Getting Linking 5 - Big Hitters

I have been tidying up my bookmarks (I live a very exciting life), it has inspired a long overdue return to my Getting Linking series. I previously posted up lots of links resources for use in Reading Matters one-to-one sessions. This time I have a list of websites from major institutions, that you may well know about, but are none-the-less useful.

• First News - Our favourite news paper for young people
• Books for Keeps - Online magazine all about children's books
• Ransom Books - Publishers of books for reluctant and struggling readers
• Richard and Judy's Children's Book Club - Superb set of reads
• Toon Books - Online cartoons and tools to make your own
• Harper Collins Browse Inside - Read HC's books online
• Flashlight Worthy - Handpicked book recommendations
• International Children's Digital Library - Books to read online from around the world in many different languages
• Tate Children's Books - Beautiful books
• Page45 - Nottingham based comic shop, with a super website including excellent recommendations
• Rising Stars Superscripts - series of six-part plays
• Evans Publishing - education specialists
• Words for Life - Book lists plus tips and ideas for reading together with children
• Kid's Lit Quiz - Massive literature based competition
• Illustration Cupboard - a celebration of picture books
• An Illustrated Guide - new picture book review site, beautifully presented
• Unshelved - daily book-based comic-strip
• Booktime - Book Trust book giving scheme
• National Literacy Trust; Books with Hooks List - recommended reading
• Land of Me - interactive 'living picture book' from Ladybird
• Project Aon - A beautiful recreation of the Joe Dever Lone Wolf choose-your-own-adventure looks (I loved these books when I was a teenager)

Enjoy

Getting Linking 4: Printable Resources

I have written a few previous posts with links to websites providing sources of materials for use in the sort of one-to-one partnerships Reading Matters supports. These have proved pretty popular and so I am going to continue them as a series under the title Getting Linking. In this post I am concentrating on items you can print out and use in reading partnerships.

• Teaching Heart Reader's Theater- This American website has hundreds of resources, I particularly like these simple short printable plays, usually with two characters, perfect for reading in partnerships
• Worksheet Works - Beautiful, customisable worksheets on many themes
  
• Coxhoe Primary School - Lots of fantastic resources shared via the website of this primary school in Durham
• Flash Card Machine - American website to find or create sets of Flash Cards for different levels and on different subjects
• Puffin Books Children's Activities - Printable activities based on Puffin books popular authors (Eric Carle, Cathy Cassidy, Roald Dahl etc.)
• Skills Workshop Resource Centre - Lots of resources aimed at adults, but still very usable with young people
• Adrian Bruce - A website full of games and activities to print and play
• Channel 4 Book Box - Printable games and other ideas around the theme of reading
  
• Word Search Puzzles - A nice set of printable word search puzzles
• TLS Books Free Worksheets - More (American) worksheets for all sorts of activities
• LGfL Literacy Resources - LGfL (Lancashire Grid for Learning) resources based on the national curriculum, this page links to primary aged items, but the site has lots more to offer
• Debbie's Resource Cupboard - A blog style site with lots of resources added regularly
  
• Spiderwick Resources - a nice set of printable activities based on the Spiderwick Chronicles

I am sure there is something of interest here, let me know if you spot any other resources we can share.

Getting Linking 3: More online resources

[Update: I have gathered all posts like together under the title Getting Linking]

I think I will start a regular feature, links to online resources. With links to printable fun sheets and other ideas for reading partnerships.

I have already made a couple of posts:

• Printable worksheets and other resourcess
• Some online resources for Reading Mentors

I'll try and think of a good name for this new series, but in the meantime here are bunch of links for you to explore:

The Teachers Corner - Lots of great printable work sheets, and other resources

The Children's Laureate - Activity sheets based on Michael Rosen's books

Roald Dahl Day Treats - Games and activities based on the classic author's books

Timless Teachers Stuff - This site is a bit overwhelming but there are some perfect resources available

Fun Brain - Some nice ideas based around popular books, films and facts

BBC Skillswise - Downloadable sheets and online resources

RHL School Reading Comprehension - Worksheets including stories, poems, essays, and articles

British Council Print and Do - Activities with a geographical theme

Ambleweb Literacy Hour - Loads of literacy activities

Activity Village - All sorts of resources (we have used their Harry Potter games recently)

Armoured Penguin - Tools to make you own word-searches, crosswords and other word games (I love the name of this site)

Online tools
The following sites provide links to activities and games to play online

Fun with Words - Play Boggle, Hangman and other games online, lots more to explore too

BBC Bitesize KS2 - Help with spelling and grammar

East of the Web Word Games - Word games to play online

Wordnik - This is a bit different, it is a huge online dictionary, thesaurus and search engine all rolled into one, you can contribute too

VocabSushi - Play games and build your vocabulary

Have Fun

Getting Linking 2: Printable worksheets and other resources

[Update: I have gathered all posts like together under the title Getting Linking]

A little while ago I posted a list of some websites to use when thinking about activities to do with reading partners, well I have some more to share with you. These are mainly websites where you can print-off fun-sheets to use in reading sessions.

Time for Kids - The US based magazine has a wealth of worksheets, quizzes and more to print and use, organised by theme so you can find something of interest to your reading partner.

A to Z Teacher Stuff - Thousands of resources including tools to create your own worksheets such as word searches and word shapes (similar to the Wellington Square, trampoline exercise Reading Matters uses in it's training).

School Express - Even more worksheets, including some you can customise yourself.

Speakaboos - A small collection of very nicely presented worksheets, aimed at younger children, that can be used with videos that can be played online.

SEN Teacher - Printables - A good collection of worksheets and activities including some you can customise yourself.

Kid Printables - Lots of ads but use the menu to kind games and worksheets.

Get Worksheets - Loads of reading based worksheets, to access all the sheets a membership fee is needed.

[photo credit - Gaetan Lee]

Getting Linking 1: Some online resources for Reading Mentors

[Update: I have gathered all posts like together under the title Getting Linking]

I have my first volunteer training session this week, so I thought I would gather together some of the resources I have come across recently. I hope they will be of use, and is a good example of what this blog is all about.

Ed Helper An strong American bias, but some excellent customisable resources to print-out.

Stories from the web Stories and other resources on a books/stories/reading theme.

My Child Large range of useful printable resources.

BBC RaW First chapters of a range of well selected books (also games and other resources).

Drop everything and read Downloadable, printable activity sheets and more.

The DFC Online comic site with games and other resources.

Harper Collins - Children's Some nicely presented printables based on children's books.

Penny Arcade Comics based on computer games.

First Choice Books Tool for finding book recommendations.

Teachers Domain Site aimed at American teachers, but some resources may be of use.

Purpose Games Mainly geographical based online games. Quirkles Some fun reading material on a science theme.

Anorak Magazine Community based magazine with lots online with a reading theme.

Poetry Archive Poems organised by author and subject, can be print or audio.

New Fairy Tales Downloadable fairy stories.

Etymonline Find the origins of words.

Helium Community submitted articles, on a range of subjects.

Barnaby Bear Some downloadable resources, mainly on a geographical theme.

Parents Choice Various Resources aimed at parents.

Owl at Purdue Some quite technical info about grammar, punctuation and the like.