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The ultimate list of totally FREE decodable readers, books, e-books and PDFs available online in 2023, all compiled in a simple list. Included are 15 direct links for easy access to hundreds of FREE decodable texts.

Free Decodable Resources

Current research supporting the Science of Reading (SOR) shows that decodable texts are needed to establish effective reading skills to reinforce the phonics skills taught. So we've been searching high and low to compile a list of totally free resources and want to share with you.

In recent years, many companies saw the need to release free resources to educators to help us do our jobs with research-based best practices in place. Many companies have continued (at least for now) sharing these resources, including decodable books, readers, passages, and e-books.

As educators, we spend so much of our own money purchasing items for our classrooms to use with our students. But some of those resources are just so expensive!

A motto our grandpa loved to share with us that we now greatly appreciate and value is: "If it's free, it's for me!"

SPELD SA

SPELD SA Decodable Readers are the top choice from the list below. And the best part is that they have released their sets of decodable readers online for free!

❤ Why We Love It

Each book can be used online in an HTML version OR downloaded as a free PDF that can be printed as an actual book. This resource is the most comprehensive and includes various formats, including special versions for ipads or tablets.

Worksheets and fluency charts accompany each book! There are ten total sets of readers with many books included in each set.

This is an excellent resource within the classroom or to share with parents for effective at-home learning! If you want to learn more about decodable readers, watch this webinar from SPELD SA to find out all you need to know.

Tips & Information

Remember that decodables are a valuable tool in your toolbox...but they're not the only tool. And if you're new to Science of Reading (SOR), you may be staring at your bookshelves filled with leveled readers and wondering what to do next.

If you're interested in learning about using decodable AND leveled readers appropriately, watch this informative webinar. Be assured, there is a place both types of texts within your classroom for your students!

The Free Resources

Below is the list of resources that include free decodable readers. We listed them in order of personal preference, but be sure to check them all out! Click the links for direct access to the free resources.

1. SPELD-SA (New Series)

2. SPELD-SA (Old Series)

3. Flyleaf (Available again for 2022-2023 school year)

4. Beyond Decodables

5. TN Dept. of Education

6. UFLI Decodable Passages

7. Teach My Kid To Read

8. Half-Pint Readers

9. Auburn University Free Decodable Books

10. Academic Success for All Learners

11. Core Knowledge

12. Success for All

13. Printable and Online Decodable Books

14. Sounds-Write (Requires you to create a free account to access)

15. Moon At Home Series (10 free books)

A big THANK YOU to all of the publishers and organizations listed above. You saw a great need to help teachers make the switch to practices that support the Science of Reading, and you stepped up to meet it.

We appreciate your hard work and dedication to ensuring literacy for ALL!

More Decoding Resources

We'd love to hear about your experience with decodable readers, especially those online! If you have any other suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or tag us on Instagram @literacylearn.

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Hundreds of Free Decodable Readers, Books, PDFs, & eBooks (2023)

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The ultimate list of FREE decodable readers, books, e-books & PDFs available online in 2022, compiled in a list with direct links for access.

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FREE Beautiful Online Decodable Phonics Books for Early Readers and Dyslexia

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Here's a great resource of free decodable books and stories found online. I use these fabulous readers as supplements with my students that I tutor reading online. All early readers can benefit from using decodable texts. Decodable texts are essential for dyslexic students. Contact Lisa at abctutorusa@gmail.com

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Kevin Yee created this list of 278 strategies educators can use in the classroom to promote interaction. The list and descriptions of the strategies are conveniently sorted into categories like whole group, small group, etc., so it's easier to find an interactive strategy to match your instructional setting.

This blank clock buddies template, created by Reading Quest.Org, can be used to establish a variety of student paired groupings in the classroom.

This blank fan & pick template, created by Sarah Wood, can be used to create an interactive review activity for students.

This blank worksheet, created by Freeology.Com, can be printed for students to fill-out when using the give one, get one technique in the classroom.

This handout, adapted from 7 Steps to a Language-Rich Interactive Classroom by John Seidlitz and Bill Perryman, has "catch phrases" that promote engagement students can use when they don't know an answer to a question.

These printable buttons are a great way for students with limited English proficiency to participate and interact in the classroom.

This 3-column template requires students to first record their own ideas about a given topic, then collect ideas from others, and finally decide on a list of shared ideas.

These are directions to a great cooperative learning activity for student pairs.

This scavenger hunt activity, created by Amy Straus from River Springs Charter School, uses student interaction to review content-area material. The example activity is for math but it could easily be adapted for other content areas.

Teachers can enter in a class list and this tool can be used to randomly call on students in a different order each time.

This is a template you can print to have students fill out when using the Think Pair Share strategy in class.

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Kevin Yee created this list of 278 strategies educators can use in the classroom to promote interaction. The list and descriptions of the strategies are conveniently sorted into categories like...

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Specific Phonics Approaches

The NRP found that using synthetic phonics instruction-the explicit teaching of letter-sound correspondences and then the blending of sounds to form words-resulted in improved reading abilities and that effect sizes of these interventions were larger than other comparison interventions. In addition, the NRP found reading programs that combined synthetic phonics with a focus on larger-units also produced positive results (NICHHD, 2000, citing Lovett et al., 2000). Following the NRP report, a U.S. Department of Education teacher practice guide recommended teaching students to blend letter sounds and sound-spelling patterns from left to right to sound out a "recognizable pronunciation." The Department of Education advised teachers to begin with simple consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words students already know and then show students how to blend the sounds while providing feedback as they work toward independence and gradually progress to new and longer words (Foorman et al., 2016, p. 23). The NRP report indicates that systematic and explicit instruction in phonics is the most effective way to ensure reading growth (Berninger et al., 2003; Boyer & Ehri, 2011; Henry, 2003).

Teaching Both Decoding & Encoding

Research shows that to become proficient readers and writers, early readers need to learn decoding and encoding skills. Helping children understand sound-symbol connections by learning the visual-to-auditory relationship between letters and sounds is essential for learning to read (decoding) and learning the auditory-to-visual relationship is needed to write words (encoding). In a review of research in this area, Foorman et al. (2016) concluded there is strong evidence for teaching decoding and encoding skills, especially in grades K-3. Weiser and Mathes (2011) conducted a review of the research about effective instruction for learning to decode and encode words and noted that research is especially strong in support of teaching encoding skills to students who are at risk of literacy failure. They found that learning to manipulate phoneme-grapheme correspondences enhances literacy performance and there is a synergistic relationship in using encoding and decoding instruction. Weiser and Mathes conclude there are long-term benefits from teaching children encoding beginning in kindergarten.

