ePals!

ePals is yet another forum for teachers to use in their classrooms. It provides a creative way to connect learners to an active community.  It is a useful resource for both students and teachers.

There is even this cool page called eMentors for Common Core that helps develop strong reading, thinking and writing skills with the help if adult mentors, motivating curriculum and technology.  This is a main component of In2Books where students read books, discuss them in the classroom, and exchange online letter with other students. “Teachers provide genre instruction and teach reading, writing and thinking skills appropriate to the genre.” This all helps to promote a student’s interaction and eagerness to participate. This is all under the Common Core Standards but without the pressures of testing. This sort of activity exercises the higher thinking skills we want our students to use in order to analyze the materials we present to them. In2Books offers pen pals whom students can write to with any concerns or ideas they may have. These pen pals are all adults and professionals so their questions will be responded to by a knowledgeable person. The curriculum that students follow ensures that they read age appropriate books that are “high-quality books carefully selected by a team of children’s literature experts.”

This is a great resource for students of all ages. Especially since kids already know how to use computers, smartphones and tablets. This is a great resource for students who can’t make it to after school programs or don’t have access to a tutor to use. This is also a great way for parents to stay informed with what standards their children are being tested against and how they can help to best prepare them.