Vocabulary Ninja

This is worth a look - a website that shows a word of the day for upper or lower primary, and a literacy question to try. 

Here's an example of what's on the website, and below is an example of a class activity that was posted on Twitter.

Once Upon a Picture

Once Upon a Picture is great looking website, similar to Pobble 365 I wrote about a while ago.
Its got pictures to be used either to inspire writing, promote use of interesting vocabulary, to teach skills such as inference, deduction and prediction, or to use for cross-curriculare lessons. Watch the trailer below:

Once Upon a Picture.. on Vimeo.

Christmas videos on The Literacy Shed website

There are some great little video clips on the Literacy Shed website's Christmas page which could be used as stimulus for writing. The clip from The Chronicles of Narnia could be used alongside the book to look at how the author uses words to create a scene, and there are lots more. Not so sure about the Christmas version of the 3 Little Pigs though...
There's a spooky little wintery story below which is on the Literacy Shed's Ghostly page which I've used before to look at the emotion of fear and how to listen to our internal warning signs, although you might just want to look at the wintery street at the beginning. It's probably best for middle/ upper school - it's pretty scary!.

Teach Your Monster to Read

Teach Your Monster to Read isa free online game to help children practice and consolidate the essential first stages of reading. Aimed at beginner readers, Teach Your Monster to Read: First Steps is built on the principles of synthetic phonics and follows the teaching sequence in the “Letters and Sounds” programme
This inspiring game develops children’s speed, and accuracy of letter recognition, by taking them on a fantastic adventure through a magical world where they meet island kings and collect letters to win prizes.  It also explores blending and segmenting, and introduces “tricky” words in a fun, interactive setting. It is aimed at beginning readers, both those who are on track & those who need support. And, it’s great fun too.

Smartboard Resources

Click here for the Modern Chalkboard website. There are a few good interactive activities based mainly on maths and grammar, but also some science and social studies files too. You need to download the Smartboard files to use, but it's quick, easy and FREE!

Word Tamer - fab site for writing

Word Tamer is a spooky little website with lots of inspiring ideas to motivate writers. There are sections on genre, setting, plot, character and words, and certificates can be printed once a section is completed.