Reading in the Content Areas
TeachersFirst offers this collection of web resources well suited to teach reading in the content areas, especially in science and social studies classes, but in almost ANY subject area. See "In the classroom" ideas and strategies for teaching reading across the curriculum and find texts to use on the computer, in print, or in interactive whiteboard/projector. Sometimes using web-based texts can be more engaging, and often these are more up-to-date. Practice with these resources is certain to help student mastery of informational texts.
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OK2Ask: 3 Cool Tools That Support Growth in the K-8 Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from February 2023. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Want to use an...more
Want to use an...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from February 2023. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Want to use an engaging and challenging learning platform to bridge content knowledge gaps for your students? Come to this session to learn about three tech tools that will help you reach every student at their level. Teach Your Monster to Read, CommonLit, and GeoGebra will help find and fix missing skills in Reading or Math. Learn how to leverage these free, adaptive online tools to improve student outcomes. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn about content area tools to use in the classroom to bridge knowledge gaps; 2. Understand how to use assessment data to guide intervention; and 3. Collaborate with other participants on ways to use these tools in instruction. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Want to use an engaging and challenging learning platform to bridge content knowledge gaps for your students? Come to this session to learn about three tech tools that will help you reach every student at their level. Teach Your Monster to Read, CommonLit, and GeoGebra will help find and fix missing skills in Reading or Math. Learn how to leverage these free, adaptive online tools to improve student outcomes. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn about content area tools to use in the classroom to bridge knowledge gaps; 2. Understand how to use assessment data to guide intervention; and 3. Collaborate with other participants on ways to use these tools in instruction. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): professional development (320), reading strategies (77)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Daily Learning Activities - Discovery Education
Grades
K to 8
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Discovery Education offers curated calendars of ready-to-use activities for grades K-8. Activities are available in three grade bands and include virtual field trips, reading passages,...more
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Discovery Education offers curated calendars of ready-to-use activities for grades K-8. Activities are available in three grade bands and include virtual field trips, reading passages, and more in all content areas. Create an account to begin exploring and using the calendar activities. After reaching the Activity Center, find the three calendars for the current month. Next, use the "Prior Months" tab to find the previous calendars. Each calendar opens up as a full-screen, interactive resource. Click on any day's activity to open the item and view the instructions. Select the "Teachers Notes" icon to view attribution for the images used and suggestions, quiz answers, or other additional information when included.
tag(s): calendars (38), Learning Management Systems (24), Online Learning (37), remote learning (61)
In the Classroom
Include these many free resources on the calendar to use during classroom centers, as homework, blended learning activities, and much more. Choose an activity to assign as a weekly project if time is an issue. Many resources also include excellent graphic organizers and question prompts; adapt these ideas to fit your current curriculum needs. Use Google Jamboard, reviewed here, to gather students' ideas for questions to ask, notes with important facts and dates, or for all participants to add questions and experiences throughout your learning sessions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Easy and Engaging Projects for Your Reading Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from May 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Tired of giving students...more
Tired of giving students...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from May 2021. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Tired of giving students the same language arts assignments? Want to switch things up? Join us to look at a few quick and easy ways to refresh your lessons and gauge student comprehension using authentic assessments. Learn to use technology to create an environment that allows students to share important connections they have made between what they have read and their personal lives, other texts, and the world around them. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn authentic ways to assess reading comprehension; 2. Explore tools for quick and easy in-class reading projects; and 3. Create a project sample for use in your instructional setting. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Tired of giving students the same language arts assignments? Want to switch things up? Join us to look at a few quick and easy ways to refresh your lessons and gauge student comprehension using authentic assessments. Learn to use technology to create an environment that allows students to share important connections they have made between what they have read and their personal lives, other texts, and the world around them. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn authentic ways to assess reading comprehension; 2. Explore tools for quick and easy in-class reading projects; and 3. Create a project sample for use in your instructional setting. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): Formative Assessment (48), professional development (320), reading comprehension (128)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Sway Cool Reading - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12
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0 Comments
This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from November 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Good readers take...more
Good readers take...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from November 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Good readers take breaks to process what they're reading. Learn research-based strategies to use Microsoft Sway to guide comprehension. Helping students become aware of reading comprehension strategies allows them to manage their learning and empowers them to read strategically. This is especially helpful in a flipped or blended learning model. Join us and learn how to put Sway into action in your classroom! As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn three active reading comprehension strategies; 2. Understand where these strategies fit in the instructional cycle; and 3. Plan for the use of Sway during reading instruction. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Good readers take breaks to process what they're reading. Learn research-based strategies to use Microsoft Sway to guide comprehension. Helping students become aware of reading comprehension strategies allows them to manage their learning and empowers them to read strategically. This is especially helpful in a flipped or blended learning model. Join us and learn how to put Sway into action in your classroom! As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn three active reading comprehension strategies; 2. Understand where these strategies fit in the instructional cycle; and 3. Plan for the use of Sway during reading instruction. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): blended learning (14), flipped learning (9), Microsoft (75), professional development (320), reading comprehension (128), reading strategies (77), remote learning (61)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: TeachersFirst Exclusives that Spark Curiosity in the Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from August 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Explore four free...more
Explore four free...more
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This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session is from August 2020. You can register and immediately view the archive of the session.
