TeachersFirst Resources to Avoid the Summer Slide
Summer is the perfect time for students to explore, create, and keep their minds sharp — and the right tools can make all the difference in preventing the summer slide. This collection of free and engaging resources is designed to help students stay connected to learning throughout the summer months in a way that feels fun, flexible, and self-directed rather than like an extension of the school year. From reading and math practice to creative arts, coding, and science exploration, these tools cover a wide range of subjects and interests to keep curious minds active and growing all summer long. Whether students spend 20 minutes a day or dive in for hours, this collection makes it easy for families and educators to support meaningful learning beyond the classroom walls.
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Chrome Music Lab - Google Labs
Grades
K to 12
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Chrome Music Lab is a free collection of interactive music experiments created by Google that helps students explore rhythm, melody, harmony, sound waves, and music composition through...more
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Chrome Music Lab is a free collection of interactive music experiments created by Google that helps students explore rhythm, melody, harmony, sound waves, and music composition through hands-on play. Using colorful, easy-to-use tools such as Song Maker, Rhythm, Melody Maker, Kandinsky, and Voice Spinner, students can create and share original music directly in a web browser without downloads or logins. The site encourages creativity, collaboration, and experimentation while supporting music education, STEAM learning, coding connections, and creative expression across grade levels and subject areas.
tag(s): coding (110), musical instruments (62), summer (52)
In the Classroom
Have students use Song Maker to compose a short melody that represents the mood or theme of a story, poem, or historical event studied in class. Students can explain how tempo, rhythm, and pitch connect to the topic. Challenge students to design background music or sound effects for a digital story, podcast, reader's theater, or coding project. Students can use Chrome Music Lab creations to enhance multimedia presentations and cross-curricular STEAM activities. Use the Rhythm and Beat experiments during math lessons to reinforce skills in fractions, patterns, sequencing, and counting. Students can create rhythmic patterns that demonstrate equivalent fractions or repeated sequences.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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NASA Kids' Club - NASA
Grades
K to 6
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Want to visit or learn about space? Visit NASA Kids' Club to play games, learn about astronauts, and view pictures from NASA missions. The Games section features games including Rocket...more
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Want to visit or learn about space? Visit NASA Kids' Club to play games, learn about astronauts, and view pictures from NASA missions. The Games section features games including Rocket Builder, Search for Spinoffs, Color NASA, and What Comes Next. Learn about the astronauts shares information about astronauts in space via a short bio that can be read aloud. Under the NASA mission pictures, kids can explore pictures from space, spacecraft, and research. Each picture also has the option to have the caption read aloud.
tag(s): moon (88), solar system (127), space (252)
In the Classroom
Students can use Google Slides, reviewed here to create a slide sharing NASA's work in space or sharing a biography of an astronaut. Create a Blooket, reviewed here game or activity to review information that students learn about space. Extend learning by asking students to create a presentation, website, or poster about NASA using Canva for Education, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Write a Picture Book - Storybird
Grades
K to 8
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Storybird's Picture Book section is a creative storytelling platform that allows students and teachers to create digital picture books using professionally illustrated artwork as inspiration...more
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Storybird's Picture Book section is a creative storytelling platform that allows students and teachers to create digital picture books using professionally illustrated artwork as inspiration for writing. Students can choose artwork, write original stories, and publish or share their finished books online, making it an engaging tool for literacy, creativity, and visual storytelling. The activities on this page help students practice important skills, including sequencing, narrative writing, descriptive language, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, creativity, visual literacy, and digital communication, while encouraging them to connect illustrations to storytelling ideas.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (133), descriptive writing (44), digital storytelling (173), reading comprehension (145), sequencing (19), vocabulary development (103)
In the Classroom
Have students create an original picture book retelling a familiar fairy tale, myth, or historical event from a different character's point of view to practice perspective and narrative writing skills. Incorporate vocabulary and descriptive language practice by challenging students to include specific figurative language, sensory details, or weekly vocabulary words in their digital stories. Use Storybird during reading workshops by asking students to create alternate endings, sequels, or companion stories for novels and picture books read in class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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My Summer Book Custom - Scholastic Inc.