Pairing Phonics Instruction with Text

Research conducted by Adams (1990) found that systematic instruction in phonics is more effective for all readers-struggling through advanced-when it is paired with the reading of meaningful, connected text. The NRP verified Adams' research (NICHHD, 2000), and later research confirmed the NRP review (Brady, 2012, Dehaene, 2009; Moats, 2012; Strickland, 2011). The What Works Clearinghouse recommends starting early with daily reading of connected texts as soon as students can identify a few words (Foorman et al., 2016).

Excerpt from Successful Intervention Builds Student Success: Applying the Many Layers of Structured Literacy and Reading Research for Struggling K-5 Students by Voyager Sopris Learning.

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The NRP found that using synthetic phonics instruction-the explicit teaching of letter-sound correspondences and then the blending of sounds to form words-resulted in improved reading abilities and that effect sizes of these interventions were larger than other comparison interventions.

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Kindergarten and First Grade Student Center Activities Phonological Awareness | Phonics | Fluency | Vocabulary | Comprehension

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This is a skeleton essay I created with sentence starters and transitions you can provide to your students to assist them with writing an argumentative essay.

This is a chart I created that was inspired by Gretchen Bernabei's Ba-Da-Bing writing strategy to assist students with adding detail to sentences.

These Blueprint For Exceptional Writing graphic organizers can be used to assist students with organizing their writing for informational and expository texts.

These Blueprint For Exceptional Writing graphic organizers can be used to assist students with organizing their writing for narrative texts.

​This is resource I created to assist my EL students with writing book reviews. I have provided paragraph frames and vocabulary banks to scaffold the writing process for students.

This chart explains how to use the Expanding Expression Tool with students to improve the quality of their writing.

This document could be printed and folded in half to create a student bookmark.

Gretchen Bernabi has some fantastic writing resources on her site that are really useful for language learners.

This graphic organizer, created by Super Teacher Worksheets.Com, compares writing a good paragraph to building a delicious hamburger. It encourages students to begin with a strong topic sentence and end with a closing sentences and leaves space to add lots of details in the middle.

This is a great resource of models essays for most types of writing that are taught at the middle school and high school level.

This is a useful set of paragraph frames that can be used to scaffold writing for secondary students for the following text structures: descriptive, sequence, compare/contrast, cause/effect, and problem/solution.

These sentence starters, adapted from 7 Steps to a Language-Rich Interactive Classroom by John Seidlitz and Bill Perryman, are organized by the different levels of thinking you can use to scaffold writing for ELL students in your classroom.

This is great resource, created by the Eastern Institute of Technology, provides sentence starters and frames students can use for academic writing.

These are free posters you can print out and hang in your classroom that provides signal words for compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem/solution, sequencing, and descriptive writing.

This is a great resource for students to use when writing a written response to a novel.

This Blueprint For Exceptional Writing graphic organizer can be used to help students expand their vocabulary by developing analogies and finding creative imagery words related to a central theme or topic.

This Blueprint For Exceptional Writing graphic organizer can be used to help students generate paper topic ideas around a central theme.

This is a great resource created by Scholastic for introductory essay writing. It has model essays and graphic organizers with sentence frames for the following genres of writing: narrative, descriptive, summaries, how-to-writing, persuasive, compare/contrast, cause & effect, and problem/solution.

These are 89 different visual writing prompts created by Gretchen Bernabei.

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This is a skeleton essay I created with sentence starters and transitions you can provide to your students to assist them with writing an argumentative essay. This is a chart I created that was inspired by Gretchen Bernabei's Ba-Da-Bing writing strategy to assist students with adding detail to sentences.

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This resource, compiled by Miri Colman, provides 15 different books you can print and use with early readers. Students could take these books and practice at home.

This list, complied by Miri Colman, lists 15 free printable resources for early literacy.

This is a free resource of leveled fiction and non-fiction reading passages to use in the classroom.

These are links to twelve different graphic organizers that are terrific for English Language Learners.

These are some graphic organizers, available in both English & Spanish, can be printed out to use with your students.

This is a blank KWL Chart you can print off and use in your classroom.

This is the Spanish translation of a KWL chart.

This free tool evaluates the readability of text that you enter or scan.

This is a pre-reading strategy created for the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Heather Mullins. It could easily be modified to be used with other texts.

These excellent templates created by the New England Comprehensive Center allow students to preview vocabulary of reading passages and generate text connections of new reading materials. Sentence starters are also included.

This chart, created by Reading Quest.Org, can be used to facilitate the Question Answer Relationships reading strategy with students.

This is a free collection of hundreds of reading passages for grades K-12 teachers can use with students to practice reading comprehension.

These are 15 free online non-fiction books for K-2 students to listen and read along with.

This is a list of signal words that is useful for alerting English Language Learners of text structures.

These are numerous examples of t-chart graphic organizers, created by the Laredo Independent School District, you can print off to use in class that are translated into both Spanish and English.

These are some posters you can print out that explain the SQP2RS reading strategy.

This is a great read aloud resource for elementary teachers. It contains a selection of short illustrated books that are read aloud to students.

This graphic organizer, created by the Laredo Independent School District, asks students to identify the main characters, setting, conflict, main events,climax, and resolution of a text.

This is the Spanish translation of Story Structure map above.

This handout explains how to incorporate kinesthetic movements with the THIEVES reading strategy.

This is another version, created by Read Write Think.Org, that guides students step-by-step through the THIEVES reading strategy.

This site from Park Meadows Elementary School briefly explains each thinking map and provides a link for templates to print to use in the classroom.

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This resource, compiled by Miri Colman, provides 15 different books you can print and use with early readers. Students could take these books and practice at home. This list, complied by Miri Colman, lists 15 free printable resources for early literacy. This is a free resource of leveled fiction and non-fiction reading passages to use in the classroom.

