Children's+Sites

Literacy Teaching & Learning Tools [|Kerpoof]Users can create comic pages, cards, stories, doodles and even short movie clips. Just sign up a class user name and let the students go for it if they have some spare time, need another outlet to present, or to share with each other.

[|Story Jumper]Similar to the Picture Book Maker above but more detailed and flexible, but you have to sign up. Once signed up (sign up a class account) you can create more original stories with your own photos and characters. Then watch the stories on the projector!

[|Save the Words]To quote the website: 'Words are the cornerstone of our language. The more we have, the richer our vocabulary.' An excellent website for extending your students vocab...lots of ways to use the site including 'adopt a word', 'word of the day', and 'spread the word'.

[|Spelling City]A far more interesting and useful way to work with vocabulary. Great homework site to advise parents to.

[|Magpo]An interactive poetry creator. Just like the one you got for Christmas from the 'kooky aunt' one year and has sat on your fridge for the last two years. Lots of backgrounds and word banks.

[|Speakaboos]Speakaboos is an online Literacy resource that has loads of storybooks to listen to and/or watch. Includes an song bank as well. You can even record your own stories and upload them to the website.

[|News]Newseum displays front pages from the main newspapers around the world. All in an easy to use map based visual. Excellent for current events etc.

[|Poetry]A website created by a teacher that has some awesome poetry and short stories for students of all ages. Includes a poem of the week page. Very funny!

[|Thesaurus]An online visually based Thesaurus. Far more interesting and stimulating than the Thesaurus at the bottom of the kids desks.

[|Te Reo]An excellent site for your Te Reo needs. Has some great waiata, thorough info, and excellent resources for classroom use. Also has interactive conversations.

[|TUTPUP]A real hit in the numeracy world but it also has a cool spelling competition where you challenge other kids...like mathletics. Just click on the spelling option.

[|Book Maker] Make an online book using a number of scenes and characters. Visually stunning and complete with moving pages and book covers. Completed book can be printed or again, take a screenshot.
 * Literacy Based Learning Games & Activities **

[|ICT Games]This site provides educational ICT activites linked to Literacy learning. These games are generally targeted at junior school learning. []Watch all your favourite actors and actresses reading themed books with illustrations in easy to download movie clips. As part of their association with the Screen Actors' Guild, these fine folk put on hold their busy schedules to take time out for the children with access to reasonably high speed internet...some excellent choice and resources

[] The book, Samurai's Tale is pitched for an audience at the young adult level. It presents a vivid picture of an orphaned boy's life during Japan's civil war era. A web Quest has been created to accompany the reading of the book. Students approach this Web Quest as an investigative reporter, part archeologist, part detective,and part psychologist. They will discover details and make inferences whilst a greater depth of understanding of the events as well as the characters will unfold