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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Grabbabeast - Tangible Worldwide
Grades
1 to 8
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0 Comments
View various beasts and then create your own! Share your beast with others via an ecard or by saving on the site and using its unique URL. You can either ...more
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View various beasts and then create your own! Share your beast with others via an ecard or by saving on the site and using its unique URL. You can either make a unique "beast" or begin with a basic beast. If permitted, you can also share the beast on Facebook or as a tweet. Those wishing to save their creations must complete a free registration, but it is totally optional. You can also check out beasts made by others. Professional posters are available for a FEE (close that window!). If you email the poster to yourself, you can then print it for free.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (53), creativity (53), fathers day (10), mothers day (11)
In the Classroom
Students can create ecards and send them out for birthdays, grandparent's, mother's and father's day. Student's can use the ecard part of the site to create a story about their monster and send it to the teacher, themselves, or anyone else. Through email your Grabbabeast will print, free. This activity would work well for individual or pairs of students in a lab or on laptops. This is a great find for gifted students or as a capstone project in which students imagine the various parts of the "beast" they create represent parts of a project they need to summarize. Use your creativity to imagine other uses for it. This site would be useful for ESL or world language students trying to learn vocabulary for parts of the body, colors, textures, patterns etc.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)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Natural Reader - Natural Soft Limited
Grades
1 to 12
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0 Comments
Bring additional help to your classroom with Natural Reader, a downloadable program. You can test it on this web page by pasting text into the text box. Natural Reader takes ...more
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Bring additional help to your classroom with Natural Reader, a downloadable program. You can test it on this web page by pasting text into the text box. Natural Reader takes written text from MS Word, emails, Internet Explorer, scanned books, or even images from a camera phone and turns it into spoken text. Just highlight the section you want read aloud, and your choice of voice will read it aloud. The voice choice and speed are adjustable. Turning written text into MP3 or WAV files is another option. Typing/pasting in the text box allows any text to be read aloud. A floating tool bar allows the downloadable software to be available all the time at on easy click. A free trial version is available for both Mac and Windows, with more deluxe versions available. Educational discounts and volume discounts do apply. This is the teacher's aid that needs to be in all classrooms. You must be able to install software to put this Reader on your computer.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): learning disability (12), learning styles (6), text to speech (9), writers workshop (6)
In the Classroom
Bring Natural Reader into your language arts classroom to help all students edit written work. Bring an extra helper into your class to pronounce difficult words. This program allows students with decoding difficulties to focus on comprehension on all texts. Natural Reader offers repeated readings to improve fluency, comprehension, and confidence. Add an extra learning dimension to any textbook or written notes. Honor the auditory learners with their natural style. Learning support, ESL/ELL, dyslexic, or ADHD learners have shown marked improvement. Writing classes can benefit by having individuals, copy and paste into the text box to help edit and proofread. Add extra reinforcement with directions by recording and being available for playing multiple times. Be sure to include this link on your class website for students (and parents) to access at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Bookseer - Apt Labs
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Students can input the name of a book they have just finished in order to find a list of similar books they might enjoy. Either Amazon or LibraryThing makes the ...more
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Students can input the name of a book they have just finished in order to find a list of similar books they might enjoy. Either Amazon or LibraryThing makes the suggestions. Clicking on the book links to Amazon for purchase.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): independent reading (32), literature (178)
In the Classroom
Put this site on your classroom computers for students to use to guide their choice of outside reading materials. The site may be helpful for ELL/ESL students who are less familiar with book offerings in English. Parents may be interested in using this site to find literature for their students, so be sure to list this link on your class website.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Math 3 Under the Sea! - LearnAlberta.ca
Grades
1 to 3
4 Favorites
0 Comments
This interactive and colorful math activity lets students practice math skills in several different areas. All activities take place in an under the sea environment with included help...more
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This interactive and colorful math activity lets students practice math skills in several different areas. All activities take place in an under the sea environment with included help and vocabulary support. Please note that this site is from Canada, so the money activity uses Canadian currency.