Grades
K to 12
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Scholastic's My Books Summer Self-Select program is a customizable summer reading resource that allows schools and teachers to create take-home book packs for students in grades PreK-12....more
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Scholastic's My Books Summer Self-Select program is a customizable summer reading resource that allows schools and teachers to create take-home book packs for students in grades PreK-12. The program emphasizes student choice by allowing learners to select books that match their interests, reading levels, and backgrounds, helping build motivation and prevent summer reading loss. This is not a free program; schools or districts purchase the book packs and related literacy materials. However, the website provides ideas, sample materials, and book suggestions that educators and families can use to locate many of the same titles through local public libraries for free borrowing during the summer months. Teachers can also pair these book suggestions with other free summer learning resources such as public library reading programs, Scholastic's free printable reading activities, digital reading platforms like Epic!, reviewed here, reading logs, family discussion prompts, and audiobook access through library apps to help prevent the "summer slide" and encourage continued literacy growth throughout the break.
tag(s): preK (325), reading lists (79), summer (52)
In the Classroom
Create a "Book Tasting" activity where students preview several suggested titles, read excerpts or summaries, and rotate through stations to discover new genres and authors before selecting books for independent reading. Have students create a personalized summer reading wishlist by browsing recommended titles and organizing books into categories such as realistic fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, or biographies. Students can then search for those books at their local public library. Encourage students to keep a summer reading response journal with Book Creator, reviewed here that includes predictions, favorite quotes, character reflections, and connections to their own lives while reading self-selected books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Summer Reads - Text Project
Grades
2 to 5
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SummerReads for grades 2-5 is a free, ready-to-use summer reading program designed to help students maintain reading skills over the break. It features 21 engaging informational readings...more
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SummerReads for grades 2-5 is a free, ready-to-use summer reading program designed to help students maintain reading skills over the break. It features 21 engaging informational readings per level (three chapters each across seven themed "books") on summer-relevant topics like weather, nature, sports, and travel. Texts are leveled (C, D, E) using the TExT model to ensure both accessibility and challenge. Each reading includes comprehension questions, audio support, and teacher or parent guidance. The goal is to provide consistent, meaningful reading opportunities all summer long, especially for students who may lack access to books at home, to help prevent the "summer slide."
tag(s): reading comprehension (145), reading strategies (87), summer (52), vocabulary (251), vocabulary development (103)
In the Classroom
Begin by introducing one of the themed "books" such as Weather Wonders or Sports and Games. Have students preview titles, predict topics, and set personal reading goals for the week. Use a Think-Pair-Share routine to discuss what makes summer reading fun and important. After each reading, have students add "leaves" to a classroom Knowledge Tree. Each leaf includes a new fact or vocabulary word learned. This visual grows as the class completes each chapter and helps connect informational texts to real-world topics such as travel, nature, and science. Using the audio versions as models, have students record their own expressive readings of a favorite passage using Adobe Podcast, reviewed here. Encourage them to add short introductions explaining what they liked about the text.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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STEM Bootcamps - Numerade
Grades
6 to 12
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Numerade STEM Bootcamps provide free, interactive video lessons in STEM subjects like math, physics, chemistry, biology, and economics. The platform includes Bootcamps with step-by-step...more
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Numerade STEM Bootcamps provide free, interactive video lessons in STEM subjects like math, physics, chemistry, biology, and economics. The platform includes Bootcamps with step-by-step video tutorials, practice problems, and quizzes designed to enhance students' understanding. You can access a variety of topics for different grade levels and standardized tests like the ACT and SAT. The videos have captions available for students who may need them. Videos do have discussions under them, so be mindful of this if are having students use them independently.
