TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Sep 8, 2024
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
Reading Coach - Microsoft
Grades
K to 8
Reading Coach uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help students improve reading fluency and comprehension through personalized practice. It incentivizes learners to earn achievements...more
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Reading Coach uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help students improve reading fluency and comprehension through personalized practice. It incentivizes learners to earn achievements and unlock new story elements through enhanced reading skills. Multilingual support is included in over 100 languages. View Reading Coach by scrolling down the page to find Get started, enter as Individual learners, Student/Educator, or IT Administrator. For a quick preview, choose the Individual learners option. Begin by selecting from the options to create a story using AI, read a passage from the library, or add a passage of your own. Options in the resource library allow you to select passages from eight levels, including beginning readers through readers comfortable with complex text. After allowing microphone access, readers read aloud for up to ten minutes, then stop to get feedback and suggested practice steps. Results provide feedback on pronunciation accuracy, reading time, and words to practice.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), fluency (26), literacy (121), multilingual (78), reading comprehension (149), reading strategies (96), Teacher Utilities (202)
In the Classroom
Share Reading Coach with students and parents to use as a support tool for improving reading skills independently. Reading Coach includes support from Immersive Reader, reviewed here, making it perfect for use with multilingual learners. Demonstrate how to use Immersive Reader to view text in different languages, hear passages read, and display text broken into syllables. Be sure to watch for additional updates to Reading Coach, which include integration with learning management systems and feedback on prosody (reading with expression).Reading Universe - WETA Public Broadcasting
Grades
K to 1Reading Universe offers research-backed tips and advice online to assist teachers and parents in teaching kids in kindergarten through 1st grade how to read. The site provides proven...more
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Reading Universe offers research-backed tips and advice online to assist teachers and parents in teaching kids in kindergarten through 1st grade how to read. The site provides proven teaching strategies, best practice videos, concrete answers to common reading challenges, student worksheets in PDF format, and professional learning. If you have questions about teaching reading, chances are they are answered in the Top Q&As and weekly questions answered by highly skilled teachers. Teachers can create an account to receive updates on new resources, articles, courses, and content, although an account is not required to access or download content.
tag(s): guided reading (32), independent reading (82), reading strategies (96), resources (83), science of reading (34), teaching strategies (52)
In the Classroom
Whether you are a brand new teacher or a seasoned veteran, there are many valuable resources that can be used in your classroom to help you teach reading. Step-by-step guides that break down an overview of skills, when and how to teach, and video examples can be accessed to further your understanding of many reading skills. After reading about the skill, you can access lesson plans, resources, common questions, and learn how to assess your students on what they have learned. As you read through resources, keywords are highlighted to access an interactive glossary. Resources are easy to understand, colorful, and accessible. Teachers at any stage of their career can find helpful content!
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
ReadM - ReadM
Grades
K to 4ReadM is a reading app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to support and encourage practicing reading skills. Sign in to view as a student since the teacher account only has ...more
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ReadM is a reading app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to support and encourage practicing reading skills. Sign in to view as a student since the teacher account only has a 30 day free trial. Student accounts include a dashboard that shares the number of coins won by reading, reading speed, number of books completed, and time spent reading. Students select books from the library that offers three different reading levels. Click on each word to hear the pronunciation, or use the microphone to read a sentence at a time and receive feedback on accuracy. Teacher accounts provide instant feedback on students' performance and reading progress, however after 30 days the teacher account is no longer free. If you decide to try the 30 day free teacher account, initially use it to assign groups by reading level and grade, use your voice to record content for students, and create and add books using AI tools.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (187), digital reading (18), fluency (26), literacy (121), multilingual (78), reading comprehension (149), reading strategies (96), Teacher Utilities (202)
In the Classroom
Use ReadM to engage and support new readers and to assist multilingual learners of any age. Include ReadM as a literacy center for students to practice reading skills and assign different reading levels to differentiate instruction as needed. Enhance student learning by using eMargin, reviewed here to create a guided reading activity. eMargin allows you to add notes, highlight portions of the web page, and more.Share ReadM with parents to use as a reading practice tool at home or to demonstrate reading progress as demonstrated on the teacher dashboard. Extend learning using some of the many available literacy resources and interactives on Class Tools, reviewed here.Whole-to-Parts Phonics Instruction: Teaching Letter-Sound Correspondences - ReadWriteThink
Grades
K to 2If you are a new teacher or brushing up on your teaching of beginner reading skills, Read Write Think has put this lesson together for you! When you reach the ...more
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If you are a new teacher or brushing up on your teaching of beginner reading skills, Read Write Think has put this lesson together for you! When you reach the page, you will be in the preview; just above that, find tabs for Standards, Resources & Preparation, Instructional Plan, Related Resources, and Comments. In this lesson, students use Jack & Jill to identify words that belong to the -ill family using analogy onset-rime and substitute consonant sounds to form new words. In addition, there are several links to use like "Copy Change" worksheets, a computer-assisted program, "Construct a Word," which focuses on onset-rime analogies, and others.
