WilonaTreece232

This is the second in a series of articles that i'm writing about free educational websites. Starfall is really a website that also provides educational fun through games, videos, crafts and storytelling while teaching basic computer skills. This site is exceptional at teaching and developing reading comprehension and phonics skills. Although it is designed for first grade, Starfall is a superb website for Pre-K through second grade. Starfall.com is set up in sections for four stages of reading development, games and activities areas. It features:

o ABCs - Within this section, there is an alphabet chart that kids can click each letter to discover the sound it makes and to hear it utilized in a word. There is also a row of vowels that, when clicked, teach kids the vowels and long and short vowel sounds. A sign language section teaches kids to sign the ABCs.

o Learn to Read - On this section, there are fun animated music videos teaching the letters from the alphabets and sounds that every one makes. Stories such as the following the music videos repeatedly use words containing the letters. The approach to teaching pronunciation is quite creative. The "chunk that word" video is actually cute and fun since it teaches how to break words up and pronounce each chunk in order to learn to pronounce the whole word.

o Star Fall - It's Fun to learn - This section uses Art, Magic, Music, Poetry, Tongue twisters and riddles to show how fun it is to read. There is even an action that lets the little one create a story about his / her self.

o I'm Reading - This section has plays, comics, as well as other types of stories to add folk tales, fiction, nonfiction, Greek myths and Chinese fables for your child's enjoyment.

o Games and Activities include making a calendar, holiday activities, word hunt, locate a clover and earth day recycling games. There are also more opportunities for creating stories.

o It comes with an online store for purchasing educational materials.

o Starfall printed material an internet-based printouts are available in the download area.

o Several pages throughout the site have ideas for parent or teacher utilisation of the materials on the page.

o Stargazer - Kindergarten curriculum is really a new offering of Starfall. This is a Kindergarten reading and language arts program available for purchase.