As a teacher who works with students that aren't performing at grade level in reading, I often struggle to find ways to implement technology into my daily lesson plans. I meet with 50 students a day for a total of 20 to 30 minutes. This does not allow much time to get a lesson started and finished, let alone incorporate technology efficiently into a lesson. The trouble I always run into is by the time a project is started it's time to clean up. The website abcya.com would allow me to set up laptop computers and use them with every group for the duration of the day. This would allow students to use technology in a fun way to reinforce concepts and standards in a game format.
This site offers learning games for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. A person visiting the site simply clicks on the desired grade level and then chooses the game they wish to play. Each grade level has games that are related to reading and math as well as vocabulary and technology. There are also games that don't directly apply to academics but help students learn computer keys and critical thinking skills.
The technology buttons and computer vocabulary game could be used in a whole class setting if the teacher has access to a smart board. The technology buttons teaches students how to navigate through the games on the site. It allows students to practice before they actually begin a game. The computer vocabulary game is similar to the hidden picture games in Scholastic magazine. There is a jumbled picture of what looks like a computer room or storage room and there is a list of technology words. The students are responsible for finding the picture of the technology vocabulary word in the jumbled picture. These are both great for younger students.
The literacy related games on this site are not necessarily grade level appropriate. For example the kindergarten page has the same story books to read that the second grade students read. The second grade games for literacy are matching upper and lower case letters. Letter matching is not an appropriate activity for students at this age. It would be great for students that are English language learners though.
Over all, I was excited to learn about a site that offers a fun way for my students to become better users of technology while reinforcing skills that have learned in class.
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Nice review! Someone unfamiliar with abcya.com would find this very helpful. Your critique of some of the content is useful feedback to the web site managers. Why don't you see if there is a feedback or comments place so you could offer your observations? Well done.
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