Free Access to eBooks During July

From School Library Journal:

StarWalk Kids Media has announced that it has made all 160-plus ebooks in its collection available free of charge for anyone with Internet access—children, families, and educators—during the entire month of July.

This looks very promising.  The company was originated by Seymour Simon, a respected children's author of informational books.  Here are some key features"

• Free during the month of July -160 books
• Some titles professionally narrated
• Company originated by Seymour Simon and others
• 60% nonfiction
• All titles simultaneous use
• CCSS correlations with every title
• Catalog expected to expand to 400 by Fall

http://www.starwalkkids.com/extras/articles/89-articles/349-delight-digital-kids-with-a-subscription-to-the-starwalk-kids-library-2.html

Favorite Quotes from Pernille Ripp's Blog

Kids should be reading books created by authors, not by corporations - Lucy Calkins

Reading fiction allows us to be what we never could be - Kylene Beers

Let me tell you what happens when we give a kid a text that is too hard; it is too hard, that is what happens - Kylene Beers


For more great quotes, check out the link to the blog below:


Ripp, Pernille. "Blogging through the Fourth Dimension." The Smart Things People Said at Teachers College. N.p., 12 July 2013. Web. 14 July 2013. .

Biblionasium: a Kid Forum Similar to Shelfari and GoodReads

Parents, check out Biblionasium, a social media site devoted to books and reading.  I have only briefly looked at it, but so far I am impressed.  Unlike many commercials sites designed to attact kids to reading, this site rose out of need when founder Marjan Ghara ran out of suggestions for a "good book" for her kids to read.  With input from her children, the site was born.

One of the key features of the site is the ability search by Lexile reading level. Lexiles are ranges of scores that gauge a book's complexity or readablity.  It is the scale we will use when we implement Common Core State Standards next month.  However, the CCSS Lexile measures per grade level are different and more demanding.  Compare the differences:

 The chart to the left indicates the Lexile recommendations from Biblionasium.  Notice the broad range within each grade level, starting with first grade.


By contrast, the CCSS "stretch level"complexity chart does not recommend a Lexile until grade 2, where the child should begin around a 420L.  By the end of third grade the child should by almost capable of an 820L.  Fourth graders should ideally begin their school year being able to read at a 740 lexile.  

I would recommend that when you search by Lexile for a book that you begin at the lower "stretch band" for your child's grade.  Monitor his progress and raise (or lower) expectations as needed.

I like the ability for parents to recommend their childhood favorites to their children, although I imagine the older the child the less receptive he will be to his parents' tastes.  However, he can garner recommendations from his friends to expand his list.  Through all this, parents have the ability to monitor what their children are doing on this site (the site is COPPA compliant).  Parents can also design challenges for their kids or their whole family.  How wonderfully wholesome is that?

I think this site is definitely worth your time.  Try it and let me know what you think!

https://diigo.com/0105ys