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TeachingBooks is a website that strives to provide equity to all readers with insights and opportunities that deepen their understanding and joy of the books they are reading. They have an extensive collection of children’s and young adult books and authors, that reflect diverse cultural experiences, interests, and ability levels.

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Colorín Colorado is a website that serves educators and families of English Language Learners in grades PreK-12. This website provides free research-based information, activities, and advice to all. This resource is a guide to finding books that reflect your students' experiences.

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It's important for children and teens to have access to books that reflect their experiences, as well as the experiences of their classmates. Take a look at our booklists and author interviews to learn more about books representing diverse cultures and backgrounds, along with guidelines for selecting appropriate titles for libraries and classrooms.

Cover Image: Book Fiesta by Pat Mora. Illustration by Rafael López.

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Diverse Books: Booklists and Related Resources

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It's important for children and teens to have access to books that reflect their experiences, as well as the experiences of their classmates. Take a look at our booklists and author interviews to learn more about books representing diverse cultures and backgrounds, along with guidelines for selecting appropriate titles for libraries and classrooms. Cover Image: Book Fiesta by Pat Mora.

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A template that incorporates UDL components which create comprehensive learning experiences for all students including your English Language Learners.

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UDL Lesson Plan Template – Digital Competency in Action

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“UDL lesson plans consider four curriculum components, which make up a complete learning
experience. Educators have many options and choices for how to format their lesson design.
Below is only one example. Regardless of the format you use, all UDL lesson plans consider
goals, methods, materials, and assessments. You will notice that in the sample below, you
design the lesson by first considering goals, and then designing assessments before considering
methods and materials. This backwards design relates to the Understanding by Design (UbD)
framework. Using UDL and UbD together ensures that the backwards design of curriculum
meets the needs of all learners.”

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Storyweaver is a free digital library with storybooks in multiple languages, including culturally diverse stories.

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Digital Library of Illustrated Storybooks | Read Stories in 300+ languages

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StoryWeaver is an award-winning open platform offering thousands of free children’s storybooks in hundreds of languages.

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Raz-Kids is an interactive reading program with leveled books and quizzes. It is a great resource for younger English Language Learners, as it offers them books to read, audiobooks, and the option to record themselves reading books. Note: The website requires you to pay to access their content.

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Raz-Kids delivers hundreds of interactive, leveled eBooks spanning 29 levels

400+ eBooks and open-book eQuizzes, with new books added every month, even in Spanish!

Corresponding eQuizzes test comprehension, providing teachers with skill reports for data-driven instruction

Online running records let teachers digitally assess each student, saving valuable classroom time

The motivational "Raz Rocket" gets students excited about reading and strengthens the school-to-home connection

A winner of numerous awards, including CODiE and EDDIE Awards and a Teachers' Choice Award for the Classroom

Free Samples Free Trial Order Now

400+ eBooks that students can listen to, read, and even record themselves reading

Students can listen to books for modeled fluency, read books for practice, and then record themselves reading so teachers can monitor progress

Every leveled eBook has an accompanying eQuiz to test reading comprehension

Books include Spanish, Song, Nursery Rhymes, Poetry and more

Because all books are available 24/7 via the Web, students can practice reading anytime, anywhere

Free Samples Free Trial Order Now

Raz-Kids makes reading accessible (and fun) like never before

Access for Students: With Raz-Kids, students can practice reading anytime, anywhere - at home, on the go, and even during the summer!

Keeping Teachers in Control: Teachers can make assignments and track student progress with online assessments and student recordings

Results: Viewing reports is simple, for individuals, classrooms, schools and even districts!

Common Core: See how Raz-Kids can support your efforts tosucceed with Common Core ELA standards

Free Samples Free Trial Order Now

Students can read on-the-go from their favorite mobile device

Raz-Kids is now on the iPhone, and iPod Touch!

Besides the iPad, Android, and Kindle Fire tablets, students can now access their assignments right from their iPhones or iPod Touches! Read More

On top of being accessible 24/7 via the Web, Raz-Kids also delivers reading access through its free apps, meaning your students can read and take quizzes on their iPad, Android, and Kindle Fire tablets.

All student activity in the app is captured and reported to teachers at Raz-Kids.com, thus helping teachers monitor student progress and determine the instruction needed for each student.