tag(s): differentiation (8), numbers (130), operations (55), vocabulary (229)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector with the sound turned up. Play the introduction to orient your students. Have students try out this site on individual computers, or as a learning center (maybe on the IWB). For students that are having trouble with math vocabulary, use the provided glossary for explanations of common math terms. Parent/teacher information is available for each of the lessons. Most of the activities have different levels so activities can be differentiated for students.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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How to Pronounce Words and Use Them - EmbedPlus
Grades
4 to 12
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This site is exactly what its title indicates, but it's more. It's not just an audio dictionary program. At How to Pronounce Words and Use Them you see a selection ...more
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This site is exactly what its title indicates, but it's more. It's not just an audio dictionary program. At How to Pronounce Words and Use Them you see a selection of videos with the word, and different forms of the word being used in context. These are actual news stories, lectures, etc. where people are using the word for real! When you first arrive, you see a sample video. You can also click on one of the sample words at the bottom to see everything offered when you search a word. There is information about why it's important to see facial expressions when learning to pronounce a new word and why it's important not to use the word in isolation when learning to pronounce it. Be aware: this site allows any word to be typed into the text box, including words inappropriate for the classroom. Be sure students know consequences for inappropriate use of this tool just as they do for writing words on the board or in their assignments..
tag(s): pronunciation (30), vocabulary (229), vocabulary development (29), word study (28)
In the Classroom
If YouTube is blocked at your school, try using Vixy.net reviewed here, or Zamzar reviewed here to convert online videos such as the ones you find on YouTube into a portable format you can play at school.Whether you're an English Language Arts teacher or an ESL/ELL teacher, this site can help your students learn new words. You might want to have students keep lists of words they come across in their reading. Then have them take turns using this site (at a center or individual laptops). Or, if YouTube is blocked at your school, have this site posted on your webpage for parent and student use at home.
If you are a science, history, math, or other subject area teacher, you might want to embed a few of the videos on your own page for weekly vocabulary.
The quality of the information on the videos is excellent. In the Common Core State Standards there is an emphasis on background knowledge. This program will not only help your students with vocabulary and word pronunciation, but will help them build their background knowledge!
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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Making Books with Children - S. K. Gaylord
Grades
K to 10
3 Favorites
0 Comments
This site offers free book making activities -- the old fashioned way with paper and art supplies. Of particular interest is the project titled Making Books around the World...more
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This site offers free book making activities -- the old fashioned way with paper and art supplies. Of particular interest is the project titled Making Books around the World in which students can make slat books, palm leaf books, accordion books, "papyrus" scrolls, and cloth books of many types. Tips for teachers make the book making projects accessible. Book plans are also available in Spanish.
tag(s): artists (35), book reports (13), creative writing (53)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plan to do final projects on research of a variety of topics. This is a great find for gifted students or ESL/ELL students since it is so varied and flexible. Challenge students to make books as an end of unit project in science, social studies, and math. Have a bookmaking contest in your classroom. Have students make creative books rather than a traditional book report. Share this site together with art teachers. Share this site with parents to use to create books at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ESL Bits - Skip Reske
Grades
5 to 12
1 Favorites
1 Comments
Don't let the title mislead you! Find listening and reading activities for any listener who enjoys audio stories at a teen and adult level, including the advanced English language learner....more
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Don't let the title mislead you! Find listening and reading activities for any listener who enjoys audio stories at a teen and adult level, including the advanced English language learner. There are short stories, books, radio scripts, and songs to listen to and read, as well as English idioms, sayings, and slang. You'll also find a Reading Comprehension and Test Preparation area with interactive activities to help students read and understand English and prepare for reading exams. Unlike many audio book sites, this one includes recent and popular selections for almost anyone, including teachers and parents! Don't miss classic radio shows perfect for discovering life in 20th century decades past.
