1. USING WEBSITES TO ENHANCE LITERACY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOMS Brittney Minton Illinois State University NAEYC Student Group

2. How can we teach literacy to young children?  Think about ways in which you have witnessed literacy instruction taking place in early childhood settings.  In what ways do you implement literacy with learners through tutoring and clinical experiences?  How do you want to someday put early literacy instruction to practice in your own classroom?

3. How can technology enhance literacy instruction in the early years?  Think about ways in which you have witnessed technology being integrated into early literacy programs.  How and what types of technology have you used with students when tutoring or during clinical experiences?  How do you hope to use technology in your own classroom to enhance the literacy learning of early learners?

4. Using websites to enhance early literacy development.  What are your experiences with using websites to aid early learners’ literacy development?  How could you integrate websites into your early childhood literacy program effectively? “…the goal of technology tools is to improve teaching and learning, and not to replace them” (Keengwe & Onchwari, 2009, p. 217).

5. Criteria for Rating Early Literacy Websites  Where can they be used?  Who do they target?  What is their age/level aim?  Do they cover the areas of early literacy?  Are content areas integrated?  How accurate is the information they provide?  Are they updated and maintained regularly?  What is their usability?

6. Let’s take a look….  http://www. literacycenter.net/lessonview_en.php#  http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/internet/cool sites2.htm#preschool

7. Finding the Best Websites for Your Students  Early Literacy Learner Website Evaluation Tool

8. References  Keengwe, J. & Onchwari, G. (2009). Technology and early childhood education: A technology integration professional development model for practicing teachers. Early Childhood Education Journal, 37, 209-218. doi:10.1007/s10643-009-0341-0  Lonigan, C. J. & Shanahan, T. (2010). Developing early literacy skills: Things we know and don't know. Educational Researcher, 39(4), 340-346. doi:10.3102/0013189X10369832  http://www.naeyc.org/