tag(s): statistics (128), STEM (377), test prep (70), tutorials (52)
In the Classroom
Flip your classroom and have students watch Numerade Bootcamp videos at home to learn foundational concepts before class. They then can apply their learning through in-class lessons. Have students create and take practice quizzes based on Numerade's standardized test prep Bootcamps using a program like Quizlet, reviewed here. This will engage them in active test prep, enhance recall through repeated practice, and extend readiness for exams. Have students summarize a Numerade bootcamp topic by creating short review videos with Padlet, reviewed here, helping their classmates understand key points from the videos. This is a link to Padlet's Help section for posting video or an image.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Purdue University Kids STEM Degree - Purdue University
Grades
K to 8
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Purdue University offers STEM "degrees" for kindergarten through high school students which are available for completion individually or as a class. Select a grade level band from the...more
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Purdue University offers STEM "degrees" for kindergarten through high school students which are available for completion individually or as a class. Select a grade level band from the eight options to access the ten videos required. After watching the short videos, complete the accompanying quiz to receive a code. Collect all ten codes and complete the form to request your certificate of completion. Videos cover various STEM topics, such as seasons, fossils, and the environment. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
tag(s): adaptations (19), colors (63), energy (143), environment (250), forces (48), fossils (44), habitats (106), mass (20), number sense (74), plants (145), seasons (59), soil (17), sound (72), space (252), STEM (377), summer (52), sun (87), tides (6), volcanoes (60), water cycle (25), weather (174)
In the Classroom
Use this site to offer your students STEM "degrees" in several ways. As a class, complete an activity weekly as an introduction and review of science content by including the video as part of a computer center activity. Work together to complete the quiz for each video, then request a certificate to recognize your class's accomplishment. Another option is for students to work toward achieving certifications on their own. Share this site on your class newsletter for students to complete over the summer as an exciting way to engage in science activities and earn a STEM degree. One benefit of having the option to choose from different grade levels is the ability to differentiate learning by offering various courses to students based on their interests and abilities. Some students may choose to earn several degrees in different grade levels. Support and encourage students to pursue STEM degrees by taking pictures of completed degrees and adding them to your class website. Extend learning by asking students to research one of the topics, then share a presentation with peers using Canva Edu, reviewed here. Canva Edu offers many options for creating and personalizing presentations including slides, infographics, and flyers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wordle - Josh Wardle
Grades
3 to 12
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Wordle is a deceptively easy-looking word game that promotes problem-solving and strategy skills to solve a daily five-letter word. Players get six chances to solve for the word of...more
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Wordle is a deceptively easy-looking word game that promotes problem-solving and strategy skills to solve a daily five-letter word. Players get six chances to solve for the word of the day. Correct letters in the proper place are highlighted green, letters in the word but the wrong location are marked yellow and gray boxes indicate the letter is not in the word. After solving the puzzle, a colored grid shows your progress through each step toward solving the daily task.
tag(s): game based learning (318), puzzles (172), vocabulary (251)
In the Classroom
Include Wordle as part of daily classroom activities in many ways. For example, ask students to solve Wordle individually or as part of a collaborative group. Encourage students to discuss helpful strategies in solving the puzzle, such as starting words that include several vowels--experiment by beginning with the same word each day or using different daily choices. Create a daily graph that shares the results of your class's attempts in solving the daily puzzle. Data Gif Maker, reviewed here, is a very easy to use graphing tool to quickly share results. Consider making personalized Wordles based on reading vocabulary, science terms, or student names using My Wordle, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Scholastic Home Base - Books - Scholastic
Grades
2 to 6
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Want to preview a book? Scholastic Kids allows you to preview books from Marvel, Dogman, The Babysitters Club, Upside Down Magic and more. Once you select the book series, you ...more
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Want to preview a book? Scholastic Kids allows you to preview books from Marvel, Dogman, The Babysitters Club, Upside Down Magic and more. Once you select the book series, you have access to a short blurb about the book, a video trailer, other suggested books, and activity sheets. There is also a Sneak Peek of the Week, which allows you to download the beginning of the book. Scholastic Kids provides links to purchase books, but you can also visit your local library to get them.
