Ultimate Teacher Resources for Online Teaching Due to School Closures

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Teachers, you’re not used to teaching online but due to school closures from the Coronavirus, I want to share with you helpful teacher resources so you will be successful with this major change.

Most of you aren’t use to virtual schooling or distance learning. Or teaching classes online. I hope these resources help you as you transition to virtual education. (And I really hope it’s not for too long!)

More and more online learning companies are offering their resources for free if you’re a school that is closed due to the Coronavirus. I’ve included those offers below and will continue to add more in the forthcoming days. H

Below, I’m sharing websites, tools, activities, and more to support you in your new teaching adventure.

Comment below if you have other suggestions to add to these lists.

ADVICE FROM EDUCATORS ALREADY TEACHING VIRTUALLY

I highly recommend this Google Doc written by teachers who have already switched to teaching virtually. It gives advice from teachers who transitioned from in-person school to online school. You don’t want to miss it.

One thing I want to point out from this document is that young kids may need support with keyboarding skills.

Typing Websites:

This document also emphasizes that you should practice routines with your students before you start teaching — logging in, using the tools, and so forth.

Finally, Adobe Education just emailed me that they’ll be making Creative Cloud apps available to students at home. Information here. 

Ultimate Teacher Resource for Online Teaching

ONLINE VIDEO CREATION & ORGANIZATION

  1. Adobe Connect
    Web conferencing free for 90 days.
  2. Class Dojo
    Stay connected with your students and parents.
  3. Doceri
    An interactive whiteboard app and screencast recorder with many tools. 
  4. Educreations
    This app provides teachers with the tools to make a video using the unique interactive whiteboard that can record your voice, handwriting, and allows for pictures, too.
  5. Edmodo
    Webinars for distance learning.
  6. EdPuzzle
    Online video class creator.
  7. EduFlow
  8. Flipgrid
    A teacher favorite online classroom community platform.
  9. Google Classroom
    A tool to communicate with students, differentiate curriculum, assess, and collect assignments.
  10. Gynzy
    Classroom management and interactive whiteboard.
  11. Kahoot!
    My kids use this popular online learning tool; it’s a favorite with many schools.
  12. Loom
    Free screen and video recording software for Mac, Windows, and Chromebooks.
  13. Microsoft Education
    Online classrooms for students and teachers who are providing remote learning instruction. Quick start guide here.
  14. Pear Deck
    Use this with Google Slides to make presentations interactive. FREE for schools closed due to Coronavirus.
  15. Quizlet
    Create quizzes or find quizzes in different subjects.
  16. Seesaw
    A popular online platform to create an interactive classroom.
  17. Screencastify
    Part of Google Classroom, this will help you record your lessons, edit, and easily share the videos you make with screen sharing. (A VERY popular option with teachers.)
  18. ShowMe
    Create presentations with an easy to use, interactive whiteboard app
  19. Storyboard That
    Digital storyboards for educators.
  20. Teaching Reading Beyond the Classroom Facebook Group
    Reading Simplified’s Dr. Marnie Ginsberg shares tons of tips and activities to teach reading virtually.
  21. Wordwall
    Make interactive quizzes, activities, and games for your students.

READING (TEACHER RESOURCES)

