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Zoom has been great for teachers to be able to connect with students. It has taken some trial and error but we now have a things running successfully across our entire P-12 school. Each grade level has found ways to make this work. You can set up a free account, where Zoom sessions can have up to 150 participants and last for 40mins.

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Modernize workflows with Zoom's trusted collaboration tools: including video meetings, team chat, VoIP phone, webinars, whiteboard, contact center, and events.

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Great for sharing online assessment and tasks. Very easy to assign tasks and track students who are handing in set tasks.

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Excellent sharing platform for student work and for teachers to give feedback.

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Seesaw creates a powerful learning loop between students, teachers, and families

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Any schools that run Powerschool this site can be linked into your grading system through Powerschool

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PowerSchool Learning | K-12 Digital Learning Platform

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Epic is an online book resources, currently offering reading books for students.

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Time Management SCRUM BOARD

A 'scrum board' is a SIMPLE tool that will allow students to to do just that. It will help students track their progress while also informing their parents (and teachers) of their productivity. Students will be able to:

Plan and manage tasks/ assignments without needing reminders
Have time during the day for the things they love
Be excited about learning
Help please their parents and submit assignments on time

Here are the steps for students to create one:

1. Create a four column board for 'time,' 'to do', 'doing', and 'done.'
2. Next, jot out tasks for the day on different post- it notes
3. Map out the day with post- it notes according to times to complete each task
4. Fill in 'brain breaks'
5. Get a jar to place 'finished' items so parents can help track progress

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Flipgrid is an app the students can use to ask questions, have short discussions, and respond to each other. It is immediate feedback for the student and the teacher receives an email notification when student record their video. It is a great way for the students to practice speaking and listening skills.  The students can sign on using their school email or a parents email if they don't have a school email. Other ways it can be used is for short speeches, book reports, show and tell, poetry recital, the list can go on and on.

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Flip is a video discussion and sharing app, free from Microsoft.

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Flip (formerly Flipgrid) is a video discussion and video sharing app, free from Microsoft, built for classrooms and beyond. Learn more.

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SCREENCASTIFY is a free addition to Chrome.

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Feb 14 Multiplication - Video Instructions.webm

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Break Out Rooms - SETUP

Brief video on how to set up collaborative breakout Rooms. If you have tried them and have advice for others please comment below...

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Students can create an online scrum board that can be shared with you as a teacher. It is a win win for both parties as you can see where they are at and if they are stuck or need help or are just not working to a set timeline.
Also a great tool for us as teams for planning online.

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A list with links of authors reading

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With kids at home and parents looking for educational activities, many of our favorite authors are offering online read-alouds and activities on social media. We've rounded up over 50 of the best virtual author activities below!

Read-Alouds for Elementary School Kids

These authors are offering read-alouds of their books and books by their favorite authors.

The author will be doing read-alouds on Instagram Live of her book Mae Among the Stars.

Reading one of her books each day on Facebook!

The author will be reading a book a day on Instagram Live. It does not appear that he will be adding the videos to his website at this time.

She is hosting DRAW ME MORE: a Read-Along/ Draw-Along activity on her website. She's already shared an 11 chapter, chapter book (reading level grades 2-4) called MASON & THE MEGA-NAUTS.

Author and illustrator of It Came in the Mail; Rot, the Cutest in the World; and upcoming Rot, the Bravest in the World. He has scheduled two read-aloud sessions on Facebook. March 18 (2 PM EST) and March 20 (5 PM EST).

Julia Cook, bestselling children's author, will be doing Monday and Friday readings on Facebook Live at 9:00 AM CST!

He is the grandson of famed sea explorer Jacques Cousteau, and a third-generation ocean explorer and filmmaker. He is the author of the Fabien Cousteau Expeditions, a series of graphic adventure novels for kids, the latest of which is JOURNEY UNDER THE ARCTIC. He will be doing a live Shark Story Time reading on March 23rd at 3:00 PM and will have a live Q&A on March 24th at 10:00 AM.

The author reads various Pete the Cat books daily at 12 PM EDT

Enjoy a reading of Falatko's book, Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book), by Stranger Things actor, David Harbour. This read-aloud comes with a teacher's guide.

Oprah Winfrey reads Godin's book, The Hula-Hoopin' Queen, which is accompanied by a handy teacher's guide.

The author has added a collection of videos of herself reading from her picture books on Instagram. You may also learn more about her books on her website.

Reads 3 chapters from "Miss Blake is a Flake" each day at 2:00 PM EDT, but you can also view archives!

Bruce has posted a series of writing tips videos on this page of his website and a read-aloud of my book, BIG BAD BABY, on YouTube, with more to come.

The author will be reading one book every day on Instagram Live. Can't make it? He'll also be posting the videos to his website.

Award-winning author and illustrator, Susan is reading books aloud on her YouTube channel. This one is the first chapter of her new book, THE STORY OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG.

Live every day at noon EDT on Instagram Live. Her stories stay up each day for 24 hours.

Activities and videos from the New York Times bestselling author of How I Became a Pirate and other amazing books.

Upcoming author Brittany Thurman reads aloud Medina's book, Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy.

A former classroom teacher, Messner has written more than three dozen books for kids. She's put together a library of distance learning resources for students, families, teachers, and librarians.

Author, illustrator, and founder of FableVision. Find Peter's weekday read-aloud events on Facebook at noon EDT, Monday through Friday.

Young kids will enjoy this great read-aloud of Where Are My Books? The author also provides a teacher's guide, drawing demos and shares a crowd-sourced music video based on the book.

Author chat for families stuck at home during closed schools and for young writers and adults of all ages interested in fiction and how authors write books.

Follow the story of A Bad Case of Stripes as read by Lord of the Rings actor, Sean Astin. Then, work through the helpful teacher's guide.

Learn the story of The House That Jane Built as read by The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina actress, Kiernan Shipka. You may access activity guides for teachers or for parents.

She is reading a chapter a day from her book Henry and the Chalk Dragon on Facebook live!

Virtual Author Activities for Middle School

Read-alouds and reading activities from favorite authors.

The author has put together reading activities around his Cogheart Adventures. He's even created Q&A videos on YouTube.

Sarah is adding readings, mini-lessons, and prompts to her page! Follow along and get inspired to get reading and writing.

Find Daily live drawing sessions on Facebook! Tony DiTerlizzi is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator who has been creating books for twenty years. He created The Spiderwick Chronicles with Holly Black, which has sold millions of copies around the world. His highly anticipated sequel to Kenny and the Dragon, KENNY & THE BOOK OF BEASTS, releases this fall.

Listen to a read-aloud of Henderson's The Magic in Changing Your Stars and then work through the writing challenge (with hints!) listed on author Kate Messner's site: Who is Ailey Benjamin Lane named after?

This official PDF teaching guide is a great learning resource for your middle schooler to think about and discuss the beloved Diary of a Wimpy Kid series!

Watch Knowles read the first chapter of her middle grade novel, Where the Heart Is, while giving students a fun writing exercise. She's also created guides for teachers and book groups on her website.

Author of the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, Krosoczka will be hosting a daily drawing webcast on YouTube at 2 PM EDT. You can also find videos on his website. Be sure to also check out his National Book Award Finalist, Hey Kiddo.

The author behind Enginerds has created some cool worksheets that will be updated every few days to keep kids entertained and engaged. These activities may be a good addition to your distance learning resources.

The author and illustrator has taken to YouTube to provide a glimpse into Chinese culture and a guide for drawing Chinese dragons.

Author of O ne for the Murphys, Fish in a Tree, and Shouting at the Rain, she has put together several videos for readers and teachers online.

He is reading a chapter a day from Book 1 of the Wingfeather Saga, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

You may have to change the season or specific circumstances, but this collection of writing prompts is a great way to help your student build literacy skills, while giving them a chance to express themselves.

What better series for middle schoolers than the famous Harry Potter books? You probably loved them, and now you have the chance to introduce your children into the Wizarding World. Use this handy discussion guide that covers the first four books to bring an academic approach to your own little wizards' education.

Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults, including the Arc of a Scythe series. "With so many people working and learning from home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), I wanted to give you all something special. Over the next few weeks, I'll be doing some readings from my short story collections: MINDQUAKES and MINDSTORMS." Available on Youtube.

The nonfiction science book author has created engaging video mini-lessons including a similes worksheet, researching skills, and more.

Mo Willems invites you into his studio every day for his lunch doodle! Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together while he chats about his characters Pigeon, Piggie, and Elephant.

Virtual Author Activities for High School & Young Adults

Even more resources for tweens and teens.

The author of The Jumbies series has created videos of mini-lessons on comparative mythology and has added valuable distance learning resources, including downloadables for teachers and parents, to her website.

Due to public health concerns, these YA authors sadly had to cancel all in-person events for the release of BETWEEN BURNING WORLDS in March, and are connecting with readers through a virtual book tour.

Emily Dickenson

High school students may have discovered the timeless magic of Emily Dickinson. This teaching guide includes multimedia and discussion questions for The Essential Emily Dickinson collection.

Fans of the author of The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns? Here's a link to some discussion questions surrounding his works. Green has also co-created Crash Course, a website that provides high-quality educational videos for high school and college-level classes. Students, parents, and teachers alike could be entertained for hours without ever leaving the site!

Looking for writing prompts? This author has put together a list of prompts to get students thinking outside of the box.

To go along with his collection of youth novels, Hobbs has created resources and activities for teachers and librarians.

Check out the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Learning Guide for Silver Sparrow by this NEA creative writing fellow.

Want to learn more about writing an etheree (a ten-line poem in which writers add an additional syllable with each line)? Scanlon has a video lesson all about them!

Ready to work on some poetry? It can be tough to know where to start, but Sidman has created a poem starters for teachers and students, and even has categories for Younger Writers or Older Writers.

Students or kids reading Thomas' The Hate U Give? You'll find some good distance learning resources for discussion questions and projects on this website.
Looking for more? We have over 130 online resources for learning at home here!

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The Big List of Children's Authors Doing Online Read Alouds & Activities

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With kids at home and parents looking for educational activities, many of our favorite authors are offering online read-alouds and activities on social media. We've rounded up over 50 of the best virtual author activities below! These authors are offering read-alouds of their books and books by their favorite authors.

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Online Resources for a variety of topics. Offering free access during school closures

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Primary Resources | EYLF F-2 Year 3-10 | Twinkl Teacher-made

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Check out our interactive series of lesson plans, worksheets, PowerPoints and assessment tools today! All teacher-made, aligned with the Australian Curriculum.

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Has an online library you can trial for 2 weeks for free

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Developed by leading New Zealand educationalists and authors Jill Eggleton and Jo Windsor

With more than 850 levelled books and resources from Pre-Emergent through to Advanced Fluency, the Sails Literacy Series is the perfect programme for Guided Reading and Writing, Shared and Independent Reading.

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Immersing children in all three language strands - Oral, Written and Visual. With more than 850 levelled books and resources from Pre-Emergent through to Advanced Fluency, Sails Literacy is the perfect programme for Guided Reading and Writing, Shared and Independent Reading.

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BrainPOP - Animated Educational Site for Kids - Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, Health, and Technology

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PenPal SchoolsCollaborative project-based learning platform where students can work with students around the world. Includes lessons, videos, and texts. Teachers, administrators, and parents can sign up for free access at this link.

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Texts (with vocabulary support and audio options) students can annotate and assignments they can complete online. Includes collections for ELs.

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ReadWorks | Award-Winning, EdTech Nonprofit Organization

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ReadWorks is an edtech nonprofit organization that is committed to helping to solve America’s reading comprehension crisis.

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20 day-by-day projects. Texts have read aloud feature, adjustable reading levels, and vocabulary support.

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Raise a reader by getting the best book recommendations, reading tips, and discounts delivered straight to your inbox.

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Science lessons with a starter list of K-5 lessons for school closures.

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Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

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Mystery Science offers open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science. The hook, visuals, and activity have all been prepared for you. Less prep, more learning.

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Although American, they are offering free access till July.

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Texts and videos for students, Science, and Social Studies with scaffolds and higher-order questions (Free for the rest of the school year)

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I am an administrator I am a teacher

CONTENT

Texts (and videos!) for ELA, Science, and Social Studies with scaffolds and higher-order questions

READING

The best features to
support, engage, and build stamina

ASSESSMENT

Data you need;
Feedback your students act on

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Engage every student in every lesson with Actively Learn's award-winning ELA, science, and social studies curriculum platform.

