Ideas and resources for parents of ESL/ELL students
These reviewed resources offer information so share with parents of ESL/ELL students. Some are resources parents can use at home with children to reinforce language skills. Others include suggested activities ESL/ELL learners can begin in school and share with parents. Be sure to read the "In the Classroom" suggestions for ways these reviewed resources can build language skills both at home and at school.
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Fantastic Contraption - KONGREGATE
Grades
1 to 12
5 Favorites
0 Comments
Test out your logic, mechanical understanding, and creativity as you create amazing 2D contraptions! Each contraption uses wheels, wooden stationary logs, and power moving water rods...more
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Test out your logic, mechanical understanding, and creativity as you create amazing 2D contraptions! Each contraption uses wheels, wooden stationary logs, and power moving water rods to create a moving vehicle to push a target to the goal. Get a taste of the challenge by trying your hand at the introduction activity. Then begin your regular contraption. Each level adds more challenge. Use the delete button, and try again until you succeed. Registration is not required to use this site. However, more options are available if you register (FREE). As you progress through a level, earn points and badges. Save your designs and send your best designs to your friends using a specific url. You can turn off the (rather annoying) music by clicking the speaker icon.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creativity (116), energy (211), gifted (79), inventors and inventions (85), logic (239), machines (23), motion (70), problem solving (293), STEM (217)
In the Classroom
In the classroom, develop logic, perseverance, and creativity for your gifted and high achieving students. These activities could be used with all learning levels. Use this activity as part of a unit on inventions or as a lead in to a Maker's Faire. Introduce this activity on your interactive whiteboard or projector and you will have all students hooked! Your ESL/ELL students and weaker readers will be on equal footing with their peers since this site requires very little reading after the introduction. Capture the attention of your students by gamifying science and logic. Continue with class discussions of movement, energy, logic, and strategy. Use as a stepping stone to begin a unit on geometry, energy, or motion. In elementary science classes, include this activity for students who have mastered required curriculum to go beyond the basics of simple machines and motion. Have students add a written explanation of the contraption to take sequencing to a new level. (A screenshot would help them illustrate their writing.) After drawing a scaled model, create the contraption using real objects. Discover the types of energy and movement that are in the model. Organize a contraption competition. Share this link on your class website for students (and their parents) to "tinker" with at home.
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Wordsmyth Kids! - Wordsmyth
Grades
K to 5
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Wordsmyth Kids! is a visual dictionary for young children. Search for any word to read the definition, view an image, see the Spanish translation, and hear the word pronounced (click...more
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Wordsmyth Kids! is a visual dictionary for young children. Search for any word to read the definition, view an image, see the Spanish translation, and hear the word pronounced (click the little speaker). Choose "Places with this word" to find books and activities that include the word. Every icon will "speak" if you roll the mouse over it, so navigating is easy for almost anyone, even low level readers. Be sure to check out tools at the bottom of the page in the World portion of the site to add labels, highlight different areas of pictures, and launch activities using the kite icon.
