Website of Nicole Gosselin
PBS Kids Super Readers Public Broadcasting Company Grades 1-3 Reading and Language Arts http://pbskids.org/superwhy/# Reviewed by Nicole Gosselin Website Description: PBS Kids television show Super Reader’s has a website that incorporates the characters and reading activities that are seen on the show to help beginning readers practice their skills. Princess Presto, Super Why, Alpha Pig and Wonder Red, welcome you to Story Book Village and are all available to help work through various aspects of language arts. There are many activities and aspects of this website. As you enter you are presented with the four main characters and a tool bar along the left side which allows you to navigate through to the main page, games, and super content. Each character has their role within the show and same goes for this website. Super Why, the green male character, represents the power to read. By clicking on him, one is able to participate in a game where you are flying through the clouds collecting words and putting them in order to complete the sentence. Once you collect the words there is a blank at the end to finish the sentence. Three words are available in a word bank to choose from to complete the sentence. This activity is to help children not only read but to understand what they read by filling in the missing word within the sentence. Alpha Pig has alphabet power and paints by letter. Each color has a specific letter and a picture is displayed with the letters marking specific areas, just like paint by number but instead there are letters. Another option allows the children to color on the picture; this activity allows the children to practice their letter identification skills. Princess Presto, a bubbly purple character, has spelling powers. In this area of the website you work with her to create your own super hero. She uses her magic wand to help you spell words. She sounds the word out letter by letter and once you are able to find the appropriate letter and complete the word you are awarded with an aspect of your super hero, for example, part of their outfit. This helps with not only phonemic awareness but also with letter and sound identification and sight words. The last character is Wonder Red who has word power. Rhyme and Roll has you roller-skate through the woods to grandma’s house. You are given a word and the computer sounds it out for you and then skate over the words that rhyme dodging those that do not rhyme. Once you skate over each word it says it out loud and collects them on the side so that you can visually see them, allowing you to learn several rhyming words. There is also a Super Reader’s challenge which incorporates all of the tools that you just learned with the characters. You work through each section: alphabet, words, spelling and reading. As you work through these sections, you are rewarded and when you complete the challenge: you are given a certificate! Printouts, music, and videos are also available that contain more visual and auditory stimulation while incorporating the language arts. At the top of the website is an icon to for teachers which offer a place to learn about the website and program as well as the site, activities, and resources that can be used. This offers an opportunity for adults who are not familiar with the television show or characters to get a better understanding of the program and what this website offers. It also offers step by step instructions on how to use the site and a long list of activities to correlate with the program. Accuracy of Content: The website is true to the content that is seen on the PBS kids television show. This website lets the material to be interactive and is complete and accurate allowing for various levels of learning. As an upcoming first grade student teacher I would use this website as an option during free time to supplement the language arts curriculum. There are no pop-ups or advertisements making it safe and appropriate for the younger grade levels. I did not see any missing pieces to the website and think that it is an accurate website of the show. Super Readers from PBS did an excellent job making their website easy to access, use, and read. The font and voices are clear and the characters have lively personalities. They do an excellent job of auditory and visual aid for those students who may be stronger in one area than in another. Navigation around the website is equally as easy with picture and verbal representations. PBS put a lot of thought into creating this website to make learning to read and other aspects of language fun and interactive. Because of the diversity of the characters there is no bias and they appeal both genders equally. Technical Quality: This website can be easily found by using search engines such as Google and Yahoo and typing in Super Readers. The site can also be found by going to the PBS website and is given to you at the very end of the TV show. Not only is it easy to find, but once you are on the site it helps to walk you through how to use it. If you are able to listen to what the characters are saying and use the mouse, both students and adults will be able to navigate around. Directions are specific and short so that children are able to understand and they are also given an example. At any time if a child or adult needs help they can click on the question mark which will work through the problem that they are stuck on. It is easy to use and kid friendly. The website is a colorful splash on the screen. Children could play for hours and be content. The material is catchy and can really make learning to read, rhyme, and identify letters fun! Although some of the content can be visually overwhelming it all had its place and little was there for show. The option to watch the shows online is also an excellent feature which allows children who have never seen the show to view it on the site and partake in more games. Use of Technology: This website clearly pertains to the television show that it represents. However, it can still be useful without knowing the show. I felt that it technologically put the show into a new interactive perspective successfully. Although there is no way for teachers to manipulate it to make it personal to their classroom, I think that it does a good job of integrating the content that needs to be known within the lower grade levels. The website does not allow teachers to see how the students progress, so it cannot be used for tracking their work. The website used technology to benefit the children through using the characters on the show in an interactive website. I think it’s an excellent learning tool. Role of Students: This website entices students and children from the very beginning, especially if they have watched the television show. It is very basic and easy for them to navigate around to use. They are able to choose their level and to work on reading skills in a fun and interesting way. As an adult, I was drawn into the website quickly and could see how students would be encouraged to use this educational tool. I assume that many students would see this more as a game then they would see it as doing work or review. Students could use this for practice and also would be great to be used during free time because it is productive yet hidden within a cartoon show. Role of Teacher: The role of the teacher is limited when allowing their students to use this website. As long as the teacher is able to get the student to the website successful, then they should be all set. Perhaps as a teacher it would be useful to use it as a whole class first or with individual students who they would feel would benefit by using it. There is a link for teachers that helps to teach them not only how to use the website but also how to incorporate it into the classroom and create lessons. The role of the teacher should be fairly limited once the website is shown to the kids. Classroom Usage: This website is not one that could be used every day. It would be excellent to use as supplementation and practice. Because of its cartoon nature, teachers may use this website to entice students who aren’t interested in practicing some of their language arts skills to get on the computer and work. I think that teachers who know their students will be able to incorporate this into either small group work or individual work depending on their needs. This is a great website for teachers to share with parents. It is a great way to keep children entertained while they are learning. Critical Summary: PBS Kids Super Reader’s website is an effective learning tool. However, for the classroom I do not see it being used daily or within lessons. It is an excellent way to practice knowledge and skills learned and to supplement the teacher’s lessons using technology. Excellent website for children however it was easy to use, it drew you in quickly and incorporated various language arts skills that were entertaining yet challenging. Overall Rating (0-10): 8 This site was rated an 8 because I thought the material available to students was exciting and fun and in addition, it is truly beneficial to learning reading elements. I enjoyed the website and would definitely use this at home with my child. However, looking at its place within a school and classroom, it seems not only limited to the younger grade levels, but also it can only be used for supplementation and practice.
Homepage| Review of Kids Pix| Lesson Last Revised: 6/12/2008| © N. Gosselin | email: Ngosselin11@gmail.com