Explore four free TeachersFirst exclusive resources that spark curiosity and support classroom instruction. Let TeachersFirst help you save time and assist you with creating engaging learning experiences for your students. Enhance reading comprehension across content areas with our library of pre-made virtual field trips that immerse students in literature and build context and interest in the characters and their journeys. Support geography and mapping skills in grades 2-6 with the weekly episodic adventures of Geo and Meri. Build cross-cultural understanding and practice digital writing weekly with XW1W. Explore a web-based, interactive infographic of the Battle of Gettysburg designed to raise questions and invite connections for students in grades 5-10. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the importance of context within instruction; 2. Explore four curricular support resources that can be used to spark curiosity and discussion in the classroom; and 3. Plan for the use of a TeachersFirst exclusive, web-based resource in your lessons. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
Explore four free TeachersFirst exclusive resources that spark curiosity and support classroom instruction. Let TeachersFirst help you save time and assist you with creating engaging learning experiences for your students. Enhance reading comprehension across content areas with our library of pre-made virtual field trips that immerse students in literature and build context and interest in the characters and their journeys. Support geography and mapping skills in grades 2-6 with the weekly episodic adventures of Geo and Meri. Build cross-cultural understanding and practice digital writing weekly with XW1W. Explore a web-based, interactive infographic of the Battle of Gettysburg designed to raise questions and invite connections for students in grades 5-10. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the importance of context within instruction; 2. Explore four curricular support resources that can be used to spark curiosity and discussion in the classroom; and 3. Plan for the use of a TeachersFirst exclusive, web-based resource in your lessons. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): professional development (320)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Text Feature Surgery for Elementary Students - Travelicious Teacher
Grades
K to 5
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In this blog post, you'll learn how to use the metaphor of surgery to teach your students nonfiction or informational reading strategies. Find everything you will need in a step-by-step...more
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In this blog post, you'll learn how to use the metaphor of surgery to teach your students nonfiction or informational reading strategies. Find everything you will need in a step-by-step format, starting with a list titled "Text Feature Surgery Supplies" with lots of photos for picturing what the lessons will look like in your classroom. There is a "printable" suggested in this blog post that is not free; however, there is a generous amount of free ideas. Be sure to explore the Travelicious Teacher blog for many other ideas and teaching lessons for your classroom.
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tag(s): literacy (99), reading comprehension (128), reading strategies (77)
In the Classroom
Your students won't even realize how much they are learning about reading while participating in this fun, hands-on nonfiction reading unit. Look through the steps and quickly adapt the lessons to your own classroom. At the end of the unit ask individuals or small groups of students to enhance their learning by photographing their bulletin boards and creations and uploading them to a tool like Screenshot, reviewed here, or Tolks, reviewed here, to demonstrate what they learned about nonfiction reading comprehension.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How to Write a Visual Essay - Virginia Kearney
Grades
6 to 12
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What is a visual essay? This article explains the concept of a visual essay, along with examples and step-by-step directions for creating a persuasive visual essay. Follow along to...more
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What is a visual essay? This article explains the concept of a visual essay, along with examples and step-by-step directions for creating a persuasive visual essay. Follow along to learn what to include in your essay. Additional information shares ideas on where to find images and quotes to add and bring interest to your project.