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Books from around the world available in many languages to read online

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ICDL - International Children’s Digital Library

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Multilingual open-licensed books for over 40 countries and regions on five continents, including African and indigenous languages

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The Global Storybooks Portal is designed specifically for teachers, parents, and community members around the world. It makes 40 selected stories from the African Storybook available in major national, immigrant and refugee languages of individual countries, regions, and groups.

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Podcasts for Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Students

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Podcasts for Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Students

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Podcasts with suggested activities

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Looking for the best podcasts for kids and students to listen to and learn from? We asked teachers to share their favorites and have put together this list to use in your classroom or at home!

Disclaimer: We've divided the list by grade level because some might be more intense or cover more mature topics than is appropriate for younger students. You are the best judge for your own kids or students, though, so we recommend vetting all material before sharing.

Best Podcasts for Students in Elementary School

Original audio stories filled with whimsy and wonder for young listeners and their families.

Activity to try: Let kids write, illustrate and make a recording of their own original story.

Kids have all kinds of crazy questions-it's one of the things we love best about them! This production, from Vermont Public Radio, tackles such topics as Why Do People Have Nightmares?, Do Animals Get Married?, and Why Do Lions Roar?

Activity to Try: Start a log, using a special notepad, of all the crazy questions you can think of. Take the notebook with you everywhere you go.

In the era of fake news, kids need to learn to be able to tell what's true from what's false. And what better way to do that than a game show that puts kids in the driver's seat, adults on the hot seat, and a sound-effects robot strapped to the roof? Each week, a kid interviews two experts in a particular topic, one of whom is a genuine, credentialed expert, the other a liar. Hilarious and fast-paced, the show teaches kids to ask insightful questions, weigh the evidence before them, and trust their gut.

Activity to try: Play an in-class or at-home version of Two Truths and a Lie to polish truth-telling skills.

There's a whole lot going on in the world these days, and not all of the news is kid-friendly. Kidnuz informs in a way that explains, but doesn't overload, kids. Their mission statement says it all: "To engage the next generation with news that will inform without fear and educate without opinion."

Activity to Try: Pick an issue and do a "deep dive." Specifically, look for the upside of the situation-people helping people, people bonding together, etc.

A fun-filled podcast for kids all about ethical questions that get kids and adults thinking. "Do you have to love your sibling?" "Are some lies actually okay?" "Is it ever okay to fight back against a bully?"

Activity to try: Have your students write down questions to which they don't know the answers and talk about a few (after vetting them, of course).

Science is brought to life in this podcast that tells stories about science discoveries with help from actual scientists. They answer questions from why cats always seem to land on their feet to what a journey to the center of the earth would look like.

Activity to try: Discuss the topic of any given episode as a class, opening it up to questions and encouraging further research.

Follow the ongoing battle between Dr. Floyd and the evil mastermind, Dr. Steve (along with his sock-shaped assistant, Fidgert). During all their fighting, Dr. Floyd learns about history. With more than 400 episodes, there are plenty to choose from.

Activity to try: Have students write their own episodes, including a historical event that they love or that you have covered.

"Brains On!" features science and kids. The host and her kid co-host talk with food scientists and snake handlers, put on plays, write songs, and so much more. It's a science lesson for your ears!

Activity to try: Listen to the March 23 episode, "Books: How they're made and how your brain reads them." Afterward, have a discussion with your class about the many ways that reading is great for them.

An online treasure-trove of free audio stories. You can listen to a mixture of original stories, fairy tales, and specially adapted myths and histories. Storynory has published an episode every week since 2005, so there is plenty to love and something for everyone.

Activity to try: Have students write an original short story and then present it to the class.

Every two weeks, the creative host of this podcast takes questions from kids and spins them into an entertaining tale. Check out What If Clouds Were Made of Cotton Candy? or What If Magic Didn't Exist?

Activity to try: Make a top ten list of your own What-Ifs. Write a story, create a comic strip, or make a drawing to go with your favorites.

In a distant future that's either really bad or really good (depending on whose side you're on), two strange and unlikely champions embark on a series of adventures to stop a wicked A.I., and in the process must struggle to understand "old-fashioned" ideas like "kindness" and "just hanging out not doing much."

Activity to try: Start a discussion on how devices such as smartphones impact students' interactions with the people around them. Discuss the pros and cons of technology and the things we can do to be more connected with each other.

James Hawkins helps his mom run a motel in modern-day Montauk, Long Island. When a mysterious man washes up on the beach with a treasure map tattooed on his chest, James discovers that Billy Bones is, in fact, a time-traveling pirate from the 18th century. James and his new friends, Morgan and Max, follow the map right into a magical portal that leads them back nearly 300 years and into a swashbuckling adventure.

Activity to try: Have students write the story of what they would do if they discovered someone was a time-traveler. Would they want to enter the portal and go back in time?

In the spirit of Mayan folklore, an 11-year-old Belizean girl accidentally invokes an evil spirit that threatens to consume the rainforest. She goes on a thrilling journey to save her home and her people.

Activity to try: Ask students to write their own story of what they would do to protect their home. Do they see any similarities to the environmental problems we face today?

Finn Caspian is an 8-year-old boy aboard the Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station. He and his friends Abigail, Elias, and Vale are Explorers Troop 301, taking off from the Marlowe to explore uncharted planets, help the occasional alien, and solve a mystery that threatens to destroy their space station.

Activity to try: Have students create their own illustrations of Finn's adventures. Would they want to be among his explorer friends?

Best Podcasts for Tweens in Middle School

Listen as world-famous radio reporter Eleanor foils devious plots, outwits crafty villains, and goes after The Big Story. Eleanor's pursuit of truth takes her into orbit, out to sea, and even to the halls of Congress! Her adventures are entertaining and informative.

Activity to try: Have a discussion about Eleanor and her values, especially the importance of access to information, being inclusive to different points of view, and telling the truth. Then have your students write about what their values are.

If your tweens are into hip-hop, this podcast might be just their speed. Episodes follow the main character, Antoine, a boy who is bullied, who finds a magical book that transports him to another world.

Activity to try: Have students create an illustrated version of the story as they follow along with the podcast.

Neil deGrasse Tyson talks about all things space: stars, planets, humans in space, and so much more. He also interviews a lot of amazing people, from Buzz Aldrin to Alan Rickman.

Activity to try: Have students research the science topic covered in a given episode, learning more about the topic and sharing their findings.

Explore the English language, with all its oddities! Filled with good humor and levity, this podcast will help you explore the roots of words and phrases that we use every day.

Activity to try: Have students write their own grammatical or linguistic jokes, using these as starter examples.

The title speaks for itself. Learn about people and events that are often overlooked in a typical history class.

Activity to try: Choose a popular unit of historical study, like the Civil War or Great Depression, then have students research the little-told stories related to it. They could even write a readers theater based on their findings.

Listenwise is an award-winning listening skills platform, searchable by topic area or school subject. It advances classroom learning by providing additional content and building listening skills. There is also a focus on current events that helps keep the learning tied to the real world.

Activity to try: Each episode comes equipped with teaching resources, so pick the topic that is best for your class and get listening.

Humans are a curious lot as this podcast attests to in its mission statement: "True stories of inspiration, humor, and the incredible achievements of all types of people, many of which are sadly under-shared."

Activity to try: Have your students reach out to relatives, friends, or neighbors and ask them to share stories from their past.

This thought-provoking podcast tells the origin story of middle-schoolers Marcus Aronson and Mondo Ramirez, also known as Cupid and the Grim Reaper. Can these two mismatched heroes overcome their differences and learn to harness the powers of life, death, and love?

Activity to try: Start a conversation about what it would be like to be a teen with superpowers. Discuss the perspectives of the main characters. How would students feel if they were 13 years old and found out they are Cupid or the Grim Reaper?

Best Podcasts for Teens in High School

Adult ISH is a culture, advice, and storytelling podcast produced entirely by youth who are almost adults.

Activity to try: Have your students select a topic in the news today and write their own podcast sharing their take on the news.

A podcast created by the co-author of Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics, Stephen Dubner invites listeners to explore the hidden sides of everything. And, given his almost 300 episodes on topics ranging from Millionaires vs. Billionaires to How to Win a Nobel Prize, he is well on his way to talking about everything.

Activity to try: Have students pick an episode and find how it affects their everyday life. These can be written or presented to the class, allowing for discussion and questions.

Tune into the community radio of this desert town for the news on local weather, the mysterious lights overhead, announcements from the Sheriff's Secret Police, a dog park that prohibits dogs, and dark hooded figures with unknowable powers.

Activity to try: Challenge students with this prompt: You have been hired by the Night Vale Community Radio to write a segment. It could be a continuation of a segment that already exists, like The Children's Fun Fact Science Corner or Community Calendar, or a report of a strange happening in the town, told in Cecil-fashion. These could be performed in front of the class, written, or put in podcast form.

The podcast that brings you the "ins and outs of everyday things" from the Pledge of Allegiance to Mexican Jumping Beans to "Your Limb is Torn Off (Obviously for teens and above!)

Sarah Koenig tells one story, told week by week. The first season covers the true story of Adnan Syed, convicted for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore. The problem: Adnan cannot remember what he was doing the day of the murder. And, as if that wasn't bad enough, there's someone claiming that he helped Adnan hide the body.

Activity to try: Have students find a famous crime in history and write a dialogue between themselves and the accused, having the accused tell their side of the story. These projects can be handed in, performed in front of the class, or put into podcast format.

Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.

Activity to try: Listen to the episode Sight Unseen about a soldier's last moments and the photographer who captured them, divide the class in half, and have them prepare and then conduct a debate on whether or not the photographer has the right to publish the photos.

Stories of people who've done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle. Phoebe Judge explores topics from owls killing people to how to fake your death to the life of a police dog.

Activity to try: Have students pick an episode that interests them and do more in-depth research on the topic, presenting their findings to the class.

Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers and The Tipping Point, looks back through the overlooked and misunderstood in history, re-examining the past and asking whether we got it right the first time.

Activity to try: Listen to the three-part series on college (season one, episodes 4-6), and have a class discussion. Trust me, there will be plenty to talk about.

Each episode of This American Life centers around a theme. Most are journalistic at the core, but some are comedic. This podcast is hard to generalize, especially after over 600 episodes. But the number of episodes, and the podcats's massive popularity, should speak for itself.

Activity to try: Have students take a theme from an episode and write their own report or story surrounding that theme.

99% Invisible is a narrative podcast hosted by Roman Mars about all the thought that goes into the things we don't think about - the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world.

Activity to try: Ask students to pay closer attention to the buildings and infrastructure in their town or city. Have them make a list of things they had never noticed before.

Covering the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday shares news about science, technology, and other cool stuff. Host Ira Flatow mixes it up by featuring people in the know and those who want to be. The podcast frequently features listeners that call in with their most riveting science questions.

Activity to try: Choose from a wide range of topics such as Racism and Mental Health, Privacy and Big Data, or Structure of Conspiracy Theories, and spark a discussion.

Will and Mango have lots of questions. Will we ever live without sleep? How do rats keep outsmarting humans? Where are the sunniest tax havens to hide your money? Join these Part-Time Geniuses as they dive into ridiculous topics and discover some pretty smart stuff along the way.

Activity to try: Ask students to come up with an interesting question. Then, once their topic is approved, have them share the answer with their classmates.

This highly acclaimed podcast delivers honest and unfiltered conversations with celebrities, activists, athletes, and influencers focusing on real-life issues-from mental health and political activism to pop culture and more.

Activity to try: Sammy Jaye, at 18, is the youngest person to host her own podcast on iHeartRadio. Have students write a short paper on whether they'd want to have their own podcast while reflecting on the challenges they might face.

What are your favorite podcasts for kids? Please share in the comments!

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35 Best Podcasts for Kids in Elementary, Middle, & High School

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Looking for the best podcasts for kids and students to listen to and learn from? We asked teachers to share their favorites and have put together this list to use in your classroom or at home! Disclaimer: We've divided the list by grade level because some might be more intense or cover more mature topics than is appropriate for younger students.