Free Samples Free Trial Order Now

"I like how Raz-Kids motivates students to read. Students want to use the program, and it provides parents an alternative to getting students to read at home. I have seen students improve their reading level simply because they are practicing more."

Heidi Springer, Second Grade Teacher
Henry Hudson School #28; Rochester City School District; Rochester, New York
More Testimonials

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400+ eBooks and open-book eQuizzes, with new books added every month, even in Spanish!

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Kahoot is an online interactive platform that allows teachers and students to create and play educational games, in the form of quizzes. Teachers can create their own customizable quizzes, and students answer questions on their own devices, with results displayed in real-time.

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Kahoot! | Learning games | Make learning awesome!

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Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to 1+ billion players every year at school, at work, and at home.

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Blooket, similar to Kahoot, is an online platform with added game-based elements. Teachers can create questions for students to answer while playing engaged, themed games.

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Pear Deck is an interactive tool that allows teachers to create engaging, interactive presentations directly within Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint. It’s designed to promote active participation and real-time feedback from students during lessons.

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Pear Deck is on a mission to help teachers create powerful learning moments for every student, every day - using the tools you already know and love.

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PBS learning media offers videos, interactives, and lessons aligned with multiple subjects and grades. Many of the resources are offered in multiple languages and provide diverse cultural perspectives.

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PBS LearningMedia | Teaching Resources For Students And Teachers

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Inspire your students with thousands of free teaching resources including videos, lesson plans, and games aligned to state and national standards.

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Duolingo for School is a language learning app that takes vocabulary and language practice and gamifies it. Teachers can set up classrooms to monitor students' progress or other languages they're learning. Note: has a variety of languages, but not all languages are included.

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BrainPOP ELL is a platform for teachers and students that offers videos, games, and activities specifically for English Language Learners. It provides practice with English vocabulary, grammar in an engaging, animated formats.

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Project GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) provides 35 different strategies and graphic organizers that support language acquisition.

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Project GLAD provides training for educators both nationally and internationally, to support the needs of educators and students who are English Language Learners.

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Rubistar is a rubric maker for educators that generates an editable rubric.

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RubiStar is a tool to help the teacher who wants to use rubrics, but does not have the time to develop them from scratch.

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A planning sheet that incorporates UDL components. Redesigned from the American College of Education Template/Planning Chart

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Universal Design for Learning Planning Sheet

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ESL in the ROK is an engaging website that originated for English teachers in South Korea to reinforce vocabulary and sentences in an exciting way for students.

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We would like to use Google Analytics cookies to analyze how our Site is used. You can accept or decline the use of these cookies by clicking a button to the right.

22 fun and dynamic plug and play games to use during your classes. Use the filters to help find a game targeted for your students and type of class.

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22 fun and dynamic plug and play games to use during your lessons.

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Rewordify simplifies complex English text, making it easier for ELL students to understand readings.

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From frustration...

...to understanding

The ravenous throng scampered toward the delectable viands, which the chef had impeccably arrayed on the table.

The extremely hungry crowd ran toward the delicious food, which the chef had extremely well organized (into rows) on the table.

Rewordify.com simplifies difficult English. Enter hard sentences (or whole chapters) into the yellow box at the top of the page. (You can also enter a web site URL.) Click Rewordify text and you'll instantly see an easier version, for fast understanding. The reworded words are highlighted- click them to hear and learn the original harder word. You can change how the highlighting works to match the way you learn!

Do you dislike dictionaries because they're confusing and unhelpful? You'll love Rewordify.com's clear, easy-to-understand definitions-they change to match the original word or phrase's part of speech, verb tense, and singular/plural form, so they make sense. Our amazing Rewordifying Engine is what makes it all possible, and no other web site has it.

Want to see something now? Click Classic Literature at the top and start reading-easier.

Learn more words faster. Our exclusive Learning Sessions actively teach you words so you learn them. Any time you paste in a block of text, our software finds all the hard words, lets you pick which ones you want to learn, and then teaches them to you in a Learning Session.

A Learning Session isn't an online quiz: it's an effective, step by step process where you hear words and phrases, type them, and read them. The software re-teaches you exactly what you need when you need it, and moves ahead when you're ready. When you've learned a word, the site stops "rewording" it, so the site grows with you as you learn! Learn more about Learning Sessions.