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tag(s): essays (20), persuasive writing (55), video (244)
In the Classroom
Visual essays are the perfect way to engage students. Share the ideas and examples found on this site to inspire students and introduce the concept of a visual essay. Ask students to use their own images or use images from a free site such as Unsplash, reviewed here. Use visual essays in any content area. For example, after reading a novel or story, ask students to create an essay using images and music to retell the story or to analyze a character. In science class, use a visual essay to tell the story of physics concepts or as a journey through different landforms in social studies. Have students create an essay to tell the story of a journey through a continent or during a historic event such as the Civil War. Google My Maps, reviewed here, is an excellent tool for creating interactive maps to include with visual essays. For final projects, moovly, reviewed here, is a very easy to use video creation tool for creating and sharing students' visual essays.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BeeLine Reader Collection - Reading is Fundamental
Grades
K to 12
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Improve reading and comprehension skills for all students and adults with this BeeLine Reader Collection on Literacy Central. Find over 100 books and stories as downloadable PDFs, all...more
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Improve reading and comprehension skills for all students and adults with this BeeLine Reader Collection on Literacy Central. Find over 100 books and stories as downloadable PDFs, all using BeeLine Reader technology to highlight and wrap text to improve focusing and tracking while reading. Use the leveled reading passages within Reading is Fundamental for multiple grade levels and books. Find additional support materials for each book, including author interviews, lesson plans, crosswords, and word searches all as downloadable PDFs. Though Beeline Reader is not usually a free tool, Literacy Central is providing it to its members for free through these PDFs. You do not need to create a free membership to use these materials, only to save them as a favorite. Learn more about the Beeline Reader tool and how it improves reading comprehension by watching the YouTube video introduction on this page.
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tag(s): independent reading (80), reading comprehension (128), reading strategies (77), Special Needs (45), Teacher Utilities (132)
In the Classroom
These BeeLine Reader PDFs are an excellent addition to the already valuable reading materials found at Reading is Fundamental - Literacy Central, reviewed here. Be sure to bookmark this site to find leveled reading passages with the enhanced function of BeeLine Reader. These PDFs are wonderful to share with ENL/ELL and Special Education specialists to use with their students. Remember, all teachers are reading teachers. Share this tool with your science, social studies, and math teachers, too!
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Quillionz - Harbinger AI
Grades
6 to 12
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Use the power of AI to create quizzes, questions, and assessments with Quillionz. Copy and paste your content or upload a PDF to begin, then select keywords and terms, Quillionz ...more
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Use the power of AI to create quizzes, questions, and assessments with Quillionz. Copy and paste your content or upload a PDF to begin, then select keywords and terms, Quillionz does the rest. Quillionz creates several different types of questions including multiple choice, short response, and recall. Choose the ones you want to use, or edit what is provided to suit your needs. When finished, save to text and download to your computer. Be sure to take note on the home page of the section labeled "Is Quillionz Right for Me?" This portion details the type of texts and defines the limitations of the types of questions provided through the site.
tag(s): assessment (125), Formative Assessment (48), quiz (62), quizzes (83), reading comprehension (128)
In the Classroom
Use Quillionz as a time-saver to create quizzes covering any content. Before teaching the material, use this tool to help define key terms and content you want to cover. Share Quillionz with older students as an excellent tool to help with reading comprehension and understanding content. Ask them to use the site to create questions to review before quizzes. Enhance learning by asking students to transform technology use and transfer their learning from quiz questions into the creation of an infographic using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here. Have students include images, data, and links with additional research information into their infographic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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For the Teachers - For the Teachers
Grades
K to 12
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For the Teachers contains an incredible number of lesson ideas, differentiation tips, instructional strategies, and much more for all teachers. Search for specific content using the...more
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For the Teachers contains an incredible number of lesson ideas, differentiation tips, instructional strategies, and much more for all teachers. Search for specific content using the keyword search or scroll down the home page to find some of the site's most popular content. There is a great deal of useful content on the site to explore, of note is the Reading Skills for Big Kids and Differentiation links. The Reading Skills for Big Kids includes skill-based lesson plans for use with the many included leveled articles. The Differentiation portion of the site provides specific ideas and tools to differentiate content, assessment, and lesson activities and materials.
