Sunday, January 6, 2019

Effective Literacy Website Review #5


Starfall

Starfall (https://teach.starfall.com/lv/) is a public fully supported non-profit website aimed to support parents, teachers, and caregivers who have learners in early childhood.  They began this service on August 27, 2002.  After expanding from a small resource only website, Starfall developed a comprehensive English Language Arts and Math program for both pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten.  They now have the full support from the Polis-Schutz family for the past 15 years, beginning on July 1, 2015.  The Starfall team consists of many members who screen and develop the curriculum offered on the website and app. 
According to the website, Starfall offers English Language Arts and math resources, and “time-saving tools”.  Their mission is to help everyone involved in the education of children in early child to have adequate support.  Their overall concept is to create an environment “Where Children Have Fun Learning to Read”.  They offer songs, books, and activities.  For students with mobile devices, there is an app where they may continue to explore reading and mathematics. 
The website offers five main components.  The five components are supplemental resources, curriculum materials, Starfall news and events, parent and teacher supporting resources, and standards alignment.  The supplemental resources category includes downloadable worksheets, workbooks, projectables, recipes, crafts, and customizable word and picture cards based.  The curriculum materials that are available are one academic year worth of lesson plans and activities for Pre-K, and Kindergarten ELA, and Kindergarten math.  The Starfall news and events are shared through the Parent-Teacher Center.  Those that are interested may vie the outlines for how Starfall’s activities and curricula align with both state and national standards.
The Starfall website offers many interactive activities.  For Reading development, there are levels to choose from.  The activities begin at the level entitled “ABCs” where students are able to click on each letter of the alphabet and practice identification through and interactive game.  Children may advance to the next level, “Learn to Read” and practice word parts.  “It’s Fun to Read” is the next level where students read and listen to simple sentences.  The final level is “I’m Reading”.  Students may listen to and read multiple, more complex sentences.
Starfall is an excellent tool for parents, teachers, and students.  You may find your resources based on the different holidays, and themes throughout the school year.  Parents and Teachers may use the free resources or they may purchase items from the Starfall store.  Finally, the app allows you take learning on the road through the use of any mobile device.

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