Have you heard of Speakaboos? I found it a couple of years ago just exploring various sites to find some great stories and books to use with the technology piece in my classroom.
It offers up a free 7 day trial and you can explore everything from nursery rhymes to fairy tales to farm animals and MORE!
I LOVE using all kinds of resources to engage my students and sometimes listening to me read all day can get old! So providing a different way for them to engage in books is key to active learning in my classroom.
Once you log on, this is what the student's would see, and of course if you click on the purple arrow to the right, there's even more to explore!
Once you click on the activity, the students will see this screen---which will allow them to hear the story being read to them, read it to their self, OR (my personal favorite) read and play!
I love read and play because it's interactive!
Some stories do not offer each option so it's a great way to differentiate instruction based on your student's needs.
In the teacher/adult's section, you can filter your searches by clicking on:
- type
- genre
- theme
- educational concept (subjects)
- characters
- ....and even LEXILE measure if you want to choose levels!
Again, there are also various modes for each book: some are Read To Me, Read It Myself, Read & Play or Sing To Me!
Here are a few other pictures that show various stories available! There is something available for everyone. It's also great for nonfiction stories! I'm excited to use the Fire Engine story and All About Firefighters for Fire Safety week! (not shown)
Here is some more information about Speakaboos and their mission!!
Speakaboos
is an award-winning reading motivation platform for early childhood
literacy. Our mission is to provide highly engaging and educational
interactive stories that motivate every child to read.
Speakaboos
features a catalog of over 175 interactive stories with rich
illustrations, animated characters and story-driven touch-screen
interactions that bring favorite stories to life and keep children
engaged through active learning.
Head over and grab your free trial! I promise it's worth it!
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Speakaboos, but all content expressed in this post is exclusively my own!
I've been back to school since August 17th and the kiddos came back August 24th......so it's back to the grind. Busy busy busy and wondering how in the world I'm going to get these kids to remember the procedures!
How easily I forget that I have to do this EVER.SINGLE.YEAR. and it always works out but my brain is still in end of last year mode, when all of my students knew how to do everything! ;)
I haven't even posted pictures of my classroom to show you! Nothing really has changed but it's still fun to see everyone's room.
So with it being back to school time, even if you've been back for a while or haven't started back yet (who might that be???), this linky is for you! The Primary Pack is hosting this fun linky.....how do you or how did you really feel about heading back to school?
I always get asked, "are you ready to go back?" and I always say, "eh!". LOL I do love my job but I know the first month is always crazy chaotic!
So Back to School time:
Remind me of: Standing in front of English class or any class for that matter....ugh the nerves. I hate talking in front of people (weird I know---but 5 year olds are a completely different!) so the nerves that come with that just tear me up! Just the nerves of not knowing who's on your class list, the behaviors coming in, the parents that come with those behaviors ;), the group of kiddos you'll be getting, the staff meetings, the paperwork.........the new staff, just everything....it's all a big bundle of nerves.
Makes me want: To scream and run and then just take a nap because it's the most exhausting time! I want to scream because of all the meetings and paperwork, just let me work in my room please!
Drives me to: Eat more junk food than necessary and by junk I mean whatever chocolate is around. Or maybe chocolate milkshakes.....have you ever tried the chocolate chip brownie cookies....oh my word. Seriously. D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S.
Makes me need: More school supplies. You always need them. You need more than what you already have or you find something you didn't think you need and then you realize you do need it but not sure what you'll use it for. Yeh...all of that.
Causes me to: Realize I'm not as prepared as I like to think I am. Don't get me wrong, the room is always finished and lessons are done, but there's still something that ALWAYS need to be done. Things I lay awake thinking about, or something I saw someone else do that reminds me that I need to do it too. Whew. It's kind of exhausting if you really break it down.
Makes me think: That I do love this job and I couldn't imagine doing anything else.
Now---your turn. What are your thoughts? Does back to school time scare you or do you secretly love it??
