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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Readlee - Readlee
Grades
K to 12
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Readlee uses speech AI (artificial intelligence) technology to gather and analyze student reading progress. Upload your class roster using Google Classroom or Clever, or upload students...more
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Readlee uses speech AI (artificial intelligence) technology to gather and analyze student reading progress. Upload your class roster using Google Classroom or Clever, or upload students individually. Begin by posting a text for students to read online within the Readlee platform. Next, import text by URL, select from Readlee's library, or upload a document; options include posting the full text or a defined portion of the text. Finally, assign the reading to the entire class or specific students. When students complete the assignment, they turn on the microphone, begin reading, and select the button to turn in their recording when finished. Readlee provides data on each project, including the number of words read per minute and more. Be sure to check the pricing page to view all of the features included with free accounts.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (15), ELL/ESL (28), fluency (23), reading comprehension (132), reading strategies (87), Teacher Utilities (134)
In the Classroom
Although Readlee doesn't replace the need to listen to students' reading in person, it provides an excellent tool for gathering data and providing information between those data points. In addition, Readlee provides students with ongoing feedback on their development of reading and fluency skills. Use Readlee as a resource for ENL/ESL students to practice and develop reading and speaking skills. Share feedback from students' reading assignments with parents as you monitor progress together throughout the year. During student/teacher conferences, use the data from Readlee to work with students to develop a plan for strengthening and improving reading skills.
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My Wordle - Pallav Agarwal and Pulkit Agarwal
Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Customize and share personalized Wordles based upon the popular word game, Wordle, reviewed here using Make a Custom Wordle. Enter a word of any length...more
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Customize and share personalized Wordles based upon the popular word game, Wordle, reviewed here using Make a Custom Wordle. Enter a word of any length (unlike the original word for five-letter words only) to generate a shareable link for your word. Make a Custom Wordle also offers the option to create words in several languages, including Spanish, French, Hindi, and German. Share the link with students using email, classroom management system, or class website. When complete, copy the URL to share by pasting it into an email or your blog or classroom website.
tag(s): ELL/ESL (28), game based learning (167), sight words (21), spelling (93), vocabulary (231)
In the Classroom
Use this Wordle generator in various ways in any classroom for increasing problem-solving and strategy skills. When using with young students, generate three or four-letter Wordles for students to attempt with partners. Provide a list of sight words if needed to avoid frustration. When teaching older students, develop Wordles to solve using vocabulary words, weekly spelling lists, science terms, or historical characters. Provide this site to students and create Wordles to share with their peers. Include a link on classroom computers during computer centers or as an activity when finished with daily assignments. Using this site is an excellent way to include ENL/ESL students in classroom activities by creating a word from their native language. Include others in your school community or parents by developing and sharing Wordles for your school or classroom site. Your imagination only limits the possibilities of creating and sharing personalized Wordles!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Clever Crazes for Kids - Building Healthy Lives Foundation
Grades
K to 8
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Clever Crazes for Kids is a kid-friendly website devoted to sharing education enrichment resources aligned to state and Common Core Standards. This site features game-based learning...more
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Clever Crazes for Kids is a kid-friendly website devoted to sharing education enrichment resources aligned to state and Common Core Standards. This site features game-based learning activities based upon STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) concepts and content. Additional activities provide foundations in English language learning skills for ENL/ESL students. Play games as a guest or create a free account to save favorites and earn points. Download the Toolkit for Educators (PDF) to find an overview of the site's offerings and suggested curriculum uses.
tag(s): game based learning (167), preK (246), STEM (236)
In the Classroom
Add games found on Clever Crazes for Kids to others shared on classroom computers. Encourage students to participate in games by earning points. Have students document and extend their learning by sharing screenshots of accomplishments and by screen recording student reading sessions to demonstrate progress. Use Seesaw, reviewed here, as a digital portfolio to document progress and share student learning with parents.