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Read, Wonder, and Learn! Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere

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Read, Wonder, and Learn! Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere

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Videos of read-alouds by authors

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Hello, friends! I'm Kate Messner, a former classroom teacher, forever-educator, and the author of more than three dozen books for kids. These include picture books like Over and Under the Snow, The Brilliant Deep, and The Next President; the Fergus and Zeke easy reader series; the Ranger in Time historical chapter book adventures; nonfiction like Tracking Pythons and Solve This: Forensics; and novels like All the Answers, Breakout, and . I'm happy that you found your way here!

This is a library of resources for kids, families, teachers, and librarians to make sure that reading & learning can happen anywhere this spring. Some of you may be out of school as communities try to prevent the spread of a virus known as COVID-19. Here's a great page from NPR that explains what that's all about, in a kid-friendly comic. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jason Reynolds shares "How to Fight the New Bad Guy in Town," a PSA for kids, on the StorySeeds podcast here. And this excellent & important post from author Laurie Halse Anderson does a great job explaining why we're seeing closings (and why that's important) for older readers.

Below, you'll find a growing collection of resources that include everything from first-chapter and picture book read-alouds (all shared with permission!) to drawing and writing mini-lessons. Be sure to check back often, as new resources will be added every day. If you'd prefer to browse learning-at-home resources by age group, my daughter Ella has put together the pages below, with even more resources, organized by grade level. (Thanks, Ella!)

Resources for grades PreK-2 (ages 3-7)
Resources for grades 3-5 (ages 8-10)
Resources for grades 6-8 (ages 11-13)
Resources for grades 9-12 (ages 14+)

Many teachers & librarians have also reached out to ask about permission to read books aloud to your students via closed platforms like Google Classroom, Zoom, and unlisted YouTube links. Individual publishers have been sharing their own guidelines for online read-alouds, and you'll find a round-up of those here.

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of THE NEXT PRESIDENT: THE UNEXPECTED BEGINNINGS AND UNWRITTEN FUTURE OF AMERICA'S PRESIDENTS, illustrated by Adam Rex. Writing challenge: After the read-aloud, write your own presidential platform. What changes would you make to your country if you were in charge?

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of OVER AND UNDER THE POND, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (shared with permission from Chronicle Books). After the read-aloud, look out your window - or step outside if you can - and see what hidden nature you notice!

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of THE BRILLIANT DEEP: REBUILDING THE WORLD'S CORAL REEFS illustrated by Matt Forsythe. After the read-aloud, check out the Coral Restoration Foundation website. Learn more about the threats coral reefs are facing from NASA's Climate Kids page, and check out this page about how kids can help our oceans. Challenge: Make a poster or drawing to teach people about how we can all help coral and other sea creatures!

OVER AND UNDER THE RAINFOREST, Kate's book with illustrator Christopher Silas Neal doesn't come out until August, but we got special permission to share an early read-aloud! After the story, check out this page with more information on the wildlife of Costa Rica, where Kate did most of the research for this book. Writing challenge: Write a short article to teach people about your favorite rainforest animal!

Tracey Baptiste, the author of The Jumbies series, shares a mini-lesson on comparative mythology. She talks through how creatures from different mythologies have traits in common and encourages kids to find those similarities in the mythologies they come across. She's also sharing some reading resources such as D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, The Element Encyclopedia of Mythical Creatures, and her own Jumbies Field Guide available at her website.

Author Debbi Michiko Florence shares a read-aloud excerpt of her chapter book JASMINE TOGUCHI FLAMINGO KEEPER, along with a writing prompt (and a peek at a real daruma doll)!

Author Leah Henderson shares a first chapter read-aloud of her middle grade novel THE MAGIC IN CHANGING YOUR STARS. Writing Challenge: Find out who Ailey Benjamin Lane is named after. (Hint: His first name comes from an African-American dancer & choreographer with the initials A.A. His middle name comes from an African-American farmer & naturalist who searches out the stars and who created an almanac in 1792. This person's initials are B.B.) Who could they be?

Author-illustrator Jarrett Lerner shares tips and techniques to help you draw ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!

Veera Hiranandani, author of the Newbery Honor winning book The Night Diary, The Whole Story of Half a Girl, and The Phoebe G. Green series offers a diary writing prompt to help you get to know your characters and create an inspired story!

Author Jason Reynolds shares a read-aloud from his MG novel, GHOST. In this chapter, the main character talks about world records, so after the read-aloud, check out this page from the Guiness Book of World Records, with some records you can try to break at home!

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud excerpt from TRACKING PYTHONS: THE QUEST TO CATCH AN INVASIVE PREDATOR AND SAVE AN ECOSYSTEM. After the read-aloud, you can learn more about invasive species from National Geographic and the National Wildlife Foundation. Also check out this article from New York State Conservationist Kids!

Kate also shared this article about the python scientists, with photos and infographics.

Author & illustrator Grace Lin teaches viewers how to draw a Chinese Dragon and shares some tidbits about Chinese culture! You can find more of Grace's reading & drawing videos on her YouTube channel.

Author Carole Lindstrom shares a read-aloud of WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS.

Author Jo Knowles reads from the first chapter of her MG novel WHERE THE HEART IS and offers students a fun writing exercise! For more about Jo and her books, or for teachers/book group guides that go along with her books, visit her website.

Kelley McMorris, who illustrates the RANGER IN TIME chapter book series, shares a video about how she illustrates a book cover. After you watch, try using Kelley's process to design a new cover for one of your favorite books!

Author and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi shares a read-aloud of her picture book WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?, gives a drawing demo and challenges young readers to create their own imaginative squirrels, and shares a crowd-sourced "Where Are My Books?" music video. You can find lots of free, print-ready activities and other fun bonus info at https://www.debbieohi.com/wamb

Author Erin Entrada Kelly gives a peek into the notebooks for several of her novels, including HELLO, UNIVERSE. Writing challenge: What's in your notebook? Take a little time to write in it today, inspired by Erin's ideas!

Author Chris Tebbetts shares a read-aloud of the first chapters of STRANDED. Writing challenge: Choose a wilderness setting of your own - the Arctic, the desert, the rainforest - and imagine you're stranded there. How will you survive? Write an imaginary journal documenting your adventure. Check out these wilderness survival skills from Outdoor Life for ideas!

Author Nikki Grimes shares poetry selections from WORDS WITH WINGS. Writing challenge: Try writing your own poem today, in the style of one of Nikki's read-alouds! For more of Nikki's read-aloud videos and lessons, check out her YouTube Channel here.

Author Ann Braden shares a read-aloud excerpt from THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTOPUS. Note: the octopus is a pretty amazing creature, so after the read-aloud, read up on them at this page from National Geographic Kids!

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of UP IN THE GARDEN AND DOWN IN THE DIRT, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. After the read-aloud, read more about helpful insects here and check out these garden activities from KidsGarden!

Author Sarah Albee shares a STEM mystery, "Did the Doctor Do It?" as part of her series exploring the science and intrigue of poison throughout history. Check out more of Sarah's Poison videos here.

Middle grade and Young adult author, Paula Chase offers a mini-writing exercise to help students build stories around their unique traits.

Author Nancy Castaldo reads some of BACK FROM THE BRINK with tips how we can all use our voices through our writing to make a difference. Here's the link to the reader's guide for more activities.

Author Debbi Michiko Florence shares an early read-aloud excerpt of her upcoming MG novel KEEP IT TOGETHER KEIKO CARTER, along with a writing prompt!

Author & illustrator Grace Lin shares the first story from her early reader, "Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same!" You can find more of Grace's reading & drawing videos on her YouTube channel.

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud excerpt from RANGER IN TIME: RESCUE ON THE OREGON TRAIL. Writing challenge: Choose your favorite event in history and imagine how a search and rescue dog might be able to help out. Then so some research about your historical event, and write your own story about Ranger's adventures there!

Christina Soontornvat shares how she came up with the idea for her new middle grade fantasy novel, A WISH IN THE DARK. Writing challenge: Use Christina's model to brainstorm your own list of ideas for stories that might be inspired by a classic tale! And check out more videos from Christina here!

Author KA Holt reads an excerpt from her forthcoming middle grade novel-in-verse, BEN BEE AND THE TEACHER GRIEFER.

Author Mae Respicio reads a few pages from her upcoming middle grade novel, Any Day With You, and shares a quick, fun writing prompt. Writing challenge: Imagine you've been planning a beach day with your best friends. You're so excited to go but when you get there... everything goes wrong and not the way you expected it to! Describe what happens.

Author Elly Swartz shares tips on how to use the emotion in your life to create authentic characters! Writing challenge: Take a few minutes to journal about a day when you felt an especially strong emotion - joy or fear or excitement! How might you use those emotions in a fictional story?

Author Lisa Yee drinks water, reads the first chapter of Millicent Min, Girl Genius, and fumbles when she comes across a couple of lines in Latin. Writing challenge: Try rewriting a scene from this chapter from the point of view of another character!

Award-Winning author Michelle Cusolito shares a writing mini-lesson to help writers add more sensory details to their writing. You can find more resources related to Michelle's book FLYING DEEP: CLIMB INSIDE DEEP-SEA SUBMERSIBLE ALVIN here.

Author-illustrator Lita Judge shares a video about how a sketching trip inspired one of her picture books! After you watch, take your own mini-sketching trip. Go to your kitchen or your bedroom, your porch or your backyard, and sketch what you see. Observe closely!

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud excerpt from CHIRP, a mystery for kids that's set on a cricket farm! After the read aloud, you can learn more about entomophagy (eating insects as food!) from CBS Kids, and check out a real cricket farm's website!

Author Chris Tebbetts shares a video mini-lesson on how to create a good beginning for a story!

And another video writing workshop from Chris, called Four Elements of Character. (This is an 8-minute video where you pause & write sometimes, so the full activity will take about half an hour. Recommended for writers ages 10 and up.)

Author Aisha Saeed shares a read-aloud of her picture book, BILAL COOKS DAAL, along with a related activity!

Author Emily Jenkins shares a read-aloud of A GREYHOUND, A GROUNDHOG.

Author Lisa Schroeder shares a read-aloud excerpt from her MG novel MY SECRET GUIDE TO PARIS, along with a writing exercise!

Author Janet Fox shares a read-aloud of the first chapter of her MG novel THE ARTIFACT HUNTERS. Writing challenge: Try writing a short scene of your own in which something unexpected happens!

Author & illustrator Jess Keating shares some thoughts on where ideas for stories come from! (This is part of a series Jess shares on writing & you can find more on her YouTube channel.)

Author Chris Tebbetts shares a read-aloud of the first chapters of MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE, co-written with James Paterson.

Poet Charles Waters shares poetry from DICTIONARY FOR A BETTER WORLD (by Charles Waters and Irene Latham)

Author Abby Cooper reads the first chapter of her middle grade novel, FRIEND OR FICTION.

Author Lynn Plourde shares some tips on starting an observation notebook!

Author-illustrator James Burks shares a video lesson on how to draw Squirrel from his graphic novel series, Bird and Squirrel!

Author Kristen Larson shares an engineering design activity based on her book WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane.

Author Liz Garton Scanlon shares a video lesson on writing am ETHEREE - a ten line poem in which each line is one syllable longer than the last.

Author-illustrator Karen Romano Young shares a video doodling tutorial. You can also check out Karen's #AntarcticLog comics, a weekly series of comics about Antarctica - as well as the Arctic and anyplace where climate change is being studied.

Author KA Holt reads an excerpt from her novel-in-verse, HOUSE ARREST. Mini-lesson: listen for as many poetic devices as you can find (metaphor, simile, assonance, hyperbole, etc.)

Author Jennifer Roy shares a video read-aloud from her historical novel YELLOW STAR, along with a writing prompt about looking for symbols of hope in tough times, recommended for ages 10 and up.

Author Laurel Snyder shares some thoughts on fiction and making up stories, along with a read-aloud of CHARLIE AND MOUSE OUTDOORS.