Learn the way you want-from what you want to read. You can change the way the site works to fit your learning style as you read and learn from almost any text passage or web page. See the different highlighting styles in the box? You can pick any of them, and lots more options. Click the Settings link (at the bottom of the page now, or at the top of any page) to see all the choices you have. (The demo text in the box here never changes.)

Chart your progress and have fun. You can keep track of your learning with lots of detailed charts that show how you're doing. Plus, as you use the site, you earn points and get Learning Stars -a fun reward for reading and learning!

Now you can easily get your students involved in their learning: let them select the text that interests them. Let them print and complete the activities with which they're most comfortable. Imagine each student learning vocabulary customized to his or her interests, while you have time to teach instead of typing. Could differentiation by interest or readiness be any easier? You can start doing it today, for free.

You never have to type another vocabulary list or quiz again.

Type (or copy-paste) in any block of text in the yellow box at the top of this page, click Rewordify text, and click the Print/Learning activities button. Here's how. You (or your students!) can select from a rich variety of quizzes and learning activities, with or without answer keys.

Do you need to teach (or not teach) particular vocabulary words and phrases? Rewordify.com gives you the exact control you need for specialized vocabulary instruction. You can make customized word lists so the site rewords and teaches any word or phrase exactly the way you want.

Learn the way you want-from what you want to read. You can change the way the site works to fit your learning style as you read and learn from almost any text passage or web page. See the different highlighting styles in the box? You can pick any of them, and lots more options. Click the Settings link (at the bottom of the page now, or at the top of any page) to see all the choices you have. (The demo text in the box here never changes.)

Chart your progress and have fun. You can keep track of your learning with lots of detailed charts that show how you're doing. Plus, as you use the site, you earn points and get Learning Stars -a fun reward for reading and learning!

Now you can easily get your students involved in their learning: let them select the text that interests them. Let them print and complete the activities with which they're most comfortable. Imagine each student learning vocabulary customized to his or her interests, while you have time to teach instead of typing. Could differentiation by interest or readiness be any easier? You can start doing it today, for free.

Save all your documents online so anyone can read them and learn from them at any time.

Just log in, rewordify something, and click the Share button.

Select how public or private you want the document, enter the title, author, etc., and you're done!

You get a link that you can put in your online lesson plans, teacher web pages, or blog. No more rewordifying the same thing over and over again!

You can view, manage and edit all your documents from any computer. Just log in (or create a free, safe account) and start building your learning library. Here's how to do it.

At Educator Central, you can create and manage student accounts, monitor your students' learning, and get detailed reading and learning analytics that help you make smart classroom decisions. For free. Now.
(In a hurry? Log in. Click Educator Central at the top.)

In a few minutes, you can create student accounts on Rewordify.com, and easily monitor your students' reading and learning progress. Get actionable learning and error analytics as your students read and learn from any document you post, or from any document or web page they want to read.

Imagine each student learning different words based on his or her interest or ability level. It's easy to do: Rewordify.com designs and teaches individualized vocabulary lessons with our highly effective Learning Sessions, so you have the time to teach students the important stuff: how to learn, how to break through obstacles, how to believe the words "I can do it."

As your students read and learn, get detailed charts and reports that tell you what you need to know-by student, by class, or for all your classes.

Effectively match interventions with students, based on detailed error breakdowns that let you see what you need to see in a few clicks.

Student accounts are anonymous, and they keep your students safe and focused on learning.

Start using it now: Log in and click on Educator Central at the top. Read more about Educator Central.

Rewordify.com is free online software. You're using it now. There's nothing to buy or install. It works on any computer, tablet, or smartphone. Just point your browser to Rewordify.com and start reading and learning. Yes, it's tablet-friendly-no mouse needed. Yes, your whole school district can create teacher and student accounts, without entering any personal information. When? Now.

It's fast. Wasting your (and your students' time) is bad. That's why Rewordify.com was designed from the ground up to be lightning-fast and use very little data. The site doesn't have a hundred images of puppies and kittens and a hundred links to a hundred lists. What it does have is speed and ease of use, which are very nice when you have to teach a room full of teenagers. Or adults.

It's an app. Want the app? You're using it. Wasn't that easy? The site is a web app, which is great for you, because you get almost-daily site updates automatically -so you can read and learn, not download and install app updates.

We keep kids safe online. Rewordify.com requires no personal information. Student accounts are completely anonymous and cannot post or share anything. Read more about how we protect children's privacy.