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CurriConnects Booklist: The Artist's Eye - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This CurriConnects features books about artists and their style and Caldecott winning authors who have unusual or beautiful layouts. Treat your students to the possibility of exploring...more
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This CurriConnects features books about artists and their style and Caldecott winning authors who have unusual or beautiful layouts. Treat your students to the possibility of exploring color and its power to communicate feelings and ideas, that art can be in the eye of the beholder, finding art (and joy) in the shapes of nature, different ways to look at perspective, and much, much more! This thematic list includes fiction and nonfiction, interest and grade levels, ISBNs for ordering or searching, ESL levels and Lexiles (where available) to match with student independent reading levels to challenge, not to frustrate.
tag(s): artists (74), colors (62), drawing (61), perspective (11)
In the Classroom
This list will be a natural fit for anyone teaching art whether in elementary, middle, or high school. Use the books to introduce concepts in art and have students create digital sketchbooks about the styles and concepts they like. Replace the paper journal or sketchbook with one that can be accessed anywhere and never left behind. Use a digital "idea bin" collector like Padlet, reviewed here, that offers tools for creating shelves or grids to organize information about the concepts learned and post ideas and photos. Be sure to share this list of CurriConnects books about art with parents on your teacher webpage.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Formilla - Tawer Gilyana and Zaia Gilyana
Grades
K to 12
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Formilla is a live chat widget add-on for your website. Compatible with all formats, Formilla is customizable for different languages and appearance. Free accounts include access to...more
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Formilla is a live chat widget add-on for your website. Compatible with all formats, Formilla is customizable for different languages and appearance. Free accounts include access to one website, one chat agent, and up to 30 chats/emails.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): chat (37), communication (134)
In the Classroom
Offer a set time for office hours published well in advance for parents and students to drop in and ask questions about assignments, homework help, or any other matters that they may have. Set up a chat time early in the school year for "meet and greet" so parents discover your website or for those who are unable to attend back to school night! Cut down on email! Encourage students to identify the questions they (or their parents) have the most as you develop the scope for your chat. ESL/ELL teachers can use the chat to provide extra written language practice for their students in an engaging way! Use the chat with your colleagues in a Teacher Lounge format to help each other in the appropriate use of technology, content sharing, or professional development.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Twitter Chat: ESL Teaching Tools and Tips - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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This archived Twitter chat is from January 2017 and will open in Wakelet. View this archive to learn strategies, tips, and tools for working with ESL students. Learn about tools ...more
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This archived Twitter chat is from January 2017 and will open in Wakelet. View this archive to learn strategies, tips, and tools for working with ESL students. Learn about tools to differentiate for students. Discover communication tools to use with parents of students who are also limited English speakers. Browse the tips and tools offered by the chat moderators and participants.
tag(s): ELL/ESL (28), professional development (331), twitterchatarchive (155)
In the Classroom
Explore the tools shared in this archived chat. Share this tool with your colleagues who work with ESL students in their classrooms.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Speechnotes - Speechlogger & TTSReader
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Speechnotes provides a distraction-free, easy to use speech to text notepad for use with Chrome browsers. Just click on the microphone to begin speaking. Be sure to view the hints ...more
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Speechnotes provides a distraction-free, easy to use speech to text notepad for use with Chrome browsers. Just click on the microphone to begin speaking. Be sure to view the hints for inserting punctuation. When finished, email or print your document. Saving options allow you to upload files to Google Drive or download as a text file. This tool is for speech to text, not text to speech.
tag(s): communication (134), speech (67), writing (302)
In the Classroom
Speechnotes is a very versatile tool, for students, parents, and teachers alike. Bypass poor typing skills, dysgraphia, dyslexia, and physical disabilities. Use this tool to create emails, documents, or anything requiring typed text. Use in your writing class so students can get their thoughts into text without having to also think about typing. Be sure they edit their work. Use when you are in a hurry with emails requiring long text. Use for your newsletters or family emails. Share this on your class website and at Back to School Night. Emerging literacy students will enjoy the success they have with their oral language into written word. Improve content and forget about mechanics of writing or typing. Focus in on grammar and mechanics after seeing the recognized mistakes. Include this website on every toolbar and as a favorite on your class web page. ENL/ESL students can speak English, play it back, and correct it until it "sounds right" and expresses their ideas correctly.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Immigrant Stories - Immigration History Research Center Univ of Minnesota
Grades
6 to 12
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Immigrant Stories is a collection of videos sharing personal and family immigration stories. Add your story to the collection by following posted instructions and video tutorials. View...more
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Immigrant Stories is a collection of videos sharing personal and family immigration stories. Add your story to the collection by following posted instructions and video tutorials. View all of the stories here. Each short video includes information about the participant and a downloadable transcript. Click on tags to find additional videos from participants discussing the same country or region.
