RIF Reading Planet Website Review

RIF Reading Planet (http://www.rif.org/kids/readingplanet.htm) is the website of the Reading is Fundamental Group.  Reading is Fundamental (RIF) is the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States.  RIG prepares and inspires children to read.  They do this by delivering free books and literacy resources to children and families who need them the most.  RIF has volunteers who spend many hours distributing books, staging reading motivation activities, and promoting the importance of literacy in their communities.  This organization is maintained with the support of corporations, foundations, community organizations, and many individual people.

The home page of the RIF Reading planet website has a simple layout, is easily navigable, and is colorful and inviting for young individuals. When you enter the page, there are options to play games, express yourself, read books, or do activities.  There are also options to join their club, answer a short kids’ poll question, or read about a featured author.

The game section has a variety of activities to build language and literacy skills.  There are word search games as well as games to practice story writing skills.  Children may even practice a foreign language in a game that has them match English words to its corresponding word in a different language.  The activity lab has four different activities children can do displayed on that page, but has an option to search for even more activities.  For example, if you wanted to do a puzzle activity, you may simply enter it in the search bar and it will provide an activity regarding puzzles.  The “Express Yourself” section will allow children to write to Riffington, the representative character, write a story of the month to be published, e-mail a postcard or share a link.  The “Book Zone” allows a child to listen to or watch a variety of animated stories and songs.

            Overall, I believe this website will keep a child engaged as they build upon their literacy skills.  I love the fact that RIF is a nonprofit organization concerned with improving the literacy of children, especially those who cannot afford it and need the extra help and encouragement.

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