tag(s): listening (63), radio (17), reading comprehension (34), short stories (14), test prep (50)
In the Classroom
Project a story or song on an interactive whiteboard or projector for group listening, reading along, and discussion. Literature teachers can use the site for a class novel, so lower readers can have audio support at home for listening and review. You could have small groups of students listen to different short stories, and make up Bloom's type questions for the next group of students to answer, or they could turn the story into a Reader's Theater piece and video tape it, or perform it live for the class. Share the videos using a tool such as SchoolTube reviewed here. This is a terrific site to list on your class website for students to use for at-home practice or enjoyment. For elementary and middle school students, you will want to provide the specific url for the selection you want them to use so they are reading articles appropriate in content for their age group. If you supervise a study hall, keep this link handy as a listening option for students who "don't have any homework."Comments
Excellent resource!alma grimaldi, , Grades: 7 - 9
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VoiceThread - VoiceThread
Grades
K to 12
7 Favorites
0 Comments
Voicethread allows you to upload images (from your digital camera, scanner, or even paint program). You can also upoad PowerPoint slides. Then students can record or write their own...more
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Voicethread allows you to upload images (from your digital camera, scanner, or even paint program). You can also upoad PowerPoint slides. Then students can record or write their own comments and/or narration about the images/slides. Other listeners can "comment" back, as well. TeachersFirst is providing the link to the VoiceThread home page but suggests that you first watch this quick explanation about two types of FREE educator memberships being offered for classroom teachers (one free, the other with premium features and more students, but at a cost). You can click to go to the home page from there. Access to the ed.voicethread site (as opposed to www.voicethread) is restricted to grades K-12 students, educators, and administrators. VoiceThread explains how to set up a classroom account and has some ideas for classroom use, as well. Ideas from the TeachersFirst Edge review team are listed below, under "In the classroom."
Voicethread now offers a free iOS app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It is free through the iTunes app store. Projects work seamlessly on both computer and mobile iOS devices, so projects started on one machine can be edited and/or viewed on another. Your ed.Voicethread account works in both places.
Voicethread now offers a free iOS app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It is free through the iTunes app store. Projects work seamlessly on both computer and mobile iOS devices, so projects started on one machine can be edited and/or viewed on another. Your ed.Voicethread account works in both places.
tag(s): digital storytelling (30), speech (78)
In the Classroom
You will be logged into your account immediately after you fill in the registration form. You must "apply" to designate your account as an educator account once it is set up. Click on "browse" to see many examples, including tutorials. Watch the "One Minute Voicethread" to get a very quick overview of how easy it is to create a digital story. Set up student identities. Use first names only. You need to know how to locate and upload saved pictures or PowerPoint files. If you want to use audio, the COOL tool,you WILL need a microphone, either plugged into your computer or built in. They can be purchased for less than $10 at a discount or electronics store. Once you create a Voicethread, it can be shared by clicking :share" from the menu or at the end of viewing it and copying the URL to send via email or other means, inviting others to comment back. Ed voicethreads have comment moderation turned on by default and are private by default. As the teacher, you can change these settings.Of course, you should be sure that you have the RIGHTS to any images you upload. Fair Use does not apply when you put an image on the web!
Invite parents to share in the results (The VoiceThread classroom page tells you more about this). TeachersFirst does not recommend using actual, identifiable pictures of children. Let them draw a picture or take a digital picture of an object that somehow represents them (middle schoolers will love that idea!). If you allow others to "comment" on student Voicethreads, the experience can be both wonderful and a bit intimidating. Use this opportunity to promote ethical and kind interaction with other students and their projects.
Elementary classes can create or take pictures, then ask each child to talk about the images. Each child can comment on the SAME pictures, creating a collaborative collection of responses. After a field trip or special class event, you can assign groups of students to explain each of the digital pictures you took and how they relate to curriculum topics. In art class, students can critique works of their own or of fellow students. In language arts classes, students can scan and comment on writing pieces as part of a reflective phase of the writing process. Or post an image as a prewriting activity and allow students to respond orally in an idea-generating phase. In social studies, have students provide a picture of a grandparent then narrate what they learned about that grandparent from interviewing him/her. Have students create narrated pictures as gifts (for parents or other care givers) for special occasions, winter holidays, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.. During a science experiment or demo, have a student take pictures of the steps. Then ask students to "narrate" them by commenting on what is happening. The narration assignment could even be a center activity or an assignment on a few classroom computers for students to rotate through. What a great way to review and apply key vocabulary! Be sure they identify their voices if you are using a single class account and want to be able to assess understanding. Other ideas: narrated local history projects (pictures of local sites), audio "museum tours" of artifacts (photos) or war veterans telling their stories along with images of their uniforms or old photos. Speech/language, ESL/ELL or early childhood teachers could use this tool to promote vocabulary development and oral expression.