tag(s): immigrants (31), immigration (63), migration (44)
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. Ask students who have a relative who is an immigrant to interview them, and then use a tool such as the 3 Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare the experiences. This could be done using a story from the same country, or other countries. Use stories from this site as a writing prompt for a poem or digital story about an aspect of immigrant life, asking students to put themselves in the immigrant's shoes. For presentations of digital stories challenge students to use Presentious, reviewed here. This tool allows narrating and adding text to a picture. For the advanced digital atudent and teacher challenge them to create their story as a game using Pencil Code Gym, reviewed here.
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WriteReader - WriteReader
Grades
K to 5
4 Favorites
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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...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 on the top menu to see an index to all features categorized by Literacy Development, Easy Book Creation, Publishing and Sharing, and Teacher & Student Management, all 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 60 books and all the essential features. Register by email or your Google account. After logging in, use the menu bars in the upper right corner and find Guides, which has a Parent Letter, a Quick Start Guide, a Template, and a few other get-started items.
For creating student accounts, you can enter students manually, or students can join the class with 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 such as Read Aloud, Voice Search, Book Templates, and several others. For these, you must pay.
tag(s): digital storytelling (138), literacy (98), reading strategies (87), science of reading (22), writing (302)
In the Classroom
WriteReader is so simple that very young students can use it successfully after a whiteboard or projector demonstration. While creating their books, students will be able to add images, multiple pages and delete pages, include voice-over, use color on the pages, view one page at a time or the entire book, and toggle between letters' names/sounds or 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 especially will benefit from hearing the 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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Internet Safety for Kids Resource Guide - SearchRPM
Grades
6 to 12
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Hosted by an Internet marketing company that understands the importance of children's safety online, this extensive collection of articles, infographics, and links should encourage...more
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Hosted by an Internet marketing company that understands the importance of children's safety online, this extensive collection of articles, infographics, and links should encourage conversations with kids about Internet safety. Sure to be helpful for parents and teachers because of practical steps to improve online experiences for children; plus everything is free to use, print and share. Find resources organized in two areas: Internet safety tips for children and parent safety and Internet monitoring resources. The one-page articles are text heavy, so this site will be most useful with older teens. Areas covered include the usual topics, but also include some not so often covered: Kids' Online Personas & Activity, Internet Video Safety Tips for Kids, Internet Game Safety Tips for Kids, Internet Radio Safety Tips for Kids, and A True or False: Internet Safety Facts for Kids. Parental Internet Monitoring Resources provide a helpful compilation of parents' essential information. These include Cyber Bullying Prevention, Digital Parental Controls, Laws and Organizations for Kids Online, Online Stranger Danger: Stop Internet Stalkers, Protecting Financial & Personal Information, Safe Browser Settings for Kids, Social Media Safety Tips for Kids, and Monitoring Your Kids Internet Usage.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): bullying (53), cyberbullying (40), digital citizenship (79), financial literacy (93), internet safety (110), media literacy (93), parents (60), safety (72), social media (47)
In the Classroom
Use "A True or False: Internet Safety Facts for Kids" as pre or post assessment or discussion starter. Project the infographics for students and/or parents to introduce or summarize a topic. Since information is mostly text, except for two infographics, use the articles for informational text reading selections. Improve learning and help students identify important words by having them use Wordsift, reviewed here. The text might be difficult to follow for ESL/ELL and younger students. Use Select and Speek, reviewed here, a text to speech tool that will allow these students to follow the text as the article or passage is read to them. Have students discuss or blog responses.The articles will make useful resources for a parent information night, to send home in newsletters, or to post on school websites. The pages are embedded into the SearchRPM website, so it can be easy to stray into the corporate side. Also, there is a very large contact box that seems related to business inquiries at the bottom margin of each page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kiddle - Google
Grades
K to 12
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Kiddle is a search engine for kids powered by Google Custom Search, and it provides results oriented for kids. Results appear with larger thumbnails and large font to make reading ...more
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Kiddle is a search engine for kids powered by Google Custom Search, and it provides results oriented for kids. Results appear with larger thumbnails and large font to make reading the results easier. Search options include web, image, video, and news options. Inappropriate searches result with an "Oops, try again!" message.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): search engines (51)