Rewordify.com can display simplified versions of web pages. Our state-of-the-art web filtering technology blocks millions of inappropriate sites and questionable language, to protect kids online and keep them reading only what they should be reading. Read more about how we protect children from inappropriate material.

Difficult English is intelligently simplified with our exclusive Rewordifying Engine

Saves time when reading hard text, improves comprehension and self-confidence, and increases total reading time

Copy-paste entire text passages into the yellow box and press Rewordify text. You'll see a simplified version. Read more.

Definitions are easy to understand, context-aware, and match verb tense and part of speech

Reduces frustration and improves comprehension by maximizing time spent reading versus dictionary research

Copy-paste any text passage into the yellow box and "rewordify" it. Click the highlighted words. Read more.

Learning Sessions actively teach individualized vocabulary lessons with research-proven multimodal techniques

Improves vocabulary and word retention

After you "rewordify" text, you'll see a purple bar at the top. Click the buttons to pick hard words and learn them in an effective Learning Session. Read more.

Site carefully monitors student reading time, learning progress, and learning errors, and gives educators full-color, real-time charts and reports

Gives actionable learning data that helps improve student learning outcomes

Create an account. Click on Educator Central. Create free student accounts. Post assignments online. Get learning data. Make smart classroom decisions based on valid data. Read more.

Site identifies and extracts over 58,000 difficult words and phrases from any text and creates a rich variety of learning activities with answer keys

Saves time when teaching and gives students individualized learning activities

Copy-paste any text passage into the yellow box and "rewordify" it. Click Print/Learning Activities. Pick the quizzes, activities, vocab lists, cloze activities you want, with keys. Print them. Read more.

Software allows users to change the difficulty level and presentation style of the output text

Improves engagement by allowing easy differentiation by learning style and readiness

Copy-paste any text passage and "rewordify" it. Click Settings. Change the text presentation style, "rewordifying level" (difficulty level), even the highlighting style. Read more.

Site works as an app on any device, using a minimum of data

Allows for easy district rollout on nearly any existing device while conserving Internet bandwith

Point any device's browser to Rewordify.com and it works like an app. Here's how to make an app icon on your home screen or desktop.

Site calculates accurate text complexity measures, including our exclusive READ score

Improves engagement and learning through the selection of appropriate reading materials

Rewordify any text passage. Click the Stats button. Read more.

Site's browser app (bookmarklet) extracts most web pages to Rewordify.com for learning in one click

Improves engagement and total reading time through independent selection of high-interest materials

Install our free browser app. Browse the web. At any page, click the "Rewordify text" button. Read the extracted text on Rewordify.com.

You can post any document and share it publicly, privately, or with a password

Increases reading time and organization of learning materials

Log in. Paste in a document and "rewordify" it. Click the Share button, share it, and get a link. Post the link to your teacher page. Or, add it as a Rewordify.com assignment. Here's how to post documents. Here's how to create assignments.

Site calculates points and displays Learning Stars based on total minutes read and words learned

Increases reading time and engagement by making the site more fun

Log in and start reading and clicking on the purple bar to do Learning Sessions. Points and Learning Stars will display. Click My Learning/My Documents to see charts of your progress. Read more.

Over 300 pieces of classic literature are available

Improves comprehension of the classics-from Shakespeare to Douglass to Austen

Click Classic literature at the top. Or, type a word like Frankenstein into the search box at the top.

Here's what to do next:

First, do the demo. You'll be an expert in five minutes: Click here for the demo.

Learn the site, step by step. Our First-Time User Guide clearly shows you how to get started.

Teachers: Learn about Educator Central and all it can do to help improve student learning outcomes. Also, you can print lots of free, full-color literature to help you get started in the classroom.

Have some fun. Are you up for a vocabulary challenge? Play Rewordo. Be aware: it's not easy.

Browse some classics. Want to be more sure of Shakespeare, or brush up on Bronte? Scroll to the top, and click the Classic Literature link. It's a fast way to get started using the site. Or, use the Search bar at the top. Try entering the word raven to understand the deal with Poe, that black bird, and the "Nevermore" thing.

Check out the goodies. You can install our One-Click Learning browser applet that lets you rewordify most web pages in one click. Our cool (and free, of course) School Clock tells you the current time and date, what class period you're currently in, countdowns to the next period, and more. You can customize it for any school's schedule, and make as many different School Clocks as you have different day schedules. Use it now.

