Free interactive program that helps children learn to read!

How I Use It

I use this website in the computer lab with my younger students. When I am teaching about the keyboard, but I know that students may not know all the letters and sounds I use this as a follow-up activity. Teachers will come up to me and ask me if I am helping students with the letter sounds because students are singing songs about letters and their sounds, and I tell them it is from Starfall. What I usually do is teach students about QWERTY and the keyboard and the different buttons, and then I put the students on Starfall to help them practice the different letters they are unsure about. Then I go around the room and ask them if they can find those letters on the keyboard. I find that when I first teach students about the keyboard, I will not get them to type what I want, but if I can help them find the letters, get exposure, and practice without pressure they eventually will feel comfortable enough to type. This is mostly Kindergarten and 1st grade. For students who know the letters and the sounds, they can read books (mainly beginning levels). There are also games and holiday projects. I only use the free version. Students love when I tell them they will be going on Starfall and as I said they go out singing the songs.