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)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Storybooks - Where Did the River Go
Grades
K to 4
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Create your own books for reading on the computer or printing, and test your reading skills with this interactive site. On the main screen are two different stories to choose ...more
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Create your own books for reading on the computer or printing, and test your reading skills with this interactive site. On the main screen are two different stories to choose from (The Journey To Darkest Somewhere or The House of Scary Words). Once you choose a story the fun begins! As each page turns, see options to personalize the characters and text. Click to drag new objects (pictures) into the story. Personalize the story with your own name. All of the red words/phrases can be changed. At the end of the story, choose to print the story or save to pdf. Along with the stories, there are other key components of the site, one of which is the section entitled "Scared of Words," tips for parents to help students with reading. There is a video skills quiz to help identify any weaknesses parents may have in reading skills, reasons for reading, hints and tips for helping children read, and links to online book resources. This site was developed in the United Kingdom, so you may notice a few spelling/vocabulary differences (for example, potato chips are referred to as "crisps.")
tag(s): book lists (48), literacy (99), reading comprehension (34), reading strategies (12)
In the Classroom
Share this site during Literacy nights at school as a resource parents can use at home when helping their students read. Share the site with ESL/ELL and Special Education teachers as a resource. Create a link on classroom computers, and have students create their own stories to print into a classroom book. Use this site to demonstrate how a passage will change through use of different verbs and nouns.
This resource requires Adobe Flash and PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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My Immigration Story - R. Ramos Y Sanchez
Grades
8 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
This site shares real immigrants' personal tales of coming to America. It also shares helpful resources for immigrants. Read unique stories about the many immigrants. With a simple...more
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This site shares real immigrants' personal tales of coming to America. It also shares helpful resources for immigrants. Read unique stories about the many immigrants. With a simple click, a box opens to share a story in writing. Writers only need a name (even just a first name), address, and email address (optional) to register. Also included on the site is an NPR interview with the creator of the site, indicating the site is not political, just a vehicle for allowing immigrants to share their concerns and triumphs. Other features of the website include an interesting quote from Benjamin Franklin concerning the public view of immigrants of his time, and many compelling photos of immigrants from all around the world. This site does include some minor advertising.
tag(s): immigration (39), migration (56), writing (287)
In the Classroom
Have your ESL/ELL students share their stories here (with permission from parents) when doing a biography writing unit. Have all students search for stories of immigrants whose ethnic background resembles their own. Have each student choose one story to read about and share a quick multimedia project with the class, such as a simple online posters using PicLits (reviewed here). Use stories from this site as a writing prompt for a poem or essay about an aspect of immigrant life, asking students to put themselves in the immigrant's shoes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Activity of the Month - Dr. Jean
Grades
K to 1
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0 Comments
This site offers a list of monthly "newsletters" full of teaching ideas and parenting tips/suggestions. Each months activities reflect the seasons and their special holidays. Many...more
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This site offers a list of monthly "newsletters" full of teaching ideas and parenting tips/suggestions. Each months activities reflect the seasons and their special holidays. Many activities include letters, words, and book activities. Besides the basic activity, quite a few of the monthly offerings include downloadable books to print and use, original song lyrics, and links to other related websites. This site is great to use with young ESL/ELL students too who need lots of fun reinforcement with learning the alphabet and pre-reading skills. This site includes many math activities as well.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): crafts (23), literacy (99), poetry (159), seasons (18), songs (36)
In the Classroom
This site is excellent for enrichment. Share this link on your teacher web page and/or in a parent newsletter for those who trying to encourage the habit of reading and handling books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Story Blocks - Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy
Grades
K to 1
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This early literacy site contains many video clips to assist parents and teachers in getting students ready to read. Rhymes and songs are modeled for use with younger children. ...more
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This early literacy site contains many video clips to assist parents and teachers in getting students ready to read. Rhymes and songs are modeled for use with younger children. Each aspect of literacy is explained before you hear the targeted text. Materials are available in both Spanish and English.
tag(s): literacy (99), poetry (159), rhymes (21), songs (36)
In the Classroom
Use the songs and chants on these videos to interest children in reading. Many songs and rhymes have actions that the children can do while saying the text. Have the children lead the class once they are familiar with offerings. Project the rhymes on your interactive whiteboard and follow along with the motions on the screen. Write down some of the words in the song and use them as sight words for the week. Have student helpers hold up the "sight word" as it is shared. Choose 3-5 new words from each rhyme. Share this site with ESL and learning support staff.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cloud Canvas - Cloud Canvas, Inc.