tag(s): dictionaries (53), parts of speech (66), spanish (110), thesaurus (23), vocabulary development (112)
In the Classroom
This site is a must-add to any elementary classroom's bookmarks! Demonstrate Wordsmyth Kids! on your classroom whiteboard or projector, bookmark it in your favorites, and make it directly available to students from your class webpage. Tell parents about it, too. Elementary students will enjoy defining their spelling words or content area vocabulary. Have students categorize words by parts of speech or create a list of synonyms. Have students create their own word "sticky note boards" for new vocabulary words using a tool such as Lino, reviewed here (no membership required) to create and share their sticky notes. Be sure to share this site with parents for use at home too! Speech and language and ESL/ELL teachers will love the audio possibilities and the activities related to many of the basic vocabulary groups, such as animals, etc.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tocomail - Tocobox
Grades
2 to 6
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Tocomail is a safe and simple email service just for kids. Create a parent email account and build a safe contact list for kids to email with. Once the account ...more
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Tocomail is a safe and simple email service just for kids. Create a parent email account and build a safe contact list for kids to email with. Once the account is set up, kids receive and send emails in a kid-friendly format. Tocomail includes additional features such as custom avatars, a drawing board, and a picture timeline. Receive email online or through free apps for iPhones and iPads, and Android. Premium features (not free) allow parents more detailed controls.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (173), digital citizenship (77), internet safety (121)
In the Classroom
Have students use Tocomail (with parent approval, of course) to correspond with each other from home with homework questions. Cooperate with parents to use Tocomail as a resource for teaching Internet safety and acceptable use of email. Ask them to set up accounts for their children and notify them when you will be asking students to write emails so they can see and monitor what children write along with you. Share with parents through your newsletter, back to school night, or blog as an alternative to typical email accounts. Together you can build good digital citizens and make electronic communication fun! Have students write you a "friendly letter" email for homework. Have them write an opinion piece with "arguments" a la Common Core and email it to a local official such as the school principal (and cc you so you can grade it). Encourage your ESL/ELL students to practice authentic writing skills by having them write emails to relatives.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ReaderKidZ - ReaderKidZ
Grades
K to 6
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Introduce budding readers and writers to the authors and books found at ReaderKidZ. Several children's book authors maintain this place for teachers, parents, and librarians. Find interesting...more
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Introduce budding readers and writers to the authors and books found at ReaderKidZ. Several children's book authors maintain this place for teachers, parents, and librarians. Find interesting and exciting books and activities for children PreK through grade five. There are even picture books for non-readers. Check out the Author-In-Residence section with its downloadable activities, books from around the world in Beyond Boundaries, and recommendations in the Book Room.
tag(s): authors (119), book lists (130), ebooks (36), independent reading (115)
In the Classroom
Get your students interested in reading by picking a book for the class to read together as a read aloud or story time activity. These resources are also great for ESL/ELL students just learning the English language. Many of these are available as e-books and even available on mobile devices. Be sure to post the link to ReaderKidZ on your website and encourage parents to read a book with their child. Have your students complete an author study. Each author interviewed has a mini biography (downloadable) and a link to their website. Check out the Tool Box to find recommended reading for comprehension strategies. Some of the books under Authors-In- Residence have downloadable activities such as readers theater and discussion questions. Look at the individual write ups (reviews) for these activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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iPracticeMath - iPracticeMath.com
Grades
K to 12
5 Favorites
2 Comments
iPracticeMath is a great self-paced site for teaching, reinforcing and reviewing math skills for all grade levels. Download unlimited worksheets, take quizzes and assessment tests,...more
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iPracticeMath is a great self-paced site for teaching, reinforcing and reviewing math skills for all grade levels. Download unlimited worksheets, take quizzes and assessment tests, and monitor progress through user activity reports. Although membership isn't necessary, free on-site enrollment allows users access to additional activities and reports not available otherwise. Be sure to check back option to find new topics added monthly.
tag(s): addition (224), commoncore (95), DAT device agnostic tool (173), decimals (126), division (160), equations (156), fractions (234), functions (68), integers (40), measurement (172), multiples (31), multiplication (211), number sense (98), numbers (188), operations (117), order of operations (40), polynomials (29), pythagorean theorem (33), statistics (132), subtraction (188), time (137)
In the Classroom
Add a link to classroom computers for use during math centers. Be sure to share a link with parents on your class website or newsletter for math practice at home. Differentiate content based on individual student's needs. If you wish, encourage parents to create individual student accounts to track progress and share with you throughout the school year. Have them email reports or print them out and send to school with younger ones. If you and the parent wish to "share" a login, you could work together to support struggling students. Learning support teachers and ESL/ELL teachers will find this simple tool a great asset in the classroom.