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Heart Word Magic - Read and Spell High Frequency Words | Really Great Reading

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Heart Word Magic - Help Students Learn to Read and Spell High-Frequency and Sight WordsHeart Word Magic is a complimentary teaching tool designed to help students learn to read and spell high-frequency words and sight words, particularly those that aren’t very decodable. Show your students the animations, then try these fun, hands-on free Student Practice

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The version of the browser you are using is no longer supported. Please upgrade to a supported browser. Dismiss

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These ESL speaking activities have the simple aim of encouraging students to speak openly and freely, with minimal support, in order to achieve their communicative goals. Only in these situations can we really gauge a student's progress and discover their strengths and weaknesses. On this page, you will find suggestions for speaking activities which range from simpler, more controlled interactions to wide-ranging free-speaking activities.

This section has hundreds of conversation cards available for printing and cutting out. The questions are grouped into more than 50 topics. We also offer an A4 sized book which contains questions from 50 topics as well as additional exercises which presents relevant vocabulary and idioms to support the discussions.

Discussion and presentation style speaking activities

Surveys and interviews

These ESL speaking activities are a great way to get your students conversing. When the surveys have been completed have students share their findings with the class. There are several ways to conduct a classroom survey.

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ESL speaking activities that work - for students at every level -

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These ESL speaking activities have the simple aim of encouraging students to speak openly and freely, with minimal support, in order to achieve their communicative goals. Only in these situations can we really gauge a student's progress and discover their strengths and weaknesses.

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If you know me, you know I love decodable readers. They’re so helpful when teaching kids to read. I can’t get enough of them! If you’re loo...

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This is a free site for students to learn English online. There is a selection of games that students can use to practice learning English in a fun way. It is primarily aimed at ESL students, but young children may also benefit from them.

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Noun Project: Free Icons & Stock Photos for Everything

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Noun Project has the most diverse collection of free icons and stock photos. Download SVG and PNG. Over 5 million art-quality icons and free photos.

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Unite for Literacy provides free digital access to picture books, narrated in many languages. Literacy is at the core of a healthy community, so we unite with partners to enable all families to read with their young children.

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

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

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

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

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FREE English Lessons: ELA, Vocabulary, & Grammar Cartoons!

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Learn English vocabulary, grammar, usage, commonly confused words, and ELA literary terms + devices with fun, FREE educational cartoon lessons for all ages

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Quill.org | Interactive Writing and Grammar

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Quill provides free writing and grammar activities for middle and high school students.

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Learn how English Learner Portal can support your educators and families.

Whether it be through face to face workshops, online workshops, coaching, collaborative lesson planning, online courses, program development ...... English Learner Portal is dedicated to helping you ensure ALL students, especially your English learners, reach their full potential.

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Supporting the teachers of English learners

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English Learner Portal is founded by teachers for teachers. We provide engaging professional development, online graduate courses, face to face workshops and resources to support teachers in developing lessons that are accessible to English learners, developing content and language simultaneously.

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Welcome to Games4esl! Feel free to browse through our huge library of resources for teaching and learning English. On Games4esl, you can find classroom games and game templates, interactive quizzes, ESL worksheets, flashcards, lesson plans, vocabulary lists, and much more. And the best part? Everything on Games4esl is FREE!

Most Popular Resources

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Games4esl - Free Teaching Resources And Activities For English Teachers | Games4esl

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All the resources you need for teaching English, including games, worksheets, lesson plans, and more. Completely free and created by real teachers.

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Leveraging Games for Enhanced K-12 Primary Education in ESL, Math, and Science

In a world where screens have become ubiquitous, leveraging technology for educational purposes has never been more relevant. Enter the realm of online gaming-not just any gaming, but educational games designed for K-12 primary students. In this expansive guide, we will delve into the multifaceted benefits of using online games to enhance English as a Second Language (ESL), Math, and Science education. Get ready to play ESL games online, dabble in math adventures, and explore the fascinating universe of science games that are cool.

Play ESL Games Online: Transforming Language Learning

Games for ESL: More Than Just Fun and Games

When it comes to learning English as a second language, play becomes a powerful tool. Online games offer a unique blend of fun and educational content designed to help ESL learners grasp new concepts, from vocabulary to sentence structure, and even cultural nuances. Playing ESL games online creates a less intimidating environment for learners, allowing them to absorb language elements more naturally.

Building Blocks of Language: Vocabulary and Grammar

The most basic, yet crucial aspects of language learning, are vocabulary and grammar. ESL games often include exercises to match words with pictures, spell words correctly, and form sentences. This playful approach facilitates easier understanding and retention of language fundamentals.

Find Cool Games for Math: Making Numbers Fun

Why Play Math Games Online?

The conventional way of learning math-through rote memorization and repetition-often leaves students bored and unengaged. When you play math games online, you bring an element of fun into the equation, literally. Math games convert abstract concepts into tangible problems that require critical thinking. This makes it easier for young minds to grasp these concepts while having fun.

Math Gaming Categories

Whether it's solving puzzles, going on treasure hunts, or participating in virtual math competitions, online platforms offer a wide range of math games. You can find cool games for math that range from simple addition and subtraction to complex algebraic equations.

Play Science Games Online: Discover, Learn, Innovate

Science Games That Are Cool

How can you make science, often seen as a complex and challenging subject, enjoyable for primary students? The answer lies in integrating games into the educational process. When students play science games online, they experience hands-on learning that fosters curiosity and deepens understanding.

A Universe of Topics

The realm of science is broad, encompassing biology, physics, chemistry, earth sciences, and more. Online platforms often offer games for science that cover these various subjects, each designed to address specific educational standards and outcomes.

Primary Games for Holistic Learning
What Makes Primary Games Different?
When we talk about primary games, we refer to games explicitly designed for younger learners in the K-12 spectrum. These games are simplified yet engaging, covering the core subjects of ESL, Math, and Science. They are crafted to be age-appropriate, ensuring that students not only learn but also enjoy the process.
Primary the Games: Customization and Curriculum
The beauty of primary games lies in their customization options. Teachers and educators can tailor these games to align with the curriculum, making them an excellent supplemental learning tool.
FAQs: Why Are Games Important in Primary Education?
Q1: What is the significance of using games in primary education?
A: Games turn learning into an engaging and interactive experience. They help in improving focus, enhancing retention, and building problem-solving skills, all of which are crucial in primary education.