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tag(s): characterization (16), charts and graphs (163), constitution (84), differentiation (69), graphic organizers (42), inferencing (6), mean (20), measurement (124), median (16), mode (13), multiplication (121), patterns (62), place value (34), plot (7), reading comprehension (128), rubrics (30), sequencing (18)
In the Classroom
Be sure to bookmark this site to save as a favorite to find lesson ideas and activities throughout the school year. When planning for a substitute, look through the site to find useful ideas for lessons and planning organizers. There is so much material here to use, consider exploring the site with peers using techniques similar to a book study. Divide the site into sections to discuss at different times of your study. Organize your favorite materials from this site and your other resources using Padlet, reviewed here. Share your Padlet with peers to collaborate and create a useful time for organizing and sharing your favorite teaching materials. Supplement information included on report cards by using a site like Seesaw, reviewed here, to create portfolios for your students to demonstrate progress in reading, math, and other content areas. Include student-created projects based on activities found on For the Teachers.
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Graphic Organizer Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
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This collection of reviewed resources includes tools for creating graphic organizers and many suggestions for ways to use them in teaching almost any subject or grade. Be sure to read...more
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This collection of reviewed resources includes tools for creating graphic organizers and many suggestions for ways to use them in teaching almost any subject or grade. Be sure to read the "In the Classroom" suggestions for examples of ways to use graphic organizers as part of a lesson or unit.
tag(s): graphic organizers (42), mind map (23), venn diagrams (14)
In the Classroom
Whether you call them concept maps, mind maps, KWLs, or graphic organizers, these visual diagrams show relationships between concepts and provide a powerful tool for learning and connecting new ideas. Use graphic organizers to help your visual learners build reading comprehension. Find something for all grade levels in this collection.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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In the Swim eGuides - Make a Splash in the Classroom - In the Swim
Grades
K to 12
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Maintained by a company that sells pool accessories, this collection of links on swimming, swimming pools, and water-related topics helps teach students about being safe around water....more
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Maintained by a company that sells pool accessories, this collection of links on swimming, swimming pools, and water-related topics helps teach students about being safe around water. Scroll down the page to see resources organized by grade levels and content areas. The links include research articles, videos, lesson plans, worksheets, experiments, activities, and games for science, math and history classes. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
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tag(s): chemicals (37), safety (72), sports (77), water (96)
In the Classroom
Follow these links for some supplemental materials to enliven lessons that could include water as a recreational resource. Science teachers will find real world applications and information about chemicals. Use interactive boards to show videos and activities as whole group lessons. Have students read articles for informational reading practice. Use the resources for flipped or blended learning links on your class website for individual or small group work.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TeachThought - Teachthought
Grades
1 to 12
2 Favorites
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TeachThought stretches teachers to think beyond the norm, and try new exciting ideas such as learning in a digital world, flipped classrooms, project based learning, and simulations....more
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TeachThought stretches teachers to think beyond the norm, and try new exciting ideas such as learning in a digital world, flipped classrooms, project based learning, and simulations. A few examples of the articles include: 10 Team Building Games that Promote Critical Thinking, 25 Reading Strategies That Work In Every Content Area, 55 Free Apps For iPads, 249 Bloom's Taxonomy Verbs for Critical Thinking, 14 Brilliant Bloom's Taxonomy Posters For Teachers, and 20 Things You Can Do in 10 Minutes For A Smoother Running Classroom. Join in the conversation, add your opinion, or ask a question. Sign up for TeachThought's newsletter, here , and get articles and information about teaching, learning, Common Core, technology, apps, iPads, culture, and social media.
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tag(s): professional development (320)
In the Classroom
Think beyond your everyday lessons to something that makes you a teacher that kids always remember. Interesting ideas challenge you to do what you want the most in your teaching, inspire and motivate. Subscribe to the newsletter and follow the latest articles. Use the resources for enrichment or information. Share with colleagues and the collaboration begins. Share at a professional development meeting for many relevant ideas.