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Comments
This website is now, out of beta and they have added a lot of new content. Editor's Note - Thank you, we will update our information.ise, , Grades: 0 - 12
Great website for math-practiceise, , Grades: 0 - 12
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Math Instructional Videos in Spanish - Arkansas Digital Learning Portal
Grades
7 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
This site offers a large collection of math instructional videos all in Spanish. Topics include Algebra 1 and Geometry topics such as finding slope, using Scientific Notation, and solving...more
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This site offers a large collection of math instructional videos all in Spanish. Topics include Algebra 1 and Geometry topics such as finding slope, using Scientific Notation, and solving equations. Scroll through the links to choose and view videos. Each video includes a printed Spanish transcript for easy download in a PDF version. Easily share videos using links provided for many social networking sites and email.
tag(s): angles (84), division (160), equations (156), geometric shapes (172), multiplication (211), pythagorean theorem (33), ratios (67), spanish (110), video (274)
In the Classroom
Share these videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. These are ideal for Spanish speaking students. Why not crossover math and Spanish lessons and do a unit together? Be sure to include this site on your class web page for students to access both in and outside of class for further practice. Share this link on your website for any student (or parent) who may benefit from hearing directions in Spanish. ESL/ELL students and their teachers will love this find! If you teach math with many ELL students, these videos can help you learn Spanish terminology to sprinkle into your classes. Why not have students create some of their own bilingual math videos to help their classmates and future students?Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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News in Levels - newsinlevels.com
Grades
K to 8
6 Favorites
0 Comments
Find high interest, leveled news articles (and lessons) for English language learners. Although this site was designed for ESL/ELL it could be very useful in any elementary classroom...more
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Find high interest, leveled news articles (and lessons) for English language learners. Although this site was designed for ESL/ELL it could be very useful in any elementary classroom looking for informational texts that can be differentiated for various reading levels (great for meeting Common Core standards). This tool could be used with any readers to increase comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary skills. There are three difficulty levels. Complete the Test Your Level exercise in the pop-up box after you first get to the home page to find out what level will be best for you. Many of the lessons include audio and practice exercises. In addition, interesting pictures pique the students' interest. The same story is presented in all of the various levels. The vocabulary at lower levels repeats at the higher levels with more vocabulary added as the level increases. Definitions for the vocabulary words, below the reading, assists with English meanings. The audio is hosted on YouTube. At the time of this review, most of the news story content was fine for all ages. However, please preview the story before you share it with your class to be certain it is appropriate.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): differentiation (56), guided reading (40), news (261), reading comprehension (135)
In the Classroom
Add this website to your classroom computers, websites, and newsletters for parents of ESL/ELL students or beginning readers. This tool is especially helpful at the beginning of the year, as you are learning students' reading levels. Use this tool to differentiate in all primary classes. Although this site was created for English Language Learners, it could still be used by all students including gifted and learning support. Differentiate for your advanced/gifted students in elementary, while meeting Common Core standards of Informational Text. Use these news articles as informational text meeting your Common Core goals. Assign students of different levels the same story at the appropriate level or build skills by sharing the same story as a class. Challenge groups to compare the stories in pairs. Have students create a visual presentation of the story. First have students create a rough draft of their comic using Printable Comic Strip Templates, reviewed here. For Level 1 readers have them create their final comic using ToonyTool, reviewed here, for Level 3 readers use Write Comics, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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English With Jennifer - Jennifer Lebedev
Grades
2 to 8
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This Youtube channel is designed for English Language Learners. Find a variety of subjects: beginning and advanced English, pronunciation, various grammar points, vocabulary, writing,...more
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This Youtube channel is designed for English Language Learners. Find a variety of subjects: beginning and advanced English, pronunciation, various grammar points, vocabulary, writing, punctuation, slang, language notes, and more. You can proceed through a series chronologically and build from one lesson into the next. You can also view individual lessons. This collection, started in 2007, continues to grow steadily and offer a great variety. The explanations on the videos are clear and easy to understand. Teachers and parents can subscribe to receive more offerings and assistance as well as updates. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
tag(s): grammar (202), video (274), vocabulary development (112), writing (359)
In the Classroom
Visit Jennifer's Blog to find ideas about how to use these lessons in the classroom and to find additional support. Jennifer frequently updates the offerings. Share these videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. FLIP your classroom and have students view the videos at home and discuss the next day in class. (This is a great option if YouTube is blocked in your school.) Use the videos to introduce a grammar or punctuation point you would like to make, and assign others in the series for homework. Look at the "Word of the Day" each morning when you begin your ESL/ELL lesson. Use the slang offerings in a similar manner. Be sure to provide this link on your class website for students (and their families) to access at home for additional English practice.