tag(s): phonics (52), preK (289), reading strategies (96), science of reading (34), spelling (98)
In the Classroom
Share this resource with your student teacher when introducing a beginning reading lesson. Also, share with parents on your teacher's web page or in a newsletter for practice at home. Use workstations for the worksheets, and allow students to work at their own pace.ReadingIQ - Age of Learning
Grades
K to 6Reading IQ contains an expansive reading library including quality fiction and non-fiction literature and award-winning books. Free enrollment for teachers provides free access to students...more
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Reading IQ contains an expansive reading library including quality fiction and non-fiction literature and award-winning books. Free enrollment for teachers provides free access to students on any device. After enrolling, set up your classroom to access student monitoring tools that include assigning reading levels and monitoring time spent reading. ReadingIQ allows teachers to assign books then provides detailed reports of class and individual progress in reading levels.
tag(s): book lists (168), classroom management (118), literacy (121), preK (289), reading comprehension (149), spanish (112)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free reading program to differentiate reading materials for your students both by ability and interests. Set up your program then share learning goals with your students and parents. Engage students use by using the free interactives and printables from ReadWriteThink, reviewed here, and have students create story maps, book covers, and much more as part of their retelling and summarizing activities. Create shared class activities using a video response tool like Gravity, reviewed here, to enhance student learning by asking students to share short book talks about their favorite books read on the site. Take learning even further by creating ongoing podcasts discussing favorite books and characters using Buzzsprout, reviewed here. Buzzsprout makes it easy to create and share podcasts by offering scheduling options to meet your needs.KidLit TV - Julie Gribble
Grades
1 to 6Parents, educators, children's literature authors, and filmmakers join together at KidLit TV to bring wonderful books to kids through different media formats. KidLit TV Radio features...more
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Parents, educators, children's literature authors, and filmmakers join together at KidLit TV to bring wonderful books to kids through different media formats. KidLit TV Radio features podcast editions of KidsLit TV shows featuring authors and illustrators participating in book talks. Other portions of the site include lots of craft ideas (categorized by theme) to bring books to life, and there are book trailers for upcoming book releases. If your district blocks YouTube, the book trailer videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): authors (108), book lists (168), literacy (121), podcasts (116)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many features of this site to educate parents on literacy and motivate students to enjoy reading. Share podcasts and book trailers on your class website to recommend books your students may enjoy. Use the podcasts as an example, then have cooperative learning groups create podcasts as book talks for books they enjoy. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here, for student podcasts.CurriConnects Booklist: Bridges and Structures - Teachersfirst
Grades
K to 12Find books about bridges and structures in this list of fiction and non-fiction for student independent or group reading. Learn how bridges and other structures are built, the people...more
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Find books about bridges and structures in this list of fiction and non-fiction for student independent or group reading. Learn how bridges and other structures are built, the people behind them, and the risks some people take in pioneering new ways of building, using new materials, or thinking outside the building box. You will even find some stories of structures that failed. Some fiction and some non-fiction will inspire young designers and engineers. CurriConnects thematic book lists include ISBN numbers for ordering or searching, interest grade levels, and ENL/ESL levels to match student independent reading levels to challenge, not frustrate. Don't miss other CurriConnects themes being added regularly. If your library does not have the books, try interlibrary loan!
tag(s): bridges (11), engineering (137), independent reading (82), structures (18)
In the Classroom
Make STEM a reading challenge. Share this list with students during your study of physics of structures, design, or basic concepts such as gravity. Have students choose a book they can connect to concepts you are studying in science class or have them choose a book of interest and generate a list of the questions they would like to learn about after reading the book. The non-fiction selections offer possible informational texts to practice Common Core science literacy skills.Reading Rockets - WETA Washington D.C.