Show the love! Please tell us about mistakes the site makes when "rewording" and defining words. That feedback is the single most valuable thing you can do to help the site (and learners around the world). Click here to contact us. Do you want to help defray the site's operating costs, and read a great thriller at the same time? You can! Get your copy of Electric Dawn.

Contact us. We want to help you! Please use the Contact page with any questions or comments.

Site summary: Rewordify.com helps with reading comprehension and vocabulary development by simplifying English to a lower reading level. It lets you reword a sentence or reword a paragraph. It will simplify English by reducing text complexity. It's a dictionary alternative that will improve comprehension and teach vocabulary. It's an important part of reading instruction and vocabulary instruction for ESL students, people with reading disabilities, people with a learning disability, or anyone who wants to improve reading skill.

35650 / 9.0

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Rewordify.com | Understand what you read

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Rewordify.com helps you read more, understand better, learn new words, and teach more effectively.

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Papago is a multilingual translation app developed by Naver, a popular South Korean internet company. Like Google Translate, it offers translation services for a variety of languages, including but not limited to Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, and Russian.

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翻译，口译，翻译器，口译器

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똑똑한 AI 번역기 파파고, 언어 장벽 없이 대화하는 세상을 꿈꿉니다.

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Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)

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5 Examples of Universal Design for Learning in the Classroom

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to teaching aimed at meeting the needs of every student in a classroom. It can be helpful for all kids, including kids with learning and attention issues. But UDL takes careful planning by teachers. Here are just a few examples of how UDL can work in a classroom.

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The chart provides a structured overview of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies for supporting English Language Learners (ELLs) in the classroom.

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This is a UDL guideline resource to guide the design of learning environments and experiences that reduce barriers and more fully honor and value every learner.

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First introduced in 2008, the UDL Guidelines are meant to be dynamic and continuously developed based on new research and feedback from practitioners. Since the release of Version 1.0 in 2008, CAST has released four iterations that trace our learning not only as an organization but as a broader UDL community. In 2020, CAST launched our most recent effort to update the UDL Guidelines, and the result of this process is the UDL Guidelines 3.0.

This new update, released in July 2024, builds upon previous iterations and emphasizes addressing barriers rooted in biases and systems of exclusion. This expanded version intentionally includes those practitioners and scholars whose experiences and perspective may not have been recognized in previous versions. This update aims to fulfill the promise of the Guidelines as a resource to guide the design of learning environments and experiences that reduce barriers and more fully honor and value every learner.
Learn more about the updating process behind Guidelines 3.0
For a detailed description of the expansions included in the updated Guidelines and the rationale behind the changes made, please read UDL Guidelines 3.0: Rationale for Updates.

For a side-by-side comparison of what changed from Guidelines version 2.2 to Guidelines version 3.0, please explore: " Changes from Guidelines 2.2 to Guidelines 3.0"

Themes found in UDL Guidelines 3.0

Overarching expansions to this iteration of the UDL Guidelines include:

Putting UDL in conversation with other asset-based approaches and theoretical frameworks - including pedagogies that center, value, and sustain learners' cultural and linguistic practices - and making their intersections and complementary nature more explicit.

Emphasizing identity as part of variability. Previous iterations have emphasized the remarkable variability among learners in terms of how they engage with learning (Multiple Means of Engagement, the "why" of learning), how they perceive information (Multiple Means of Representation, the "what" of learning), and how they act on and express what they know (Multiple Means of Action and Expression, the "how" of learning). This current iteration also emphasizes learners' multiple and intersecting identities as part of variability. This "who" of learning is a dimension that is woven across all three UDL principles.

Acknowledging individual, institutional, and systemic biases as barriers to learning without limits.

Emphasizing the value of interdependence and collective learning.

Shifting from educator-centered to learner-centered language. Guidelines 3.0 intentionally uses verbs that can be used interchangeably among and between educators and learners to spark flexibility and creativity in ways to apply the Guidelines. Depending on the learning goal, educators, learners, or educators and learners together might apply specific guidelines.