Q2: How can games be beneficial for ESL learners?
A: Games can offer a stress-free environment where ESL learners can practice language skills without the fear of making mistakes. They also facilitate better retention of vocabulary and grammar rules.

Q3: Are online math games effective for learning?
A: Absolutely! Online math games transform abstract concepts into interactive challenges, making it easier for students to understand and apply them.

Q4: Do science games offer practical knowledge?
A: Yes, many science games simulate real-world scenarios, encouraging students to apply scientific principles and learn through experimentation.

Q5: How do primary games align with traditional education?
A: Many primary games are designed to correlate with standard educational curriculums, making them an excellent supplement to traditional classroom teaching.

In conclusion, the digital age offers an abundance of opportunities to make learning a more engaging and enjoyable process. Whether it's ESL, Math, or Science, there's an online game tailored to make mastering each subject a thrilling adventure. So go ahead, enrich your primary educational journey with an array of games that not only educate but also entertain.

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Games for Learning English, Vocabulary, Grammar Games, Activities, ESL

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ESL Games Plus offers interactive online games for learning and teaching English as a Second Language. Our learning games are mostly suitable for teaching ESL Kids and Teenagers. There are activities for teaching and practising English grammar, vocabulary, sentences, listening and pronunciation skills.

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WELCOME TO ESL GAMES WORLD - FUN GAMES FOR ESL/EFL LESSONS

This site is dedicated to helping teachers by providing Fun esl games for Classrooms, Powerpoint Game & Templates, Printable Board Games, Interactive Games for Classrooms, Games for ESL Kids & Adults, Grammar Games, Vocabulary Games, Reading Games, featuring Snakes & Ladders, Hangman & Wheel Games. ESL Online Games

Fredisalearns.com : is a multi-level English program for children between the ages of 4 to 12 featuring tons of cartoon animated videos, games, tests and worksheets to teach and review vocabulary, grammar, spelling and communicative skills.

We provide a variety of interactive games and exercises for total esl fun. Our free ESL fun games here include : Snakes and Ladders, Hangman, Spelling games, Wheel of Fortune, TV Games(Betting Game), Mazes, Memory Games, Matching exercises, Sequencing exercises, Picture Quizzes and more. Follow the links below. This site is dedicated to helping teachers by providing fun esl games for classrooms, powerpoint game templates, printable board games, interactive games for classrooms, Games for ESL Kids, Grammar Games, Vocabulary Games, Reading Games

Fun English Vocabulary Games, Grammar Games, Sentences Games, Spelling Games, Printable and Powerpoint Games, Games for iPad & Android Devices.

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Free ESL Fun Games, Interactive Grammar & Vocabulary Games for Classrooms

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Fun Games for ESL Teachers and Students, Powerpoint Games, Games for Kids, Printable Board Games and Poker Card Games, Interactive Games and Game Templates for ESL Lesson Plans, Snakes and Ladders, ESL Hangman Games, Wheel of Fortune, TEFL Games, Grammar Games, Vocabulary Games, Memory Games

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Please find below a comprehensive list of our online ESL games. These games are perfect for face-to-face teaching with an interactive digital board or conducting online classes through Zoom. We have many more online games coming soon, so be sure to check back frequently.

ESL Say It! - A simple no prep warmer/cooler or quick break for students. In this activity students have to say a word from a category that begins with a letter.

ESL Wordle - based in the popular English word game but with 8 categories to make the game easier to be played by language learners

ESL Guess Who - Practice describing people with this fun online game.

Circle Word - In this game students need to work out what the 3,4,5 or 6 letter word is to get the highest score. Great for teens and adults A2+

MIXUP - A simple quick fire vocabulary game. How many words can you guess in 90 seconds?

Word Wheel - Get class started with this fun vocabulary challenge. In this game students try and guess what the nine letter word is while also making words using the letters and the key letter. The team with the most words and points will win!

Learn to tell the time - Practice reading the setting the time with this fun interactive game to practice telling the time.

ESL Scattergories! - A classic quick thinking vocabulary where students need to think of vocabulary quickly to get the most words beginning with a letter.

Scattagories for Kids! - Now play with young learner and lower level students in this simplified version of our classic game.

Name 5! - Name 5! is a simple no prep vocabulary warmer. In this activity students need to say a number of words based on a range of topics. Can your students beat the clock!

5 Seconds! - Students need to say 3 words from a random category in 5 seconds to score a point.

Guess the Word - A fun game to practice reading, spelling and vocabulary. Students read the definition and try and guess what the word is. Ideal for A2 level students. 11 categories of words to practice with.

2 Pictures 1 Compound - Can you guess the closed compounds nouns from the pictures? Practice guessing the compounds nouns with this fun interactive game.

Interactive Board Games - Practice speaking, grammar and vocabulary with these interactive online board games. New board games added regularly.

ESL Vocabulary Fortunes - An online game for teens and adults that is a great way to practice vocabulary on a large number of topics.

Word Search - Who can find the words first? With this multiplayer word search game practice spelling, reading and much much more.

Animal Vocabulary Games - Practice animals with these four interactive online games. These fun games are a great way to revise animal vocabulary with your students.

Fruit and Vegetables - Practice vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation with this fun interactive word game.

Animals - Practice animal vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation with this fun interactive game.

Story Dice - Get your students making and telling stories with this fun online story tool.

ESL Countdown - Practice vocabulary and spelling with countdown.

Anagram Word Game - A simple word game. Suitable for teens and adults with an intermediate and above level of English.

Word Unscramble - Practice vocabulary and spelling with this unscramble game for young learners.

ESL Category Generator - Generate categories to get your students practicing vocabulary. Great activity to be used with a ball or in online classes to get students thinking at the start of class as a warmer.

Trivia Quiz Generator - Generate quizzes quickly with this simple tool. Ideal for teens and adults intermediate and above.

Random Letter Generator - Generate random letters from the alphabet with this simple letter generating tool.

ESL Idiom Generator - Generate over 100 of the most common English language idioms. Get students to draw or mime out the idioms as a way to introduce them to the most common idioms in English.

