Effective Literacy Website #1 - Reading Rockets

Alyssa Torres

December 19,2018

Dr. M. Rivera

IRA Newsletter Project: Effective Literacy Website #1

            Reading Rockets (http://www.readingrockets.org/literacyapps) is a national multimedia literacy initiative that offers information and resources on how young kids learn to read, explains why many students struggle, and how an adult can help in one way or another. Reading Rockets creates and disseminates free, evidence-based information about reading through three major services: PBS television programs, online services, and professional development opportunities. This website alone provides free resources about teaching children to read and helping kids who struggle in this particular skill. On top of that, you’ll find hundreds of articles on teaching reading, classroom strategies, in-classroom videos, parent tips in 11 different languages, video interviews with top children’s book authors, a daily news service, and so much more.

            Reading Rockets provides courses and free professional development for teachers. Reading 101: A Guided to Teaching Reading and Writing is a self-paced course for pre-K to grade 3 teachers which presents important information and strategies that teachers can use in the classroom to help their students to become skilled readers and writers.  Teachers have the opportunity to watch free webcasts and hear from national experts at any time as a form of professional development.

            The website’s homepage is very user friendly that breaks down the major components into classroom strategies, reading basics, looking at writing, courses, literacy apps, and so much more. As you click on each component, it brings you to another page that gives you a wide variety of information that can be used in our classroom daily. The website also features a list of reading topics from A-Z, how to teach reading, and most importantly how to help our struggling readers.

            Over the years, technology has evolved in the lives of our children. I love how Reading Rockets provides apps for all children to include children with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder. For me, I feel to include all children is a big plus because it leaves no child left behind. Overall, Reading Rockets is a great literacy website that all teachers will enjoy especially in the primary level. As we prepare our students for the future, we must continue to look for new and innovative strategies to help all learners in our classroom succeed.