Table+3

__**Purpose**__

 * At first glace, Kidsreads.com appears to be a website designed to create book clubs. In actuality, it is also a place on the web for children to find information about their favorite authors, author interviews, books, and new book reviews. In addition, there are trivia games, word scrambles and contests.

__**Major components/features with particular emphasis on interactive features**__
 * Ability to view popular series
 * View list of books that have been made into movies
 * Participate in a poll for the new Harry Potter book
 * Links to popular books and sites developed about the actual characteristics (ie. Judy B. June)
 * Ability to email and write to a select number of authors

__**Appropriate age levels**__
 * Based on the book reviews listed, we feel this site is targeted towards both elementary and secondary school students.

__**Easy of use/design**__
 * Children will find the following;
 * Easy to navigate site, specifically the menu bar, pages, and layout are visually appealing
 * Pages are not cluttered
 * All links are active
 * Limited commercial presence
 * Images and art work are bright and kid-friendly

__**How it supports literacy**__
 * Motivational website that encourages student to continuously visit the site and be active users via the numerous exciting features and current book reviews
 * Link between the print and digital environments
 * Wide-selection of book reviews
 * Gender-friendly
 * Variety of picture and text books
 * Wide variety of multi-cultural books


 * __Purpose__**
 * Childrens book reviews (newsletter with current reviews)
 * Classroom activities
 * Collections and activities by subject, curriculum, themes & professional topics

__**Major components/features with particular emphasis on interactive features**__

·
 * Book review search options (author, title, grade level)
 * Outside related links (activities, author websites, lesson plans, related books)
 * Curriculum connections


 * __Appropriate age levels__**


 * Kindergarten -9th grade

__**Ease of use/design**__
 * Header facilitates navigation on all pages
 * Book cover images assist in book recognition
 * Advertisements distracting along the top and side
 * Overall lack of color

__**How it supports literacy**__
 * Reading comprehension activities
 * Supports subjects across the curriculum
 * Explores themes through literacy (for teaching or pleasure)

[|The Spelling Bee]
Although this site is intended to help teach children to spell better. It does not differentiate the instruction. For example, students playing the game select words at random for their partners. There is no attention paid to complexity of the words to be spelled. This site fails to provide students with scaffolded support that addresses their developmental level. In addition, the site also fails to support the current research base on spelling instruction which purports teaching students spelling patterns is more effective. Knowing that this site has been designed by a research scientist whos work is based upon the principals of "Evolution" revolving around competition and not based upon best practices for spelling instruction. Spelling Bee is a game designed for partners to play in tandem. Children are invited to play with other children online across the USA. The game consists of an interactive competition to gain points when words are spelled correctly and when the competing player spells the word you choose for them incorrectly. There is also a feature that will show you where in the country other players are logging on. Additionally, there is a link to Bee Web another interactive game site that houses games directed at other content areas. Although it appeals to children given its game style learning it fails to provide age appropriate support consistent with grade levels. Because of the random nature of words selected by other users, that are non-professional educators, there is no standard for word selection. The interface also fails to provide a division of resources by grade level.
 * __Purpose__**
 * __Major components/features with particular emphasis on interactive features__**
 * __Appropriate age levels__**

__**Easy of use/design**__ The site is attractive, easy to navigate and visually appealing. The minimal amount of interactive elements on each page of the site allows students to easily register, find the game, follow the directions and begin play. Students can enhance fluency in their reading development. By decoding words, reinforcing site word vocabulary, following directions, answering questions, using context clues and inferring correct responses, students literacy development.
 * __How it supports literacy__**

[|Keebook Creator]

 * __Purpose__**
 * Keebook allows one to create an electronic book that can be saved and accessed at anytime, anywhere via the internet
 * KeeBoo has developed a unique technology enabling students and teachers to present information on the Internet in the simple and natural format of a document you can read by "flipping through".
 * This technology combines the richness and power of the Internet – multimedia contents, interactivity, real-time contents customization, tracking – with the simplicity of traditional print formats: catalog, magazine, brochure, book.
 * __Major components/features with particular emphasis on interactive features__**
 * Internet access at anytime
 * Drag&Drop of Web page extracts
 * Preview a Web book anytime
 * Ad free version (if registered)
 * PDF format support
 * keebooks can be annotated
 * keebooks can be classified on your bookshelves or archived in a virtual library
 * can be saved in a variety of formats, i.e. cd, web, email
 * student allowed ownership because of the ability to can create, present and communicate
 * keebooks shared by email or published on a web site!

Based on examples we believe that this program is appropriate for grades 3 through 12.
 * __Appropriate age levels__**


 * __Easy of use/design__**
 * We believe the double page feature mimics a print book and provides familiarity for the students.
 * Keebook is set up like a word processing application, so it is familiar format for the students to use.


 * __How it supports literacy__**
 * Keebook supports literacy by allowing students the opportunity to use the writing process as they develop ebooks on an identified area
 * Allow students to creatively express their comprehension and learning through both words and visual representation(drawings and clipart)
 * Allows students to become familiar with the layout of a book, i.e. table of contents, sources, etc.
 * Promotes independence and collaboration
 * Promotes inquiry