Random Noun Generator - Randomly generate over 200 of the most common nouns in the English Language. Great for Pictionary and other end of the class coolers.

Catchphrase - A quick fire word game where students explain as many words as they can within the time limit.

Pictionary - Automatically generate words from three different levels of difficulty and play Pictionary with your students in a flash.

ESL Boggle - Boggle is a great warmer that can be used in the classroom. With this online version get students writing words to be the top of the class.

ESL Quizzes - Our Quizzes are a great way to end class and practice key vocabulary for a wide range of themes. Check back regularly as we are adding new quizzes regularly.

Question Unscramble - Practice grammar and speaking by unscrambling these questions which cover 15 different grammar topics.

Would You Rather - A simple no-prep warmer or cooler to get students speaking about what they would rather do in different situations. Ideal for students B1 (lower-intermediate +).

Directions Game - Practice giving directions with your students with this interactive map or let students create their own map.

FCE Speaking Practice - Practice FCE Speaking Part 1 and 2 with this interactive tool. There are over 80 part 1 questions and 24 part 2.

ESL Guess Who - Practice describing people with this fun online game.

The Expert - In this speaking game students speak about a topic for 30/60/120 seconds to gain points for their team.

Interactive Board Games - Practice speaking, grammar and vocabulary with these interactive online board games. New board games added regularly.

Movers Spot the Difference - Practice for the Cambridge Movers Speaking exam with this free fun interactive online game.

ESL Brain Teasers - Do you want to get your students thinking? Practice lateral thinking and reading with this brain teasers for all ages and levels.

Describe the photo - Practice speaking about photos for B1 (PET) students.

Story Dice - Get your students making and telling stories with this fun online story tool.

Spot The Difference - Can you spot the differences? Levels 1 - 8 are now available, more levels coming soon.

ESL Odd One Out - An online game that is a great way to practice vocabulary and speaking with young learners. This activity is great to help students practice for the Cambridge Movers exam.

Irregular Verb Challenge - Practice irregular verbs with your students using this tool. This versatile game can be played in many different ways and is a great routine to master irregular verbs with your students.

Interactive Board Games - Practice speaking, grammar and vocabulary with these interactive online board games. New board games added regularly.

ESL Quizzes - Our Quizzes are a great way to end class and practice key vocabulary for a wide range of themes. Check back regularly as we are adding new quizzes regularly.

Fortune Teller - Practice " yes/no" and "will" + future question forming with your students with this fortune teller.

ESL Bomb Game - Bomb is an engaging scoring system that adds excitement to any game.

Football Kick Off - Are your students football mad? Then this might be the game for you. Which team will win in this fantastic football game.

Classroom Car Race - Rev your engines and get ready to win it big with this fun car race themed board game. Ideal to use with your own questions and help keep the score.

American Football Rush - The American football version of our Football Kick off game. A quick no fuss way to gamify your lessons with no printouts.

Wheel of Fortune - Spin the wheel and win points for up to five teams.

Hidden Treasure - In this game students need to answer questions set by the teacher and try and find the hidden treasure before the others. The first to find it wins!

Student Vs Teacher - Who will win in this turn based based game? The student or the teacher?

ESL Battleship - Battleship is another engaging scoring system that will have students wanting more! How quickly can your students find all the ships and win?

Four in a Row (Connect Four) - This classic game can be used in many different ways in the classroom, as a treat, with speaking or while doing revision. Whatever way you use it it's sure to be popular.

Blockbuster - Gamify your online and face to face lessons with Blockbuster. Use this game to practice vocabulary, word formation or just about any activity. Students work in teams and have to get across the board.

Basketball Shoot - A simple game you can use to gamify you classes. This basketball themed game allows you to use your own material but use this fun game to allow students to use their skill to score a point. Great with mixed ability sports crazy classes.

Rock, Paper, Scissors - Battle your students in an epic match of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'.

ESL Play Your Cards Right - A fun higher or lower game.

Virtual Classroom Horse Race - Bring your students to the horse races with this simple interactive game. Have students choose a horse and see who wins! Great to gamify your class and make everyone have a chance of winning big.

Tic Tac Toe - Play this classic versatile game with our interactive board game and gamify you lessons quickly and easily.

Tic Tac Toe - Dragons vs Unicorns - Play the ultimate tic tac toe battle in class. Who will win? Dragons or Unicorns?

Math Skills - Practice addition, subtraction, division and multiplication with this fun online game.

How Many? Counting Game - Practice counting, numbers and 'there are' / "there is" with this fun interactive counting game.

Addition Challenge - A quick fire addition maths game that will help your students practice quick thinking with numbers and addition in English or any target language. A fun no prep warmer/cooler for class.

Number Match - A simple multiplication challenge to get students thinking and multiplying in English. A great warmer to get your students thinking and focused!

Count Your Chickens! - A simple counting and Math problem game for kids. Can your students decide how many chickens to put across the fence?

Multiplication Checker - Test your test young learners multiplication skills with this interactive tool

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Alphabet Game - In this mini game students need to touch the letters of the alphabet in order. Ideal for young learners.

Guess the Word - A fun game to practice reading, spelling and vocabulary. Students read the definition and try and guess what the word is. Ideal for A2 level students. 11 categories of words to practice with.

Scattagories for Kids! - Now play with young learner and lower level students in this simplified version of our classic game.

Count Your Chickens! - A simple counting and Math problem game for kids. Can your students decide how many chickens to put across the fence?

Vocabulary Fortunes for Kids - This game is a great way to practice and reinforce vocabulary with young learners. Covering 12 different themes found in most young learner course books this game is sure to be popular with your students.

Animal Vocabulary Games - Practice animals with these four interactive online games. These fun games are a great way to revise animal vocabulary with your students.

How Many? Counting Game - Practice counting, numbers and 'there are' / "there is" with this fun interactive counting game.

Movers Spot the Difference - Practice for the Cambridge Movers Speaking exam with this free fun interactive online game.

Spot The Difference - Can you spot the differences? Levels 1 - 8 are now available, more levels coming soon.

