Digital Literacy in the Classroom

Using digital literacies within a classroom should, and often are, used very early on in a child's schooling.   Below you will find many examples of resources available to promote using digital literacies.  From personal experience, I have found that many teachers regularly use Starfall and Read, Write, Think in their classroom as early as Kindergarten.  I have also encouraged friends and family to begin using this tools with preschool age children and have found that many younger children enjoy these learning activities as well.  With my students, I use the stories available from Storyline Online to model oral reading fluency.  The Nets Standards are abound with the resources available.  Both teachers and students will be able to implement the standards with ease.  Teachers can engage in professional development and promote digital age work and learning.  Students will use critical thinking skills to communicate, collaborate, and research within the digital environment.   

Many Kindergarten classrooms use Starfall as an introduction to digital literacies with activities focused on the calendar and learning to read.  Students can often be found singing along with letter activities, discussing the calendar, and more.  With Starfall, there are also more advanced activities focused on learning to read skills and skills needed for more advanced readers. 

     Read Write Think is also a tool that can be used very early on in classrooms.  Classroom activities, lessons, and printables are available for all grades, as well as, professional development for teachers.  There is also a section for parents and afterschool activities.

    Kindersite, Wikijunior, Hubbard's Cupboard, The K Crew, One More Story, Scholastic's Student Activities, PBS Kids, and Scholastics's The Stacks for Kids also have information, resources, and activities for both teachers, and students.  

Storyline Online has been one resource that I have found great interest in with my students over the years.  This site has great examples of children's literature being read aloud by members of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.