One of my favorite sites for free literacy resources is Ed Pubs, the U.S. Department of Education online catalog of FREE publications. They have everything from research briefs to toolkits to DVDs–even bookmarks! Topics include literacy, technology, academic
achievement, assessment and behavior, to name just a few. The searchable database is easy to navigate. And, did I say everything is free? Delivered right to your door. Check out their postcards–colorful, durable cards with synopses of research on reading comprehension, response to intervention and preventing problem behavior.
Here are a few other sites that offer free stuff:
- PBS Kids–Free activities, coloring sheets, advice for building literacy skills.
- Helping your Child Become a Reader–literacy activities from birth to age 6.
- Reading Planet–animated stories read aloud. Includes an annotated list of 1,000 children’s books that can be browsed by age group, author or category.
- Reading Rockets–parent tip sheets in 11 languages, hands-on activities, a library of web widgets and other resources for parents and teachers.
- Starfall–downloadable “make and take” books, puzzle activities and materials for teaching phonics skills.
- Intervention Central –chock full of resources to help struggling learners.Teaching strategies, downloadable resource manuals and online assessment tools, including a Maze reading passage generator, reading fluency chart makers and a behavior tracker and graph maker.
Do you have a favorite source for free materials? Send it in and I’ll add it to the list!
openbooksopendoors.com 
What do you think about using Oelwein’s book, Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome, as a resource? Woodbine is selling it with a CD rom now. Is philosophy in line with yours?
Christine–I was trying to find my copy of Oelwein’s book so I could review it before answering your question but after an hour in the attic, I decided to go with what I remember. First, I want to say that I have a close friend who taught her now 22-year-old daughter with Down syndrome to read using this method soon after the book came out in 1995. This was out of desperation, because her daughter’s school did not seem to know how to tackle the task. For years, Oelwein’s book was the only resource for teaching reading to children with DS. It begins with teaching a sight word vocabulary, and moves on to phonics, which is consistent with current research. Once I finally find my copy, I can compare it more closely to what is available now. So much new research has come out since Oelwein wrote the book that, if I had to choose a program, I might go with something more current.
Don’t worry about hunting down your book. You answered my question. I bought the book years ago, and while John enjoys using the flashcards from the book, it did seem that there have been advances in the research since the book was first published. I did just come across a reading program that was based on the book though and that is what prompted my question.
Thanks for the list of sites given above. Will need to check them out. Starfall and PBS kids are already a couple of John’s favorites 🙂
A resource site that I recommend is the Florida Center for Reading Research. The instructional materials for teachers are student center activities that parents can download for free and use to supplement their child’s reading instruction (or take the leading role.) Parents and educators will need to decide which learning progressions to employ and instructional practices will engage their child in their reading development.
I commend you on your informative site and I enjoy following your blog.
Marie–Yes! I love FCRR! I keep meaning to add them to my blog roll. They are one of my go-to sites. Thank you for reminding me.