Free Digital Resource for Popular Read Alouds
There are several technology sites and apps that I've come to rely on over the years to help support what I'm doing in the classroom or to simplify the workload that is done outside of it. By sharing a few of those resources with you, I hope to help simplify your life as well.
This site is the best I’ve found for read-alouds. It’s free, it includes popular titles ready by well-known celebrities, and there are dozens of ways to use it in the classroom.
Ever need a book right away and you just can't lay your hands on it?
I'm sure this never happened to you, but it's happened to me more than once. Even though I'm incredibly organized and always (ok, 99% of the time) planned well in advance, there have been occasions when the kids are set to arrive in ten minutes and I'm scrambling to find the book I'm using in my lesson that day. Talk about panic.
I've searched through all of my teacher bags, my classroom library, scoured our building library, and asked every teacher in between - and the one book I need is nowhere to be found.
After that happened to me a few years ago, I started bookmarking every site I could find that had free, digital versions of children's books. That way, I would never be stuck without a book again.
One of my favorite sites in that precious folder is Storyline Online.
Founded by the Screen Actor's Guild, Storyline offers videos of books being read aloud by celebrities both adults and kids love.
Who wouldn't want to listen to a book read by James Earl Jones, Hector Elizondo, or Betty White?
I have to be honest, the appeal of having someone read aloud to you is pretty strong. Many times I've visited the site and have been tempted to stay awhile and listen to book after book.
The site is classroom friendly in that there are multiple options for viewing videos. In my district, YouTube was strictly blocked and we were always looking for alternative sources. Here, you have the option of viewing through YouTube, SchoolTube, and MyVRSpot.
While Storyline's library isn't extensive, the titles that are available are ones that you often would find in an elementary classroom. Books like The Kissing Hand, Thank you, Mr. Falker, Stellaluna, Knots on a Counting Rope, Chester's Way, Brave Irene, A Bad Case of the Stripes and more.
The list of available titles is growing and, as the program functions on donations, books are added as often as possible.
You can follow on Facebook to receive updates when new titles are videotaped and loaded to the site. Their most recent project was "Catching the Moon" with Kevin Costner and his "Black or White" costar, Jillian Estell. (The movie is fabulous, if you haven't seen it yet!)
There are dozens of ways that you could use this site in the classroom. Here are a few:
Project the site on your SmartBoard and have a text read aloud. Even when the book actually is in hand, it's nice to have another voice read to students besides your own from time to time. Plus, a video with well-known faces is sure to capture their attention!
Bookmark on student computers for use in a listening or "Read to Me" center. Place a copy of several texts in the center so that students can follow along, if they choose.
Reinforce newly learned skills. Have students select a text from a list, and after watching, complete a task to show how they can apply that week's skill to new texts. For examples of short tasks, check out my Independent Reader Response Task Cards (also available in Superheroes Theme) or Reading Response Quick Checks. This could also be done whole group, rather than in a center. Simply select a text, play for students, post the task card or response sheet you want to use, and have students complete independently at their desks.
Use as an extension for when you have extra time. Each title comes with an activity PDF. Many of the activities listed could be completed orally with your students to fill those unexpected 10 minutes at the end of a period (does anyone really have those?).
Have ready as a back-up for substitutes to use.
Class rewards. If you use a rewards system in your class, this could be something they work towards earning at the end of a Friday.
Using Storyline or another digital book resource in your classroom? Leave a note and share how!
Click the image below to save these ideas for later…