Themes emphasized in the three principles include:
Engagement

Centering, affirming, and sustaining learners' interests and identities

Emphasizing the role of belonging in teaching and learning

Promoting the role of joy and play for learners and educators alike

Cultivating empathy and repairing harm with restorative practices

Representation

Authentically representing a diversity of identities, perspectives, and narratives

Considering perceptions of people, cultures, and languages

Valuing multiple ways of knowing and making meaning

Action and Expression

Honoring and valuing a wide variety of forms of communication

Centering and valuing forms of expression that have been historically silenced or ignored by addressing biases

Challenging exclusionary practices to build more accessible, inclusive spaces and systems

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Grades K-2 Story Map

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Grades 3-5 Story Map

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This vocabulary worksheet is a resource to help support English Language Learners to reinforce word knowledge, support reading comprehension, build academic language and content knowledge, and increase participation and confidence.

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This website will help educators understand what Universal Design for Learning is and what it looks like in the classroom.

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework developed by CAST, an Understood founding partner. UDL guides the design of learning experiences to proactively meet the needs of all learners. When you use UDL, you assume that barriers to learning are in the design of the environment, not in the student. UDL is based on brain science and evidence-based educational practices. It also leverages the power of digital technology.

Imagine this: Your students are going to write an essay on the stages of butterfly metamorphosis.

Some students have seen butterflies grow through the different stages at a local science museum. These students are excited to share what they know. Other students don't know anything about butterflies and are nervous about writing on this topic. And some students don't like to write - they dread this activity from the moment you say "essay."

In any class, you know there's a wide range of enthusiasm, background, and skills among your students. When you plan with this range in mind, you can approach the lesson in several ways.

You could share a mini-lesson on butterfly metamorphosis and have students use a guided worksheet as they write. Or you could set up stations where students are grouped using flexible grouping around understanding of the topic, language ability, or reading level.

But take a step back. In any lesson or task, you can anticipate this range of variability among your students. There's another approach you can take to plan for this variability in all your lessons: Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Why use Universal Design for Learning?

The ultimate goal of UDL is for all learners to become "expert learners." Expert learners are purposeful and motivated, resourceful and knowledgeable, and strategic and goal-directed about learning.

UDL is a powerful approach because from the very start of your lesson, it helps you anticipate and plan for all your learners. It can help you make sure that the greatest range of students can access and engage in learning - not just certain students.

You don't need specific tools or technologies to follow UDL's principles either. Instead, your students choose from the tools and resources you already have. They might use them in different ways.

Also, UDL may change how you think about what prevents students from learning. Instead of thinking that something needs to change about the students, UDL looks at the learning environment. The learning environment can include barriers to learning, like the design of the curricular goals, assessments, methods, and materials. In this way, the learning environment itself can be "abled" or "dis-abled."

UDL gives you a framework to follow so you can reduce the barriers to learning. The main way to do this is to prepare a learning environment where students have what they need to flexibly meet learning goals.

What does UDL look like in the classroom?

Universal design can be found just about anywhere you look - both inside and outside your school. Curb cuts change sidewalks so that they're accessible to the greatest range of users, including people who use wheelchairs and those pushing strollers. Closed captions make television accessible to people who are deaf or who have hearing loss, as well as people at the gym or spouses who can't agree whether or not to keep the TV on at night. No two forms of universal design are the same.

Universal Design for Learning looks different in every classroom. But there are commonalities. To start with, there's always a focus on building expert learning for all. Other common elements of a UDL experience include:

All learners knowing the goal

Intentional, flexible options for all students to use

Student access to resources from the start of a lesson

Students building and internalizing their own learning

In a UDL environment, students rarely do the same task in the same way at the same time. The flexible options will differ across developmental ages. But the framework for having clear goals and flexible options is consistent no matter the grade level or content areas.

How can I use the three principles of UDL?

UDL describes human variability based on parts of the brain that manage the "why" (affective network), the "what" (recognition network), and the "how" (strategic network) of learning. Watch as CAST co-founder David Rose explains why UDL emphasizes variability instead of disability.

CAST developed UDL guidelines that are based on three main principles that align with these learning networks. The three UDL principles are engagement, representation, and action and expression.

The chart below includes the three UDL principles adapted from CAST. It also gives you some questions to consider and lists some examples of the principles in action. You can print a one-page version of this chart to have on hand while planning a lesson, activity, or routine for your students.

How can families support this at home?

Families may not be familiar with the concept of students being active participants in setting their learning goals. They may have questions about letting students make their own learning choices.

Explain at back-to-school night or in a class that you'll be using Universal Design for Learning. You can even share a family-friendly article about the UDL approach to teaching.

