Click 'n Read Phonics: A Research-based Reading Lab Online

I recently attended a reading workshop conducted by the NC State Improvement Project. It was very inspiring and eye-opener. Having realized that I need to go back to basics in making struggling readers love reading, I spent hours doing research on what could be the most appropriate but handy reading lab that I could use in the classroom.

Among the numerous reading programs that I stumbled upon, I reviewed Click 'n Read because of its greater facility and flexibility. It is best to use for K through 3rd grade levels -- a real early intervention program! Likewise, it is very easy to use. Click 'n Read is purely online with hundreds of lessons and activities to choose from. The lessons are highly structured and developmental in scope. Best of all, it provides a progress report after lesson's completion. This is very helpful for teachers and parents in tracking the reading progress of the individual child.

Click 'n Read can be accessed here.

Category: Elementary

Free Text to Speech Converter for Struggling Readers

Unless you have all the time to personally address every need for differentiation in the classroom, you won't need a text-to-speech converter software.

Free Natural Reader provides the devoted classroom teacher a facility to convert a reading text instantly into an exciting audio material. How do you find your classroom filled with learners engaged in every way -- some are having a group guided reading with you, while others are quietly listening to the same reading piece that you are using to teach a skill?

Make the most of your students' experiences by providing them with strategies according to their need. The software can be downloaded here.


Category: All levels

Twitter: Communicating Made Ridiculously Easy

Now that the social media are tremendously growing in number, our world is truly shrinking as a global village. Using Facebook and Twitter alone, not only have businesses grew, but the ordinary people have come to meet old friends again. It is so exciting to connect with old friends!

A few moments before writing this post, I was browsing through my FB and Twitter (both personal) accounts. I couldn't help but look at dominant but common posts and tweets. First, there is a heavy rainfall in a Southeast Asian country right now. However, contrary to what many people all over the world do as precautionary measures during extreme weather conditions, SE Asian are very happy that floods are rising above the ground and classes are suspended temporarily. Lol! This is not to illustrate a point about a people's dislike for education. However, it only implies that certain groups have come to see certain climatic conditions as a commonplace.

The second 'bestseller' right at this posting time is Anderson Cooper's 'coming out.' The LA Times revealed that three hours after the CNN anchor posted on Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish blog about his once-in-a-lifetime revelation, it generated 100,000 shares on Facebook. Similarly, there is a pandemonium in Twitter, and probably in other media.


In using these as illustrations, I do not insist on letting my readers get soaked into my post-modernistic sociological perspective that was somehow affected by Michel Foucault's view of how changing power relations affected punishments (the longest run-on I have ever written!). My only point is to show how the world is 'bothered' or 'thrown into confusion' by an issue in which people in certain communities are not even concerned about. All these are brewed within the social media.


I have been using Twitter for personal and 'other' purposes. However, this is the first time that I will attempt to use Twitter for academic purposes. Please follow me.

Recommended Web Sites for Summer Fun

Even when they are away from a productive classroom environment, kids need something to harness a habit-forming exercise as they go through the demanding educational ladder. In this age where a wifi hotspot is everywhere, all that a smart kid needs is a computer.

With the sites that I have gathered below, education continues at the height of heat waves and summer fun. Always remember, however, that they need to be moderated to make their summer practice more appealing and motivating.


1. multiplication.com (features fun games to practice the facts of the child's choice)

2. spellingcity.com (use your past school lists or choose one of theirs)

3. funbrain.com (one of the most popular; find the link for their grade level)

4. fun4thebrain.com (includes entertaining Math Games)

5. math-drills.com (over 6000 free math worksheets with answer keys)

6. kidsgeo.com (State Capitals and other map games, Rock identification game)

7. kids.nationalgeographic.com (Awesome activities, games, videos, news stories)

8. pbskids.org/cyberchase/ (Math & problem-solving games, videos, printables)

9. kids.discovery.com/ (Science games, current events, videos)

10. bestedsites.com/museumlinks.html (Explore world famous museums without leaving home)

11. gamequarium.com/ (Tons of games for every topic)

12. coolmath.com (Tons of games, boards, jigsaws, and other strategy games)


Takeaway: It is important that the facilitator of this exercise (a parent, guardian, or a teacher) familiarizes a website before introducing it to the child for the first time. It maintains high expectations among the facilitator and the child.


Category: Elementary