Author Caroline Starr Rose reads her picture book, A RACE AROUND THE WORLD: THE TRUE STORY OF NELLIE BLY AND ELIZABETH BISLAND. When you've finished listening, visit the article, How to Pack Like Pioneering Journalist Nellie Bly, Who Circumnavigated the Globe in 1889 with Just a Small Duffle Bag, to see what Nellie brought on her journey. Challenge: Plan your own trip around the world. What would you like to see? Where would you like to visit? Mark these places on a map.

Author Corinne Demas shares a read-aloud of THE DISAPPEARING ISLAND.

Author Lauren Tarshis shares a read-aloud of the first two chapters of I SURVIVED THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC. After the read-aloud, check out this link to read about Robert Ballard, the oceanographer whose team discovered the wreck of the Titanic more than seventy years after it sank.

Author & poet Nikki Grimes shares poems about one of her favorite cakes, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, along with five steps to creating your very own poem about your favorite food! For more of Nikki's read-aloud videos and lessons, check out her YouTube Channel here.

Author Sarah Aronson shares a read-aloud of JUST LIKE RUBE GOLDBERG. And here's a FlipGrip page where kids can share their projects and ask questions.

Author Chelsea Clinton shares an excerpt from her book START NOW: YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Author Bruce Hale shares a read aloud of BIG BAD BABY.

Writing Challenge: Write about the same experience in multiple ways (letters, poems, illustrations, and screenplay).

Bonus challenge: Write positive affirmations for your family members.

Author Sayantani DasGupta shares a read-aloud of the first chapter of THE SERPENT'S SECRET.

Author Deborah Underwood reads INTERSTELLAR CINDERELLA (illustrated by Meg Hunt) and gives kids a mini-lesson on how to write their own fractured fairy tales.

Author Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of UP IN THE GARDEN AND DOWN IN THE DIRT and answers questions from kids in a "Family Book Club" video recorded earlier this year (thanks to Read-Aloud Revival for making this recording publicly available for learning at home this spring!)

Author-illustrator Brian Biggs shares a read-aloud of his EVERYTHING GOES board books.

Author Jessica Young shares a read-aloud of HAGGIS AND TANK (illustrated by James Burks) with a mini-lesson on sound words.

Author-illustrator Brandon Reese shares a read-aloud of his picture book CAVE DADA. And here's a link to download a coloring page, too!

Here's a fun challenge from author Laurel Snyder ... She's written a brand new book, but doesn't have any pictures for it. Will you help? She'll read you the story of The Beastly Collective, and you'll draw your favorite animals, while she teaches you some brand new words!

Author Christine Evans shares a read-aloud of Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist, illustrated by Yasmin Imamura.

Author and illustrator Grace Lin shares a chapter from her book, The Year of the Dog. You can find more of Grace's reading & drawing videos on her YouTube channel.

Grace Lin teaches families how to draw a dog from the number 5 (just like in The Year of the Dog!)

Amy Guglielmo, co-author of POCKET FULL OF COLORS shares a read-aloud of her picture book biography of Disney artist Mary Blair. Art challenge: Collect a rainbow of colorful objects inside or outside as a fun follow up activity. Take part in the "Rainbow Hunt," and draw a picture of a rainbow to post in your window for neighbors to see on their daily walks.

Author Kerry O'Malley Cerra demonstrates an easy tool students can use to summarize. This tip can also be used for writers as chapter checks!

Japanese American author, Kathleen Burkinshaw reads a chapter from her MG historical fiction, The Last Cherry Blossom based on events in her mom's life as a 12 yr old in Hiroshima during WWII. Also learn a little about her mom's favorite Japanese folk tale. You can find a Discussion Guide on her website www.kathleenburkinshaw.co

Newbery Award winning author Meg Medina shares a writing lesson on Creating Tension.

Kerry Madden shares a read-aloud of ERNESTINE'S MILKY WAY.

Author Buffy Silverman shares On a Snow-Melting Day: Seeking Signs of Spring and a little science show-and-tell.

Author Diane Zahler shares a read-aloud of the first chapter of The Marvelwood Magicians and a writing prompt.

Abigail Rayner shares a read-aloud of The Backup Bunny.

Michelle Cusolito reads aloud her book Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible ALVIN (illustrated by Nicole Wong) while Jeff Angeley of Southcoast Lessons provides live musical accompaniment. You can find more resources related to Flying Deep here.

Author Meg Fleming shares a read-aloud of her picture book, Sometimes Rain.

S.K. Ali, co-author of THE PROUDEST BLUE, shares directions for making a paper boat.

The niece and nephew of Cedella Marley read her book, Get Up, Stand Up, a picture book adaptation of one of Bob Marley's beloved songs that has a timely message for children: To counter injustice, lift others up with kindness and courage.

Author Lisa Yee talks about Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and reads passages from the book. Writing prompt for today: Do you think boys and girls can be friends?

Would you rather be an #astronaut or #aquanaut? Perhaps you need more info to decide. Check out Jen Swanson's video below. Then make your choice and draw a picture of your suit!

Author Jo Watson Hackl Shows How to Take Your Reading to the Next Level by Exploring the Natural World of Your Characters.

Author Heather L. Montgomery reads-aloud chapters from SOMETHING ROTTEN: A FRESH LOOK AT ROADKILL.

Author Heather Shumaker offers a weekly author chat called Fiction Friday. She shares tips and ideas for writing fiction, reads a short excerpt from her middle grade novel The Griffins of Castle Cary, adds in a mini writing lesson, a few corny jokes, and encouragement to young writers and readers.

Author Christina Diaz Gonzalez talks about finding writing inspiration from your own family history (video is in English and then in Spanish).

Kate Messner shares a read-aloud of HOW TO READ A STORY, illustrated by Mark Siegel & shared with permission from Chronicle Books.

Author Kimberly Derting shares a read-aloud of CECE LOVES SCIENCE with permission from HarperCollins.

Author & science teacher Anne Ruppert shares a try-it-at-home fingerprinting activity from SOLVE THIS: FORENSICS (by Kate Messner & Anne Ruppert, published by National Geographic)

Author Jacqueline West shares a read-aloud from The Shadows, volume one of her bestselling MG fantasy/mystery series The Books of Elsewhere, along with a writing activity for you (and possibly your pet!) that will help you think about character and dialogue. For more info and other videos, visit her website! www.jacquelinewest.com.

Author Carter Higgins shares a read-aloud of BIKES FOR SALE with permission from Chronicle Books.

Author Deborah Underwood reads FINDING KINDNESS, illustrated by Irene Chan (Godwin Books/Macmillan, 2019).

Author Melanie Crowder reads a chapter from her middle grade novel, Three Pennies, and shares a quick and easy craft to go with it. Writing Challenge: Think of one of your favorite books-does an animal make an appearance in the story? In Three Pennies, the author writes several chapters from the point of view of an owl (named Owl). Try to add a chapter to that favorite book you've got in mind, writing from the point of view of an animal in that story.

Author Cynthia Levinson reads The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Kids for permission.

Loree Griffin Burns, author of books like Citizen Scientists and the upcoming picture book You're Invited to a Moth Ball, shares her favorite book of all time: The Flora and Fauna of Hosmer Street. It's not a book she wrote, but rather one she made with her three kids. For one year, Loree, Sam, Ben, and Cat committed themselves to getting to know their animal neighbors; what they found surprised them. In this video, Loree show listeners a few of their best finds (garter snake! walking stick! a skeleton!), what they learned (the more you look, the more you see!) and, of course, how to start creating The Flora and Fauna of Your Place.

Many people have heard of the secret network that helped many enslaved blacks escape to freedom in the North called the Underground Railroad. But how many of you have heard about the Overground Railroad? Author Lesa Cline-Ransome reads from her book, The Overground Railroad, illustrated by her husband, James Ransome.

Author Kathleen Blasi reads HOSEA PLAYS ON, which depicts a day in the life of street musician Hosea Taylor, who made his community better, with his open-hearted giving. After the read-aloud, you can take a look at the newspaper article that inspired Kathleen to learn more about Hosea Taylor and served as the research springboard for HOSEA PLAYS ON.

Author Laya Steinberg reads her picture book THE BEST SUKKOT PUMPKIN EVER and shares a seed planting activity.

Author Jewell Parker Rhodes shares a read-aloud of the first chapter of GHOST BOYS.

Roy Freeman shares a read-aloud of CORDUROY, written and illustrated by his father, Don Freeman.

Author Nancy Tupper Ling shares a read-aloud, along with a lesson on how to make a list poem about your favorite place in the world.

Author Sarah Scheerger reads her picture book, Mitzvah Pizza, and shares a story about the real-life pay-it-forward pizza place that inspired the story. Classroom activities for the story are found here.

Writing Lessons! Many families are using this time at home to work on writing projects that range from stories and poems to special interest research reports and even novels. Here are some craft lessons from authors to help with ideas & strategies!
Author Meg Medina shares a video lesson on creating tension. Author Jennifer Torres shares a mini-workshop on setting with a video and pages to download. Here's a lesson from author Paula Chase on writing dual points of view. Author Josephine Cameron shares creative writing tips about how choosing the perfect setting can help you shape the character, plot, and relationships in your story.
Additional Resources:

Want to see even more author & illustrator videos? Check out the Authors Everywhere YouTube channel, created by Susan Tan!

Check out STEM Tuesday from The Mixed of Files of MG Authors blog for weekly book lists, interviews, and activities.

Want to try writing some poetry today? Joyce Sidman shares an amazing collection of ideas to get you started.

Here's another poetry lesson from Kathryn Apel - writing a didactic cinquain!

If you're stuck at home, it's a great time to start a writer's notebook! Author & Poet Amy Ludwig VanDerwater has a whole collection of posts from different writers, called "Sharing Our Notebooks." Check it out -so many ideas here!

Author Madelyn Rosenberg shares a collection of writing prompts here.

Here's a collection of video mini-lessons from nonfiction author Melissa Stewart - great for teaching informational writing, including research, text features, text structure, rich language, voice, and revision.

Author & poet Laura Shovan shares a collection of poetry mini-lessons on her website!

The folks at Middle Grade at Heart share a list of MG novels with discussions questions & related activities here.

Author Victoria Coe has a playlist of writing lessons for kids with 25 lessons.

Author Sarah Darer Littman offers short readings and writing prompts on her website.

On the Kids Ask Authors podcast, you can hear author/illustrator Grace Lin and a guest author answer a kid question! Kids can submit their own book reviews, poems or jokes! https://www.kidsaskauthors.com Subscribe to the podcast here: http://ow.ly/8OPg30qr7WD

Erica S. Perl (@ericaperl) is doing a weekly Instagram live author event called "Winging It with Erica S. Perl" featuring read-alouds, writing prompts, and occasional shakings of a tail feather. Tune in every Tuesday at 2 pm EST and wish her good cluck!

The KidLit TV team, a group of diverse children's book authors and illustrators, has created a virtual library of FREE read aloud, drawing & writing tutorials, podcasts, art activities + reading resources for kids. https://kidlit.tv

Jarrett J. Krosoczka, author & illustrator, shares daily drawing lessons on his YouTube channel.

Author Kathryn Hulick invites you to investigate a ghost story as a scientist, based on her book STRANGE BUT TRUE.

New Books to Check Out!

In case you're missing your weekly trip to the library or bookstore, we also want to let you know about some new books out this spring!

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Read, Wonder, and Learn! Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere - Spring 2020

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Hello, friends! I'm Kate Messner, a former classroom teacher, forever-educator, and the author of more than three dozen books for kids. These include picture books like Over and Under the Snow, The Brilliant Deep, and The Next President ; the Fergus and Zeke easy reader series; the Ranger in Time historical chapter book adventures; nonfiction like Tracking Pythons and Solve This: Forensics ; and novels like All the Answers, Breakout , and .

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Platform for creating games and quizzes. Premium features are free to affected schools.

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Run pulse-checks with quiz, polls and other questions to collect valuable student feedback. For example, pre-assess knowledge, or find out how students are feeling in general. Kahoot!'s visual reports on live games and challenges will help you with formative assessment: see how the class performed, identify difficult questions that need followup, and reinforce learning.

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Online games | Kahoot! - Your distance learning platform

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Inspire your students to play thousands of online games. Reach students even when they're not at school with Kahoot!

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Platform for creating and assigning interactive lessons. Email  support@kamiapp.com for free access through April 30th.