In the Classroom
Use Kiddle as the default search engine on classroom computers. Share on an interactive whiteboard or projector and demonstrate how to search using the different options, and how to choose keywords that make searching easier. Share a link on your class website and in your classroom newsletter for parents to use at home. Learning support and ESL/ELL students will appreciate being able to search without as much reading. Even very young students can LOOK for a site using this search tool, assuming they can type just a little bit.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Voxer - Tom Katis
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Voxer is a combination of instant voice and text messages. You can also text images and your location. Voxer will work with your headset and Bluetooth so you can be ...more
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Voxer is a combination of instant voice and text messages. You can also text images and your location. Voxer will work with your headset and Bluetooth so you can be hands-free. It is available on the web and all mobile devices. Hear messages live, or listen later. Broadcast messages to an individual or group, or listen and respond to chats in Walkie-Talkie mode and not even be in the app. Voxer allows talk and text across countries, wireless carriers, or data networks at no additional charge. Registration with email is required.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): chat (37), communication (134), DAT device agnostic tool (135), listening (65), microblogging (22), social media (47), speaking (21), speech (67)
In the Classroom
Extend classroom technology use by using Voxer with early readers in your Daily 5 literacy structure for oral reading and listening to others read. Archive students' reading fluency at the beginning of the year, making comparisons throughout the year. Send the Voxer sample readings to parents via email so they can hear the progress and your comments, too. Use Voxer with any language learning students, both ENL/ESL and world languages. Students can practice speaking and listening in their new language. Connect with another class in a country speaking the language your students are learning for rich, real-world discussions. Create small groups to discuss anything from current events, to how to complete a math problem, to contributions for group research projects. Middle and high school teachers can use Voxer for communication between classes posting a question about the reading they are doing, an equation in math, or a lab in science. Collaborate with another classroom across the state or in another country allowing students to discuss with other students not in their school. Reluctant writers could use this tool to brainstorm their thoughts for a writing piece. With students under 13 consider setting up a class account using a global login. Students would need to give their first name when contributing so you will know who is speaking.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
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Ocenaudio - ocenaudio
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Ocenaudio is easy to use software for editing audio. Download the software to any major operating system such as Windows, Mac, or Linux. Use prompts to navigate the software using ...more
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Ocenaudio is easy to use software for editing audio. Download the software to any major operating system such as Windows, Mac, or Linux. Use prompts to navigate the software using a large variety of audio files. Trim, copy, and paste audio or choose from an assortment of effects. When finished, save the file in the format of your choice. Be sure to see the features link on the site for complete information on the capabilities of the software.
In the Classroom
Use Ocenaudio in early grades to promote literacy by recording your students and creating an audio portfolio record of their reading. Use this tool with ESL/ELL students to practice fluency and hear themselves speak. Use Ocenaudio to record parents, principals, lunch ladies, librarians, relatives, and bus drivers all telling a favorite class story. During writing time, allow students freedom from the pencil to express their true creative voices. Also, dabble into digital storytelling to create a lesson in adding voice, emotion, and characterization. Record audio interviews at local nursing homes, fire stations, or museums to recollect times such as wars, the Great Depression, Civil Rights Movements, or as a primary source during memorable events. Record world language conversations as a student project. Make music class or the school band a gold recording!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Plum Landing - WGBH Educational Foundation
Grades
1 to 3
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Join Plum, an alien video game designer from another planet, and explore the natural world through interactive games, videos, adventures, and real life activities. Live videos feature...more
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Join Plum, an alien video game designer from another planet, and explore the natural world through interactive games, videos, adventures, and real life activities. Live videos feature kids exploring different biomes and recording data for Plum. Before each game, learn about the environmental focus that will help you win the game. Ideas for exploring and investigating outside bring environmental concepts to your own community. Post images, thoughts, and ideas to share with Plum in the gallery. A parent section offers activities to do online and outside. The educator section provides curriculum for Afterschool programs, Clubs, or Camps. Lesson plans designed for after school enrichment, clubs, and camps give curriculum topics, standards, video links, conversation starters, and related activities.