tag(s): game based learning (318), summer (52)
In the Classroom
Engage and motivate students to read over the summer by sharing Scholastic with parents or your web page. Consider creating a Microsoft Whiteboard, reviewed here, for students to share their experiences with classmates when playing the games and suggest books for others to read.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BOOK IT! Summer Reading Program - Pizza Hut
Grades
K to 6
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BOOK IT! offers a summer home reading program where students in grades PreK-6 earn monthly rewards for achieving reading goals. After enrolling in the program, parents use the digital...more
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BOOK IT! offers a summer home reading program where students in grades PreK-6 earn monthly rewards for achieving reading goals. After enrolling in the program, parents use the digital dashboard to track their student's reading progress during June, July, and August. Move the slider to certify completion of the preset goal to receive a certificate to redeem at Pizza Hut for a personal pan pizza. Other features found on this site include a series of ongoing articles with activities and book recommendations; under Resources at the top, slide to Teacher Toolbox to find activities and calendars to track reading.
tag(s): independent reading (84), seasonal (47), summer (52)
In the Classroom
Share Camp BOOK IT! with parents to encourage reading over the summer months. Use this program as an opportunity to collaborate with parents to engage students in reading by providing a reading list for students that includes books that appeal to your students. Use Padlet, reviewed here, to share suggested titles of books for students, and use the stream feature to organize the titles into different categories. Encourage students to add comments to your Padlet, sharing their book reviews. Enhance your students' summer reading experience by creating a topic using Gravity, reviewed here, and ask students to contribute video book talks discussing their reading. Another idea is to create a Summer Bingo topic. Attach a Bingo form to your Gravity topic with different squares to complete. Ideas might be reading a biography, starting a new book series, or sharing a book with a friend.
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Education for the Real World - EVERFI
Grades
2 to 12
3 Favorites
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EVERFI provides free digital curricula in real-world skills through interactive, game-based lessons. Topics include Financial Education, Health and Wellness, Workforce Readiness, STEM...more
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EVERFI provides free digital curricula in real-world skills through interactive, game-based lessons. Topics include Financial Education, Health and Wellness, Workforce Readiness, STEM and History career readiness, and many more. Select any topic to view the courses offered with a summary and grade-level suggestions. Each unit is correlated to Common Core Standards and includes features such as videos, games, digital lessons, and teacher guides. Use the teacher dashboard to create classes and enroll students after completing the free registration information. Once registered, use the site's features to assign topics that are available for both online and offline learning.
tag(s): cross cultural understanding (176), financial literacy (92), game based learning (318), literacy (123), mental health (60), social and emotional learning (205), STEM (377), Teacher Utilities (223)
In the Classroom
Discover the many free resources on this site to provide individual lessons or complete learning units for your students. As students complete assignments, use the many offerings found at Class Tools, reviewed here, to enhance learning through creating timelines, completing graphic organizers, and more. For activities that include new vocabulary, use a digital game creation site such as Baamboozle, reviewed here, to review and practice new words and terms. Have students show what they know upon completion of any of the activities using Adobe Express for Education, reviewed here, to create a collage, poster, flyer, or multimedia presentation sharing their knowledge of the subject.
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PBS Kids - PBS
Grades
K to 5
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PBS Kids' focus is mainly educational activities and videos for kids in Preschool, Kindergarten, and Primary age students. Click on the jumping basket to see their new feature Groovin'...more
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PBS Kids' focus is mainly educational activities and videos for kids in Preschool, Kindergarten, and Primary age students. Click on the jumping basket to see their new feature Groovin' with Acoustic Rooster. For younger students, select games, videos, and activities about well-known characters like Arthur, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Ruff Ruffman, Peg and Cat, Dr. Seuss, and more. Clicking All Games will give you 29 categories to choose from, for example, Team Work, Feelings, Engineering, Spelling, Reading, Healthy Habits, and many more. Click New Games to find topics such as Guess the Feeling, World Orchestra, and others to help familiarize youngsters with flight, trains, counting, and well, you name it, and PBS Kids probably has it!
