Storyline Online

Jerica Dungca

ED638-01

Fall Intercession 2017

Dr. M. Rivera

IRA Newsletter Weekly Project: Effective Literacy Website #1

Literacy Website: Storyline Online

            Storyline Online (http://www.storylineonline.net) is an award winning-children’s literacy website that has a wonderful collection of children’s books. Along with the selection of books, Storyline Online features videos of read-alouds by well-known actors and actresses. These videos draw the attention of young audiences as they listen and engage in a unique storytelling experience.

            To provide some background on this literacy website, Storyline Online is part of a non-profit organization of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. This children’s literacy project relies on grants and donations to fund the online website and produce its amazing videos. Some of the notable awards that Storyline Online has won are 2016 Parent’s Choice Award, 2017 Telly Award, and 2017 Communication Award.

            One benefit of Storyline Online is that the website is free! The website is available 24 hours a day, making it easy for children, parents, and educators worldwide to access this online learning tool and its content. The videos can be accessed and viewed for free via SchoolTube and YouTube.  

            On the website, users can choose from a variety of books that range from readers age 3 to 11 years old. Each video begins with a short introduction by the actor or actress, and then transitions into the read aloud of the story. As they tune into the video presentation, students can listen and follow along with the pictures of the story. Some books also feature animation and music to enhance the reader experience.  

            Parents and educators can also enjoy the benefits Storyline Online offers. Each book provides an activity guide for teachers to use in their classroom. Some of the activities on the teacher guide include a synopsis of the story, story themes, ELA Common Core Standards, before, during, and after reading strategies, discussion questions, and writing activities. The teacher activity guides also include across curriculum activities, in which they can relate the story to skills in content areas. In addition, some books offer a parent guide with activities for the story that parents and their child can do at home.

            The layout and content of Storyline Online is seamless and easy to navigate. It is a great resource for elementary school teachers to use in their classrooms. The videos are short and easy to follow. Each story’s activity guide can be easily adapted and incorporated with teacher’s reading and language arts lessons.

            Overall, Storyline Online is a great classroom tool and effective literacy site. Besides the wonderful videos and resources the site offers; it promotes the benefits of reading aloud. Research has shown that reading aloud to children improves reading, writing, listening, and communication skills. It also helps to build their reading comprehension and develop a positive attitude towards reading. Storyline Online’s goal is to use read alouds to inspire students and develop a lifelong love of reading.