tag(s): conservation (80), earth (177), earth day (61), environment (229), game based learning (167)
In the Classroom
Capture student interest in environmental science, zoology, conservation, and ecology with Plum and her human friends! Use this site in science as a way to introduce the study of the Earth, biomes, or food chains. Share the videos on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Add to computers for center time. Use Plum's adventures to inspire further adventures involving the students. Use videos as a multimedia resource to supplement the science textbook. Use the adventures to inspire either narrative or expository writing. During Earth Day, students can explore your school community. Explore other science topics and modify student learning by challenging them to create comics using a tool such as Make Beliefs Comix, reviewed here, or a digital storytelling project with their own images, observations, and stories using Presentious, reviewed here. Presentious allows narrating and adding text to a picture. ENL/ESL and learning support students will find this site useful with reading support, video, and demonstrations. Have students research topics mentioned in the videos for deeper understanding. If you are beginning the process of integrating technology, replace pen and paper by having students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Seesaw, reviewed here. Share research and stories with other classes in your school, students' families, and on your class website or wiki.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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StackExchange - English Language & Usage - StackExchange
Grades
8 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
StackExchange is a question and answer community. StackExchange English & Usage will have an expert answer any question you might have about the English language. Ask anything - the...more
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StackExchange is a question and answer community. StackExchange English & Usage will have an expert answer any question you might have about the English language. Ask anything - the difference between "then" and "than", anything about idioms, a euphemism for poor performance, or when trying to remember a word you heard by describing what it means and the context in which it was used. View questions from the categories of newest, frequent, featured, and more. Look at tags and view questions from there. You don't need to be a member to read questions and their answers, but you do need to sign up to ask or answer a question.
tag(s): idioms (31), vocabulary (231)
In the Classroom
Explore this site with students using an interactive whiteboard or projector. Sometimes students ask a question that stumps you. Use StackExchange English & Usage to get the answer. There are times when we know the approximate meaning of a word we want to use but not the word. That is when this tool will come in handy. ESL/ELL students will find this site helpful when it comes to understanding the idiosyncrasies of the English language. Put a link to this site on your class website for students and parents to use. Share with other staff members and teachers on your campus.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TextProject - TextProject, Inc
Grades
K to 9
8 Favorites
0 Comments
TextProject offers strategies, tools, and texts to bring beginning readers and struggling readers to high literacy levels. Download materials for teaching reading, such as vocabulary...more
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TextProject offers strategies, tools, and texts to bring beginning readers and struggling readers to high literacy levels. Download materials for teaching reading, such as vocabulary lessons, word pictures, literacy lists, and reading passages. Browse the TextProject Research tab to find book collections, professional articles, and videos available on their YouTube Channel. Be sure to find time to explore the Teachers part of the site with many printables and Teacher's Guides for use with all reading levels. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): commoncore (79), literacy (98), reading comprehension (132), reading lists (81), reading strategies (87), vocabulary (231), vocabulary development (91), word study (57)
In the Classroom
If you teach reading or are an ENL/ESL or resource teacher for students with special needs, you will want to bookmark this site! Take advantage of all of the free downloads on the site, including forms, checklists, lessons, and reading passages. Share this site with parents to help them understand the process of learning to read and finding materials for their student. Share this site during professional development sessions when discussing reading instruction and alignment to Common Core Standards. Be sure to sign up for TextProject's monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all new additions to the site.
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Preparing For The Oath - Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Grades
6 to 12
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Could you pass the U.S. Naturalization Test? Preparing For The Oath offers learning opportunities and a practice test. Practice listening, reading and oral skills as you take the practice...more
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Could you pass the U.S. Naturalization Test? Preparing For The Oath offers learning opportunities and a practice test. Practice listening, reading and oral skills as you take the practice test. As you check for correct answers, use the Review This Question link to learn and practice more information. Additional links offer lesson plans and guides for teachers, word lists, and full transcripts of resources.
tag(s): immigration (63)
In the Classroom
Share this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on US history or citizenship. Take advantage of the video lessons on this site to teach and review topics pertaining to the United States. Be sure to share with your school's ESL/ELL teacher as an informative resource for students and parents.