Interactive Word Search - Online interactive word search (word soup) puzzles for Young learners with target vocabulary for Cambridge Young Learner Exams (Starters, Movers and Flyers A1 & A2. A Fun way to practice spelling with students in class, on their own or online with Zoom.

Word Unscramble - Practice vocabulary and spelling with this unscramble game for young learners.

ESL Hangman - Hangman is a no-prep way to practice spelling and vocabulary recall with your students.

ESL Picture Reveal - A fun way to introduce a topic, unit or just revise vocabulary with your students. These preprepared picture reveals will save you time and have students reviewing vocabulary in a fun and interactive way.

Memory Match - Review vocabulary with young learners with these interactive memory match game.

Story Dice - Get your students making and telling stories with this fun online story tool.

ESL Writing Prompt Generator - An entertaining way to practice writing with young learners and even teens.

More online ESL games coming soon! (Last updated 10 May 2023)

Online ESL Classroom Tools

Classroom Dice - A simple virtual dice that can be used on any device

Date and Weather Interactive Chart (New) - Our no fuss interactive date and weather chart is a great way practice the date and weather each day with your students.

Classroom Soundboard - This tool helps teachers manage classroom transitions with simple sounds that they can assign to different classroom tasks e.g listen to the teacher, change groups, go back to your desk etc.

Cipher Making Tool - Make secret ciphers quickly and easily with our new Cipher tool.

Tell the Time - Practice telling the time with this free online tool for teens and adults.

Story Dice - Get your students making and telling stories with this fun online story tool.

Random Letter Generator - Generate random letters from the alphabet with this simple letter generating tool.

Random Number Generator - Play bingo, practice numbers or pick who goes first, all with this random number generator.

ESL Category Generator - Generate categories to get your students practicing vocabulary. Great activity to be used with a ball or in online classes to get students thinking at the start of class as a warmer.

Student Name Picker - A random name selector for you to use in your classroom when choosing a student to complete a task, answer a question, or participate in an activity.

Spin the Wheel - Spin the wheel is a simple way of awarding points to students in a fun and interactive way.

Classroom Coin Flip - Flip a virtual coin to decide teams, who's first and much more.

Classroom Score Board - Keep score with this interactive classroom score board.

Classroom Timer - Keep a track of time with this handy timer.

Follow us on social media and YouTube so you don't miss any of them!

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A collection of online ESL Games and activities for young learners, teens and adults. Ideal for interactive whiteboards and online classes

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About the cover artist

Elizabeth Close is an Anangu woman from the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara language groups in the APY Lands in outback South Australia. She was born in Adelaide and spent much of her upbringing in remote communities, learning her language and receiving cultural education.

'This artwork represents the literacy and numeracy learning journey, and the path towards independent learning. The circles represent the collaborative learning and supports around children with specific learning difficulties, including children, schools, families, SPELD SA and others.'  Elizabeth Close, Artist.
Click here for printing tips

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About the cover artist Elizabeth Close is an Anangu woman from the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara language groups in the APY Lands in outback South Australia. She was born in Adelaide and spent much of her upbringing in remote communities, learning her language and receiving cultural education.

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After giving your class directions and sending them off to complete the assignment you've given, how many times are you asked the same questions over and over again? Can we work with a friend? Where does this go? That's where using Visual Direction Cards In The Classroom is a lifesaver!
THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH
These visual direction cards will help your students see and remember what you want them to do while building independence. These cards will help eliminate repeated questions about the directions they have been given.

Simply print, laminate, and attach a magnet strip to the back for the easiest use on your whiteboard.

There are several different cards for each of the questions.

What supplies do I need?: scissors, glue stick, pencil, glue, dry erase marker, markers, watercolor paint, clipboard, post-it note highlighter, reading book, math binder, science journal, writing journal, STEM log, daily take-home folder, headphones, computer, tablet

Where does this ?: turn in bins, in my daily take-home binder, in my take-home binder, on my desk, in my mailbox, in my science journal, in my math binder, in my writing journal, in my backpack, in my math journal, in my STEM log, in my science journal, hand to the teacher

Where can I work?: at my desk, at my center, on the carpet

Can I work with a friend?: do it by yourself, collaborate with a buddy, share ideas but complete your own work, complete with the group.

You can find these Visual Direction Cards For The Classroom in my TeachersPayTeachers store.

Do you have any other tips or tricks you use to help your students follow and remember directions?

See you next time!

Jenette

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Visual Direction Cards In The Classroom - Primary Playground

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These visual direction cards in the classroom will help your students see and remember what you want them to do while building independence.

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British Council LearnEnglish Teens | Free resources for teens to help improve your English

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LearnEnglish Teens provides information, tips and resources to help teenagers learn English.

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You may have to preview videos!!!!

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Learn English faster with over 20000 fun to watch interactive videos.

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Breaking News English - Easier News Lessons

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Breaking News English Lessons - 3,369 FREE Easy News English lesson plans. EFL/ESL graded news lessons, news in 7 levels, current events.

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English news and easy articles for students of English

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News in Levels « World News for Students of English

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We write news in three different levels of English. We want to help you understand English more. Now all students can enjoy reading and listening to news.

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Voice of America - Learn American English with VOA Learning English

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Learn American English with English language lessons from Voice of America. VOA Learning English helps you learn English with vocabulary, listening and comprehension lessons through daily news and interactive English learning activities.

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7 Strategies for Teaching Math to Students Who Are Learning English

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These ELL strategies for math instruction will help you with teaching math to English language learners and supporting math learning for multilingual students.

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4 Strategies to Help English Learners Master New Math Skills

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Developing new math skills for students learning English means keeping them on grade level and building on their existing speaking, reading, and writing abilities.

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This guest blog post was written by my friend Becca over at Science Rocks! She is a terrific teacher with a lot of experience working with ELL students in her science classroom and I collaborated with her in writing this post. I think her ideas are full of fantastic tips for teachers who teach English Language Learners.
If you've been teaching for a while, chances are you have had some ELL (English language learner) students in your classroom. I've known many teachers that have panicked and asked me "how can I teach them science if they don't speak English?" I think many teachers tend to think they need to dumb down the content for these students. They aren't dumb! Your job is to make the content accessible. It's been my experience that ELL students are amazingly hard workers and are a blast to work with. My friend Bethany Lau over at Science with Mrs. Lau and I have created a list of best-practice tips for working with ELL students. We also have some helpful resources to share with you!