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Find hundreds of handy resources on our blog for every teacher, grade and subject. Browse our blogs on Kami how-tos, teaching tips and classroom celebrations.

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Tool for creating interactive lessons. Access is temporarily free to affected schools.

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Nearpod: Foster a love of learning in every student

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Create active learning experiences students can’t wait to be a part of.

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Platform for creating interactive discussions, free through April 30.

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Platform for interactive activities, formative assessments. Link includes resources for emergency school closures. Teachers can request 90-day access to premium features at this link.

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Resources & Community | Pear Deck Learning

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Looking for inspiration, support, tips and tricks, and more? Look no further.

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As schools and universities close or otherwise prepare for coronavirus (COVID-19), the Canvas team is here for you. We're committed to helping ensure students and teachers have the tools they need to continue to connect, teach and learn from anywhere. We created this page to help you do just that. We'll keep updating our resources. You keep washing your hands.

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Tools for Online Learning when the Classroom Closes | Canvas Learning Platform

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As schools and universities close or otherwise prepare for coronavirus (COVID-19), the Canvas team is here for you. We're committed to helping ensure students and teachers have the tools they need to continue to connect, teach and learn from anywhere. We created this page to help you do just that.

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Tool for collating and curating information

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Save, organize and share content from across the web with Wakelet. Find out how Wakelet can transform the classroom for teachers and students

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Choose a video, give it your magic touch and track your students' comprehension.

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Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. Track students' progress with hassle-free analytics as you flip your classroom!

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Create speaking assignments (Free for up to 20 students and 10 assignments)

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Improve fluency and oral proficiency.

Use our drag-and-drop interface to quickly create speaking assignments and assessments with voice, video, images, and more.

Spend less time in language labs or scheduling practice interviews by using Lingt assessments instead.

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Lingt - Create Speaking Assignments and Assessments

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Join 10,000+ schools who have used Lingt to create 150,000+ assignments. Improve students' fluency and oral proficiency by creating fun and engaging speaking assignments with Lingt's simple drag-and-drop editor.

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Micro-documentaries, stories, and short films from around the world

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Multimedia platform for collaborative speaking practice. A free memberships offers limited access and paid membership is required for full access.

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CLASSROOM

If you're an individual teacher and want to get started with VoiceThread for just your class, a Single Educator License is the way go.

SCHOOL

Give all your students an accountable and transparent learning environment. Easily integrate with Google Apps.

DISTRICT

A District License provides simple multi-school management, application of custom security policies, and integration.

A walled garden, with beautiful views. Ed.VoiceThread is the perfect online environment for students to practice their communications skills online, yet in a controlled, accountable, and transparent setting.

Accountability and transparency. Students working within Ed.VoiceThread are protected by student-centered policies that ensure a safe and supportive environment:

Students cannot private message other students.

All student work is transparent to administrators and faculty within the school or district.

Student accounts can only interact with users that educators and administrators approve.

Custom tailored policies. Administrators can set global and individualized policies for students, enabling them to either restrict or give more freedom and autonomy, as age and local school policy dictates.

Reporting and analytics. Track usage and trends for individual users or your entire institution.

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Transforming media into collaborative spaces with video, voice, and text commenting.

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Differentiation platform for math, ELA, social studies, and science

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Freckle by Renaissance - Differentiation Platform for K-12

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Accelerate literacy equitably with differentiated resources.

K-12 coverage of standards and skills

Over 1,000 nonfiction and fiction passages that adapt to each student's level

Teachers can assign a specific standard for some or all students to practice

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Freckle by Renaissance | Reach Every Student at Their Level

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Freckle helps K-12 teachers differentiate instruction and reach every student at their own level across Math, ELA, Social Studies and Science.

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Free self-paced quizzes to review, assess, and engage. Teachers can use pre-made quizzes or make their own.

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The evidence is in the practice

ESSA Level 3 correlation evidence in math and ELA, earned by teachers running frequent formative assessments.

When teachers run 30+ formative questions a week, the research is clear: they get more data-driven, their students get more engaged. Wayground is built to make that practice enjoyable ot run, attainable to fit a class period, and habitual enough to last past September.

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Quizizz is now Wayground | Teacher AI and Resources

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Find standards-aligned resources that engage every student. Wayground (formerly Quizizz) helps teachers differentiate instruction with AI and track student progress.

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Flashcards, games, and study tools including English language content

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Differentiated lessons designed to fix learning gaps. Information on obtaining free access at this link.

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It's simple to get started!

Simply send an email to sarah@mobymax.com, with the following information for each teacher that you would like to include in the school or district pilot:

Teacher full name

Teacher email address

School name

That's it! We'll do all the work to get your teachers started with MobyMax.

If you have any questions, please give us a call at 888-793-8331.

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Award-winning MobyMax helps struggling learners quickly catch up to grade level and closes learning gaps for all your students. Find and fix missing skills with personalized learning, pinpoint assessments, and motivating rewards.

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Considerations for students who only have access to mobile technology

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E-Learning TOOLS, IDEAS, & MORE

Although many low-income families have Internet access at home, most are under-connected: that is, they have "mobile-only" access - they are only able to connect to the Internet only through a smart device, such as a tablet or a smartphone.

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Please keep in mind that while there are many resources out there, many parents will continue to work, leaving their young children with older siblings during this time. Be mindful of the amount of work you will expect from your students. Many families may only have one device to share among multiple children. Crisis teaching is not homeschooling! Be supportive and be safe!

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PLEASE KNOW THAT ALL PHOTOS AND BUTTONS ARE LINKS TO THE SITES AND E-LEARNING PLATFORMS.

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"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

- Helen Keller

Covid19 Information in multiple languages: Keeping families informed

E-Learning TOOLS & Ideas

With the idea of limited access in mind, here are some ideas when working with low-income families with "mobile-only" access to the internet.

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Here are a few tools I currently use with students, even more so, when they miss school. Parents have been very supportive and engaged. These tools have worked well with parents allowing their children to complete tasks on their phones. When additional tasks were assigned such as writing activities for younger grades, parents replied with photos of the completed tasks.

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Talking Points allowed me to keep parents informed via text messages, photos, links to lessons and videos, as well as sending short videos with explanations for content and tasks.

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Nearpod is a great tool allowing students to feel part of the class remotely. They can watch videos and complete tasks from home.

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ReadWorks and Newsela provide a number of texts with illustrations and photographs to support content. The audio tools and comprehension questions keep students engaged. The activities can be scaffolded to support learning.

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There are a few other tools I haven't explored with my students yet but I will soon such as ZOOM chat sessions, Flipgrip and Voicethread activities. More information below.

CAM TRANSLATOR APP

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Helps students and families.

Translate photo and document into any language with one touch. Built with the powerful camera and AI translation services. Documents in most of language can be scanned and translated instantly.

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This is NOT FREE. $49.99 for a lifetime or monthly subscription options for every budget.

LIT. LEVELER

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Here is an app that can help with tracking books in your classroom, when sending grade-level books home with students.

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It is a FREE app.

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Just scan or take a pick of the book and create a list per student. It also automatically checks the level of the book.

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It's like your own private library check-in/out station.

EXPLORING OTHER ONLINE TOOLS

I have heard many colleagues say that they are not comfortable using technology, so I know that some of these tools may be new to you and you may be hesitant to use them. Here is a short explanation of how these tools work:

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Voicethread: All you have to do is upload a PowerPoint presentation. After that, you may choose to add a note, voice recording, and/or video of yourself explaining the topic or simply attach a video.

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GOOGLE HANGOUT: Use Hangouts to keep in touch. Message contacts, start free video or voice calls, and hop on a conversation with one person or a group. Turn any conversation into a free group video call with up to 10 contacts. Connect your Google Voice account for phone calling, SMS texting, and voicemail integration.

RESOURCE ROUNDUP

by Fountas & Pinnel Literacy Blog

VIRTUAL READ-ALOUDS:

Listen in as authors and celebrities read aloud popular trade books.

DIGITAL LIBRARIES/AUDIOBOOKS:

Supplement and enrich children's at-home digital libraries with thousands of digital books.

VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS, MUSEUM TOURS and WEBCAMS:

Send children around the state, country, and world with these digital experiences.

CREATIVITY, STEAM and MOVEMENT:

Stay active, create a doodle, play, imagine, build, experiment, and create with these resources.

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Here you will find a number of strategies and resources I have used with my ELLs the past few years and most recently too... from parent communication tools and data tracking for teachers to activities and projects engaging my ELLs and their families. There is a little bit of everything here!

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Stanford Online High School

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Available for instructors worldwide, this free course covered the essentials of online teaching including general guidelines for adapting your course to an online format, best practices for varied situations, common pitfalls in online course design, and how to troubleshoot student issues online.
Teach Your Class Online: Part 1
Offered through Stanford Continuing Studies, and designed and taught by Stanford Online High School instructors, this online course covers best practices for online teaching.
Teach Your Class Online: Part 2

Getting Specific: Situations and Tools

Science: Labs in Online Pedagogy

Teach Your Class Online: Part 3

Online Classroom Example Clips

Building and Maintaining a Classroom Community

Teach Your Class Online: Part 4

Review of Submitted Sample Lesson Drafts

Troubleshooting Obstacles to Success in the Online Environment

Teach Your Class Online: Part 5

Math: Using Writing Tablets and Whiteboards

Modern Languages: Tips for Highly Interactive Class During Which Students Actively Speak and Write in the Target Language

Humanities: Productive Classroom Conversations About Challenging Subjects

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How to Create an Online Classroom | Stanford Online High School

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Available for instructors worldwide, this free course covered the essentials of online teaching including general guidelines for adapting your course to an online format, best practices for varied situations, common pitfalls in online course design, and how to troubleshoot student issues online.

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List of resources including free websites and apps, social emotional resources, and ideas for digital workshop-style lessons by
Kristin Ziemke and Katie Muhtaris

Read the World Distance Learning Support

We hope you are safe and healthy and that your loved ones are safe and healthy as well. While we wish the circumstances were different, we are happy to learn with you and alongside you as we expand our understanding of distance learning during the COVID-19 school closings.

google

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Read the World Distance & Digital Learning Support

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Need to quickly convert a face-to-face class to an online class?

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Need to quickly convert a face-to-face class to an online class?

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Tips from the Global Society of Online Literacy Educators

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IDN Poker: Situs Judi Poker Online, IDN Play, Daftar Situs Agen IDN Poker

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Kami adalah agen idn poker terpercaya yang menyediakan link alternatif download idn play apk. Situs poker online sebagai tempat bermain judi.

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Navigating Uncertain Times: How Schools Can Cope With Coronavirus

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Navigating Uncertain Times: How Schools Can Cope With Coronavirus

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Tips, examples from other schools, and community resources from ISTE and EdSurge

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Online Learning for English Learners with Dr. Gretchen Oliver and Dr. Karen Gregory

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Online Learning for English Learners with Dr. Gretchen Oliver and Dr. Karen Gregory

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Highest Aspirations podcast from Ellevation. Ellevation is asking for educators to share their experiences supporting ELs and their families at this link.

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Speaking Up Against Racism Around the New Coronavirus

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Speaking Up Against Racism Around the New Coronavirus

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Teaching Tolerance

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A conversation about coronavirus is happening among young people right now, and the focus isn't solely on health. When reports of this novel virus-first detected in China in December of 2019-started spreading to other countries, racialized fear began to manifest in public discourse.

Since the virus began to spread, people who identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) have been subjected to racist comments and jokes online or in person, and to isolating behavior from those who are afraid of catching the virus.

Times like these remind us that we must continuously disrupt and address issues of hate and bias, which often find their way into schools.

It's important to get ahead of harmful discourse because we know students are watching or listening to this rhetoric online and on social media. Many children spend hours a day on devices, so information-and misinformation-is likely in the hands of most of your students.

What Our Students Are Hearing

So we can assume our students are seeing posts like this one from a college student who considered dropping a class because "only Asians" were in the classrooms, stating, "I hope I don't catch coronavirus."

They may also observe the racist tropes that falsely point to Chinese people's eating habits as the cause of the spread of the virus.

And these messages don't come only from misinformed youth or social media trolls. For example, the University of California at Berkley apologized after an official Instagram account shared a post that was supposed to inform students about the virus. Instead, it listed xenophobia when "interacting with someone who might be from Asia" among "common" or "normal" reactions to anxiety around the illness.