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Choosito! - Eleni Miltsakaki
Grades
K to 12
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Choosito! is a search engine providing safe access to the worldwide web through filtering of reading levels and subject areas for education. Create an account to add class information...more
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Choosito! is a search engine providing safe access to the worldwide web through filtering of reading levels and subject areas for education. Create an account to add class information and add your collections. Search Choosito! using filters for reading level and subject. Limit searches to Choosito's Library, your collections, or Choosito! Web. Easily share searches using social networking links or save to your library. Be sure to check out the Choosito! Start Guides for a quick overview to getting started with this search engine.
tag(s): bookmarks (47), learning disability (22), Learning Management Systems (24), search engines (51), search strategies (21), Special Needs (45), Teacher Utilities (134)
In the Classroom
Create a classroom account and provide a link on classroom computers for student searches at any time. Differentiate in your class by assigning reading by reading level. ESL/ELL and resource teachers will find this especially helpful when looking for reading material at your students' level for topics assigned in core classes. Be sure to introduce Choosito! on an interactive whiteboard or projector for students to understand how to use this search engine. Share Choosito! with parents for use at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sway - Microsoft
Grades
3 to 12
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Use Sway to create interactive presentations across all devices. Drag and drop content from your device, social networks, and the web directly onto your Sway canvas. Log in using your...more
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Use Sway to create interactive presentations across all devices. Drag and drop content from your device, social networks, and the web directly onto your Sway canvas. Log in using your Microsoft account to begin or create a new account using your email and a password. Add content to your storyline using links to add text, images, and media. Change the look of your Sway using the Design tool to change the color palette, layout, and fonts. When finished, click the Share button for options to share to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, URL, or copy the embed code. Sway will work on any device with a modern Internet browser and an Internet connection. They also have an iOS app. The introduction video and tutorials are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
tag(s): communication (134), digital storytelling (138), Microsoft (75), multimedia (40), slides (42), visualizations (11)
In the Classroom
Use Sway as an alternative to Prezi or PowerPoint presentations. Sway is perfect for use in your BYOD or 1:1 classroom. Use during your presentations to increase student engagement and interaction. Check understanding of your ENL/ESL students by having them respond or pose questions throughout the presentation. Enhance student learning and understanding by sharing with students for them to use during their own presentations, inviting other students to comment and answer questions. During Open House night with parents, demonstrate how Sway provides interaction. Use Sway during professional development presentations to invite discussions from colleagues.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Pinup - Martin Tajur
Grades
5 to 12
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Pinup is a web-based canvas for creating and storing sticky notes. Create a new canvas by clicking anywhere on the blank canvas. You can also click and drag your mouse ...more
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Pinup is a web-based canvas for creating and storing sticky notes. Create a new canvas by clicking anywhere on the blank canvas. You can also click and drag your mouse to create a new note from anywhere on the board. Click the plus sign to add a new text pin, and the image symbol below it to add images or a document. Use the menu across the top of the sticky to change the background color, duplicate the pin, move it to another canvas or turn it into a checklist. You can also drag and drop images directly from your desktop. Personalize stickies by changing the color of sticky notes. Edit the text options using bold and strikethroughs. Change the size of your notes quickly and easily. Once you have created more than one canvas, choose the one you want to be your default canvas when you use Pinup. Any device with a web browser can access and use this organizer! Share your canvas with one click by adding email recipients. Note that collaborators must have email addresses.
tag(s): bulletin boards (14), homework (33), organizational skills (88)
In the Classroom
There are any number of ways to use Pinup! Introduce how to use Pinup on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Demonstrate how to use the checklist to mark off completed items. Have students use this as a way to organize their reminders and homework. With younger students use with a whole-class email account and list items to be accomplished for the day. Display the list on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have a student scribe check off completed items. Use this site with a whole-class email account to organize a major research project. Keep track (or share) sites to help students study for the big test. Provide this link on your class website for students (or parents) to access at home. Help students build organizational skills with this engaging and useful tool. If your students have a whole-class email account, use a class canvas to display ideas as student brainstorm or respond from their smart phones (if allowed in class). With the canvas open on a projector (interactive whiteboard), their ideas will appear instantaneously. Use Pinup to display and label images. Beginning ESL/ELL students can drag and drop images and label them in their new language. Use Pinup as and idea bin for writing or projects or any brainstorm list.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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