This week’s Learnist Top 10 is dedicated to material and experiences that develop or enrich elementary students in reading, writing, and research. It features several boards from elementary blended learning expert Carrie Sorenson, material from homeschooling mom Kimberly Charron, and boards that reinforce reading and writing through art, cooking, and other experiences. Integrating experiences into student’s worlds makes them more interested in reading and literacy.

Learning Culture Through Food: China
Carrie Sorensen’s series “Learning Culture through Food” is based on experiential learning. By bringing cooking into the equation, students learn lessons they’re not apt to forget. This provides so many opportunities to design projects that promote literacy through descriptions using all five senses.

Hollywood/Movie Theme
Patricia White features Hollywood cinema decor from the “Teachers Pay Teachers” website. “Teachers Pay Teachers” is a great site for sharing your excellent work and making some well-deserved money at the same time. Decorating for the movie experience and teaching cinema allows students to discuss plot, foreshadowing, twists, protagonists, and even maybe even write a storyboard or short script of their own.

Elementary Story Apps
The term “story apps” refers to any apps that can help read stories to students. This helps them develop confidence and literary skills. Carrie Sorensen’s Story App Learnist board presents and reviews some of these apps, listing the “good” and the “not so good” features to give you an idea which ones might work for you before you commit.

Elementary Literacy Apps–Phonics
Carrie Sorenson also likes apps. This collection of elementary literacy apps focuses on phonics as well. Carrie teaches at Highlander Charter School which uses blended learning on a daily basis.

Free Elementary EdTech Apps
Shawn Rubin shares a few of the free elementary and middle school apps that he likes at the Highlander Institute.

Elementary Research Online
This site builds elementary level research skills. Getting students to the appropriate sites and teaching them to ask good questions builds the foundation for research skills in an age-appropriate manner. The sooner research is introduced, the more chance that they will use these skills proficiently.

1st Grade Writing Sites
Carrie Sorensen’s first graders use many methods to practice their writing skills. This Learnist board includes personal narrative stories, interactive journals, and grammar exercises.

Children’s Art Resources
Homeschooling mom Kimberly Charron curated a collection of art materials, products, and printables for use in elementary art classrooms, family crafts, or homeschooling. Art allows students to round out their literacy experiences, creating and illustrating their ideas.

Educating Kids on Animals
Freelance journalist and animal lover Lyn Lomasi made this board to educate children about animals. Most children love animals, but do not always get to engage with them. This Learnist board can be used with children learning about and researching animals, animal care, or animal safety either in class or with the family.

Reading/Phonics Programs for Kids
Kimberly Charron made this board on reading and phonics programs for kids–whether you are looking for homeschooling material or reinforcements, this is a great Learnist board for materials supporting literacy.