Assure families that you have high expectations for all students to become expert learners in your classroom. And explain that you'll keep working with the students and their families to build the skills and interest to make that happen.

Additional CAST resources to explore

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Universal Design for Learning (UDL): A teacher's guide

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UDL stands for Universal Design for Learning. When you teach using UDL, your lessons are designed in flexible ways to meet the needs of individual learners. Read more about UDL.

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Visual and Graphic Support - Bilingual Glossary

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Visual and Graphic Support - Bilingual Glossary

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These Bilingual Glossaries and Cognates were created for educators, students, parents, and families in supporting instruction for our English language learners. These glossaries may be downloaded, printed and disseminated to educators, parents and ELLs/MLLs.

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These glossaries are to provide permitted testing accommodations of ELL/MLL students. They should also be used for instruction during the school year. These glossaries may be downloaded, printed and disseminated to educators, parents and ELLs/MLLs.

Bilingual glossaries are an essential and expected test accommodation for ELLs/MLLs in the State of New York. The languages of these glossaries cover the top 10 languages at the state level, with new languages added based on changing language populations in the NY State student demographic data.

Schools should provide testing accommodations to ELLs/MLLs, as needed, on all NYS ELA and content-area assessments (i.e., Mathematics, Science and Social Studies). Districts/schools must make all necessary arrangements to make these accommodations available for ELLs/MLLs who need them. Please click here for the New York State Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages Webpage on "Assessment and Testing Accommodations".

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These glossaries are to provide permitted testing accommodations of ELL/MLL students. They should also be used for instruction during the school year.

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Culturally Responsive Instructions - Resource List

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Culturally Responsive Instructions - Resource List

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Colorín Colorado's website has a resource page to help educators learn more about the what, why, and how of culturally responsive teaching – and how you can get started!

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Culturally Responsive Instruction

Culturally responsive teaching is a research-based approach that "invites students to bring their expertise to the table" (Fleming, 2019) by identifying and harnessing the assets of students who have historically been underserved in schools. Here are some resources providing an overview to CRT.

Overviews: Research & Resource Guides

Overviews: Articles, Blogs, and Tools

Resources from Zaretta Hammond

Books

Videos and Podcasts

Key Concepts

Funds of Knowledge

Cultural Orientation: Collective vs. Individual

Classroom Resources

Culturally Responsive Books

Academic Language & Literacy

Inquiry and Project-Based Learning (PBL)

Making Local Connections

Student Populations: Resource Collections

American Indian/Alaska Native Students

English Language Learners (ELLs)

Students with Special Needs

Equity Issues

Bias

Race

Culturally Responsive Family Engagement

References

Fleming, J. Personal communication. October 15, 2019.

Fleming, J., et al. (2015). More Mirrors in the Classroom: Using Urban Children's Literature to Increase Literacy. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.

Hamayan, E., et al. (2013.) Special Education Considerations for English Language Learners. Delivering a Continuum of Services. Philadelphia: Caslon Publishing.

Hammond, Z. (2015). Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Rothstein-Fisch, C. and Trumbull, E. (2008). Managing Diverse Classrooms: How to Build on Students' Cultural Strengths. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Vigil, Karla. Personal communication. November 1, 2019.

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Culturally Responsive Instruction: Resource List

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Culturally responsive teaching is a research-based approach that "invites students to bring their expertise to the table" (Fleming, 2019) by identifying and harnessing the assets of students who have historically been underserved in schools. Here are some resources providing an overview to CRT. Resources from Zaretta Hammond Equity Issues Bias Race Fleming, J.

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Magic School AI is an educational platform that provides AI-powered tools and resources for teachers to streamline lesson planning, create engaging content, and support student learning. With automated lesson ideas, activity generators, and data-driven insights, Magic School AI helps educators save time, personalize instruction, and enhance classroom engagement through innovative, accessible technology.

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WestEd is a nonprofit research, development, and service organization dedicated to improving education and human development. With a mission to advance equity and excellence, WestEd works across the United States to support educators, policymakers, and communities. The organization offers evidence-based research, professional development, technical assistance, and consulting services designed to enhance educational outcomes and foster innovation in schools, districts, and other learning environments.

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Quality Teaching for English Learners Professional Development

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QTEL offers research-informed approaches for teaching the conceptual understanding, academic practices, and language that are critical to ensuring success for English Learners.