Grades
1 to 6Reading Rockets is a comprehensive guide for parents, teachers, librarians, principals, school counselors, speech therapists, school psychologists, preschool caregivers, summer care...more
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Reading Rockets is a comprehensive guide for parents, teachers, librarians, principals, school counselors, speech therapists, school psychologists, preschool caregivers, summer care providers, and anyone interested in keeping kids reading! This site is an amazing resource to answer your reading needs. Updated continually, it keeps you informed with the latest research. New teachers, seasoned teacher, parents, principals, and anyone who works with students (reading) can benefit from the information included. Teachers will find: classroom strategies, how to help struggling readers, professional development webcasts, how to build strong parent teacher relationships, booklists, and how to use books in your curriculum. For principals, under the Resources tab, discover information on school level leadership, supporting teachers, closing the achievement gap, and working with parents. Find over 100 interviews with award winning authors reviewed here, an author study tool kit, themed booklists, holiday gift guide, research-based articles, parent letters, launching young readers (series) on ipod, reading adventure packs, and other great tools. A librarian toolkit offers free video modules on finding the right book, becoming aware of print, reading as dialogue, and writers secrets. Many detailed articles discuss information about speech pathology, dyslexia, comprehension, motivation, phonics, writing, and spelling.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): authors (108), book lists (168), dyslexia (11), literacy (121), literature (221), parents (56), phonics (52), reading comprehension (149), reading lists (77), reading strategies (96), speech (69), spelling (98)
In the Classroom
Reading Rockets is a fantastic resource for teachers, librarians, parents, and principals. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter for the latest information, blogs, thoughts, and ideas for teaching reading. Use this website as a resource for your classroom, library, or even with you school action committees. Provide a link to this site on your class webpage. Install widgets for reading, and find the latest apps to support literacy. Join reading blogs, and add widgets to make your reading strategies complete. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.Help! I lost my library/media specialist - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 5Help I lost my library/media specialist offers read along and activity ideas written by an experienced elementary library/media specialist for schools where budget cuts have forced...more
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Help I lost my library/media specialist offers read along and activity ideas written by an experienced elementary library/media specialist for schools where budget cuts have forced the elimination of the library/media specialist. Although nothing can replace the specialized knowledge of a teacher-librarian, you have students whose elementary years are passing quickly. Find new features about once a month, as well as suggestions that classroom teachers or parent volunteers can offer as positive experiences in the school library/media center throughout the elementary grades. Planned features will include both professional articles on promoting reading and activities to do directly with students.
tag(s): book lists (168), independent reading (82), literacy (121), reading lists (77)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your favorites as you plan for classroom or library read-along and information literacy lessons. Share the ideas with parent volunteers and other teachers within your school as you struggle to "do more with less." Use the "share" widget to send great ideas to fellow teachers or afterschool program coordinators. Share the URL for the current read-along list on your class web page so parents can do a read-along at home, too. Need help finding the books you want from this list in your school library? Use the ISBNs to search for them on interlibrary loan from a local public library.Audio Books with Text Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books with accompanying text so all students, including emerging readers and ENL/ELL learners, can experience literature...more
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These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books with accompanying text so all students, including emerging readers and ENL/ELL learners, can experience literature and other reading selections in audio form as they reinforce and inspire literacy skills and enjoyment. Be sure to explore each site, as many include multiple types of activities, including the audio books and texts.
tag(s): audio books (29), preK (289)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your professional favorites AND share it on a class web page for access by students and parents. The helpful reviews suggest ideas for ways to use the books in the classroom or outside of school to reinforce literacy skills, improve English skills, or study literature in new ways.Interactive Audio Books Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books in interactive form so all students, including emerging readers and ENL/ELL learners, can experience reading with...more
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These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books in interactive form so all students, including emerging readers and ENL/ELL learners, can experience reading with audio and visual prompts or interactivity to reinforce and inspire literacy skills and enjoyment as they read. Be sure to explore each site, as many include multiple types of activities, including the interactive books.
tag(s): audio books (29)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your professional favorites AND share it on a class web page for access by students and parents. The helpful reviews suggest ideas for ways to use the audio books in the classroom or outside of school to reinforce literacy skills, improve English skills, or study literature in new ways.Read Write Think - NCTE
Grades
1 to 12This site is not just for reading and English teachers! If you want to improve your students' reading and writing skills, browse through the extensive materials in this exceptional...more
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This site is not just for reading and English teachers! If you want to improve your students' reading and writing skills, browse through the extensive materials in this exceptional Web site. Literacy learning across the K-12 curriculum is supported through an impressive collection of interactive, technology-based student activities. Descriptions of how to use the activities in the classroom are provided along with lesson plans, Web resources, and related materials. Direct links to NCTE/IRA Standards are included. Created by the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English.