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Story Town - Harcourt School Publishers
Grades
K to 5
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Story Town offers a writing and reading resources for language arts teachers and students. Main topics include: About Authors and Illustrators, Grammar Glossary, Ideas for Writers,...more
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Story Town offers a writing and reading resources for language arts teachers and students. Main topics include: About Authors and Illustrators, Grammar Glossary, Ideas for Writers, Lesson Vocabulary, and Language Support Posters. There are also links to parent resources, teacher resources, online assessments, and more. The Parent Resources include Internet safety, helping your child become a good reader (and writer), ideas on helping your child to become a better test taker, and more. Teacher resources include language support posters, word wall ideas, author celebrations, letter home ideas, and additional support lessons. This site is extremely useful whether or not your school (or student) uses Harcourt. There is something useful for all elementary students.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): authors (119), creative writing (156), expository writing (38), grammar (202), internet safety (121), word study (73)
In the Classroom
Story Town can add new life to your language arts classes. Find examples to share on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Share both grammar lessons and writing ideas. Bookmark this site as a reference for struggling learners or ESL/ELL students. Be sure parents have this site as a resource for suggestions to help their children with reading, writing, and test taking strategies.
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Online Voice Recorder - 123apps
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Just as the name says, Online Voice Recorder allows you to record your voice from your computer and save the file. With no membership required, this is a free and ...more
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Just as the name says, Online Voice Recorder allows you to record your voice from your computer and save the file. With no membership required, this is a free and simple recording treasure! Simply push the record button and follow screen prompts to ALLOW the application access to your computer's microphone. Talk as long as desired. Then listen to the recorded playback. Trim and edit the length using easy sliders as desired. Save your finished version in mp3 format using the link.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): fluency (23), preK (283), speech (87), spelling (161)
In the Classroom
Have students practice spelling words orally, record speeches, practice reading fluency, and much more using Online Voice Recorder. After recording, allow students to listen to the playback and reflect upon the quality of their work. Do before and after recordings of students to share with parents during conferences to demonstrate reading progress. Have students record weekly summaries for what has happened in your class to share on your class website or blog (you will have to upload the files). Record weekly or daily homework assignments and share as a voice recording on your website. Save file space by replacing old files with new ones. Online Voice Recorder would be an excellent resource for recording and sharing more complicated directions for projects and assignments (adding you voice intonation and cues!). Your weaker readers and ESL/ELL students may do better with a combination of written AND auditory directions. Provide the link on your class website for students to use at home for additional practice in spelling, reading, practicing reports, and more. Share this site with parents at Back to School Night. Have students write and record audio book reviews others can play on iPads in the school library. If you have gifted students in your classroom, this tool is simple enough for even the youngest to be able to record audio mini-dramas portraying a historic figure, poetry readings, and more. Be sure to show them how to NAME and download the files to the local computer! Anything they can say out loud can become a creative project recording. Don't forget about recording musical performances or practices.