  1. Audible
    FREE for students as long as schools are closed!
  2. Authors Videos
    Authors reading aloud their books.
  3. Book Creator
    FREE for schools affected by Coronavirus.
  4. BookFlix
    Video storybooks and nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to build reading skills designed to bridge learning to read and reading to learn.
  5. Crash Course
    YouTube videos from John and Hank Green all about, well, everything including literature.
  6. Common Lit Reading Program
    Digital lessons and assessments.
  7. E-Book Deals for Kids (Either Free or Under $5)
  8. Epic
    Online library of ebooks for kids 2 – 12 as well as videos, quizzes, and more.
  9. Kindle Kids
    Built for reading with a black and white display, this is ONLY for reading books and comes with a year of Freetime Unlimited books like Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl.
  10. Libby / Overdrive
    This easy-to-use app connects to your local library so you can easily check out ebooks and audiobooks.
  11. Listenwise
    Podcast lessons from nonfiction storytellers plus quizzes. FREE for schools closed due to COVID-19.
  12. Minecraft
    Language Arts lessons for all ages.
  13. Newsela
    Curated news texts published for students.
  14. Nonfiction book video lessons from Melissa Stewart
  15. Oxford Owl
    Free eBooks for ages 3 to 11 including leveled books.
  16. Parlay Ideas
    Use for classroom discussions online. FREE for schools closed due to COVID-19 until April 30, 2020.
  17. PBS LearningMedia
    Videos about literature, foundational reading skills, and more.
  18. Pinna
    Screen-free, ad-free audio streaming service for kids ages 3 to 12. 30-day free trial.
  19. Prodigy
    Curriculum-aligned math for 1st to 8th grade.
  20. Raz-Kids
    400 eBooks for growing readers plus quizzes, recording options, and more.
  21. Read Aloud Books with AUTHOR / PUBLISHER PERMISSIONS
    It is essential that you have permission to read books out loud on video and not get sued for copyright liability. Use this list to find legal books to share with your students. 
  22. Reading Eggs
    Games, songs, and books for kids to learn to read.
  23. Reading Simplified
    If your students are struggling to read, this program will teach you how to teach reading. It’s backed by science and it’s quick.
  24. Readtheory
    Reading comprehension exercises for K – 12.
  25. Read Works
    Digital classes, printables, articles, and more to give kids reading comprehension instruction and practice.
  26. Storyline Online
    Famous actors read beloved picture book stories out loud.
  27. Storytime From Space
    Astronauts read stories to kids FROM space.
  28. TumbleBooks
    With over 1100 titles, this is an ebook library online for kids ages K to 6.
  29. Unite for Literacy
    Free online access to books narrated in many different languages.
  30. Vooks
    Animated storybooks in a read-along format and no-ads.

WRITING 

I need more resources to share with you — I have a lot for parents. If you’re interested in those parent ideas, go here.

  1. Boom Writer
    Writing app for teachers to use with students.
  2. Imagination Soup Writers: Writing Curriculum Using Mentor Texts for Grades 2 – 6
  3. Merriam Webster Word Games
  4. The Mozi
    A tool for teachers to teach and assess high school writing.
  5. Night Zookeeper
    Online writing classes and lessons.
  6. The Quill
    Free writing and grammar activities for elementary, middle, and high school students.
  7. Writing Contests for Kids
  8. Writing Prompt Resources for Kids (Books and Websites)
  9. Vocabulary Games from PBSKids

MATH (TEACHER RESOURCES)

  1. cK-12
    Online STEM learning.
  2. Delta Math
    Middle school to high school math.
  3. Eureka Math / Great Minds
    Pre-K through 12th grade math curricula.
  4. Freckle
    Math lessons and practice for K – 9 students.
  5. iXL Math
    Starting at preschool and continuing through to high school calculus, this is an online membership site that teaches math concepts.
  6. Khan Academy
    Elementary, middle school, and high school video courses.
  7. Mangahigh
    Quizzes, games, and competitions for students. FREE access for COVID-19 school shutdowns.
  8. Minecraft
    Math lessons in Minecraft.
  9. Tinkercad
    A free app that allows kids to make 3D digital designs, electronics, and coding.
  10. Tumble Math
    Math-themed picture books on Tumblebooks.
  11.  

