You will find lots of fun books to read, and places to say what you like.
You can see how we do the TV Show.
Find out what's coming up on the next show.
We have fun activities for you to do
Post your comments about books you have read
The Reading Room is a dream come true
You may read "Goosebumps", you may read dog stories, or you may choose
science fiction. The
selection is up to you. Any book you read will help you gain an understanding
of something you did not know before you read it. That is part of the magic
of reading. The world is all there for you. You choose!
the Reading Room is a dream come true for me because it lets me come
into your home
and share with you some of the things that are special to me. That
is a real privilege. I bring you a
reading lesson, a really good story (most of my books are award winners
or classics) and a craft,
puppets and guests. I will show you some letters or art that has been
given to me by children who
watch the show and I will ask you to send me some of your ideas for
stories or pictures or things
you like and want to share with others who watch the show.
Daybreak is a kid-run kid's 'zine, with book reviews,
poetry, stories, and more! Come on in! www.daybreak.com
reviewed by Suzanne Morrell
Author Interview..Stephen Menick on The Muffin ChildCaught in the Past..Part One of Words from the Editor and Webmaster CreditsAwards Subscription InfoSubmission Info
Snippets on Brand-New Books
Whales with horns.
Animals Animals By Eric Carle
Reviewed by Michael Henochowicz
Rating..All Ages
Prosaic, shallow text. Illustrations completely the opposite. World
of Unicorns; By Michael Hague
Reviewed by Jennifer Caswell
Rating..Very Young Children
Two books with a strong heroine and an endearing cat.
My War with Mrs. Galloway By Doris Orgel Reviewed by Emily Purcell
Rating..8-12 -- Great for cat lovers.
Title: Whole Language Using Technology." Instructor
May/June 1994: p 516-522 reviewed by Patrick Jeanette
Basically the article explained that a computer
can help a student
hear, see and read the topics that a teacher is covering. It
also talks
about how a computer can help restless children stay occupied.
The
restless child would have somethng to look at, in an animated sort
of
way, instead of looking at nothing. The article would be looked
at by
elementary teachers the most, but I can see it being useful for
secondary ed teachers. A few ideas anyways.
An essay by Corinne Colman
Margaret Mackey's article "Strip Mines in the Garden: Old Stories,
New Formats,
and the Challenge of Change" found in Children's Literature in Education,
Vol.
27, No. 1, 1996 was a comparison of all the different forms The Secret
Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett has taken. Mackey is a purist, and a lover
of
literature, so that any deviation from the original book is seen as
a blight
upon literature. Actually the article is extremely well written, and
has
caused me to think about how literature translates into other mediums.
She says that the CD-ROM "is so terrible that it almost beggars
description..."
(page 15), although she says that the ideas has possibilities. She
wonders if
this type of program "trains" students to respond to literature in
a certain
way. Can such a book, which is good literature, be translated into
an
inter-active book? Can the depth of character, the setting, the themes,
be
communicated in this way? Mackey does not think it was done at all
in this
context. But I wonder if it can be done at all?
Let an OWL help kids' writing take wing, Online Educator, January
1995
(author not given). This article provides the classroom teacher with
an invaluable,
online service that students can access from their school's computers.
Purdue
University's Online Writing Lab (OWL), contains over 100 written guides
that assist
students with everything from essays to proper thank-you letters. In
addition to the
guide, human writing coaches can be contacted for immediate advice.
Make your students into cyberjournalists, Online Educator, February
1995 (author not
given). Children at the Arbor Heights Elementary School in Seattle
now publish their school newspaper on the Internet for the whole world
to read.
This type of real-life writing experience encourages students to optimize
their
learning of English, journalism, current events, geography, and others.
Any
school with online computers can do it. What a great idea!
Salend, Spencer J., Effective Mainstreaming , Creating Inclusive
Classrooms,
Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1994, pp. 312-343. In chapter
seven of Salend's text, the topic of instructional modification for
diverse learners is
addressed. Many lesson adaptations suggest making microcomputers available
to
students with learning disabilities. Computers allow individuals who
have difficulty
with letter formation by hand, focus on the writing process. Students
with visual
impairment can be helped with enlarged print systems. These are two
examples
given by Salend that can assist those with deficits to become independent
learners.
