Effective Literacy Website #1 - PBS Kids

PBS and PBS Kids (https://pbskids.org/) is a public broadcasting system that offers a wide range of free resources that include movies, games, articles, and much more. The resources cater to children, parents, and teachers as they provide content on various subject matter that are standards-aligned and interactive.

Much of the videos and games provided on PBS Kids and PBS Kids Go! are appropriate for children ages 2-8 and incorporate content that illuminate diverse backgrounds. Depending on the show and game, the producers use a variety of literary elements to promote literacy such as the use of books, written words, images, and oral language. Others may also use online resources, historical archives, maps, and charts. Along with videos and games, PBS Kids also has a link for parents (https;//www.pbs.org/parents). HEre they are able to locate many hands-on activities that connect to their child's favorite shows. 

The PBS Kids website in itself is very enticing, with its colorful scheme, bold letters, and pictures, it is a guaranteed attention grabber. As you hover over certain links, it dictates the words displayed. This is a convenient feature for children who are still learning to read and allows them to navigate the site fairly easily. Since the site is intended for a young audience, a bulk of the content is displayed in the parental portion whereas PBS Kids displays simple, easy to follow features.

PBS Kids is a great literacy website because it builds on the interests of children and incorporates many literary elements into their games and videos. The website is also designed around educational standards which prepares children with the background knowledge and experience needed to succeed in a school environment.