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Read Theory - Read Theory (Tanner)
Grades
2 to 12
6 Favorites
0 Comments
Read Theory offers over 1,000 interactive reading comprehension exercises. Learn to think critically, draw inferences, understand the scope and global concepts, find or recall details,...more
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Read Theory offers over 1,000 interactive reading comprehension exercises. Learn to think critically, draw inferences, understand the scope and global concepts, find or recall details, and infer meanings of vocabulary words. Find Lesson Plans and Worksheets, too. Get detailed reports to track and analyze progress using percentages, bar graphs, and tables. Sign up with an email and be sure to know your reading level. Then it is simple: Read the passage, take a quiz, and see answers and explanations after finishing the quiz. If you are unsure of the appropriate reading level, visit a reading assessment site. Try News in Levels (use Test on the far right of the top menu), reviewed here.
tag(s): differentiation (69), guided reading (32), Online Learning (37), reading comprehension (128), remote learning (61)
In the Classroom
Take your students to the next level in their reading and reading skills! Sign up students yourself (assigning a password and username). Students can sign up for themselves if they have an email (and school policies permit). The first task is to provide the reading level. Use this site to differentiate reading levels for your students. Use this tool in a blended learning or remote learning classroom so students can have time to read at their own pace, or set up a learning center for use during your L.A. block. This will allow you one-on-one time to begin the program. In a learning support or remedial reading class, especially at upper levels where "reading" is no longer a regular subject, this tool will allow students some autonomy in improving their skills. It will also let them see progress. Discuss with individual students the questions they answered, where the answer was in the reading, etc. Be certain to save this site in your class favorites and list it on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom. If students cannot have their own email accounts, consider using a "class set" of Gmail subaccounts, explained here; this tells how to set up Gmail subaccounts to use for any online membership service. Using Gmail subaccounts will provide anonymous interaction within your class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wordsmyth - Wordsmyth
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
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Keep the dictionary on the shelf and tap into the power of words with Wordsmyth, an online dictionary, thesaurus, and word reference tool. There are three "levels" of readers...more
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Keep the dictionary on the shelf and tap into the power of words with Wordsmyth, an online dictionary, thesaurus, and word reference tool. There are three "levels" of readers included at this site. WILD (Wordsmyth Illustrated Learner's Dictionary) is an online dictionary designed for K-3 early readers (or ESL/ELL students). Each entry includes a written definition with audio available. For older elementary students, try Word Explorer, containing words, synonyms, word mapping ideas, and more. You will also find images and animations for many topics including; the human body, the human mind, everyday life, history and culture, communication, living world, physical world, natural environment, economy, and government and law. The highest level (Comprehensive Dictionary-Thesaurus Suite) includes three reading levels and thousands of images to explore. It also offers definitions at three reading levels (great for differentiating). Outside of the three main references, there is much to explore. The search feature finds words with similar spelling. Use the anagram feature to help to form words with given letters in your Scrabble game. The Crossword Puzzle finds words using key words and the number of letters in a word. If you register (free version, but requires email) you can create and save up to 10 word activities with up to 12 words per activity. Quizmaker makes fill in the blank, matching, and multiple choice quizzes. Design customized glossary pages with the words you choose with your applicable definition. Add the widget to your toolbar, a floating widget, or embed on your school web page. Check the blog for the word of the day, new entries, games, and upcoming teachers' tools, and roots and affixes.
