Scholastic: Reading Counts!

Scholastic

• What is the tool?

Scholastic is a resourceful website filled with many learning opportunities, such as interactive activities, games, books, and videos for children. It is also a helpful resource for teachers, parents, librarians, and administrators. It includes lesson plans, strategies, classroom management tools, and printables.

• How can it be used?

Children can use this website to find their favorite books and authors. They can also watch videos/slideshows of new books they are interested in reading. They can search under a variety of genres to view the books that are for sale and read an excerpt about the book. This tool also provides interactive games for children to play. The games incorporate some of the themes and characters from their favorite books. Children can also create a profile with Scholastic, which will benefit them in practicing internet skills.

Parents can use this website to find/order books for their children as well as finding ideas for a variety of activities to do with their children. It includes printable resources for parents to use to help their child at home. It also gives them guidance and support for strategies to help their child succeed in the learning process.

Teachers can use this website to locate a variety of helpful resources, lesson plans, strategies, and books. It also provides a link for NEW teachers that provide suggestions, ideas for lessons and activities, and tips on topics, such as anything from “report card wording” to “teaching on a budget”. and so I thought this was a very helpful resource. I thought this was an excellent resource!

Administrators can use this website to research leadership responsibilities, staff development ideas, and learn how to enrich curriculum and instruction in their school. They can also search for ideas and opportunities on how to integrate technology into the curriculum and instruction.

Librarians can use this website to look for upcoming book fairs and book sales. They also have the opportunity to order books from this website. They can also register to receive the latest catalogs and magazines, in order to stay up-to-date on the newest books and sales.

· What are the advantages and disadvantages of this tool?

There are so many advantages to this website. It is organized very well and provides detailed information and resources for a variety of different users. I think it is most beneficial for teachers because it has so many great ideas for reading instruction, lesson plans, strategies, and resources. One of the important advantages of this website, in my opinion, is the section for new teachers. I think it is a great resource for new teachers to find helpful ideas to incorporate in their classroom.

One disadvantage to this website is that the interactive games for children are not all educational. Even though many of the games incorporate titles and characters of many popular children books, most of them are only for fun. Another disadvantage is that many of the activities and ideas for parents and teachers are geared towards younger children.

• Who is the audience for this tool?

Children, Teachers, Parents, Administrators, and Librarians

• Where can we learn more about this tool? This are some helpful links:
  
  
• Teaching Resouces
• The Stacks: For Kids
• At Home: Parents
  
  
• What is your opinion on the usefulness of this tool?

This is a wonderful website that provides a wide range of opportunities for children. It is one of the best websites I have found as far as the resources, strategies, and ideas it provides to incorporate in teaching. It promotes reading, as well as learning as a whole. I believe this website is useful to so many different audiences and can benefit curriculum and instruction greatly. I also think it is useful because it includes online interactive options for teachers and students, therefore it would be great to use with a smartboard in the classroom! As a future teacher, I am so thankful for websites like this because it will be such a helpful resource and beneficial opportunity in my classroom!