Justbooks

Website: This site can be found here

Cost: Free

Device: Internet browser on an Internet capable device, tablet or smart phone

SAMR Model: Substitution

Description

Just Books Read Aloud is a website compilation of online stories. There are many different categories that the user could choose from to find a story to listen to. The user may search for texts based on length, author, narrator, category, reading level, or books in languages other than English. Users may also search for specific stories or pick a book at random to listen to.

Once the user selects a book, it loads a YouTube video within the Just Books site. There are no ads or ways for students to start clicking other videos, leading them away from the literacy content. Once the story is over, students click the back button and choose another book.

Differentiation

These videos are good resources for differentiation. For student who can not yet read independently, this is a great way for them to build reading and comprehension skills. Students who are reading independently can listen to the story and build comprehension skills based off of the story's events, characters, setting, etc. These story videos could be meaningful for students who are English Learners, have reading or learning disabilities, Autism, or a range of other needs.

This resource has a variety of texts that range in difficulty and length. These videos will meet the needs of many different leveled readers in grades K-2.

Comprehension

This resource will help students build comprehension skills by listening to a story being read fluently and with expression. The illustrations help students use a picture to understand what is happening in a story. Students will not get caught up on unknown words or letters, or lose focus of the story, because they will be able to hear the content being read to them. They will then be able to focus on the text instead of individual words.

Some of these resources show the text of the stories. This can help lead to increased word recognition.

Possible Downfalls

This resource is a compilation of YouTube videos so some videos are better quality than others.

No Author. (ND). Just Books Read Aloud. Retrieved from http://www.justbooksreadaloud.com/index.php?t=Home&p1=&p2=