Grades
2 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Use this site for photo editing, drawing, and painting that integrates with Google Docs. Saved images will be in the PNG and XML format. Be sure to sign in ...more
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Use this site for photo editing, drawing, and painting that integrates with Google Docs. Saved images will be in the PNG and XML format. Be sure to sign in with your Google login to allow Google Docs access to your saved images. Use the array of easy to use tools to create and alter images and drawings. Create simple drawings or use more complex tools such as vectors and layering. Import images through Google clipart. Items created in Cloud Canvas must be saved in Google Docs. Click on the Features tab to learn what Cloud Canvas can do. Refer to the Documentation tab for manuals and tutorials.
tag(s): graphic design (16), images (99), photography (91)
In the Classroom
Create your own logos, shapes, diagrams, presentations, page layouts and more with this great site. Use this site to add information to pictures for class and student projects and creations. Add attributions (copyright info and sources) directly to the photo. Add student responses to pictures of class experiments. Create artistic effects with student pictures. The ideas for picture taking, creating, and sharing are endless. Make this a link from your class wiki so students can cut down file sizes before uploading large photos or make edited composites to communicate their message visually. As you study propaganda, have students create propaganda images to share on a class wiki or classroom bulletin board. Art teachers will love the ability to teach photo montage without expensive software. Make creative bulletin board displays from multiple digital pictures of special events, adding text and captions right into the photo. ESL/ELL, language, and special ed teachers can ask students to label images with sentences including correct vocabulary and grammar. Have students in your reading class create visual idiom images using digital pictures. Create a Google account before using Cloud Canvas in order to save creations. Tools are simple to use and require a little play. Have students create Google accounts at home with their parents if unable to do so at school. Consider creating a class account for students who are unable to create an account or login to their account. Concerned about copyright? Use this free site to create your own content and not borrow from others.Edge Features:
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
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TeachersFirst's Audio Books with Text Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
7 Favorites
0 Comments
These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books with accompanying text so all students, including emerging readers and ESL/ELL learners, can experience literature...more
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These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books with accompanying text so all students, including emerging readers and ESL/ELL learners, can experience literature and other reading selections in audio form as they reinforce and inspire literacy skills and enjoyment. Be sure to explore each site, as many include multiple types of activities, including the audio books and texts.
tag(s): audio books (12)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your professional favorites AND share it on a class web page for access by students and parents. The helpful reviews suggest ideas for ways to use the books in the classroom or outside of school to reinforce literacy skills, improve English skills, or study literature in new ways.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TeachersFirst's Interactive Audio Books Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books in interactive form so all students, including emerging readers and ESL/ELL learners, can experience reading with...more
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These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books in interactive form so all students, including emerging readers and ESL/ELL learners, can experience reading with audio and visual prompts or interactivity to reinforce and inspire literacy skills and enjoyment as they read. Be sure to explore each site, as many include multiple types of activities, including the interactive books.
tag(s): audio books (12)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your professional favorites AND share it on a class web page for access by students and parents. The helpful reviews suggest ideas for ways to use the audio books in the classroom or outside of school to reinforce literacy skills, improve English skills, or study literature in new ways.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TeachersFirst's Audio Books Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books so all students, including emerging readers and ESL/ELL learners, can experience literature and other reading...more
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These educator-reviewed resources from TeachersFirst offer audio books so all students, including emerging readers and ESL/ELL learners, can experience literature and other reading selections in audio form to reinforce and inspire literacy skills and enjoyment.
tag(s): audio books (12), listening (63)
In the Classroom
Mark this one in your professional favorites AND share it on a class web page for access by students and parents. The helpful reviews suggest ideas for ways to use the audio books in the classroom or outside of school to reinforce literacy skills, improve English skills, or study literature in new ways.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TV411 - Math - Adult Literacy Media Alliance
Grades
4 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
TV411 offers lessons and games covering math topics from calculating area to reading a pay stub. Each lesson is offered in a slide format beginning with an introduction to the ...more
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TV411 offers lessons and games covering math topics from calculating area to reading a pay stub. Each lesson is offered in a slide format beginning with an introduction to the activity, followed by questions to answer. Upon answering questions, feedback is provided. If the answer was incorrect, an explanation of the correct solution is provided. The site also provides several math games practicing fractions, ratio, data, and percent. Spanish and ESL/ELL teachers will want to note that there is a small sample of lessons available in Spanish on the site. Many of the topics are also applicable in Family and Consumer Science or business classes, as well.