Tip #1: Get them talking! A quiet classroom is not conducive to learning a new language. Many students are scared to speak out loud in English, especially in front of the entire class. To help build their confidence, try small group discussions first. To ensure that every student has spoken to his or her group, give each student something color-coded (I use colored popsicle sticks from the dollar store). When a student speaks, they place their popsicle stick in the center of the table. It is easy as a teacher to walk around and monitor who is speaking and who isn't. Make it a requirement that each student has to speak at least twice during group discussions.

Tip #2: SLOW down when you are talking, and use nonverbal cues. This is much easier to do when you have all your ELL students together in one class, but when they are mixed with native English speakers we often don't realize how fast we are talking. It is really difficult for ELL students to process when you are speaking a mile a minute. So take a deep breath, slow down, and use your hands and other nonverbal gestures. Don't be afraid to act things out! Yes they will giggle, and yes they will love it.

Tip #3: Build vocabulary. When you teach new words, always make your students repeat the word out loud after you say it. And if they aren't loud, make them do it again. If you have a word wall in your classroom, go down the list frequently and make your students say them with you. To help students remember the definitions, discuss prefixes and suffixes to help them decode meanings.

Find fun ways for students to practice those new words. Instead of doing vocabulary worksheets, do vocabulary games instead! Bingo is an awesome way to review vocabulary words before a test. Create a bingo card from a free online bingo-card maker such as http://osric.com/bingo-card-generator/. Type in the words you want your students to learn and print a class set. Instead of calling out the words, say the definition and the students need to cover up the correct word. If they get a bingo, they need to say the words out loud in order to win a prize.

Tip #4: Utilize pictures. I used to try and translate parts of my power points into Spanish before the lesson thinking I was doing my students a favor.

I quickly realized that:

1. Google translate is frequently wrong

2. Many of my students could speak fluent Spanish but couldn't read it.

3. Even if they could read most of it, they didn't know the content specific terms in Spanish. Why would I want my students to learn the word "homeostasis" in Spanish AND English? Let's just stick with English.

Instead of translating, stick with visual pictures. Pictures are understood in all languages. Include them as much as possible in your lessons and power points. Make students draw pictures in their notes. Include pictures in all your articles you want students to read. A great pre-reading activity is to have students look at the pictures and captions in an article before they read the body paragraphs. Have them guess what the article is about based on the pictures and discuss with their neighbors (get those popsicle sticks back out). If you have a word wall in your classroom, make sure it includes pictures too! The more they see a picture associated with a new word, the more likely they will remember what it means.

Tip #5: Learn about their language and culture, and include it in your lessons when applicable. Students will have more buy-in to your lessons when they feel like their language and culture is valued. If you can connect their language to the content, chances are they will remember it better. For example, students use the term "liga" in Spanish to mean rubber band or hair elastic. When teaching "ligaments," discuss how they are stretchy unlike tendons. Students won't forget!

Tip #6: Use Manipulatives! Sometimes students need help learning how to structure their writing into logical paragraphs (even native English speakers need this too!) If you have sample paragraphs for them to learn from, you can print separate sentences out on separate lines, and cut them into strips. Then you can mix the sentences up and have students order them in how they should logically appear in a sentence! You can also do this for other parts of a lab report, like the procedure section or even the proper labels for a graph!

You could create your own writing structure manipulatives, or you can check out Bethany Lau's Lab Report Writing Activity Bundle found here. She has a set of activities with manipulative for each and every part of the lab report with a lot of examples for students to learn from.

Tip #7: Get them writing as much as possible. Data shows that when students take the state language proficiency tests, they struggle the most with writing. Find ways to get students writing on a daily basis. This could work in many different formats- just find one that works for you. Daily bellwork is a great place to start, as well as having students keep writing journals.

What should you have them write about? Check out these writing prompts from Science Rocks' store!

These were designed to be used before new concepts are taught, and allows the teacher to assess prior knowledge and check for misconceptions. When students are first learning English, allow them to write in their native language if they are able to and plug in English words that they know. Throughout the year as their language improves, you will see their writing transform from fragmented to fluid sentences.

Another great writing strategy for ELL students are sentence frames. For students still learning how to write a complete sentence, give them half the sentence first and have them fill in the blanks. For example, a hypothesis on a lab report for an ELL student could look like this: "If I change ___________, then I think ___________ will happen, because __________.

Tip #8: Model. And then model some more. As science teachers we tend to think of "modeling" as meaning "I'll show them how to do a lab before it's their turn." Modeling applies to so much more than labs.

1. Model reading strategies. As you read through articles out loud, stop and discuss. What was the main idea? What did you highlight and why?

2. Model writing strategies. When you assign those writing prompts, work through one with them first. Show them what a quality answer would look like.

3. Model behaviors. Many students will enter your classroom from different backgrounds. Behaviors that may have been acceptable where they grew up may not be acceptable in your classroom. If you want them to give a verbal presentation with eye contact, show them what a good presentation looks like first.

4. Model word pronunciation. Sometimes if students are nervous to say things in English, I have them teach me how to say the phrase in their native language first. Once they have giggled at my horrible pronunciation, they aren't so embarrassed to pronounce things in English.

Tip #9: Modify. Yes, one more thing to add to your to-do list. But it can honestly be as simple as cutting down the number of questions for them to complete, or adding pictures to an assessment. One of my favorite websites to find nonfiction science articles on is newsela.com. Not only is it free to use, but once you find an article you can change the lexile! That means all your students can be reading the same article but at a reading level that is assessable to them.

Tip #10: Use formative assessment frequently, and celebrate gains. It's important to check in with ELL students often. Many of them will take notes, smile, and nod during class, but only understood 20% of what was discussed. Exit tickets and note summaries are great ways to check in and see where they need help and what they have mastered. Make your exit tickets specific. Don't just say, "One thing I still need help with is..." but instead ask them to answer a specific question related to the lesson. This will help you group them by mastery and focus on the students that really need your help. Once they have mastered a new concept or learned new vocabulary, don't forget to celebrate! Let them know you are proud of them, and they will work harder in the future. If students feel like their hard work is recognized and celebrated, they will continue to work hard!

