· Reading & Writing Tools
o http://www.writingfun.com/
§ Writing organizers to assist students with writing in a variety of genres.
§ Can be used for word processing or as printables.
§ Offers examples and detailed descriptions of a variety of letters.
o This site could be useful for all students, but especially those who may need extra support and guidance during the letter writing process. Examples of letters are provided, which would be useful for those students who may benefit from modeling.
o http://ghotit.com/home.shtml
§ Context spellchecker – targets people with dyslexia, ESL
§ Word dictionary – integrated word and image dictionary
§ Text to Speech (TTS) – read easily while focusing on text correction
§ Configurable & Familiar – user interface
o This website would be useful during the letter writing process for students who may still be struggling with using proper spelling and word usage, especially those with dyslexia, and ESL students.
· Communication & Social
o http://mail.zoho.com/login
§ Personalized e-mail accounts can be set up for each student so students can practice writing e-mails to each other.
o This site would allow teachers to set up personal e-mail accounts for each student, so they can get practice composing and sending e-mails to each other, or possibly children’s authors, or other teacher approved e-mail addresses.
o http://www.goodreads.com/
§ Online book club where students can search for books, recommend books, read & write stories, answer literature trivia questions, and read famous quotes.
o This website could be useful for all students, but may be especially beneficial to gifted students who may quickly master the letter writing process. Here the student could write a letter of recommendation for a book, or search for additional books that utilize letter writing in the story. Students could also make use of the story writing feature, and compose their own story using letters written by the characters.
· Organization
o http://www.mystickies.com/index
§ Allows students to put up sticky notes on any web page to add notes, lists, reminders, etc.
o This sticky notes feature could be useful for all students, but especially those who get distracted and lose their focus easily. The digital sticky notes could be pasted on the internet page they are using to type their letter, and would contain reminders of what they want to include in their letters from the prewriting steps.
o http://www.gonutshell.com/
§ Students can work with their to-do lists, while working online.
o Students who need extra help staying organized and completing all the steps of a process could use this site to check off the 5 steps of the writing process as they are completed, the parts of the letter as they are completed, as well as the parts of the assignment as they are completed.
· Study Skills & Test Prep
o http://www.mindomo.com/index.htm
§ Allows students to create visual mind maps on line.
o This site would be useful for all students, but especially those who may be visual learners, in the prewriting step of creating a letter. Mind maps could also be used to demonstrate the different purposes of letter writing.
o http://www.angelfire.com/wi/writingprocess/
§ ABC’s of the writing process. In depth review of the 5 steps of writing.
o This site could be useful for all students, but especially those still struggling with using the 5 steps of the writing process, as this site gives detailed tips, strategies, and examples of each step of the writing process.
· Visual & Hearing Impairment
o http://www.teachingtips.com/blog/2009/09/07/100-useful-tools-for-special-needs-students-educators/
§ Speech Interface allows visually impaired users to use computer and web independently and efficiently.
o This site could enable visually impaired students to use the computer and web for the steps of the lesson that require its use.
o http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/
§ Colorful and dynamic site offers endless resources to assist learning without the use of sound.
o This site could be useful for all students but especially those with hearing impairments because it does not use sound, yet covers a wide array of topics, including writing, in a visually attractive and engaging manner.
o http://www.writingfun.com/
§ Writing organizers to assist students with writing in a variety of genres.
§ Can be used for word processing or as printables.
§ Offers examples and detailed descriptions of a variety of letters.
o This site could be useful for all students, but especially those who may need extra support and guidance during the letter writing process. Examples of letters are provided, which would be useful for those students who may benefit from modeling.
o http://ghotit.com/home.shtml
§ Context spellchecker – targets people with dyslexia, ESL
§ Word dictionary – integrated word and image dictionary
§ Text to Speech (TTS) – read easily while focusing on text correction
§ Configurable & Familiar – user interface
o This website would be useful during the letter writing process for students who may still be struggling with using proper spelling and word usage, especially those with dyslexia, and ESL students.
· Communication & Social
o http://mail.zoho.com/login
§ Personalized e-mail accounts can be set up for each student so students can practice writing e-mails to each other.
o This site would allow teachers to set up personal e-mail accounts for each student, so they can get practice composing and sending e-mails to each other, or possibly children’s authors, or other teacher approved e-mail addresses.
o http://www.goodreads.com/
§ Online book club where students can search for books, recommend books, read & write stories, answer literature trivia questions, and read famous quotes.
o This website could be useful for all students, but may be especially beneficial to gifted students who may quickly master the letter writing process. Here the student could write a letter of recommendation for a book, or search for additional books that utilize letter writing in the story. Students could also make use of the story writing feature, and compose their own story using letters written by the characters.
· Organization
o http://www.mystickies.com/index
§ Allows students to put up sticky notes on any web page to add notes, lists, reminders, etc.
o This sticky notes feature could be useful for all students, but especially those who get distracted and lose their focus easily. The digital sticky notes could be pasted on the internet page they are using to type their letter, and would contain reminders of what they want to include in their letters from the prewriting steps.
o http://www.gonutshell.com/
§ Students can work with their to-do lists, while working online.
o Students who need extra help staying organized and completing all the steps of a process could use this site to check off the 5 steps of the writing process as they are completed, the parts of the letter as they are completed, as well as the parts of the assignment as they are completed.
· Study Skills & Test Prep
o http://www.mindomo.com/index.htm
§ Allows students to create visual mind maps on line.
o This site would be useful for all students, but especially those who may be visual learners, in the prewriting step of creating a letter. Mind maps could also be used to demonstrate the different purposes of letter writing.
o http://www.angelfire.com/wi/writingprocess/
§ ABC’s of the writing process. In depth review of the 5 steps of writing.
o This site could be useful for all students, but especially those still struggling with using the 5 steps of the writing process, as this site gives detailed tips, strategies, and examples of each step of the writing process.
· Visual & Hearing Impairment
o http://www.teachingtips.com/blog/2009/09/07/100-useful-tools-for-special-needs-students-educators/
§ Speech Interface allows visually impaired users to use computer and web independently and efficiently.
o This site could enable visually impaired students to use the computer and web for the steps of the lesson that require its use.
o http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/
§ Colorful and dynamic site offers endless resources to assist learning without the use of sound.
o This site could be useful for all students but especially those with hearing impairments because it does not use sound, yet covers a wide array of topics, including writing, in a visually attractive and engaging manner.