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (133), game based learning (318), literacy (123), preK (325)
In the Classroom
Discover and share the many free resources available on PBS Kids. Show clips on your interactive whiteboard, or with your projector, then have students complete an accompanying activity. With younger students, use Gravity, reviewed here, as a video response platform for students to share how they would use what they learned by watching the videos or using the interactives. Alternatively, you might try using Acast, reviewed here; Acast is an extremely easy to use tool for creating audio to share as podcasts. PBS Kids is perfect for sharing with parents. Include a link to activities on your class website along with suggestions on how to use activities at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SplashLearn - StudyPad, Inc
Grades
K to 5
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SplashLearn is a game-based math and ELA curriculum for students in grades pre-K-5. In addition, SplashLearn offers several general knowledge Games, Playsheets, Decodable Books, and...more
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SplashLearn is a game-based math and ELA curriculum for students in grades pre-K-5. In addition, SplashLearn offers several general knowledge Games, Playsheets, Decodable Books, and Bedtime Stories that incorporate science, social studies, and the arts. SplashLearn adapts the learning paths as students play games to fit individual student responses and interactions within the elementary curriculum. Use the teacher dashboard to manage classes and add students. Other features allow educators to assign material to individual students, add required assessments, and enable home access using parents' email addresses. The site's themes and rewards motivate student learning; students earn coins to purchase virtual pets.
Note: This tool is now free for teachers for the premium version and complete access to all its features (no cost).
tag(s): addition (138), alphabet (46), blended learning (28), decimals (92), division (109), equations (128), fractions (173), game based learning (318), geometric shapes (153), Learning Management Systems (20), measurement (123), multiplication (133), number sense (74), place value (42), preK (325), sight words (22), spelling (91), subtraction (118)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free games and activities to provide practice and support with your math and reading curriculums. Differentiate learning based on student ability and confidence. Assign content based on students' learning goals. Share this site with parents to provide practice and support for math and ELA concepts at home. Use SplashLearn's reports and assessment results to guide your lesson planning and make adaptations to adjust to students' learning needs. Share this site with other practice activities using a bookmarking tool such as Symbaloo, reviewed here. Share your Symbaloo link with parents and on classroom computers for easy access to all learning tools shared. Use activities found in SplashLearn as part of a blended learning experience using Pear Deck, reviewed here. Include a link to the site along with videos and other learning activities found online or uploaded from your computer.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Earth Voyager - Google Earth
Grades
5 to 12
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Discover the earth through visualization and storytelling brought together in a Google Earth collaboration with PBS, National Geographic, and others. Scroll through the site to find...more
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Discover the earth through visualization and storytelling brought together in a Google Earth collaboration with PBS, National Geographic, and others. Scroll through the site to find ideas to explore, including The 5 Big Beasts of Africa and Sesame Street Around the World. Other ways to explore the site include opening Voyager look down the page to find content to connect to math, ELA, geography, and social studies. Each of these tours includes a Google Earth activity and guiding questions for students.
tag(s): digital storytelling (173), maps (220)
In the Classroom
Although this site is useful for many purposes, sometimes it is best just to let students explore and discover on their own. Share Voyager with students and allow them time to look around and select places that intrigue them. Encourage them to learn more about an area or subject of interest found on the site. Instead of writing down information, ask students to use Google Docs or Microsoft Word to begin research. Using these online documents affords many benefits, including the ability to add comments, highlight information, and add links to online information. Once research is underway, suggest that students use a bookmarking tool like Raindrop.io, reviewed here, to organize information. Raindrop.io includes the ability to add notes to bookmarks, making it easy for students to label and add information for later use. As a final project and to extend student learning, ask students to create their own virtual tour of a location using Odyssey, reviewed here to create a story map that includes images, videos, and text.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 passages from stories as downloadable PDFs,...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 passages from 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 (84), multilingual (82), reading comprehension (145), reading strategies (87), Special Needs (45), Teacher Utilities (223)
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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Expii Solve - Expii, Inc.