We'd love to hear stories from you about what helps your ELL students! Let us know in the comments!

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Ten Tips for Teaching ELL Science - Science and Math with Mrs. Lau

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This guest blog post was written by my friend Becca over at Science Rocks! She is a terrific teacher with a lot of experience working with ELL students in her science classroom and I collaborated with her in writing this post. I think her ideas are full of fantastic tips for teachers who teach English Language [...]

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3 Strategies to Support English Language Learners in Social Studies

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Scaffolding such as visual guides and templates can make it easier for ELLs to grasp material in courses with complicated vocabulary.

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Are you ready to create an inclusive classroom and ensure every student thrives? Here are 10 remarkable ELL instructional strategies designed for social studies. These strategies will engage and empower English language learners (ELLs). And create a vibrant and inclusive learning environment for all students.

1. Visuals Speak Louder Than Words:

Do you know what's a game-changer for ELLs?

Visual aids.

This ELL instructional strategy will make a huge difference for your students.

Maps, charts, graphs, and infographics visually represent the content. This helps students grasp complex concepts.

You can also use images to stimulate discussions, making the learning experience interactive.

For example, you can use the following visuals:

A map depicting the Silk Road

A graph showcasing the Industrial Revolution's impact.

Pictures of ancient ruins or artifacts spark curiosity and start discussions.

2. Sentence Frames and Starters:

ELLs often struggle with verbal expression due to limited English proficiency. You can support their language development by providing sentence frames and starters. This will also boost their confidence.

Here are some sentence frames you can try:

"I agree/disagree because _____,"

"One thing I learned from this is ______."

"In my opinion, this event affected society by _____,"

"One way this event connects to today is ______."

These prompts serve as a linguistic scaffold, enabling ELLs to participate in conversations.

3. Cooperative Learning:

Collaborative activities allow ELLs to engage with their peers. This ELL instructional strategy helps support students as they practice English.

Mix ELLs with native English speakers to ensure that everyone has a chance to learn from one another. Remember, diversity breeds creativity!

4. Multimodal Instruction:

Like all students, ELLs have diverse learning styles. So, it's important to incorporate many modes of instruction. You can combine verbal explanations, visual aids, and hands-on activities. Technology-based resources are great too!

Watching videos, listening to podcasts, or doing hands-on experiments, hit different learning needs.

For example, when studying World War II:

Show historical footage

Play speeches by leaders of that time

Assign a hands-on project where students create a war propaganda poster.

You'll engage all students and reinforce understanding by providing various learning modes.

5. Contextualized Vocabulary Instruction:

Practicing vocabulary is one of my favorite ELL instructional strategies. Vocabulary plays a crucial role in comprehending social studies content. When you introduce new vocab, provide context:

You can do this by connecting it to real-life examples or historical events.

You can also create word walls with relevant terms accompanied by visual representations.

For example:

Explain "taxation without representation" by relating it to modern issues, such as where people have no say in how their taxes are used.

Encourage students to use the vocabulary in discussions, written work, and presentations. This will ensure deeper understanding and application.

Want more vocab ideas? Grab my free lesson bundle to get a template of the Vocabulary Concept Map!

6. Authentic Materials:

Bring the real world into your classroom! Use authentic materials such as news articles, realia, and cultural artifacts. These will expose ELLs to genuine language and diverse perspectives. These materials provide opportunities for deepening understanding, critical thinking, and language acquisition.

For example, when discussing the Civil Rights Movement:

Show videos of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches

Have students analyze primary sources like Rosa Parks' arrest report.

Authentic resources bridge the gap between theory and reality. This fosters critical thinking and cultural understanding.

7. Scaffolding Reading & Writing Tasks:

Reading and writing can be particularly challenging for ELLs. To scaffold these skills, provide graphic organizers, sentence stems, and model texts. Break down complex texts into smaller, manageable chunks and provide guided practice. Encourage peer editing and offer constructive feedback to promote growth.

For example, when studying the Constitution, provide a graphic organizer. Then ask students to fill in the details and main ideas. Encourage peer editing and provide constructive feedback to promote growth and confidence.

8. Culturally Responsive Instruction:

Acknowledging and valuing students' diverse backgrounds is essential in creating an inclusive classroom. Incorporate multicultural perspectives, diverse historical narratives, and culturally relevant resources.

For example, when studying ancient civilizations, explore contributions from different cultures like the

By embracing diverse perspectives, you validate ELLs' identities. You also create a richer learning environment for all students.

9. Real-World Connections:

Another helpful ell instructional strategy is helping ELLs make real-world connections.

You can do this by engaging them in discussions about current events that link to historical themes.

Here are some examples

When studying the Great Depression, discuss how economic recessions affect society today.

Encourage students to analyze recent political events

Draw connections to historical movements like suffrage or the Civil Rights Movement.

By making these connections, you foster critical thinking. You also show the relevance of social studies in their lives.

10. Interactive Field Trips:

Expand your classroom beyond its walls! Organize interactive field trips or virtual tours. Good places to check out are historical sites, museums, or cultural exhibitions.

Here are some ideas:

Take your students on a virtual pyramids tour or a museum exhibition on Egyptian artifacts.

Have them explore the Palace of Versailles and complete a webquest activity.

These experiences allow ELLs to engage with history firsthand and make lasting connections.

Using these 10 ELL instructional strategies in your social studies classroom creates an environment where all students can flourish. From using visuals and sentence frames to promoting cooperative learning and real-world connections, each strategy empowers ELLs to participate confidently, develop language skills, and deepen their historical understanding.

Don't forget to Grab my 5 Foolproof Strategies to Support ELs in Your Social Studies Classes lesson bundle. It's chock full of some of the strategies discussed in this post.

Did you enjoy this post? Check out my post, 3 Effective SIOP Methods To Teach The Cold War In U.S. History, for more ideas!

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Boost ELL Achievement: 10 Strategies for Social Studies - Teach Hungry Movement

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Having trouble meeting the needs of your English Language Learners? Here are 10 ELL instructional strategies designed for social studies.

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Consider some excellent lesson models for teaching vocabulary, explaining idioms, fostering word consciousness, instruction for English Language Learners, and mnemonic strategies.