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Calkoo - Trinity Capital
Grades
4 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Other online calculators don't add up to the diverse collection of calculators Calkoo has to offer. Browse categories including measurement, wage, taxes, stock analysis, mathematics,...more
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Other online calculators don't add up to the diverse collection of calculators Calkoo has to offer. Browse categories including measurement, wage, taxes, stock analysis, mathematics, loans, health, saving, investing, real estate, and more! Calkoo can handle many tasks, including some rather complex calculations. Complete the various fields based on the type of calculation. Some utilize radio buttons and drop down boxes, while others ask for numbers only. Create almost any kind of calculation you need with this easy accessible calculating tool. Language options include English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Russian.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): addition (224), area (70), calculators (39), division (160), fractions (234), measurement (172), multiplication (211), percent (79), quadratics (32), subtraction (188), volume (49)
In the Classroom
Calkoo is a great free tool to replace expensive graphing calculators that many students may not have. Calkoo works well on computers, mobile devices, and interactive whiteboards. Use this site during a unit on careers, economics, or financial literacy. Include it as part of a measurement unit. Share during Family and Consumer Science units to explore the cost of living and have students put together a mythical "budget" for living in their chosen career. Have students send you on a vacation and include calculations for the currency converter, fuel cost calculator, sales tax for souvenirs, and more! This is a great site to support many experiments in science. Calculate acceleration, velocity, and time, or use the mathematics category to complete problems. Use this tool in social studies class for quickly calculating years or months from important timelines or when figuring out geographical distances. In English or L.A. classes, quickly figure out the life span of authors or how long ago a story took place. In health or science classes, use the BMI calculator or get other accurate measurements. Visit Calkoo and select a calculator to meet your needs! Include this site on your class web page for students and parents to access as a reference. The various languages make this tool very useful for ESL/ELL students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Rewordify - Neil M. Goldman
Grades
4 to 12
9 Favorites
0 Comments
Rewordify helps you understand what you read. Paste any text or website into the box to rewordify the text into simpler language. Easier to understand words replace difficult text shown...more
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Rewordify helps you understand what you read. Paste any text or website into the box to rewordify the text into simpler language. Easier to understand words replace difficult text shown with highlighting. Click on the highlighting to view the original, more difficult word(s). View excellent student and teacher demonstrations showing how to use the website. You have the option to choose how Rewordify displays the results using the options in the settings. Several options allow for easy personalization of results.
tag(s): reading comprehension (135), vocabulary (293), vocabulary development (112)
In the Classroom
This site is a must for saving and bookmarking for classroom use! Start the school year out by posting the link to Rewordify on your class website for student and parent access from home. Be sure to share with learning support and ESL/ELL teachers and students. Be sure to share a link on your classroom website and parent newsletter for use at home. Save a link to Rewordify on classroom computers for students to easily paste text from any website to read in a simpler format. Copy and paste any difficult text into Rewordify and display on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) to enhance student understanding or show meaning in complex texts. Have students guess meanings from context clues in the more complex version, then share the "rewordified" view to test their guesses. Have students create a word cloud of difficult words identified using a tool such as Wordle (reviewed here), Tagxedo (reviewed here), or WordItOut (reviewed here). Have students take a screen shot of passages that have been "rewordified" to share and discuss.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ESL Reader- Online Reading Help - ESLdesk.com
Grades
2 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
ESL Reader provides instant reading help for English language learners. Use it to improve reading time and reading skills. Simply copy/paste or type text into the box and click. Each...more
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ESL Reader provides instant reading help for English language learners. Use it to improve reading time and reading skills. Simply copy/paste or type text into the box and click. Each word becomes a link to a dictionary, thesaurus, or other reference including Wikipedia. Numerous dictionaries and references are available. Select the dictionary or other reference work and click. The site also translates the selected text into a variety of languages, but use caution with online translators! They often scramble meaning and syntax.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): dictionaries (53), guided reading (40), thesaurus (23), vocabulary development (112)
In the Classroom
Provide a link to this site on classroom computers, and use it like a dictionary. Share this link with parents and students on your class web site to have as a resource any time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Learn American English Online - Learn American English Online
Grades
2 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
This comprehensive English program offers complete ESL/ELL instruction on seven levels. The units/lessons are color-coded. The focus of the lessons is mostly on grammar. Blue for example...more
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This comprehensive English program offers complete ESL/ELL instruction on seven levels. The units/lessons are color-coded. The focus of the lessons is mostly on grammar. Blue for example focuses on "be," prepositions, this/that/these/those, and many other topics. You must be able to read and write English to successfully benefit from this website. Each color/level has more than 20 lessons, quizzes, tests, dialogues, and reading. Many of the lessons have an audio clip or a video (or a Voki) to illustrate the level. Answers are provided for the quizzes. Extras include a pronouncing dictionary (found under Vocabulary), extra video lessons, extra information on pronunciation, and extras in each level. The levels also contain reviews and checklists. Many of the videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): dictionaries (53), grammar (202), grammar review (39), listening (81), pronunciation (40)
In the Classroom
Check this site if you need a quick grammar review of any topic. Share this site on your interactive whiteboard/projector. Provide a link to this site on your class webpage. Many of these lessons would be useful with non-ESL/ELL students, as well. It is easy to scroll through the lessons in each color-coded level. Put a link to this site on classroom computers and send it home with ESL/ELL students in school newsletters to share with their parents.