Grades
8 to 12
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Solve interactive math and science puzzles based on current events with Expii Solve. Choose from over 70 sets of questions with topics including the Super Bowl, Star Wars, fashion,...more
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Solve interactive math and science puzzles based on current events with Expii Solve. Choose from over 70 sets of questions with topics including the Super Bowl, Star Wars, fashion, holidays, and more. Each topic includes a set of five problems with each question increasing in difficulty. If you need help, use links to tutorials at the bottom of each question. Registration isn't required; however, registering allows you to track progress in completing puzzles.
tag(s): cultures (291), holidays (284), logic (170), problem solving (281)
In the Classroom
Be sure to save these puzzles for use throughout the school year. Use these problems as a substitute for your typical homework assignments. Include questions as part of math or science centers. Replace pencil and paper journals or notebooks by having students blog about their learning and understanding using Tumblr, reviewed here. Ask groups of students to work on topics together then share their results with the class. To enhance student learning and understanding, consider instituting a recurring podcast for students to share problems and discuss problem-solving strategies. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whooo's Reading - Whooo's Reading
Grades
K to 8
2 Favorites
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Whooo's Reading is an alternative to traditional reading programs by offering short response options to book quizzes instead of multiple choice answers. After reading, students answer...more
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Whooo's Reading is an alternative to traditional reading programs by offering short response options to book quizzes instead of multiple choice answers. After reading, students answer three quick higher-level questions, that are automatically scored, and earn coins for correct responses to spend on personalized "owlvatars." Teachers receive scores in real-time and have the option to provide feedback through conversations with students within the program. In addition to quizzes, Whooo's Reading also offers standards aligned journal activities for use in between quizzes and book recommendations upon completing quizzes. Teachers can choose what type of quiz their students take. The choices are Open-ended only, Mixed quiz (2 fill in the blank, one open), and Advanced Quiz (3 fill-in-the-blank and 2 open).
tag(s): classroom management (144), reading comprehension (145), reading strategies (87)
In the Classroom
Although recommended for students in grades K-8, teachers of younger students should review questions and consider writing ability levels before including them in the program due to the written responses required. Consider using Whooo's Reading as an alternative to Accelerated Reader due to the use of short response answers instead of multiple choice questions. After reading books, substitute paper and pen journals by asking younger students to create a blog using a tool like Penzu, reviewed here, to share a book review with fellow students. Engage older students, or literature circle groups, by having them create a poster for the book using a tool like DesignCap, reviewed here, and then upload the poster to their blog about the book. A great blogging tool for older students is Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph have students click on an icon to upload related images, add a YouTube or Vimeo link. This blog creator requires no registration. For all age students, enhance learning by creating a class book review site using Gravity, reviewed here, where students create short video book reviews and can comment on each others reviews.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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WriteReader - WriteReader
Grades
K to 5
4 Favorites
0 Comments
The scientific research behind WriterReader is that one develops and improves reading skills by writing. With WriteReader, kids create their books, including text, pictures, and voice...more
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The scientific research behind WriterReader is that one develops and improves reading skills by writing. With WriteReader, kids create their books, including text, pictures, and voice recordings. Adults/Teachers have space on the page to write comments and make corrections. The interface is so simple that even a young child can use it successfully after some adult guidance. Open the Features tab in the top menu to see an index of all features categorized by Literacy Development, Easy Book Creation, Publishing and Sharing, and Teacher & Student Management, each with several links to explore. Click the Resources Center tab on the top menu to select Lesson Plans, Templates, Writing Prompts, Videos, and more. The basic plan offers 40 books and all the essential features. Register using your email or Google account. After logging in, use the menu bars in the upper-right corner to find Guides, which include a Parent Letter, a Quick Start Guide, a Template, and a few other get-started items.