Anti-Chinese sentiment and any racist or xenophobic rhetoric about the AAPI community is not new. Associating this marginalized group of people with disease is also not new.

Educators need to understand the historical context as they prepare to address this narrative in the classroom or other school spaces.

The Historical Context

Members of the AAPI community are targets right now because public health events have always been racialized. Pandemics that originate in areas populated by mostly people of color get more scrutiny, such as SARS in China or Ebola in West Africa. However, when pandemics occur in the United States and other western countries, such as the novel H1N1, citizens in those countries were not viewed as innately diseased. Many people die yearly from the flu, but Westerners aren't seen as suspicious.

Anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States related to disease goes back to when Chinese people began immigrating here. In efforts to bar Chinese workers from entering the country in the late 1800s, white labor unions argued that Chinese people carried diseases that were more virulent than those found in white people.

In the same way junk science was used to justify enslaving Africans, junk science about people from Asia was used to justify laws leading to exclusion and exploitation of Asian immigrants. It solidified fear and phobia against Chinese people. The " yellow peril " narrative was born. It's a racist term that plays on the idea that Asian people would disrupt or harm Westerners' way of life.

These racist tropes are directly tied to the oppression of Asians and Asian Americans in the United States. They were used to justify the Page Act of 1875, which restricted East Asian women from immigrating to the U.S. And they served, in part, as justification for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned most Chinese people from immigrating to the U.S.

Coupled with racist tropes about health and culture, these laws led to racist violence against Asian Americans. The remnants of that legacy remain in public discourse today.

Interrupting Racism

Educators have a responsibility to interrupt any anti-AAPI and xenophobic narratives. Since students may be exposed to racist posts on social media or racist comments about the coronavirus, you might hear some of this discourse in your classroom or throughout the school building. It is imperative that you interrupt it every time it occurs.

Right now, it's important to have a heightened sense of what your students are saying in spaces inside and outside of the classroom. Respond immediately to any news of a student repeating racist or xenophobic language. It's also vital to attend to any students or colleagues who have been harmed by anti-AAPI speech or rhetoric.

Our Responding to Hate and Bias at School guide can help you address issues at any phase of a hate or bias incident.

Educating Students

Because you won't always catch xenophobic or racist comments as they occur, it's important to equip students with the historical context and relevant skills to discern when something is biased and how they can respond.

Our Speak Up at School guide provides resources to help both educators and students tackle discussions about bias and stereotypes. helps guide educators in facilitating critical conversations.

Even if no incident has occurred yet in your school or classroom, you must still be proactive. Create a welcoming and hate-free environment by ensuring that students can identify hate and bias and then encouraging them to disrupt it. Teachers can use our lessons about upstanders, which show students how to respond to hate speech.

This is also an important time to emphasize the necessity of digital literacy, as students may become aware of hateful or biased speech online. Students must learn how to glean credible news sources and spot biased reporting. Spend time going through the pitfalls of the internet and help sharpen their digital literacy skills with lessons and activities.

Even if your students do not represent the identities likely to be harmed by racist comments around the coronavirus, or you believe they're not spreading misinformation and repeating racist tropes, exploring anti-AAPI rhetoric around the virus is still worthy of critical conversations in the classroom.

The truth is all students are affected by hate and bias. It's up to educators to protect those who are targeted by it and give students and other adults the tools to stop perpetrating harm in the future.

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Speaking Up Against Racism Around the Coronavirus

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A conversation about coronavirus is happening among young people right now, and the focus isn't solely on health. When reports of this novel virus-first detected in China in December of 2019-started spreading to other countries, racialized fear began to manifest in public discourse.

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Coronavirus: Protect Yourself and Stand Against Racism

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Coronavirus: Protect Yourself and Stand Against Racism

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Lesson ideas from Facing History and Ourselves

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Find compelling classroom resources, learn new teaching methods, meet standards, and make a difference in the lives of your students.

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Tips for you and your school community from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

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If you're noticing anxiety in yourself or those around you these days, you're not alone. With mention of COVID-19 (commonly known as coronavirus) filling radio and television news, social media feeds, and our email inboxes, it's no wonder we're all anxious. Between the uncertainty, the real health risks, and the hype, fear and anxiety are feelings that are both valid and common. We wanted to provide you with a few ideas for managing those feelings.

Start with yourself. Before you help others with their feelings, make sure you are okay-that you are calm enough to validate, reassure, and support others. Practice your calming strategies. Practice self-care. Talk to others. Breathe.

Be aware of your own emotions and accept how you feel. With widespread illness, real uncertainty exists. We may be worried about our own health and safety, the well-being of our family members, or even childcare or workplace issues. Remind yourself that a certain level of anxiety is grounded and normal. Seek professional help if you feel your anxiety or fear is getting in the way.

Focus on the facts. Consult reliable and up-to-date sources of information such as the Center for Disease Control website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html and your local news source for updates on closings, procedures, and guidelines.

Control the amount of information you take in. In times like these, we may feel like we have no control. One thing we can control is how much information we seek out and how often we tune in. Take breaks as needed from the news, social media, and conversations that make you feel anxious.

Don't be afraid to say no. If someone asks you to attend a social event or goes to hug you or shake your hand and you are not interested, this is not a time to push yourself past your comfort zone. Give yourself permission to say no, as your physical and mental health is the most important thing. At a loss for words? Try something like, "With all the germs going around, I'll take a raincheck."

Respect others' decisions but know what's right for you. We all handle the news differently. You may know someone stocking up on masks and paper goods; others may be continuing to host parties. Let them go about their business, and think about what you need to do for you and your own physical and emotional well-being.

Be your best self when dealing with stigma and fears. If you hear rumors or notice suspicion around certain groups of people being sick, question ungrounded assumptions and do your best to protect those who are stigmatized or judged. Have compassion for those who are ill and those whose lives have been disrupted by the virus or society's response to it, including having compassion for yourself.

Support others who are dealing with anxiety and uncertainty. When helping others with their anxiety, particularly your colleagues, students, or children, we suggest you:

Manage your own anxiety first.

Don't be afraid to discuss the situation-open communication sometimes is the best way to allay unpleasant emotions.

Don't assume you know how others, and particularly children, are feeling or why they're feeling that way. Ask.

Consider the age and developmental level of those with whom you speak. Take your cues from them on what to discuss.

Reassure children with facts. Remind them that adults, in particular capable scientists and health care workers, are working together to keep everyone safe. Discuss what you are doing and what they can do to stay safe and germ-free.

Dealing with the uncertainty of the current situation is difficult for everyone, and we want to support in any way we can. Please feel free to share the above with your school community, and do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions, suggestions, or seek additional guidance in this area. Below are links to other resources you may find helpful as you navigate this challenging time.

Sincerely,

The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence Team

Webinar Recording

Managing Anxiety around COVID-19
We have created a document of strategies attendees of the webinar listed above use to manage anxiety during this time. To access the document, click here.

Additional Resources

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If you're noticing anxiety in yourself or those around you these days, you're not alone. With mention of COVID-19 (commonly known as coronavirus) filling radio and television news, social media feeds, and our email inboxes, it's no wonder we're all anxious.

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This platform allows teachers to create technology-enhanced online math assessments from a huge question bank. Grades: K-12. Free Forever Teacher accounts always. Free access to Premium features through July 1, 2020.

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Is your school closing in response to COVID-19? We are providing additional distance learning support and services to help educators teach online this spring.

Updated 4/30/20
COVID-19 has continued to spread throughout the world and now the United States. Schools around the country are taking steps to protect the health and wellbeing of students and their local communities, which is increasingly resulting in school closures. Some schools are closing for one or two days to thoroughly sanitize commonly touched areas (keyboards, door handles, etc.) or to prepare for potential distance learning in the case of a larger school closing. Other schools have already closed for one or more weeks to reduce the spread of this virus.

To help learning continue when schools close, Edulastic is committed to helping educators with distance learning support and resources. Distance learning can keep students moving through curriculum, minimize additional days tacked on to the end of the year, or simply keep students' minds fresh. Whatever the goal, Edulastic provides a robust platform to deliver worksheets, assessments, or instruction and monitor student progress while away from the classroom.

Edulastic continues to offer free-forever teacher accounts. In response to COVID-19, we want to make distance learning easier and more accessible to everyone. We are providing the following Premium and Enterprise features for free until July 1, 2020.

1. New Features to Support Distance Learning

We want to make connecting with students as easy as possible during this challenging time. We are happy to share that the following new features will be available starting on Wednesday, March 25th, 2020.

➡️ Google Video Classes

Stay connected with students and meet live with your class via a video chat powered by Google Meet. To access this feature, go to the manage class section and open the video chat room. Up to 250 students can join the video chat. Students enter Eduastic and select the "Join Video Class" button to join you and their classmates on the chat. Learn more.

➡️ Required Kiosk Mode

Block the ability for students to move from browser to browser with Required Kiosk Mode. This tool makes it imperative for students to be locked into the assessment browser in order to complete and work on an assessment.

➡️ Timed Assignments

Timed assessments are appealing for a few different reasons: They can reduce cheating and can give you control how much time students have to spend on an assessment. With assigned assessments, you can choose how much time the student has to take an assessment once they open the assessment. Learn more.

➡️ Edulastic on Phones

To increase accessibility to education, our engineers made Edulastic compatible with smartphones. Now when teachers give assignments, lessons, or assessments on Edulastic, students can log in through their phone to answer questions and complete the work. Learn more.

➡️ Google Classroom Co-teacher Sync

Edulastic offers a one-button sync to import all your classes in Google classroom into Edulastic. It's easy and instant! Now, you can also sync your Google Classroom with your co-teacher. Learn more.

➡️ New Upload File Question Type

A new "Upload File" question type encourages students to upload a picture or file of their work in response to a teacher's prompt. You'll see this new option when you go to author a new question. Learn more.
We are continuing to listen to and respond to educator needs at this time. We will continue to update this page as new features are released.

2. Resources for Free Teacher Edulastic Accounts.

Soon available to all: Teachers can access the Express Grader tab from the Live Class Board. This page provides an at-a-glance overview of student answers and scores. When students respond to the assessment on paper, a teacher can quickly enter the answers into the express grader to get the same data and analysis benefits available if the assessment was taken online.

Distance learning involves approaching creative ways to prepare, share, and review work. It also can be dependent on whether students have technology available at home. We are activating the following Premium features for all accounts to assist collaboration between teachers and students.

➡️ Present Mode

Use Present Mode to anonymize names and responses on the Live Class Board so that, as a group, the class can go over the questions and answers on an assessment.
In conjunction with Google Classroom, a teacher can assign an assessment, discuss with students, and then, using Google Hangouts/Meet can share the live dashboard in Present Mode to analyze the class results with students- all in a virtual learning environment.

➡️ Co-Teacher

Team up with another teacher or admin in the district and share rosters, assignments, and data. Adding a co-teacherallows collaboration among colleagues and the ability to respond to student needs, which provides additional distance learning support for everyone.

➡️ Express Grader

If students lack internet or technology in the home, Express Grader will be of particular help. When needed, a teacher can print an assignment in Edulastic and give students a paper-based copy. The students record their answers on the paper-based version. When students return to school and turn in their assignment(s), teachers can efficiently enter the scores or responses using Express Grader. This ensures that you can continue using the automated data analysis tools in Edulastic, yet students don't have to take an assessment digitally to have their progress tracked.

➡️ All Redirect Features

Here's an overview of Redirect, a powerful way to give students another go at an assessment or assignment.

Redirect allows teachers to give students a second chance on an assessment or assignment. This reassign tool is helpful in cases when:

1. Students are absent during the initial assignment or assessment window.

2. Students have inadvertently skipped questions on the assessment and you want to give them the chance to go back and respond

3. Students rushed through an assessment without giving their best effort and you want them to try again.

4. You want to give students additional practice on the assessment.

You'll find the Redirect button on the Live Dashboard. All redirect features are now available to teachers so that students can revisit an assessment or an assignment that they've already attempted.

