacher edition,
standards, and task and a process by which it may be completed, teacher-selected
web sites, and a rubric, based on California Language Arts Content Standards.
Electronic
Library (http://danenet.wicip.org/lms/)
This site, hosted by the Madison Wisconsin Metropolitan School District, provides
links organized by subject and theme including ESL, language arts/literature,
professional resources, all content areas, and use of the newspaper. In addition,
every link is listed alphabetically with the library page the link appears
on.
ERIC
Clearinghouse on Reading, English, and Communication (http://www.indiana.edu/~eric_rec/)
This site offers a variety of teaching resources relating to the role of prior
knowledge and schema in literacy development. The home page provides access
to READRO, a listserv discussion forum for reading educators, bibliographies,
parent brochures, and book reviews exploring critical thinking, reading, and
writing across the curriculum.
Guided
Reading Resources (http://www.pburg.k12.nj.us/GuidedReading/index.htm)
This site has link to many other resources for guided reading as well as information
and all documents for Observation Survey.
Global
Schoolhouse (http://www.gsn.org/)
This exciting web site has great collaborative learning projects for teachers,
parents, kids, and teens. The site motto is "We provide the training
wheels needed to get you started!"
Kay
E. Vandergrift's Special Interest Page (http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/special/kay/kayhp2.html)
Created by Dr. Kay E. Vandergrift of Rutger's University, this comprehensive
web site on children's literature is an outstanding resource for educators
of all levels. The site consists of information on gender and culture in picture
books, young adult literature, research, literature and technology, the history
of children's literature, censorship, intellectual freedom and the Internet,
and copyright laws and the World Wide Web.
Language
Arts (http://teacher.scholastic.com/webdata/netguide2/browse/sp495.htm)
This site sponsored by Scholastic has several great articles about reading
and skills instruction, multicultural book selection, and assessment.
Learning
to Read/Reading to Learn Campaign (http://idea.uoregon.edu/~ncite/programs/read.html)
This informative web site is sponsored by The National Center to Improve the
Tools of Educators, based at the University of Oregon. It contains research
results that shed light on the skills and understandings about literacy that
children must acquire in order to learn to read.
National
Assessment of Educational Progress (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/)
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is mandated by Congress
to provide objective data about the levels of knowledge, skills, and student
performance at national, regional, and on a trial basis, state. This site
provides access to information and data about government-mandated, nation-wide
assessments at the national, regional, and state levels.
Once
Upon a Time (http://nova.bsuvc.bsu.edu/~00mevancamp/ouat.html)
This site, created by Dr. Mary Ellen Van Camp of Ball State University, contains
many resources on children's literature. Information on professional associations,
children's literature around the world, children's literature awards, poetry,
authors and illustrators, and professional resources plus much more can be
found.
Random
House's Teachers' Resource Center (http://www.randomhouse.com/teachersbd)
This site sponsored by Random House has teacher's guides on books for reluctant
readers, thematic instruction, authors and illustrators, books by grade level,
and Newbery Award winners.
Sample
Lesson Plans (http://users.neca.com/rchatel/Students.html#LessonPlans)
This site provides exciting language arts lesson plans which focus on reading
comprehension and decoding skills development. Each lesson plan is linked
to other exciting web sites including "The Lesson Plans Page" and
"Ask Eric Lesson Plans." These links expand the visitor's instructional
repertoire in the English language arts.
Thematic
Units: Integrating the Curriculum (http://www.ncte.org/teach/Vardell9069.html)
This article written by Cynthia Vardell is an excellent resource for understanding
the components of thematic teaching.
Carol
Hurst's Children's Literature Site (http://www.carolhurst.com)
This comprehensive web site provides information on featured and reviewed
children's literature, curriculum and thematic areas, and professional resources
including a free online newsletter.
Children's
Picture Book Database (http://www.lib.muohio.edu/pictbks/)
Located at the University of Miami, the Children's Picture Book Database indexes
abstracts of over 4,000 picture books for children. Designed as tool for teachers
creating literature-based thematic units for all disciplines, the database
is searchable by a set oftopical keywords (over 900) organized by discipline
or alphabetically, or by a boolean combination search. Entries include title
and author, an abstract, and a list of related keywords. Many of the topic
listings also provide related links. A well-organized and useful site for
preschool to third grade teachers, parents, and librarians.
Children's
Literature Web Guide (http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/index.html)
This site is a wonderful resource on authors and stories on the web, readers'
theater, resources for teachers, parents, storytellers, writers and illustrators,
book awards, recommended book lists, journals, reviews, indexes, and research
on children's books and much more.
Children's
Literature: Beyond Basals (http://www.beyondbasals.com/)
This site provides hundreds of in-depth guides for using children's literature
in K-12 classrooms, curriculum ideas, picture books for older and reluctant
readers, and links to other web sources on children's literature.
Literature
Circles (http://www.literaturecircles.com/)
Dedicated to helping teachers, administrators, parents, and students to use
and enjoy literature circles.
Kathy
Schrock's Web Sites for Educators (http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/index.html)
A categorized list of sites useful for enhancing curriculum and professional
growth. It is updated daily to include the best sites for teaching and learning.
ABC's
of the Writing Process (http://www.angelfire.com/wi/writingprocess/)
The purpose of this site is to provide a user friendly online resource, for
students or teachers, no matter what they are being challenged to write.