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ESL Games World - eslgamesworld.com
Grades
1 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
ESL Game World is the place to go for interactives, PowerPoint activities and templates, printable board games, ESL/ELL games for kids and adults, grammar games, vocabulary challenges,...more
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ESL Game World is the place to go for interactives, PowerPoint activities and templates, printable board games, ESL/ELL games for kids and adults, grammar games, vocabulary challenges, and reading activities. Some of the featured activities include Snakes and Ladders, Hangman, and Wheel of Fortune games/templates. Some spelling appears to be different from Standard American English. Check to be sure. Avoid the online store section to stay with free activities.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): grammar (202), grammar review (39), verbs (36), vocabulary (293)
In the Classroom
Find ways to assist your ESL/ELL students in an engaging way! You can also use many of the games to reinforce basic skills with native speakers. Customize some of the activities for the content areas you are studying. Use as a whole class activity on your projector (or interactive whiteboard) to practice vocabulary, grammar, and content. Add as a resource for ESL/ELL learning or even struggling readers. Ideas and materials are gathered in one spot to help you reduce the time you need to meet your ESL/ELL students' differentiated needs. Add this link to your class website or share with parents as a resource.
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Slidespeech - Slidespeech
Grades
3 to 12
1 Favorites
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Make the Notes on your PowerPoint presentations into narration using this text-to-speech tool offered as a Chrome extension. Upload your presentation, being sure to include the information...more
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Make the Notes on your PowerPoint presentations into narration using this text-to-speech tool offered as a Chrome extension. Upload your presentation, being sure to include the information you want read in the Notes section. (This will be the part spoken by this tool.) Click share to send by email, share a link, or embed the narrated results in a wiki, blog, or site. Also share via Facebook or Twitter. Presentations can be downloaded as a video or saved as a zip file.
tag(s): digital storytelling (146), video (274)
In the Classroom
Use this tool to differentiate instruction for students in your classes. Students can watch the narrated show any time. Students can use this tool to record their own presentation ahead of time and upload to a site for viewing and grading later. Students with speech difficulties (or challenges with English fluency) will appreciate the opportunity to prerecord their presentations without an audience. High school students can also "narrate" a portfolio slide show for Art school applications or a show of accomplishments for college applications. Students can package book reviews or author reports to be shared in the media center. In primary grades, have students "narrate" their portion of a whole-class slide show, then share it with parents and grandparents by URL. They can practice oral reading as they share their story slides. Use for digital storytelling. Have students draw or upload pictures about a story they have written with the words in the Notes area, and have Slidespeech read the story out loud. Create simple narrated slideshows with questions in the notes area for ESL/ELL or speech/language students to practice on their own, such as slides with images of objects and a questions, "Is this a sock or a shoe?" Challenge students to create review aids for each other by writing questions on slides.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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LittleFingers Games - LittleFingers Software
Grades
K to 5
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Play, learn, and discover with these Shockwave interactives from LittleFingers! Simple directions are given at the start of each activity. Topics include syllables, patterns, geography...more
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Play, learn, and discover with these Shockwave interactives from LittleFingers! Simple directions are given at the start of each activity. Topics include syllables, patterns, geography and mapping, puzzles, alphabetizing, and more. At the time of this review, the African Map activity was the only activity designed for upper elementary students. The majority of activities are geared towards early childhood and primary level students. They advertise that more activities are coming soon. So be sure to check back.