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tag(s): crosswords (18), dictionaries (47), preK (246), quizzes (83), spelling (93), thesaurus (21), vocabulary (233), vocabulary development (91), word study (58)
In the Classroom
Capture your students with the power of words at all levels. Keep this link on your toolbar as a quick reference for easy access to improve reading comprehension and writing word variety. When starting a new content area unit, challenge your gifted students with advanced vocabulary words. In your school library, make this handy reference available for everyone as a bookmark and on your online reference page. In primary grades or with ELL students, bookmark the WILD section for easy access. Share vocabulary words with young students on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Share the word of the day with your students at all levels and explore together. Create your own glossary page for up to 10 teaching units. Provide support for struggling readers or ESL/ELL students by showing them how to access and use this site. Encourage word games such as Scrabble, Upwords, or crossword puzzles, with Wordsmyth as a partner! Share this site on your class website for gifted students to explore at home (or in class) and find new challenging vocabulary to stretch their minds!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Newsela - Matthew Gross
Grades
2 to 12
19 Favorites
2 Comments
Newsela is a data base of current events stories tailor-made for classroom use. Click Products on the top menu and slide down to browse content in subject areas (social studies, ...more
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Newsela is a data base of current events stories tailor-made for classroom use. Click Products on the top menu and slide down to browse content in subject areas (social studies, science, etc.). Stories are both student-friendly and can be accessed in different formats by reading level. Use Newsela to differentiate nonfiction reading. Newspaper writers rewrite a story four times for a total of five Lexile levels per story. All articles have embedded, Common Core aligned quizzes that conform to the reading levels for checking comprehension, customizable assignments, writing prompts and annotations. An account is required to use Newsela, both for teachers and for students, but students sign up using a teacher or parent provided code rather than an email address. Click the Resources tab at the top to find guides and short webinars. Teachers can create classes and assign reading-level specific articles to individual students, or download printable PDF copies of the article in any of its reading-level versions. There is an upgraded fee-based Pro Version which allows teachers or administrators to track reading progress and students to take constructed response writing assessments; however, many other features are free and there is no outside advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (135), differentiation (69), guided reading (32), independent reading (80), news (230), reading comprehension (128), remote learning (61)
In the Classroom
Achieve two goals here: help students improve their reading comprehension and keep them current with what is happening in our nation and the world. When assigning articles, choose to have the class read at one reading level, or choose individuals and set the reading level for them. There are five categories from which to choose. You may want to set up different articles at different learning stations on the computers in your room. Have the students rotate daily through the stations, completing one or two a day until they have completed all five articles. Since Newsela is cloud based, even absent students can complete the missed work easily. If you and your students are teaching and learning remotely, or you have a blended classroom, Newsela will work perfectly for those! Teachers of gifted students can use this site to accelerate or enrich reading for students. Find each student's individual levels for reading nonfiction. Teachers of Learning Support and ENL//ESL students will love this alternate way for their students to meet nonfiction/current events requirements.Comments
This is an excellent article. Thanks for sharing this information. Please keep sharing content like this.Cassandra, IL, Grades: 0 - 12
This is an excellent site and allows differentiation while everyone is reading the same text.Renee, NC, Grades: 0 - 5
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TV411 - Reading - Education Development Center, Inc.
Grades
6 to 12
5 Favorites
1 Comments
Find entertaining videos, web lessons, and downloads to support learning about reading comprehension, test prep, and libraries and books at TV411. Each video includes a short description...more
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Find entertaining videos, web lessons, and downloads to support learning about reading comprehension, test prep, and libraries and books at TV411. Each video includes a short description of contents, then just click to view the video. Below the video text includes skills addressed. For example, the video Dorothea Lange, Photographer addresses the skill of reading pictures. Skills addressed include summarizing, point of view, newspapers, highlighting, and study skills. Most videos are approximately three to five minutes long and include links to related web lessons and print-ables to download. Although this site was originally created for adult English language learners, it would be useful with all secondary students.
tag(s): context clues (5), maps (208), news (230), newspapers (92), poetry (184), point of view (7), summarizing (18), word study (58)
In the Classroom
View videos on your interactive whiteboard as part of your reading comprehension or study skills unit. Use on an as-needed basis to address classroom deficiencies in particular areas. Have students complete the web lessons on their own during computer center time. Create links to certain videos on your class website or blog for students to view at home. Check out the Teachers portion of the site to find activities for improving or introducing skills along with ideas for using the videos in the classroom. Challenge students to create a talking avatar using a photo or other image (legally permitted to be reproduced). The avatars can be used to provide suggestions for study skills and improving reading comprehension. Use a site such as Phrase.it, reviewed here.Comments
This is an excellent site with a variety of short videos for concept instruction.Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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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.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): grammar (140), grammar review (30), verbs (27), vocabulary (233)
In the Classroom
This website contains many ads, demonstrate avoiding the advertisements with your students before assigning or using any of the activities. 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 it with parents as a resource.