This article talks about ways to improve students spelling abilities. It emphasized the fact that spelling is one of the most important things a student can learn. It provided the reader with suggestions like cues in reading, teaching spelling patterns and using computers with spell check to help improve spelling.
Furlong,Mary; Hunter,Beverly; Kearsley,Greg; We Teach With Technology (1992)
For my third bibliography I read chapter nine in the book. Chapter
nine discussed how to incorporate computers into the class when you have
students with language difficulties or students who are learning english
as a second language. The book went over different programs that have been
implemented at different schools and it also discussed computer programs
such as MacLang that will assist students in improving their langauge.
This article focuses on how computers can aid in the writing process. Students with difficulty in writing can use computers to help them achieve. Computers allow for students with difficulties a chance to put their ideas on a computer rather than on paper. Many students have difficulties in writing what they are thinking, with computers they can type it right in.
Geisert, Paul. Teachers, Computers, and Curriculum:
Microcomputers in the Classroom. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 1990.
This book focuses on the general uses of computers in the classroom.
It focuses on how teachers can use software in their everyday curriculum.
I would recommend this book for all teachers because in this day in age,
computers are becomming more relevant to learning.
Gilles, Carol (1988). Computers and Whole Language
Instruction. Whole Language Strategies for Secondary
Students, 155-157.
This offers information for teachers on how computers play a role in
whole language instruction. It states that the knowledge of computers will
enable us as teachers to utilize existing programs, to reject programs
of questionable educational merit, and to have a voice in the development
of future educational software programs.
Roe, Betty D. (1995). Secondary School Reading
Instruction: The Content Areas. Boston: Houghton-
Miflin, 188-190.
This section of the book refers to using computers in adjusting assignments
in the classroom. It contains information available for teachers to use
in constructing drill-and-practice materials, crossword puzzles, word search
puzzles, and multiple-choice tests. These can serve as special assignments
for students who need them.
DeVillar, Robert A. Computers and Cultural Diversity:
Restructuring for School Success. Albany:
University of New York Press, 1991.
This focuses on the use of computers from a multicultural perspective.
It shows the use of computers in enhancing multiculturalism in schools.
I would recommend this book for all teachers because of its multiculturalist
view.
Maffei, Anthony C. Classroom Computers: A Practical
Guide For Effective Teaching. New York: Human
Science Press, 1986.
This is a ³how to² book for teachers in the classroom. It
states different strategies for teachers on using computers in the everyday
classroom. This is a very effective manual (although a little out-dated)
in structuring teaching computers in the classroom.
Poirot, James L. Computers and Education. Manchaca,
Texas: Sterling Swift, 1990.
This focuses on the use of computers in education. It is a synopsis
on the role of computers in education. It will help teachers and students
understand the role of computers in the classroom.
Underwood, Jean D.M. Computers and Learning: Helping
Children Acquire Thinking Skills. Cambridge,
Massachussetts: Blackwell, 1990.
This book focuses on the use of computers for students to acquire more
prominent critical thinking skills. This is very effective because it provides
students with an alternative learning method.
This article demonstrates ways that the computer can be used with
remedial students to help them improve their writing skills. The authors
conducted a two-year study of five elementary-level resource room teachers
and their students. The authors list four conclusions about effective writing
instruction for remedial students using the computer.
Means, Barbara and Kerry Olon. "The Link Between Technology and
Authentic
Learning" Educational Psychology. Guilford, CT:1995.
Recognizing that past efforts to incorporate computers into the classroom
have
been less than successful, this article attempts to identify the reasons
why
along with suggesting corrective measures. The focus is on teaching
methods
rather than on the computers themselves. Skilled teachers will be able
to
incorporate computers into challenging and authentic lessons that are
engaging
and meaningful. Teachers must become skillful in the use of computers,
specifically as educational tools that encourage individualized advancement
for
all students.