Technology Review: Kids Learn Out Loud

KIDS LEARN OUT LOUD is a resource for audio and video learning on the web.

This audio and video learning portal contains thousands of educational audio books, podcasts, and videos designed for K-12 students. Content is organized by subject area.

While the website links to free content, the portal also contains fee-based resources. Use the Kids Free Stuff section for free podcasts and audio/video resources.

Librarians will find this website a valuable tool in locating audio resources for free and purchase. Of particular note is their audio sections on children’s literature and foreign language.

To visit the website, go to http://kids.learnoutloud.com/.

Website Review: Mocomi

Mocomi is an educational website providing short, informational interactives and reading experiences.

The term “mocomi” stands for MOtion COMIcs. Originally designed for children in India, the website’s goal is to help educate young people around the world through animation and storytelling. Designed for children 12 and under, the website contains over 1500 modules across content areas. The colorful graphics and animation will appeal to elementary grade learners.

The website is divided into “fun” and “learn” sections.

The “fun” section provides interactives in the areas of arts & crafts, drawing, printables, games, stories, poems & rhymes and kid’s wallpaper.

The “learn” section includes resources related to science, math, geography, history, english, civics, culture, environment, the arts, and general knowledge. Keep in mind that these interactives weren’t designed for US schools, so not interactives apply to American education. The interactives vary in their quality and format. While some are mostly linear, informational reading experiences, others contain interactive aspects. Many take the form of infographics.

Although the website contains lots of advertising, it shouldn’t be too distracting for students.

The MocomiKids YouTube channel contains dozens of high-quality educational videos. Go to https://www.youtube.com/user/mocomikids.

Librarians will enjoy working their way through the interactives matching them to the curriculum.

To go to the website, go to http://mocomi.com/.

Book Review: Miss Hazeltine's Home for Shy and Fearful Cats

MISS HAZELTINE’S HOME FOR SHY AND FEARFUL CATS by Alicia Potter is the charming story of a scaredy-cat who learns to be brave.

When Crumb comes to live with Miss Hazeltine, he’s timid and shy. He listens carefully to lessons about bravery, but it’s not until Miss Hazeltine is in trouble that summons his inner courage.

Readers will enjoy Birgitta Sif’s whimsical illustrations and teachers will welcome Alicia Potter’s easy-to-read narrative that’s perfect for the read-aloud situations.

Librarians will appreciate Miss Hazeltine’s approach to teaching. She models important cat skills, but lets her pupils proceed at their own pace. The themes of bravery, courage, and overcoming shyness will resonate with many children.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.aliciapotterbooks.com/.
To learn more about the illustrator, go to http://www.birgittasif.com/.

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on May 12, 2015.

App Review: Hopscotch

HOPSCOTCH is one of a growing number of apps build to teach programming to children.

The app is a visual programming language designed to help children develop a sense of computational thinking. Youth apply skills in logic and critical thinking to design simple games, animations, and stories.

Inspired by MIT’s Scratch, HOPSCOTCH is the first program designed for mobile devices such as the iPad. Students drag and drop colorful blocks of code to build simply programs. Recommended for children 8 and up, it’s particularly useful for young children who lack advanced reading and typing skills needed for traditional programming.

The free version has limited characters and options. A School Edition of the program is available with these features unlocked.

To learn more about the program, check out the FAQs at http://gethopscotch.com/faq.

To download the free app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/hopscotch-coding-for-kids/id617098629.

To download the school version, go to https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/hopscotch-school-edition/id901455276