Reading

**__READING COMPREHENSION__**

"Comprehension strategies enable readers not only to make sense of the text but also to think about what they are reading and enter into a mental dialogue with the author." (Effective Literacy Practice in Years 5-8, p. 36) 
 * __//The main comprehension strategies are://__**
 * making connections**
 * forming and testing hypotheses about texts**
 * asking questions about texts**
 * creating mental images/visualising**
 * inferring meanings from texts**
 * identifying writer's purpose and point of view**
 * identifying a main theme or idea**
 * summarising information/events in text**
 * analysing and synthesising ideas**
 * evaluating ideas and information.**
 * [|Cause and Effect] [|Authors Purpose] [|Character Traits] [|Drawing Conclusions]
 * [|Chronological Order] [|Compare and Contrast] [|Conflict Resolution] [|Graphic Organizers]
 * [|Fact and Opinion] [|Illustrations] [|Inferences] [|Main Idea]
 * [|Noting Details] [|Persuasion] [|Plot Development] [|Problem Solution]
 * [|Reading Maps and Charts] [|Researching a Topic] [|Sequencing] [|Similarities and Differences]
 * [|Story Elements] [|Summarization] [|Supporting Details] [|Word Meaning from Context]

Popcorn Words helps children to practice sight words. Children try to click on the correct word after it is said by a monkey. Getting correct answers is rewarded with a chance to play a "just for fun" popcorn catching game. Lots of different ways to practice sight words at Sight Words with Sampson. You can choose which list you want to practice, and then choose from different games to review those words. More games to practice sight words. Reading Games does not allow you to choose which words to practice, but does have a variety of word matching games. To get back to the main menu at this site, you need to refresh the page. There are four rebus stories on this site. As the story is read aloud, the words are highlighted. Students choose pictures to go along with the story. Magnetic Nursery Rhymes - Students drag and reorder the words to make well known nursery rhymes. Roy the Zebra has several games to help practice alphabetical order, number words, months, days etc. This game works well on an IWB. Syllable Split - A bear splits words into syllables, and then asks the student to identify which of three words he has just said.
 * **__Juniors__** || **__Seniors__** ||
 * [[image:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2579/3938239797_92e5bff454_m.jpg width="216" height="160" link="@http://www.fun4thebrain.com/English/popcornWords.html"]]

[|Story Nory]
is a collection of FREE audio books for kids. There is a mixture of new stories, fairy tales, and specially adapted myths and histories. A new audio story comes out each week. Search stories by newest additions, original stories, fairy tales, classic authors, educational, or junior stories. Story Nory offers the text to accompany the audio so that kids can read along. || ==[|Storytron]== Interactive storytelling

**[|Big Universe]**
Best Children's Picture Books Online. Read hundreds of books or create your own! Go [|here] to see a demo of creating your own book. This looks to be a useful site for creating picture books etc.

[[image:Pilkey.jpg width="346" height="186"]]
**Bookstash** This is a Facebook app that should appeal to young adult readers. Developed by the UK’s Channel 4, the Bookstash Facebook app says, “Create and expand your stash of books, review them with stickers, and tag them with keywords you choose!” Bookstash is a good way to get students into reading and may be a springboard to developing your own reading promotional website/social networking site.

[|The Stacks]
[|The Stacks]is a place for students and their friends to connect around reading. The site is geared toward 9 to 15 year old students. Students can check out and discuss the various books that they are reading. This is a great place for students to discover new books that they may enjoy, or to connect over books that they have already read. Most of the books featured in [|The Stacks] have an accompanying website where students can read what other students thought about the book, play related games, and take quizzes. Students can also learn more about the authors of their favorite books in [|The Stacks]. Students can play games that are related to the books they are reading. They can choose from arcade games, quizzes and polls, puzzle games, make your own games (including choose your own adventure virtual stories), writing games, ecards, and downloads that can be printed for offline play. Students can create their own profile on [|The Stacks], allowing them to customize their profile & background.

[|Story Nory]
is a collection of FREE audio books for kids. There is a mixture of new stories, fairy tales, and specially adapted myths and histories. A new audio story comes out each week. Search stories by newest additions, original stories, fairy tales, classic authors, educational, or junior stories. Story Nory offers the text to accompany the audio so that kids can read along. =[|Skype an Author Into Your Library or Classroom]= Wouldn't it be great to invite authors into your classroom or library to video chat with students before, during, and/or after you've read their books? We are growing a list of authors who want to make that connection with you. See the alphabetical list in the scrolling author box on the left. Read on to find out just how easy it is!

[|Aesop Site]
Animated fables

[|Read Print]
Online books, poems, short stories.

[|Books for Boys]
We love books that appeal to boys. Transforming boys into lifelong readers and lovers of books is our mission. ||


 * __Download these Frequency Word Loop Card Games:__ **