StarFall- Effective Literacy Website #4

Website: STARFALL

URL: https://www.starfall.com/h/index.php 

         Starfall (https://www.starfall.com/h/index.php) is a literacy-based website under the publicly supported nonprofit organization, Starfall Education Foundation. Its main mission is to provide effective online activities that will help fully develop English and Language Arts skills. The website’s main target audience are children in the primary stages of elementary. Users can explore this website completely free for the basic plan. However, users can pay to sign up to enjoy extended reading/language arts curriculum-based programs.

    Upon entering the homepage of Starfall, you will see that it is separated into two sections, “Kindergarten + Pre-K” and “Grades 1,2,3”.  Created in 2002, this website first focused on teaching children how to read. Now, it is has expanded to language arts and mathematics for children in preschool to third grade. The entire website is filled with activities aligned with a research-based understanding of phonemic awareness, systematic sequential phonics, common sight words, etc.

    Users will find the set-up of both, “Kindergarten + Pre-K” and “Grades 1,2,3”, easy to navigate. Both sections are organized by category of Math, Language Arts + Music, and Seasonal. From the start, students will instantly be engaged by the color scheme and animations presented. The website is entirely student friendly. Educators will find a vast number of resources to motivate students to learn the beginning stages of reading and writing. Starfall offers a wide range of books to all ages. However, as you peruse through the website there are some features that cannot be accessed if you did not sign-up for a membership. Nonetheless, the basic plan of activities offered in each section holds just enough activities to get children started with reading and writing using the website. Children will engage in fun songs to help them remember certain skills. They can look through Backpack Bear’s books to find fun books to read. They can also have books read to them through the talking Library. The best feature offered on the website is the three tiers on reading. The three tiers are the “Learn to Read” button, the “It’s Fun to Read” button, and the “I’m Reading” button. Each section is self-explanatory in terms of what level the child is on. When you click on either button, users will find a list of activities that meet their level. In the “Learn to Read” option, children are introduced to a series of beginning reading skills. The “It’s Fun to Read” will take the children into activities that allow students to begin reading in a slow-moderate pace with voice-over assistance. Finally, in the “I’m Reading” option, children will get to choose from a list of beginner’s guidebooks that will allow for independent reading practice. This provides an opportunity for children to grow alongside the website and it’s features.

    This website also offers a Parent-Teacher Center. Educators can find free math printouts for Grades 1-3. Another awesome feature is the offered customizable resources. Educators can choose between ELA practice sheets, word and picture cards, books, posters, writing journals, etc. to explore, download and print for added literacy resources in their classroom. The Parent-Teacher Center offers a guide on how to effectively use Starfall within their classroom. Lesson plans are also offered on how you can integrate activities on this website to match reading and writing standards.   

    Overall, Starfall is an effective literacy website for early childhood educators. What makes this website’s history even more interesting is that the creator, Dr. Stephen Schutz, had difficulty learning when he was child, due to dyslexia. So, he worked to create a website that children will get to see, hear and touch as they progress in their literacy skills. They do not have the worry of being timed; allowing them to be free to interact with games at their pace.