What's the buzz about spelling

and other new educational linkage

by Layne Henn

I stumbled upon these few things as I was looking for something that a teacher requested.

He wanted to know if there was software out there that could take a bank of spelling words and randomly pick them for review lists. I was thinking it would also be cool if the computer would speak the words that the student needed to spell.

My search didn't go exactly as planned, but I did find some interesting links that I thought I'd quickly share.

http://www.learner.org/interactives/spelling/index.html This is a really cool interactive site for kids and adults. The link above is just the spelling link, there are many other useful parts, just go to the main link of http://www.learner.org/interactives/ and see all the FREE and useful links!
http://www.spellingbee.com/studyaids.shtml Scripps of National Spelling Bee fame, puts out this site for study aids. Also on this page you'll find a link to http://www.spellingbee.com/audiopaideia.shtml which give audio pronunciations of words. This one is useful for EVERYBODY! Too bad they don't have this for people's names!
http://www.bookshare.org/web/Welcome.html You have to visit this site. Another FREE site that allows you to listen to books being read to you (Spanish or English). Intentioned for student's with special needs. Many great other resources here, too! (Sorry, PC users only- doesn't work with a Mac). You have to work through a school to use this one and I don't know where Sioux City is at yet. I'll give updates when I find out.
http://www.ispellwell.com/ispellwell%20online%20configuration.htm This is pretty cool. Uses Microsoft Agent technology to read the words to kids. It didn't work perfectly on my computer, but is still a notable website.
http://visual.merriam-webster.com/ Awesome, I can't wait to go home and show this one to my kids. They will love to see the cool things on this dictionary site. Make sure you check out the games section.
http://www.photoshop/express Okay, this one I stumbled across. It has nothing to do with spelling. However, it's noteworthy because it's FREE and it's Photoshop. Sign up to become a member and then navigate through uploading photos.