To create student accounts, you can enter students manually, or students can join the class using a class code. WriteReader has upgraded its page templates to support older students. US English, UK English, Dansk (Danish), and Svenska (Swedish) are available. There is also an introductory video on the landing page that will help everyone get started. This video resides on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable. WriteReader has added new premium features, including Read Aloud, Voice Search, Book Templates, and more. For these, you must pay.
tag(s): digital storytelling (173), literacy (123), multilingual (82), reading strategies (87), science of reading (35), writing (308)
In the Classroom
WriteReader is so simple that very young students can use it successfully after a demonstration on a whiteboard or projector. While creating their books, students will be able to add images and multiple pages, delete pages, include voice-over, use color on pages, view one page at a time or the entire book, and toggle between letter names/sounds and no audio. Use this tool to design simple projects using student drawings to tell the story. Have students draw and annotate stories about their summer at the beginning of the year and share them with classmates. Students of any age love to draw, so why not have them draw their impression of what the message to the reader was after hearing a story, and then explain it in writing? Nonreaders and ENL/ESL students, in particular, will benefit from hearing letter sounds as they begin writing in their new language.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Study Jams - Scholastic
Grades
3 to 8
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Study Jams offers engaging instruction and review activities in both math and science. Some sample science topics include plants, volcanoes, human body, the solar system, weather, matter,...more
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Study Jams offers engaging instruction and review activities in both math and science. Some sample science topics include plants, volcanoes, human body, the solar system, weather, matter, and more. Math topics include numbers (place value, number lines, estimation), algebra, addition/subtraction, problem solving, and others. Key vocabulary is presented along with a short video explanation of each topic. In addition to the video, there is an option to test your own ability. Each topic can also be printed to use in the classroom and there is a link to related "jams."
tag(s): addition (138), animals (283), climate (98), decimals (92), differentiation (100), division (109), ecosystems (108), energy (143), estimation (35), forces (48), fractions (173), game based learning (318), human body (98), landforms (36), light (61), matter (52), measurement (123), minerals (14), multiplication (133), number lines (31), percent (59), place value (42), plants (145), probability (133), problem solving (281), rocks (43), solar system (127), sound (72), subtraction (118), weather (174)
In the Classroom
Excite your students with the Jams! Share the Jam videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students sing along and learn more about science and math. Especially younger students will enjoy this feature. Create a link to the site on your classroom website or blog for students to use for review and practice at home. Use the many topics available to differentiate for all students in your classroom. Create learning centers using this site or use it on individual laptops. Print out the quizzes for students to take as an assessment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Zearn - zearn.org
Grades
K to 5
3 Favorites
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Zearn Math is a complete math program that provides Common Core aligned math lessons, personalized to individual learners, and based on Eureka Math / Engage New York. Lessons focus...more
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Zearn Math is a complete math program that provides Common Core aligned math lessons, personalized to individual learners, and based on Eureka Math / Engage New York. Lessons focus on three critical components: deep understanding, fluency, and problem-solving. Self-paced lessons allow for mastery of concepts before unlocking lessons providing the next level. Math lessons provide video instruction similar to a small group lesson. Lesson Labs include drag and drop activities followed by quiz questions. Zearn currently offers K-8 lessons. Create a class account and add students using an Excel sheet or manually input student names to receive custom reports on student progress.
tag(s): addition (138), classroom management (144), data (211), decimals (92), differentiation (100), division (109), fractions (173), geometric shapes (153), measurement (123), multiplication (133), numbers (122), operations (71), subtraction (118)
In the Classroom
Use Zearn on a projector or an interactive whiteboard to demonstrate specific concepts or use as weekly math centers for student practice. Zearn provides data to target instruction to specific students or concepts needing additional reinforcement. Since Zearn is a complete math program, with individualized lessons for students to work on, teachers can conduct small group instruction while others work independently. Zearn is perfect to use for gifted or advanced students, allowing them to work at their own pace. Be sure to put a link to Zearn on your class web page for students to use at home. Zearn does not support Android devices but will work on all other devices with a browser and Internet access.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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