Ooka Island & Marina Orth Foundation assist English Language Learners in Colombia, South America
The Ooka Island Reading Team welcomed Ian Vickery to its headquarters this week for training in the Ooka Island Learning System. Ian will be traveling to Colombia, South America to teach the English language with the Marina Orth Foundation. The Ooka Island technology is ideal for teaching the English language as it jumps right into teaching the 44 sounds of the English language in a guided, yet compelling methodology. You can learn more here about why Ooka Island is effective for English Language Learners (ELL). Ian’s training included sessions on the top-rated Eye/Ear Reading...
read moreOoka Island & First Nation Early Literacy Partnership
Have you heard the news? Wonderful things are happening at John J Sark Memorial School! Students at John J Sark Memorial School are loving Ooka Island! Join the team at Ooka Island as they visit John J Sark to check in with Kindergarten teacher, Wendy Walker and Principal, Nora McCarthy-Joyce. Watch the video below to meet the students at John J Sark and hear about their favourite parts of the Ooka Island Adventure! What is this school doing differently? The benefits of learning to read at an early age will help prepare young learners for a life-time of...
read more“Glowsticks” (Video Book Review)
We are so excited to have Super Reader Leiah back for another fantastic narration! In today’s video, she reads Glowsticks, from the Emergent II series of books, and she even sets the stage with appropriate lighting! Thanks for sharing this video, Leiah! And remember– we’d love to feature YOUR Super Reader on this site! Send in pictures or videos...
read moreCarma Uses Motivational Tools like the Book Path to Keep Reading!
Thanksgiving may be over, but we’re still in a thankful mood! For what, you ask?! Well, today we’re thankful that young learners like Carma can experience the joy of making progress through the Ooka Island Book Path as she builds her fundamental reading skills. Look at that grin!!! Remember that you can download the Book Path and other Motivational Tools here. And we’d love to see your favorite Ooka Elf at work (or play?!), too– feel free to send/post pictures or...
read moreChecking in with Mrs. Perry (A Kindergarten Teacher’s Adventure)
I have such a treat for you today! I traveled to Mrs. Perry’s kindergarten class to capture on video how much fun this kindergarten teacher’s students are having on Ooka Island! As you’ll see and hear, the kids can’t wait to spend time on Alphabet Mountain and all the other exciting activities. They’ve become really good at using the mouse and working independently on the computer, too. We are so happy that Mrs. Perry, and her students are going to let us come check in throughout the year so we can share their progress with you through this video series. ...
read moreAn Interview with “Auntie Kay” The Voice of Ooka Island
She’s at it again! And this time, Superfan Leiah managed to pull me aside from rescuing Ooka Elves to do an entertaining interview about being the voice of Ooka Island. With the game launch right around the corner, Leiah asks the hard-hitting questions in order to learn more about my role as Ooka Island tour guide. One question still remains, however– where was Zobot?! Do YOU have an Ookariffic song or piece of Ooka art to share? Does your child, family, classroom, school or organization? Send it in to wave@ookaisland.com and we just might post it on...
read more“We Are Teachers” Winners A Thank You Video!
Ooka Island partnered with We Are Teachers this summer to engage educators in conversations about technology and reading strategies through a grant award competition. Ooka Island asked “What reading strategies do you use in your classroom to encourage emergent readers?” With 461 votes from her peers, Cathy Breslin from Jonas Salk Elementary School won the grant with her outstanding answer below! I use writing in my classroom to get the students to read. We write ALL THE TIME! Every morning, first thing there is a writing activity. My students know that a way to communicate is to...
read moreMeet Carma, A Reading Superstar!
*Below is an AWESOME e-mail that Ooka Island just received from Boston!* Meet Carma. Carma is a 6 year old Ooka Island Adventurer who has recently discovered just how rewarding reading can be! She has been working diligently throughout the summer to master the alphabet and the 44 phonemes as well as the necessary skills to manipulate those sounds such as segmenting and analyzing. As her tutor, I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to work with her each morning and have a front row seat to watch a reading superstar emerge! This video travels back to a few short months...
read more
From our Island to your Inbox
