Many schools have already made initiatives to move to more digital learning. However, now with the schools closing due to the coronavirus, digital learning is becoming a necessity. Whether your school is already using a lot of digital resources or this is something brand new for you, hopefully you will be able to find some new websites to use with your students in this post.
Introducing Digital Learning
When you’re getting started with digital learning, you need a way to deliver the resources to your students. This can be a challenge when you have students without access to technology at home. I know many schools are offering the option to pick up a hard copy of resources for families without computer access at home.
For those students who have access to technology at home, here are some ways to deliver the assignments to them.
Email – Most families have access to email, so this is a great way to start delivering digital resources to them until you have a chance to set up another delivery system.
Google Classroom – If your students have gmail accounts, Google Classroom is an awesome way to provide them with everything they need. You can create classes for each subject and create assignments with everything they need.
Class Dojo – Many teachers have Class Dojo set up as a behavior management system in their classrooms. However, it’s also a great way to communicate with your students’ families. You can provide them with links to websites and learning materials they need for digital learning.
ClassTag – ClassTag is another great way to deliver digital resources to your students’ families. You can attach a file, video, or picture so your students can access the digital resources.
Seesaw – Seesaw is another parent communication website and app where you can share assignments for digital learning. Your students can upload work to their portfolios on the app.
Clever – My daughter’s teacher is using Clever to deliver assignments to us during the school closure. She can send assigments and updates through it.
Video Digital Resources
- Screencastify – This program will allow you to record videos of yourself teaching lessons. Then, you can save them to Google Drive and share them with your students through Google Classroom or email.
- Zoom – Zoom is a way to meet with your students online. They will be able to see you, and you will be able to see them. Zoom is free for meetings up to 40 minutes.
- Flipgrid– Use Flipgrid to have discussions with your students through videos. Create a grid with discussion questions or prompts. Then, your students can create videos to respond to them.
- Edpuzzle – Use Edpuzzle to create videos to teach your students new concepts or to review things they’ve already learned. You can break up a video with questions to check their understanding as they watch it.
Math Digital Resources
Once you have a way to deliver resources to your students, it’s time to find ways to review concepts that you’ve already taught and ways to teach new content to your students.
Here are some amazing online math resources that will make sure your students stay strong in their math skills while they are away from school.
- Khan Academy – The math videos on Khan Academy do a great job teaching new concepts to your students. The students can watch the video and do practice questions on this website.
- Zearn – This website follows the lessons for the Engage New York math program. All of these math lessons are free, and so is the website. It has videos that walk the students through the lessons and problems for them to solve to apply the skills.
- Prodigy – Prodigy is a math website that makes solving math problems into a game. Your students will love making their way through the different worlds and using their math knowledge to battle villains and gain new powers.
- Freckle – Freckle is a great way to differentiate your students’ math learning. It gives them a pretest and allows each student to practice the skills he/she needs to master. Students also love earning coins to spend in the “Piggy Store”.
- XtraMath – If your students need practice with their basic math facts, XtraMath is a great website! They can practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems.
- Sumdog – The games are very engaging for students, and they enjoy earning new things for their character and house in the game.
- Happy Numbers – Differentiate your math instruction with this website. Sign up for your free account, and start creating assignments for your students.
Reading Digital Resources
- Epic! Books – Epic! is an awesome resource for your students who don’t have access to a lot of books at home. They can log in and read over 35,000 books online. There are also quizzes for many of the books to check for comprehension.
- Vooks – Like Epic!, Vooks has books online, too. However their books are animated and interactive.
- Freckle – Freckle has activities for math and for reading. You will be able to differentiate assignments to meet all of your students’ needs.
- ReadWorks – ReadWorks is an amazing website to assess reading comprehension. There are hundreds of reading passages at all different levels and focused on all different comprehension strategies.
- Storyline Online – This website has popular picture books being read aloud by celebrities. This is another great website for your students who don’t have access to a lot of books at home.
- Storia – This website from Scholastic has access to hundreds of e-books. There are activities and quizzes for each one to check for reading comprehension.
- Reading A-Z – If you’re looking for leveled readers for your students, Reading A-Z is the perfect site for you. They have hundreds of leveled readers with activities to practice reading strategies and quizzes to check for comprehension.
- Reading Eggspress – My students absolutely love Reading Eggspress! It’s like the reading equivalent of Prodigy. They read stories and answer questions to earn eggs that they can spend to buy things for their character. You can do a 30-day free trial of this progam.
- Time for Kids – Time for Kids has 4 digital editions available for free right now. These magazines provide current events articles for your students and questions to check for comprehension.
- Lalilo – This website is geared toward grades K to 2 and focuses on phonics. Your students will love the fun activities as they learn to read and practice reading skills.
Grammar and Spelling Digital Resources
- Grammaropolis – If you need a way for your students to practice grammar skills, Grammaropolis is for you. Your students can practice parts of speech and punctuation on this website. You can try this website for free for one month.
- Spelling City – Have your students practice their spelling words online with Spelling City.
Science Digital Resources
- Mystery Science – These science lessons are engaging and fun. Your students will love the videos and activities!
- Legends of Learning – This website is filled with fun learning games to practice important science skills.
Resources for All Subjects
- BrainPop – BrainPop has videos for all different subjects. Your students will learn about a concept and then there are several different activities they can do to show what they know.
- TeacherVision – TeacherVision has tons of amazing resources for all subjects. You can find complete lesson plans or quick activities to assign your students.
- Super Teacher Worksheets – This website has thousands of printable lessons. This would be a great resource if you have to put together printed packets for your students.
- Scholastic – Scholastic has a special part of their website to provide teachers with digital resources. There are passages for your students to read and lots of activities to help them learn from home.
- EdHelper – EdHelper has workbooks available for many different subject areas, like math and spelling.
Digital Resources to Keep Learning Fun
- Quizizz – You can choose from millions of quizzes that have already been created by other teachers or you can create your own quizzes to review important content with your students.
- Kahoot – Create questions about any topic, and your students can play a game to answer them.
Use these back to school distance learning activities to get to know your students and to start building relationships.
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What Do You Think?
What are your favorite resources for digital learning?
Let me know in the comments below.
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