tag(s): addition (224), africa (164), alphabet (80), alphabetical order (18), colors (76), maps (292), matching (23), numbers (188), patterns (86), puzzles (202)
In the Classroom
Create a link to individual activities on classroom computers for student practice. Demonstrate this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Share this site with parents through your class website or blog for practice at home. Interactives provide great practice for all students, including ESL/ELL.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sound City Reading - Kathy Davis
Grades
K to 2
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Come to Sound City Reading to find a phonics program for beginning readers. Choose from readiness levels 1-5 and materials to accompany Reading Street for First Grade....more
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Come to Sound City Reading to find a phonics program for beginning readers. Choose from readiness levels 1-5 and materials to accompany Reading Street for First Grade. Print and use accompanying sound pictures for each of the booklets. Choose from several versions of wall charts for classroom use. Other resources include games and word cards to print and use. The site states that Mac users may have trouble pulling up the Reading Street tests correctly, but our editors tested the activities on a Mac and experienced no issues.
tag(s): alphabet (80), independent reading (115), phonics (65), preK (283), spelling (161)
In the Classroom
Browse the site for materials to use along with your current classroom curriculum. Print books and sound pictures for students to take home for practice. Share a link to the site on your class website for parents to access additional reading materials. Use materials with ESL/ELL students for additional reading practice. Use with learning support students for extra support in reading.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Snapguide - Heavy Bits
Grades
2 to 12
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Looking for an easy to use "how to" guide? You must visit Snapguide! Find various topics: Sports & Fitness, Technology, Cooking, Music, Arts & Crafts, Gardening, and countless others....more
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Looking for an easy to use "how to" guide? You must visit Snapguide! Find various topics: Sports & Fitness, Technology, Cooking, Music, Arts & Crafts, Gardening, and countless others. You can view all of the content of this site without joining. Create your own "how to" guide on any topic. It's a "snap" to create the directions with pictures. Use your computer or iOS device to create a guide. Download the app onto your iPhone or iPad to create a guide for explaining anything! Each page contains a picture and text to explain the parts for your guide.
tag(s): computers (108), crafts (41), directions (17), fitness (54), makerspace (32), photography (145), sequencing (30), speeches (18)
In the Classroom
Share the ready-made snapguides in various classes: family and consumer science, music, art, photography, science, computer, and more! Create your own snapguides to share with your class on any subject matter. ESL/ELL and other special needs students will learn better seeing the photos along with the instructions. Use Snapguide to explain a lesson or a project that has multiple directions. Use Snapguide for directions for parents. Create a snapguide for your students when leaving plans for a substitute teacher. Students can also create their own snapguides to use as presentations and even for sequencing practice. These are the perfect prompts for writing and giving informative, how-to speeches. Students can explore the guides available and follow directions or even evaluate their effectiveness. Have cooperative learning groups create their own snapguides to share a new topic with the class. Encourage students to use Snapguide to illustrate their math solutions, discuss the completion and science behind a lab experiment, or show cause an effect.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Requires download/installation of software
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Vozme - Festival Speech Synthesis System Centre for Speech Technology
Grades
K to 12
8 Favorites
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Change text into speech in your email messages, in your browser, website, or Wordpress blog. Download VozMe, it is free and easy. Save as an MP3 file and expand your ...more
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Change text into speech in your email messages, in your browser, website, or Wordpress blog. Download VozMe, it is free and easy. Save as an MP3 file and expand your possibilities. Languages include Spanish, Italian, Catalan, Hindi, and Apache. You can also choose a male or female voice.
tag(s): speech (87), text to speech (17)
In the Classroom
Create a verbal classroom using speech in your email messages, blog, browser searches, and even class discussions, read alouds, and simple explanations. Lower elementary classes, ESL/ELL, or learning support classes can enjoy greater independence with both verbal and written text. Let students try making a blog post with synthesized speech. ELL students can hear written language to build listening skills and relate written English to the spoken sounds. Send an email with an anticipatory activity for a content lesson by polling, asking a question, or offering food for thought. At the end of the unit, have students create a review for content area subjects. Use in your writing class for students to listen to their own work read aloud. This allows for easier self-revisions. Share all written work on your class blog, allowing everyone to share (with parental permission, of course). Enjoy giving students writing prompts or homework assignments spoken aloud, playable as many times as each individual needs. Send a quick email to a sick or absent student, adding a more personal touch with them hearing your message. Use to read poetry or to illustrate inflection and emotion in your speech. Enjoy all the talking and listening you and your class will do!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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