3. Automated SIS Syncs for all districts and schools.

Enterprise-licensed districts currently have the option of integrating their student information systems with Clever, Canvas or Schoology to automatically sync rosters, student data, teacher and admin accounts, and grades. To minimize the need for manual updates by teachers, these options will be available to all districts with teachers using Edulastic.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this, please first download and follow the instructions below, and then contact our Support Line to let us know you have initiated the integration.

Clever Integration

Canvas Integration

Schoology Integration

Edulastic Support Line: (510) 901-4739

4. Enhanced Online and Phone Support. Expanded Infrastructure.

To make these options work for you, we are adding more resources to our online chat and phone support teams between now and July 1. Our staff attending to these lines of support will be increased - especially during high volume times - so that we can continue to respond to your questions and needs and provide additional .

We have also taken steps to scale our infrastructure to support greater volume on the platform. If it becomes necessary for your district to rely entirely on online learning, we will be prepared to handle the additional load from users.

5. Edulastic Enterprise Free Pilot Opportunities

Are you are a school or district leader looking to pilot Edulastic Enterprise at your campus? We're happy to chat with you. Complete the interest form and your local Edulastic representative will reach out to discuss pilot details and answer any questions you may have. This could be the start of a great new relationship!

6. Distance Learning Support: Additional Resources

At Edulastic, we are always trying to do our best to support the educator community. We are doing what we can at this time to provide distance learning support and give you the tools to stay connected and productive with your students. We hope these additional resources will help you and your students over the next several months as this pandemic unfolds.

We will continue to keep this page up to date with the latest Edulastic resources.

Find more tips for keeping the learning moving with Edulastic

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Edulastic Distance Learning Support and Resources During COVID-19

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Is your school closing in response to COVID-19? We are providing additional distance learning support and services to help educators teach online this spring. Updated 4/30/20 COVID-19 has continued to spread throughout the world and now the United States.

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For teachers of pre-algebra through calculus. Create the math worksheets you need, exactly how you want them, in minutes. You can also create customizable homework, quizzes, and tests. Grades: 8–12; cost: Free

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Create Custom Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, and Calculus Worksheets

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Software for math teachers that creates custom worksheets in a matter of minutes. Try for free. Available for Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, and Calculus.

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Dynamically created math worksheets for students, teachers, parents … anyone!

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Math Worksheets | Dynamically Created Math Worksheets

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Dynamically Created Math Worksheets for Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Time, Fractions, Kindergarten and more Math Topics.

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Tools for math teachers, including bell-ringers and drills, math tools and manipulatives, question generators, printables, and puzzles. Grades: K–12; cost: Free

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From McGraw-Hill, a web-based assessment and learning system that uses adaptive questioning to determine students’ needs. Adaptive technology on student readiness. Grades: 3–12; cost: $

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BuzzMath focuses on helping middle schoolers practice their math skills. It contains high-quality problems, gives immediate and detailed feedback, and lets students progress at their own pace. Randomly generated values let students retry problems to obtain mastery. Teachers also receive detailed results that help them guide and monitor student progress. Grades: 6–9; cost: Free demo with subscription plans for students and families.

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If you're considering purchasing Buzzmath, I'd say jump on it. My whole team of math teachers, we have loved using it to really engage with our students. So I hope you try out Buzzmath, it's a great product. You will not be disappointed.

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Engage students in their math learning | Buzzmath

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If you're considering purchasing Buzzmath, I'd say jump on it. My whole team of math teachers, we have loved using it to really engage with our students. So I hope you try out Buzzmath, it's a great product. You will not be disappointed.

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With Loom, you can capture your screen, voice, and face and instantly share your video in less time than it would take to type an email.

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Free screen recorder for Mac and PC | Loom

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Best free online screen recording tool with advanced video editing and video storage trusted by over 21 million people and easy sharing from Loom.com.

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Plethora of resources to use for students to understand their feelings

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Welcome to our supplemental Social Emotional Learning Activities page!

As you will see below, many of the supplemental SEL activities and lesson plans include characters from our game-based, social emotional learning interventions. And when you use the online programs with your students, these activities will reinforce the learning that occurs during game play.

These supplemental resources - lessons, activities, and worksheets - are in the following SELskill areas: Communication, Cooperation, Emotion Regulation, Empathy, Impulse Control, and Social Initiation.

These resources are age-appropriate for elementary and middle school students and are typically used in a classroom or a small group setting. And in most cases, if materials are required for the activity, they are items that you already have in your classroom or office.
Note: Please share this page on your school website so other educators may also benefit.
Social Emotional Learning at Home

Additional Resources for Social Emotional Learning

Our classroom management plan is a step-by-step guide and includes proven strategies, tips and printables for elementary school teachers, and it covers four key components for establishing a successful, well-managed classroom.

These free downloadable posters will decorate your classroom and be great teaching resources, reinforcing social and emotional skills in your classroom and reminding students to practice their skills like emotion regulation, impulse control, empathy, and more.

Social Emotional Learning Quotes

For each of the topics below, we have curated a list of quotes. You can incorporate these quotes in your social emotional learning lessons, add them to social media images, create classroom posters, or write one on your whiteboard each day.

Need Something More Engaging And Effective For A Few Students?

Simply request a FREE Centervention educator account and start using our online programs!

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95 Free Social Emotional Learning Activities

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95 free social emotional learning activities, worksheets, and lessons to help students in elementary and middle school. Most are no-prep and ready to go.

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Kids learn research-based skills to cope with challenges, boost emotional intelligence, strengthen relationships, improve behavior, and more!

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Social & Emotional Learning Programs for Kids - Life Skills Training - GoStrengths!

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GoStrengths! offers learning programs for kids which teach them skills to cope with challenges, boost emotional intelligence & improve behaviour. FREE lessons are also available.

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rich and relevant social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum for middle- and high-school students to meet all your SEL prevention and intervention goals.

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The Importance of Social and Emotional Learning

In today's complex world, a well-defined SEL program is more important than ever.

Today's students face challenges beyond the classroom as they form relationships, find identity, and face adversity. Integrating social and emotional learning into the classroom gives educators powerful ways to connect with students through meaningful conversations that can improve behavior, increase student success, and inspire learning that lasts a lifetime.

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Today's students face challenges beyond the classroom as they form relationships, find identity, and face adversity. Integrating social and emotional learning into the classroom gives educators powerful ways to connect with students through meaningful conversations that can improve behavior, increase student success, and inspire learning that lasts a lifetime.

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Online Animated Books

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Vooks - Storybooks brought to life with beautiful animation!

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Vooks is an entire library of kids storybooks brought to life with beautiful animation, read-aloud narration, engaging music and sound, and read-along text.

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STEM acitivies

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Free Educational Resources

We understand that with schools closed children are home and in need of ways to keep their minds engaged. Below is a collection of free TERC resources to help educators, parents, students, and others cope with school closings and quarantines. These resources were created by our math and science education and research experts and funded by the National Science Foundation along with other funding agencies.

Please also check our social media channels throughout the next few weeks to find additional resources and ideas we have found that we hope will be helpful during this time.

Focus On Energy

Focus on Energy uses an innovative approach to engage elementary students in learning about energy. The curriculum is comprised of a sequence of firsthand investigations including motion, elastic, thermal, and electrical energy. Each investigation is framed by an investigation question, followed by hands-on activities. Students have multiple opportunities to apply and consolidate ideas about energy forms, transformations, and transfer as they construct energy stories of ball collisions, elastic-band driven propellers, solar panels that can charge a capacitor, or temperature changes in the air of a "mini-room" warmed by a cup of hot water.

EarthLabs

EarthLabs is a set of high school earth science modules that incorporate hands-on activities, data collection and analysis, and interactive visualizations to engage students in an exploration of the earth system. The units offer both student and teacher handbooks.

The Inquiry Project

The Inquiry Project takes a unique approach to the study of matter for grades 3-5. It brings together core ideas, scientific practices, and crosscutting concepts. The curriculum for each grade is built around a network of science concepts. These concepts are relevant to understanding matter and include ideas about material, weight, and volume.

Head Start On Engineering

Head Start on Engineering is a bilingual, family-centered program designed to engage preschool children and their parents and caregivers in the engineering process. The program focuses on the engineering design process, rather than the field of engineering, as a topic and skill that is highly relevant to the everyday lives of families, helps make engineering feel approachable, and easily connects to early childhood play and learning practices.

Make Connections: You and Me and Math

Make Connections, a collaboration of the YMCA of Silicon Valley and TERC, gives adults a fun and easy way to help young children (ages 0-5) learn math. There are eleven curriculum units - each of which fits several common early childhood education themes. Units include activities for ages 2 and up, each with an at-home variation, and activities for children under 2 to use in programs or at home.

Investigating Science Outside

Investigating Science Outdoors is a supplementary science curriculum, for grades 7-9, that engages students in authentic explorations of a study site-a small piece of land near their school.

Study of Place

Study of Place is a collection of two environmental science modules (Antarctic Exploration and Currents Exploration) for middle schools that are approximately two-weeks-long.

CLEAN

CLEAN is a high-quality and rigorously reviewed collection of climate and energy education resources aligned with the Climate Literacy and the Energy Literacy frameworks, and the Next Generation Science Standards.

What's the Weather

What's the Weather consists of six chapters that are designed to supplement grades 3-5 core science curriculum. It encourages students to build ideas of science content and process through hands-on and online investigation of the weather in their location. Students collect data about moisture (humidity, cloud cover, and precipitation), air temperature, wind, and air pressure.

Signing Math & Science

Signing Math & Science uses SigningAvatar® assistive technology to develop illustrated, interactive 3D standards-based sign language dictionaries that offer students in grades K-8 and 9-12 who are deaf and hard of hearing increased access to the same learning opportunities that hearing students enjoy.

Signing Glossaries for Science Exhibits

Six signing glossaries delivered as apps to provide visitors ages 5-12+ who are deaf or hard of hearing access to STEM vocabulary during visits to aquariums, botanical gardens, natural history museums, nature centers, science museums, and zoos. While museums are closed, they can be used when visiting museum websites and "virtual field trips!"

Game-based Learning from EdGE

Impulse

Embedded in a sea of enemy particles, avoid collisions as you propel your own particle to the goal in Impulse.

Quantum Spectre

Use mirrors, lenses, and more to direct laser beams to colored targets in this scientifically accurate and cool laser game, Quantum Spectre.

Ravenous

Re-skin yourself in black feathers, take flight, and see if you've got what it takes to survive in Ravenous.

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We understand that with schools closed children are home and in need of ways to keep their minds engaged. Below is a collection of free TERC resources to help educators, parents, students, and others cope with school closings and quarantines.

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Online STEM Curriculum with activities

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Welcome!
As increasing numbers of students, parents, and teachers navigate remote learning, we want to contribute our resources to the education community during this time.

Parents and teachers can now access the FULL Design SySTEM curriculum, and the Design SySTEM Workbook entirely free.

We believe that even from home, students can have fun innovating and learning to be critical thinkers and problem solvers using the maths, sciences, and their own creativity.

Simply sign up above, and you will be taken to our suite of lessons to choose from.

Happy Innovating!

The Design SySTEM curriculum was intentionally designed to be flexibly used by elementary school classrooms (K-6). Just make sure you start with the Introduction to Engineering unit first.

The full curriculum contains the Grade 2-3 and Grade 4-5 packages (12 units total), but units may be used flexibly across all grade levels, as long as educators differentiate instruction for their grade-level.
Units contained in this package:

Acoustical Engineering

Agricultural Engineering

Civil Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering

Marine Engineering

Structural Engineering

Astronautical Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Mining Engineering

Petroleum Engineering

Robotics Engineering

Software Engineering

CURRICULUM FEATURES

Digital STEM curriculum for Grades 2-5

Scripted lessons covering 12 fields of engineering (in full curriculum)

Standards-aligned: NGSS, Common Core ELA, Math Extensions

Project-Based Learning: Real-world challenges sourced from industry leaders

Each lesson includes an informal student assessment

Each unit includes a project rubric and student documentation sheet

Low-Cost: Prototypes using recyclables and basic school supplies

Frameworks: Engineering Design Process, Career Exposure, "Four C's" (Critical thinking, Communication, Collaboration, Creativity)

Adoption: Public Schools, Private Schools, After-Schools, Summer Schools, International Schools

Learning From Home Initiative includes these courses

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Welcome! As increasing numbers of students, parents, and teachers navigate remote learning, we want to contribute our resources to the education community during this time. Parents and teachers can now access the FULL Design SySTEM curriculum, and the Design SySTEM Workbook entirely free .