National
Parent Information Network (http://ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/npin/index.html)
This comprehensive site provides information to parents and those who work
with parents to foster the exchange of parenting materials. Materials included
have been reviewed for reliability and usefulness and include publications,
brochures, web links, a parent discussion list, and a parenting newsletter.
Parent
Brochure: Rights and Responsibilities of Parents of Children with Disabilities
(http://www.accesseric.org:81/resources/parent/disab1.html)
Parents of children with disabilities have a vital role to play in the education
of their children. This fact is guaranteed by federal legislation that specifies
the right of parents to participate in the educational decision-making process.
This web site provides parents with information on the rights and responsibilities
they should know about to ensure they are a contributing partner with the
professionals who will influence their child's future.
Classroom
Connect (http://www.classroom.net)
This site has a lot of information about the use of technology in the classroom.
It includes lesson plans that include technology, chat areas for students,
education web sites for students, and links to other resources.
OZ-TeacherNet
(http://rite.ed.qut.edu.au/oz-teachernet/index.html)
Oz-TeacherNet is a web site based in Australia that provides teachers with
the infrastructure for using the Internet to support professional development
and curriculum. Through negotiation and collaboration with groups of educators,
the project team will assist the development of online resources and tools
for events and discussion. The site includes curriculum projects, mailing
lists, book raps, and virtual field trips.
Children's
Education (http://www.softseek.com/Education_and_Science/Childrens_Education/)
SoftSeek is a site that highlights the latest shareware, freeware, and evaluation
software for Windows 95/NT, Windows 3.x, and DOS. The children's education
section reviews software for children in a variety of curriculum areas including
reading and spelling.
Tech-Learning
(http://www.techlearning.com)
Tech-Learning is a web site serving educators with ideas, tools, and resources
for integrating technology into the K-12 school, classroom and curriculum.
Two prominent components of this web site are the Teaching and Learning electronic
magazine and the Well-Connected Educator.
Technology
Integration (http://www.mcrel.org/resources/technology/index.asp?)
This site has a host of publications on a variety of aspects of technology
including Internet safety, the impact of technology, technology and teacher
education, and funding for technology.
Pathways
to School Improvement (http://www.ncrel.org/)
The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) is a not-for-profit
organization specializing in the educational applications of technology to
improve learning. NCREL's ultimate goal is to help their clients build tools
and apply proven practices to create schools where all students can develop
their skills and abilities. This informative site provides research- based
resources for educators and parents.
NCRTEC
(http://www.ncrtec.org)
The purpose of this site, sponsored by The North Central Regional Technology
in Education Consortium (NCRTEC), is to help schools integrate technology
into their classrooms. Links provide resources to training and professional
development, tools for teaching and learning, and increasing technology capacity.
Learning
Exchange for Teachers and Students through the Internet (http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/letsnet/)
Learning Exchange for Teachers and Students through the Internet (LETSNet)
project home page is from the Michigan State University College of Education.
This web site is dedicated to helping teachers experience the potential value
of the web in the classroom by providing actual examples of real teachers
who are using the Internet today.
LD
Online (http://ldonline.org/index.html)
This site is a guide to learning disabilities for parents, teachers, and children.
Included are highlights of new information in the field of learning disabilities,
the basics about learning disabilities, material from leading organizations
and professionals, a comprehensive listing of resources and events, and personal
essays, artwork, and stories by adults and children with learning disabilities.
FairTest:
National Center for Fair & Open Testing (http://www.fairtest.org)
The National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest) is an advocacy organization
working to end the abuses, misuses, and flaws of standardized testing and
ensures that evaluation of students and workers is fair, open, and educationally
sound. The site provides survey information on state-by-state assessment practices
for K-12, university, and employment tests. The site also provides links to
publications, articles, and fact sheets on standardized and alternative assessment.
Parents
Guide to the Internet (http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/internet/)
This online booklet is intended to help parents, regardless of their level
of technological know-how, make use of the online world as an important educational
tool. The guide gives parents an introduction to the Internet and suggests
how parents can allow their children to tap into the wonders of the Internet
while safeguarding them from its potential hazards.
Inclusion
Literature (http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/spring98/andrews.html)
This article from the ALAN Review includes children's and adolescent literature
written by parents and teachers related to inclusion issues such as self-esteem
and individuality. Key Topics: children's literature, learning disabilities/special
needs
Deaf
Education Web Site (http://www.educ.kent.edu/deafed)
The purpose of the site is to facilitate the identification and sharing of
information, questions, and collaborative opportunities concerning the education
of deaf and hard of hearing students. The site includes information on teacher
education programs, curriculum materials and instructional strategies, research
studies and current books, and technologies for students who are deaf and
hard of hearing.
Standards
at McREL (http://198.17.205.11/standards/)
The Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory has received national and
international recognition for its work in standards-based education and has
provided assistance to more than 30 school districts and several state departments
of education as they develop their own academic standards and implement assessments.
This web site resource consists of Internet resources--lesson plans, activities,
curriculum resources--linked with corresponding subject-area content standards
and articles and publications on standards.
Developing
Educational Standards: Overview (http://putwest.boces.org/standards.html)
This site provides an annotated list of K-12 Internet sites which deal with
curriculum frameworks and standards development in all content areas at the
national, state, and local levels. The exciting part of the web page is the
alphabetical listing of all states and content areas. This is a case of finding
everything you might ever want to know about standards in one place.