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Exobrain - Colin Dunn and Nick Gauthier
Grades
1 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Exobrain is an easy to use brainstorming and mind mapping tool. Register using email and a password to begin creating a board with "nodes." Give the central node a name ...more
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Exobrain is an easy to use brainstorming and mind mapping tool. Register using email and a password to begin creating a board with "nodes." Give the central node a name then drag your mouse to create additional nodes. Create links between nodes by dragging a line between them or remove links by hovering over the line and clicking the scissors. Free accounts allow for three cloud-based maps. Access using the unique url generated for each mind map. The introductory video requires Flash, the remainder of the site does not. Be aware: maps can be viewed publicly. Be sure to check your district policy on publishing student work online.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): mind map (23)
In the Classroom
Use this resource to map out a poem, story, or novel students are reading. Use in managing (and even color-coding) information in any content area. Assess prior knowledge with a class brainstorm. Use as a plan for projects to show all information and all steps for its completion. This would also be a great tool for group projects for your students or even in YOUR grad classes! Teachers in lower grades can create whole class maps together. Share the maps on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Since you can only create three maps for free, you might want to compare with other mind-mapping tools reviewed at the TeachersFirst Edge.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ReadWorks - ReadWorks.org
Grades
K to 12
8 Favorites
0 Comments
ReadWorks provides a free, research-based, and Common Core-aligned reading comprehension curriculum. Search through hundreds of lesson plans organized by grade level, topic, or titles....more
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ReadWorks provides a free, research-based, and Common Core-aligned reading comprehension curriculum. Search through hundreds of lesson plans organized by grade level, topic, or titles. Register to download materials and save lessons to your folder. (A valid email and password is required). Be sure to start with the Teacher Guide to see all the many features ReadWorks offers about using and teaching the provided lessons and differentiation. For a quick start, click Find Content then select options from the right menu: Text Options - Reading Passages, Aritcle a Day, and Paired Text, Curriculum Support, Grade, Topic, Text Types - Nonfiction, Fiction, or Poetry, and Lexile. There are thousands of reading passages along with question sets to support learning activities for grades K-12. Each selection contains the text with audio, a vocabulary link, and a questions set. In the left margin, you will find related resources such as standards and related materials.
Teachers can create classes to assign reading and track assessments (which are automatically graded). After signing up with email, click on Admin from the top menu and create a class. Students join the class by using a code and their Google account. No Google account? No problem. Create a roster and provide the class code to students. Easily create assignments for the whole class, or individuals as a way to differentiate. This is a perfect tool to use for remote (or distance) teaching and learning!
Teachers can create classes to assign reading and track assessments (which are automatically graded). After signing up with email, click on Admin from the top menu and create a class. Students join the class by using a code and their Google account. No Google account? No problem. Create a roster and provide the class code to students. Easily create assignments for the whole class, or individuals as a way to differentiate. This is a perfect tool to use for remote (or distance) teaching and learning!
tag(s): characterization (16), context clues (5), figurative language (13), guided reading (32), main idea (8), parts of speech (42), plot (7), point of view (7), reading comprehension (128), reading strategies (77), sequencing (18), Teacher Utilities (132), themes (11), vocabulary (233)
In the Classroom
Show students how to sign up and log in to ReadWorks using a projector or interactive whiteboard. Complete a sample assignment together. Use ReadWorks in blended learning or flipped classrooms leaving class time for asking questions and clarifying. Post the link on your website and consider assigning the Article-A-Day for at home reading. Rotate the subjects weekly and discuss the topic the next day in class. Consider using a back channel tool such as GoSoapBox, reviewed here, for the discussion, so even your quiet and shy students feel comfortable participating, and you can get analytics after the discussion. Teachers of all subjects, but especially science and social studies, can find topics for students to read for their subject. Then challenge students to research the topic further. Redefine learning by having students submit their findings to a special class magazine using Underline, reviewed here, created for the topic. Differentiation can be accomplished easily by assigning to individual students, or you can create multiple classes, which would actually be small groups, who read at the same level or have the same topic interest.Once the students are familiar with the site use Symbaloo Learning Paths, reviewed here, to assign reading to groups at the same reading level. Older students, once they know their reading level, can their select reading and create their own Symbaloo Learning Paths. Check these to make sure students include all types of reading, and that they are challenging themselves. After several selections, ask older students to choose the topic they were most interested in, find resources to learn more about the topic, then extend their learning by presenting their findings using a multimedia tool such as (click on the tool name to access the review): Canva Infographic Maker, Lucidpress, Powtoon, or Binumi.
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