I am the final stages of my teacher training program at the University of Victoria. When my coursework finishes at the beginning of December, I will begin the final practicum at a local Middle School. There are some outstanding websites that have inspired me and provided practical help with theory, lesson planning and classroom management. The following annotated list of sites is but a tip of the iceberg, but are among the most helpful to me right now.

International Reading Association

The IRA is a “professional membership organization dedicated to promoting high levels of literacy for all by improving the quality of reading instruction, disseminating research and information about reading, and encouraging the lifetime reading habit.” They provide their members with several professional resources including journals, books, and newsletters. They also sponsor a yearly conference and mini-conferences for its affiliates in Canada and the United States. Their goals are to enhance professional development, promote literacy research, and develop partnerships with other organizations and to provide leadership on literacy issues. Their professional journals include the “Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy”, “Reading Teacher” and “Reading Research Quarterly”. Some of the articles are available as full text online and are useful to the new or experienced teacher who is looking for research based strategies to promote literacy and reading.

Read Write Think

One of the most outstanding sites for teachers I have seen. Read Write Think is a joint venture between the International Reading Association, The National Council of Teachers of English and Marco Polo. The lesson plans are sorted by strand and by grade range. Each lesson plan includes a rationale that links theory to practice and includes all of the handouts, resources and assessment tools needed for any teacher to use as is, or modify to suit. The site also offers a wide range of online, interactive tools for students, including Venn diagrams, story maps and “word mover” found poem generators.

National Council of Teachers of English

The National Council of Teachers of English is devoted to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. The Council lists its standards of English teaching as well as statements such as “Students Right to Read.” The site includes information for parents, teachers and students. NCTE website provides full text articles on promoting reading and literacy in all grades and provides opportunity for its members to subscribe to several professional journals, including English Journal, Voices from the Middle, and Classroom Notes Plus. Interested individuals can also subscribe to the Council’s free email journal, NCTE Inbox.

National Film Board of Canada Kids

NFB Kids site includes an interactive animation tool that students can use (free registration required) to produce short animated cartoons. There are choices for backgrounds, characters, actions and text that can be mixed up to make many different versions. The features are very user friendly and I see the tool used as an effective way to encourage reluctant or uninterested readers develop some literacy skills. A short animated feature can be created with just a few clicks and can be saved and emailed to friends. The animation tool requires flash plug in.

Teaching that Makes Sense

Excellent site that features what they call “a content management system.” The six components feature: Writing Strategies that Work; What can you say about a book; Tools for reading in the content areas; Looking for quality in student writing; So much assessment, so little time; There’s no practice like best practice. All of the downloads are available in full version pdf files and include strategies, activities and student writing samples.

The site authors provide products for purchase and columns from teachers and curriculum specialists on various topics related to literacy, curriculum and professional development. Steve Peha, founder of Teaching that Makes Sense, writes: “Education is only as successful as it is authentic. For effective learning to take place, the teaching must be real. Children learn to read best by reading real books. They learn to write best by writing about real things that really matter to them. They learn math best by solving real problems they encounter in their everyday lives. I always do my best to make my teaching as real as possible. There’s no better way to help students succeed in learning — and in life.”

Read up on it! National Library of Canada

A program to promote literacy and reading, it publishes online and print annotated bibliographies of notable children and young adult literature. Individuals can request the latest theme bibliography (free of charge) that includes a full colour poster and 36 bookmarks featuring a detail from a featured book. Past themes have been Magic of Books, Nature of Words, Sports Pages and Tickle your Funny Bone. Read up on it! features interviews with Canadian authors and provides suggestions for using the books. All material is available in French and English.

Get Caught Reading

Get Caught Reading is a national campaign to promote reading “as a fun recreational activity.” The program provides promotional materials to teachers and libraries including celebrity posters, bookmarks and fridge magnets. There are contests including the opportunity to win books for your school library and t-shirts for students. The materials are available free of charge to registered schools or community organizations (e.g. homework clubs). The posters are high gloss and the bookmarks and the bookmarks are very sturdy. Both feature either celebrity photos or the “Get Caught Reading” logo.