The document discusses several online resources that can enhance literacy and comprehension for students, including Starfall, Literactive, Browser Books, Magic Keys, CAST UDL Book Builder, Storyline Online, Treasures Activities, Clifford Interactive Storybooks, Kol Jr. Stories Online, and National Geographic for Kids. These resources provide leveled books, phonics activities, digital stories that read words aloud when clicked, tools for creating and sharing digital books, and engaging games and activities to support vocabulary development and reading comprehension.

1. ELECTRONIC LITERACY Enhancing
literacy and
RESOURCES comprehension
M i c h e l le E m r a
Pauline O’Mara
S te p h a n i e T h o m a s
RDG/504

2. STARFALL
 http://www.starfall.com/
 Benefits and Characteristics:
Starfall is an excellent source to access electronic text. It is a
free public service that provides a phonics approach. Starfall
caters to k-1 grades as well as special ed., homeschool, and
ELLs. Starfall allows child-directed instruction and supports
struggling readers.
 Enhancement of Vocabulary and Comprehension:
Starfall can enhance vocabulary and comprehension through its
engaging and easy to navigate program. The activities are
modeled after the “Big Five” focus areas recommended by the
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

3. LITERACTIVE
 http://literactive.com/Home/index.asp
 Benefits and Characteristics:
Literactive provides leveled books, phonics activities and a
large selection of books that gradually develop reading skills.
This site was developed by parents and teachers. Literactive is
free but registry is required.
 Enhancement of Vocabulary and Comprehension:
Literactive has an extensive guided reading selection that is
animated to maintain attention. Each story provides phonemic
and syllable breakdown of each word in the selection. Students
can decode the written text alone or with a partner.

4. BROWSER BOOKS
 http://staf f.prairiesouth.ca/~ cassidy.kathy/browserbooks/ind
ex.htm
 Benefits and Characteristics:
Browser books provide support by allowing beginning readers to
click on a word they are unfamiliar with. The word is then read
to them in a child’s voice. Each book is leveled and books are
also organized by subject.
 Enhancement of Vocabulary and Comprehension:
Students are able to search books that are targeted towards
their independent reading level. There are also related sites
that of fer practice in sight words and spelling games.

5. MAGIC KEYS
 http://www.magickeys.com/books /
 Benefits and Characteristics:
A free site that of fers a wide selection of digital books, that
provide support with a click of the word. There are books for
children of all ages and links for phonics, riddles and quizzes.
This site also provides access to other digital book sites.
 Enhancement of Vocabulary and Comprehension:
There are comprehension quizzes for some of the stories listed.
Students can check for understanding by answering a few
comprehension questions. There is a link to other sites that
provide games and learning activities.

6. CAST UDL BOOK BUILDER
 http://bookbuilder.cast.org /
 Benefits and Characteristics:
Students have the opportunity to create, share, publish, and
read digital books that support student’s dif ferent needs,
interests, and skills. It is a free online reading tool that allows
parents to get involved with reading at home.
 Enhancement of Vocabulary and Comprehension:
CAST UDL Book Builder builds reading strategies and
comprehension. Students are able to have ownership by
entering their own text, images, and hints. Students can also
review other books created by children.

7. STORYLINE ONLINE
 http://www.storylineonline.net /
 Benefits and Characteristics :
A website promoting 25 recognizable trade books read aloud by
celebrities. Students are able to hear the fluency of stories
being read to them, original illustrations are partnered with
background music to enhance listening, and additional
activities are included with each story.
 Enhancement of Vocabulary and Comprehension:
Text is highlighted as it is being read for students to track
words and partner words with pictures. Vocabulary is
introduced and heightened by the partnering of text and
illustration.

8. TREASURES ACTIVITIES
 http://activities.macmillanmh.com/reading/treasures/stories
/storylist/1 .html
 Benefits and Characteristics:
A website in conjunction with a nationally known and research
based reading curriculum created by McGraw -Hill. Games are
introduced that go along with weekly units and trade books that
the lessons are built upon.
 Enhancement of Vocabulary and Comprehension:
The games are interactive asking questions to determine
knowledge of specific skills. Students pick and choose responses
to win the games.

9. CLIFFORD INTERACTIVE STORY BOOKS
 http://teacher.scholastic.com/clifford1/index.htm
 Benefits and Characteristics:
A website that partners familiar characters from trade books with
questions of literacy and vocabulary. Students have a high interest
in having Clifford help them master reading and vocabulary games.
 Enhancement of Vocabulary and Comprehension:
Students differentiate between definitions of words, directions and
spelling. They heard audible directions and followed by praise.

10. KOL JR. STORIES ONLINE
 http://kids.aol.com/KOL/1/KOLJrStories
 Benefits and Characteristics:
Kol Jr. Stories Online is a website that uses trade books to
promote night time literacy. Students are able to hear familiar
stories they have read and have written text highlighted as they
tract the story.
 Enhancement of Vocabulary and Comprehension:
Students are encouraged to follow along with their pointer-finger as
they read. They also listen to music being partnered with original
illustrations. Games are included to enhance vocabulary and skill
building.

11. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FOR KIDS
 http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids /
 Benefits and Characteristics:
A website dedicated to nonfiction pieces of literacy with an
enormous range of subjects from science to social issues to
animals to people and places.
 Enhancement of Vocabulary and Comprehension:
Every resource has in-depth activities to promote learning of
specific subject matter. Vocabulary is enhanced by the heighted
sense of interest a student has when viewing the site. Pictures are
real and relevant and capture attention.

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HELLO to
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