Four Blocks Literacy Center
www.teachers.net/4blocks
 Dedicated to the popular Four Blocks literacy model, this Web site includes an expert column, a discussion board for teachers, a series of lesson plans for implementing the model, and resources such as “the ninety most misspelled words” and “word wall templates.” The strength of this site is the exchange of materials by teachers all over the country.
 
The Importance of Phonemic Awareness in Learning to Read
www.sedl.org/pubs/sedl-letter/v14n03/3.html
This essay describes phonemic awareness and its importance in the reading process; included is an explanation of terms and links to more than 20 reports created by the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory that deal with early reading.
 
PBS Kids: Clifford's Stories
www.pbskids.org/clifford/stories
On this page, children can choose to hear a Clifford story read aloud; the child controls the speed of the story, and must interact with the page to continue on. This would be a good site for reinforcing beginning reading skills; the voices are clear, understandable, and the site functions well in the browser.
 
Starfall.com: Learn to Read
www.starfall.com
This series of online stories includes catchy songs dealing with reading concepts (e.g., silent e), cute animations and characters, and a user-controlled reading speed and pronunciation of the words in the books. Primary-grade teachers love this site since it reinforces one of the ways in which they teach students to read.
 
U.S. Department of Education
www.ed.gov/teachers/how/read/edpicks.jhtml
The U.S. Department of Education's official site for reading includes links to resources, organizations, research practices, and accountability measures. Some publications included are a report for preschool teachers about what can be done to help children to develop their language abilities and one for parents outlining pre-reading and reading activities from infancy to age six.
 
Issues in Literacy Development
www.eduplace.com/rdg/res/literacy
Although this article was written in 1997, the information is still applicable for today's teacher. It includes sections on emergent literacy, the use of authentic literature, literature-based instruction, strategic reading, comprehension, study skills, phonics and decoding, independent reading, cross-curricular instruction, reading assessment, and staff development. Each section includes an overview of the topic and an extensive bibliography of print references.
 
READ*WRITE*NOW!
www.ed.gov/Family/RWN/Activ97
This publication is also a few years old, but still useful since it contains ideas for families, teachers, and librarians to use with all children to help them read well and independently by the end of the third grade. The booklet also includes activities to help improve children's reading and writing skills through the sixth grade.
 
National Center to Improve Practice: Literacy Resources
www2.edc.org/NCIP/tour/Resources_Literacy.html
This single page features a multitude of early literacy links, including tips for adapting books for easier physical access for those with disabilities. There are also tips and tricks for early literacy skills development, an early literacy reading list, and some ideas for the creation of your own books for students using software such as Hyperstudio® or Microsoft's PowerPoint®.
 
Fry's Readability Graph
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/fry/fry.html
A staple of reading instruction classes, the Fry Readability formula allows you to estimate the reading level of a piece of writing by counting words, syllables, and sentences. Although not applicable for a student reader under the age of six, it is useful at the upper end of the early literacy spectrum.


Kathy Schrock (www.kathyschrock.net) is the administrator for technology at Nauset Public Schools in Orleans, MA. This article was originally published in the November/December 2003 issue of Instructor.