tag(s): charts and graphs (113), financial literacy (19)
In the Classroom
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector as practice or review of current math topics. Provide a link to games on classroom computers for student practice. Spanish teachers may want students to complete a lesson in Spanish to provide real-world language practice. Share this site with parents through your classroom website or blog to provide review materials at home.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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Dolch Word - Dolch word.net/
Grades
K to 3
1 Favorites
0 Comments
The Dolch Word website offers a variety of activities, information, and tools for teaching and learning the Dolch Word list. The words are broken into the pre-primer, primer, first,...more
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The Dolch Word website offers a variety of activities, information, and tools for teaching and learning the Dolch Word list. The words are broken into the pre-primer, primer, first, second, and third grade categories. Within each category, you will find printable flashcards as well as word lists that can be used for student assessment. At each level, there are a variety of Dolch word games to choose from such as memory, matching, spelling, and jigsaw. Audio is used during some of the games as verbal cues. There are items for sale and advertisements, but you can ignore them.
tag(s): puzzles (133)
In the Classroom
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce new Dolch words or to familiarize students with the rules of the games prior to using them during centers. Be sure to show which areas are ads to avoid. Students can use this site during centers as a review or to differentiate instruction. Have students print out their own Dolch flashcards, cut them up and place them in a plastic bag for those times when they finish their work early. Do not forget to share this useful site with the school reading specialist and ELL/ESL teacher. Another idea: provide this link on your class website for students and parents to access both in and out of the classroom.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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Biographicon - biographicon.com
Grades
8 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
With a free registration (email required), you can write your own biography online. Add your name, pertinent details, and a picture.... and your biography is available. You can also...more
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With a free registration (email required), you can write your own biography online. Add your name, pertinent details, and a picture.... and your biography is available. You can also search for biographies of others and even comment on what others have written. Many famous people from the past and present are included at this site, making this site ideal to include during research in any subject.
tag(s): biographies (22), writing (287)
In the Classroom
Find biographies of famous people from a certain culture, time period, or profession as part of a famous persons unit. A personal biography is a great writing project for ESL/ELL students or as part of the college/career preparation process. Have students do their own biographies and critique each others' biographies for a class project. Foreign language teachers can have their students write biographies in their target languages.Since students using this site to write their own biographies are putting personal information online, this is the ideal time to discuss safety issues of a "digital footprint" and how to keep the information safe. Check school policies on putting student work online, and obtain parent permission.
Registration does require an email address. Tip: rather than using your personal or work email, create a free Gmail account to use for memberships. If you plan to have students register individually, you may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service.
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xtra normal - xtranormal Technology Inc.
Grades
2 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Xtranormal is a free movie making site using text you enter or paste into the script. You will find several figures, called "actors," that can be animated and sets that ...more
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Xtranormal is a free movie making site using text you enter or paste into the script. You will find several figures, called "actors," that can be animated and sets that are ready to use. The introduction to this program claims "If you can type, you can create a movie." There are two programs at this one site. One is "Text-To Movie" which you create online, and the other is "State." With "State" you download the program to your Windows based computer so your young students won't have to work online.
tag(s): movies (51)
In the Classroom
This application is easy to navigate. Select "Make Movies," choose a your "actors," and start typing in your text. For directions, click on "watch movies" and select the demo video at the bottom.Applications for this site extend through all subject areas. Students can use xtranormal to broadcast weekly news from their school or classroom. Students can also produce project videos on any curriculum topic. Have students make debate videos about different events in history or discuss a book they have finished reading. Make "how to" videos to share with parents and friends. Embed your or your student's xtanormal videos into your class website or wiki and encourage parents to view school news or student projects. ESL students can create animated characters who speak their carefully written English language practice, such as conversations or explanations using target vocabulary. Here is a sample video about TeachersFirst.
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