1. The New Literacies of Online
Reading Comprehension:
Preparing Students for Common Core
State Standards
Donald J. Leu, Ph.D.
New Literacies Research Lab
University of Connecticut
Portions of this material are based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Education under Award No.
R305G050154 and No. R305A090608. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education.

2. What was it like when the book
first appeared? New Literacies?

3. So, how should we teach & support
the new literacies of online reading
comprehension?
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4. The Answer Requires A Team
Approach
 Classrooms
 School Leadership Teams
 Central Administration
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5. Classrooms:
Our 15 Best Ideas
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6. 1. “Borrow” good ideas and
pass them along
 Google these key words:
4th grade classroom home
page
1st grade classroom home
page
 Get connected to online resources.

7. 2. View Online Videos of New
Literacies in the Classroom:
Use Annenberg for in-house PD
www.learner.org http://ctell.uconn.edu/canter/canter_video.cfm

8. 3. Use Starfall.com for early
reading development

9. 4. Use Read Write Think at All
Levels

10. 5. Use Internet Workshop as An
Instructional Model
Videos

11. 6. Use ePals, or another free,
student safe email package

12. 7. Teach the reading comprehension
skills of locating information

13. 8. Teach critical evaluation

14. 9. Help the last become first through
socially mediated learning.

15. 9. Help the last become first through
socially mediated learning.

16. 10. Explore the potential of
Wikipedia

17. 11. Explore the Use of
VoiceThread (voicethread.com)

18. 12. Try Out Ideas from Internet
Reciprocal Teaching
 Phase I: Teacher-led Instruction in
Basic Online Skills
 Phase II: Problem-based Learning of
New Literacies Skills
 Phase III: Internet Inquiry

19. 13. Use Internet Morning
Message of the Day

20. 14. Use a Blog
 Mary Castle’s first grade blog
http://michellesmelser.blogspot.com/
 Mr. Thompson’s second grade classroom blog
http://gcs.infostreamblogs.org/tthompson
 Mary Kreul’s 4th grade class
http://mskreul.edublogs.org/
 Mr. Monson’s Grade 5 Blog
http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=59644
 TAS Grade 3 ESL
http://grade3esl.blogspot.com/2008/08/welcome-to-20082009-school-year.html

21. 15. Use Wordle To Bring Print Alive

22. Remember:
Keep a patient heart and help
others on their journeys.

23. What Can We Do?
 Advocate for greater professional
development.
 Work with library media specialists to
define the issue for your school as a
reading and learning issue.
 Support teachers who lead the way.
 Work for greater access in ways that
balance child safety with learning.
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24. What Can We Do?
 Implement a 30 minute policy for reviewing
blocked sites.
 Continue to work for faster, easier access.
 Implement email, wikis, blogs, nings, and
other communication tools in the
elementary grades.
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25. The Challenges Of Change

26. As Challenging As Change
Appears, We Know This…
The Leadership That You
Provide…

27. Determines The Future Our
Students Achieve!
Thank you!