SCIENCE (TEACHER RESOURCES)

  1. Brain Pop
    FREE for school affecteds by the Coronavirus.
  2. cK-12
    Online STEM learning
  3. Crash Course
    YouTube videos from John and Hank Green all about, well, almost everything including physics and chemistry.
  4. Crash Course Kids
    Crash Course is now for elementary students, starting with 5th grade science and engineering.
  5. cK-12
    Online STEM learning
  6. Freckle
    Science units for K – 8 students aligned to NGSS.
  7. Kids Discovery Online
    Award-winning science and social studies videos. Apply for FREE access here.
  8. Learn at Home, National Geographic
    Hands-on activities, games, quizzes, videos, and tips for parents plus the Explorer Classroom.
  9. Minecraft
    Science lessons for all ages.
  10. Mystery Science
    Mini-lessons in science topics for students in Kindergarten to fifth grade.
  11. National Geographic Resource Library
    Discover a wealth of resources for PreK up through 12th grade in geography, earth sciences, biology, conservation, and more.
  12. NASA
    Activities, lessons, printables, and more for grades K-4.
  13. Nature Detectives
    Exciting adventures to do outside for children 0 to 12.
  14. NOVA from PBS
    Science videos, teacher guides, and more about many topics like space, nature, the body, and physics.
  15. PBS LearningMedia
    K – 12 Math games, animations, and videos.
  16. Project Noah
    A community global citizen science platform to learn and share about wildlife where students can contribute to biodiversity research.
  17. Scholastic Learn at Home 
    Topical studies for each day with activities, videos, ebooks and more, this is an amazing resource.
  18. ScienceFlix
    Online STEM content including hands-on experiments, lesson plans, and videos.
  19. Steve Spangler Science
    Experiment library full of interesting hands-on ideas.
  20. The Kids Should See This
    Videos for kids primarily about STEM topics.

SOCIAL STUDIES

  1. Brain Pop
    Free videos as long as schools are closed in most subjects. Great for K – 6.
  2. Crash Course
    YouTube videos from John and Hank Green all about, well, almost everything including U.S. History and government.
  3. Curiosity Stream
    Thousands of documentaries for K-12.
  4. Freckle
    K – 8 social studies instruction online.
  5. Geography Games
    Online games about the world including countries, continents, flags, and more.
  6. Khan Academy
    Elementary, middle school, and high school video courses.
  7. Kids Discovery Online
    Award-winning science and social studies videos. Apply for FREE access here.
  8. Learn at Home, National Geographic
    Hands-on activities, games, quizzes, videos, and tips for parents plus the Explorer Classroom.
  9. Listenwise
    FREE audio lessons for schools affected by the Coronavirus.
  10. Minecraft
    History and culture video lessons in Minecraft.
  11. Museum Virtual Tours
    Many museums offer virtual tours so you can visit from the comfort of your own home.
  12. National Geographic
    Discover a wealth of resources for PreK up through 12th grade in social studies, specifically world history, U.S. History, Civics, Economics, and Ancient Civilizations.
  13. NOVA from PBS
    Science videos, teacher guides, and more about many topics like space, nature, the body, and physics.
  14. Oddizzi
    A website for kids to learn about geography and cultures.
  15. PBSLearningMedia
    Learning videos in social studies topics for K – 12 grades.
  16. Scholastic Learn at Home 
    Topical studies for each day with activities, videos, ebooks and more, this is an amazing resource.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

  1. Bilingual Tours of Latin America
  2. Brain Pop
    Free videos as long as schools are closed in most subjects. Great for K – 6.
  3. Duolingo
    Learn any of 30+ languages with this app and website with short, daily lessons.
  4. Rockalingua
    Videos, games, worksheets, and more to help kids learn Spanish.
  5. Rosetta Stone
    Award-winning language learning courses in Spanish, French, German, and more.
  6. Señor Wooly
    Used by many Spanish teachers, these videos and songs are very catchy. 2 weeks free.
  7. Spanish Immersion Guide for Students During School Closures
    Written by Christa of Pura Vida Moms, this is an all-encompassing list of parent resources for Spanish language homeschooling support in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and grammar. 

 

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6 Comments

  1. I work as a translator and teacher of Japanese. I will definitely use your tips. I hope that you will continue to share your experience and knowledge with teachers.

  2. Hi! I’m a high school art teacher, and just started the two week Coronavirus absence.. I have 5 1/2 year old twin girls in kindergarten… I’m looking for ideas/inspiration for how to ‘homeschool’ them for two weeks!!! ????

    1. Pinna.fm has cool content for kids that age – it’s audiobooks and podcasts!