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Creating with code

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Unity Learn provides award-winning free tutorials, sample projects, and full courses for mastering real-time 3D development skills with Unity Learn to make video games, VR, AR, and more.

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Open Ended Maths Problems

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By Jerry Burkhart
Imagine an open-ended math task that gets students asking questions as well as answering them. Each student works at the level of her current ability and interest, but no one finishes, because there are always new questions to ask!

A problem like this would help you differentiate instruction for advanced learners while stimulating curiosity, deep understanding, and perseverance for all learners.

I call these tasks "problems that never end." They are a type of High Cognitive Demand task, and they need not be traditional story problems. In fact, a story problem is not really a problem at all if you have been taught a procedure for solving it. By definition, a problem is something that you have not been taught how to do!

Here's an example

I have used the image below for many years with learners of all ages. What do you think the problem might be? How would you begin solving it? Try it before reading further! My thought was to enter a different number 1-9 into each circle so that each side of the triangle has the same sum. If you had a different idea, that's fine! The important thing is that you have now engaged in both solving and creating problems.

Keeping the problem going

This is a great problem, but does it really go on forever?

Let's explore my version of the problem a bit more. Suppose you have found a solution. (Maybe you have!) Imagine some new questions that you or your students might ask.

Here are some possibilities:

How many solutions are there? What do they have in common? What counts as a new solution? How many solutions are there if I count every small variation as a new solution? Can I find more than one solution strategy?

Why are the corner numbers important? What do I know about them? How can I prove it? Is my sum the only possible one? What is the smallest possible sum? The largest? Can I make every sum between the smallest and largest?

Can I use my existing solutions to help me find solutions for other sums? How many of those are there? Are there patterns that will help me make predictions quickly?

This long list of questions may look overwhelming at first. Fortunately, when you teach, you won't be dealing with all of them at once! When the questions grow naturally out of the exploration process, they are not so daunting; rather, they are exciting and full of possibility.

By the way, if you think this list is impressive, look here for more questions (you can also download my Triangle Sums handout). The possibilities are virtually endless, because new discoveries keep leading to new questions!

I have never yet had a student who has run out of things to explore. They simply reach a point when they are ready to move on to something else. I often like to press them just a little beyond this point. They are usually capable of more than they believe, and once they get past a stumbling block, they are off and running again!

Reflecting on the experience

Take a moment now to reflect on your experience with the image. You probably did some open-ended noticing and wondering before you even started solving your problem. These processes are at least as important as remembering and practicing mathematical procedures.

In the classroom, you and your students will become partners in both solving and creating problems. It takes some courage, because you will not always know the answers - but in a way, that's the point. This is a new mindset about math - one that values creative, independent thinking.

It also changes the way you think about teaching. Rather than worrying about learning every detail before you teach it, you enrich your own understanding of math through teaching. James Tanton of the Global Math Project advises allowing yourself to be vulnerable: "be your honest true self in front of students. Wonder about math; be honest if you don't know the answer and then help students try to find it."

The versatility of open-ended problems

Is it hard to imagine your students sticking with one problem for so long? Think of this challenge as an opportunity. Learning to persevere with tasks that take significant time and effort is an important new skill for many students. Remember that you are nurturing new habits. You may sometimes have to sell the problem to your students, but it may not be as hard as you think. Students are naturally curious about their own ideas and questions - and your excitement will be contagious!

How can you teach this way when you have a long list of math standards to cover? Think for a moment about which math standards our "triangle of circles" problem might address.

Young students will learn about properties of addition and subtraction.

Older students can investigate counting strategies and symmetry as they count solutions and explore relationships among them.

High school students can create and analyze algebraic expressions to express patterns they discover.

All students develop crucial reasoning skills. The problem differentiates instruction naturally, because students enter and pursue it at their own levels.

Getting started

These problems last a long time, and they tend to deal with many concepts at once, so you will probably not need too many of them. Nevertheless, it may take time to build a collection that thoroughly addresses the standards you teach. You will probably need to build your collection gradually. The images and notes below suggest some possibilities to start with. Look here for more notes on these tasks.

A task based on this image appears in the book, Extending the Challenge in Mathematics, by Linda Jensen Sheffield. It is similar to our "triangle of circles" problem but works especially well for younger students.

How can you get from 64 to 2 using only these operations?

What do these shapes have in common?

What is special about the large black dots? What is special about the open dots? What is the area of the polygon?

The Torrans are a species from another planet. How do their numerals work?

from Advanced Common Core Math Explorations: Numbers and Operations. Prufrock Press, 2015. Used by permission.

What do you notice and wonder about this list of fractions?

from Advanced Common Core Math Explorations: Ratios, Proportions, and Similarity. Prufrock Press, 2016. Used by permission.

What is this grid of colored blocks all about?

from Advanced Common Core Math Explorations: Factors and Multiples. Prufrock Press, 2014. Used by permission.

What do these pictures show about angles in hexagons?

What are the measures of the star-tip angles?

from Advanced Common Core Math Explorations: Measurement and Polygons, Prufrock Press, 2015. Used by permission.

I hope you feel inspired to try some never-ending problems with your students, and I invite you to find, create, and share some of your own.

Further resources for problems that never end

Advanced Common Core Math Explorations book series, by Jerry Burkhart. Prufrock Press, 2014-2017.

Exploding Dots, by James Tanton

Extending the Challenge in Mathematics, by Linda Jensen Sheffield. Corwin, 2003.

Intrepid Math, by Jerry Burkhart

K-8 Math Projects, by Jerry Burkhart
___________________________
Jerry Burkhart As founder of 5280 Math Education, he helps schools and districts implement research-based programming for gifted math students and offers tools and strategies for developing and nurturing adventurous math learners. Visit his store at MyEdExpert.
is a mathematics educator and consultant with over 30 years of classroom experience. He is the author of the book series, Advanced Common Core Math Explorations, published by Prufrock Press, and he presents regularly at state, regional, and national conferences on topics related to mathematical talent development.

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Neverending Problems: Math Tasks That Keep On Giving

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By Jerry Burkhart Imagine an open-ended math task that gets students asking questions as well as answering them. Each student works at the level of her current ability and interest, but no one finishes, because there are always new questions to ask!

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Puzzles, games and mini-competitions organized by grade

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Please use MathPickle in your classrooms. If you have improvements to make, please contact me. I'll give you credit and kudos 😉 For a free poster of MathPickle's ideas on elementary math education go

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Kids activities

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With schools closing across the nation, parents and educators are in bit of a panic as they try to figure out how kids can learn and obtain their education from home. If this sounds like you, stop stressing. This is going to be super helpful!

We have the Entire List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due to School Closings.
**Be sure to scroll to the bottom to get a list of even more ideas to do with your kids at home during coronavirus school closures.**
Each of these websites will allow you to sign-up for FREE and help your child along with their education. It is perfect for homeschooling which is something we are all needing to do right now.

Here's The List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due to School Closings

Below we have the entire list of education companies offering free subscriptions due to school closings. We've provided direct links for you below. All you need to do is click the link and follow the instructions on that website to sign-up.
ABCMouse/Adventure Academy American Chemistry Society Backpack Sciences Boardmaker BookCreator App Breakout Edu CircleTime Fun CiscoWebex CK-12 Foundation Classroom Secrets CMU CS Academy Conjugemos Coursera for Campus Discovery Ed Dyslexia Academy Education Perfect Edu-Together Elementari Explain Everything Fluency Matters GoGuardian Good2Learn Google For Edu Hawkes Learning HippoCampus Ideas Roadshow InThinking KET's PBS Learning Media Khan Academy Kids Discover Online Learning Apps ListenWise Microsoft Education Minecraft: Education Edition MusicFirst Mystery Science Nimbus Capture PebbleGo By Capstone Rockalingua Salesforce ScienceWerkz ScreenCastify Seterra Geography Scholastic Sight Reading Suite SmartMusic StoryBoard Tes Blendspace Typing Club Voces Digital
More Things To Do While You're Stuck at Home:

If you are looking for some extra fun educational printables, we have hundreds of educational {and fun} printables you can download, print and use with your kids. Check out Printables Library Here.

They are great for lessons, adding to the education you are already planning and simply giving you a minute or two to get something done while they are busy...
Huge thank you to Amazing Educational Resources for this list!

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Here's The Entire List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due to School Closings

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With schools closing across the nation, parents and educators are in bit of a panic as they try to figure out how kids can learn and obtain their education from home. If this sounds like you, stop stressing. This is going to be super helpful!

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IXL have both a Maths and English section. They are great for skills practice.

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The exact skills you need

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IXL | Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish

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IXL is the world's most popular subscription-based learning site for K-12. Used by over 15 million students, IXL provides personalized learning in more than 10,000 topics, covering math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish. Interactive questions, awards, and certificates keep kids motivated as they master skills.

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Literacy Development

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More than 5,000,000 students and 310, 500 teachers are currently experiencing the power of Achieve3000's solutions firsthand.

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Achieve3000 | Differentiated Instruction. Accelerated Learning. | Grades PreK-12

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Help every student unlock their potential with differentiated and personalized digital learning solutions.

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These are sites across a variety of subjects available.

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Copy of MKE With Kids Resources & Activities 🍎

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Babbal has 6 months free at the moment

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6 additional months for free!

Sign up now for a 6-month subscription and get

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6 additional months for free! Sign up now for a 6-month subscription and get Sign up now for a 6-month subscription and get 6 additional months for free! We turn language learning into language using. Our mission is to get you speaking a new language as soon as possible.

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Create videos and animations at home

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Tell your story with any kind of media.

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Create interactive lessons, record video tutorials and collaborate real-time with your students.

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Explain Everything | Interactive Whiteboard for Teaching

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Interactive whiteboard for teaching. Record video tutorials, create interactive presentations. Join 24+ million users of Explain Everything.

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Description

How can we leverage global connections to benefit student learning?

Can my virtual classroom build bridges with learners around the world?

How can I work with a local stance that values and amplifies global-mindedness?

If you are looking for an opportunity to reimagine what it means to be a 'bridge builder' this professional learning experience is for you.

We know this course is more relevant than ever before, and we know so many members of the global educational community have had PD cancelled. That's why we are making this $247 course free for anyone who wants it right now.

Does your team want to take the course together? Go ahead, it is completely free for as many members of your community as you'd like.

What's inside?

- 9 video lectures that you can watch at your own pace. Might you and a peer or a focus group divide these conversations and leverage them for your own PLC?

- Key articles and resources to take your learning further. Use them now, or bookmark them for later on.

- Tons of practical examples from classrooms around the world so you can see what connected learning looks like in practice. We build all of our courses to be relevant and transferable.

- Fun challenge tasks to apply your learning immediately. We value play, and we know how much it means to your community right now.

You will learn:

- what it means to be a connected classroom;

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Course content is applicable for K-12 (teachers, instructional coaches, para-educators, teaching assistants, support staff) and can be easily adapted to suit your learning environment.

All references and materials are located online.

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Your Connected Classroom (Free Course) - Eduro Learning

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Course content is applicable for K-12 (teachers, instructional coaches, para-educators, teaching assistants, support staff) and can be easily adapted to suit your learning environment. All references and materials are located online.

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Welcome to our free eBook collection, developed for children aged 3-11 years old. Help your young child learn to read, and love to read, with our range of over 100 free eBooks. If you'd like to learn more about how to support your child's reading, visit our Reading pages.
Not sure where to start? Check which level is right for your child with this simple test from Read with Oxford.

All our eBooks are tablet-friendly. Just register or log in above above to start reading. Please note that if you are a new user, you will not be able to access the eBooks until you have clicked the 'confirm' button in your account activation email.

Browse the library

sign up log in

More books to support learning at home

Songbirds

Levelled phonics books from the fabulous Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo.

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Free eBook library | Oxford Owl from Oxford University Press

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Welcome to our free eBook collection, developed for children aged 3-11 years old. Help your young child learn to read, and love to read, with our range of over 100 free eBooks. If you'd like to learn more about how to support your child's reading, visit our Reading pages.