Reading in the Content Areas

TeachersFirst offers this collection of web resources well suited to teach reading in the content areas, especially in science and social studies classes, but in almost ANY subject area. See "In the classroom" ideas and strategies for teaching reading across the curriculum and find texts to use on the computer, in print, or in interactive whiteboard/projector. Sometimes using web-based texts can be more engaging, and often these are more up-to-date. Practice with these resources is certain to help student mastery of informational texts.
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Once Upon a Picture - Sam Daunt
Grades
1 to 12In the Classroom
Incorporating Once Upon A Picture into classroom activities can amplify any lesson! Utilize Quizlet, reviewed here for vocabulary-building exercises. Teachers can create vocabulary sets based on themes or elements in the Once Upon A Picture images. Try Book Creator, reviewed here for digital storybook creation. Students can draw inspiration from Once Upon A Picture's visuals to craft engaging narratives combining text, images, audio, and video to share with the broader classroom community!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Reading Treks: Charles Darwin's Around-the-World Adventure - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 3In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many lesson ideas in the Teachers' Guide to bring this story to life and provide activities that correlate with the book's theme of adventure and exploration. Help students understand the timeline of Darwin's adventure using MyLens, reviewed here to create a timeline that includes the dates of his voyage created using AI or build a timeline as you read the book using ReadWriteThink's Timeline builder tool, reviewed here. Work together as a class to create an adventure story using Book Creator, reviewed here. Add student drawings, voice recordings, and maps to your digital book, then create a link on classroom computers for students to read over and over again!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Speechify - Speechify Inc.
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Use Speechify as a helpful tool to increase reading comprehension, support English language learners, and help students with dyslexia and other special needs. Upload tests, worksheets, and other assessment documents to support students who have materials read to them. Share Speechify with parents and students for use at home. When sharing Speechify, consider making a short tutorial video using Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here to demonstrate how to create a free account, where to find the dashboard, and how to upload and view reading materials.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Whodunnit? - Bringing a Little Mystery Into the Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 8In the Classroom
Take advantage of the book suggestions and lists to find mystery books to include in your classroom library and as a designated mystery reading center. Integrate reading mystery books and stories with other content areas to discover mysteries waiting to be solved. For example, ask upper elementary students to investigate primary sources by completing activities provided on H.S.I. - Historical Scene Investigation, reviewed here. Create mystery stories on any subject to share with students using one of the many artificial intelligence (AI) tools available to educators. ReadTheory Passage Generator, reviewed here generates reading passages for all grade levels based on your prompt. When teaching about the Civil War, try a prompt asking for text about the mysteries of the Civil War and select a grade level. After generating a story that "looks good," ReadTheory generates editable comprehension questions to accompany the text delivered to your email inbox.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: 5 Strategies for Building Content Area Literacy - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 12Content area literacy...more
Content area literacy is the ability to use reading and writing to acquire information in a subject area. It involves general literacy skills, content-specific literacy skills, and prior knowledge of content. This interactive workshop will explore five technology-integrated strategies that will enhance content-area literacy across the curriculum, focusing on supporting the needs of diverse learners to ensure an inclusive and equitable learning environment. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Explain the definition and benefits of content area literacy; 2. Evaluate the effectiveness of the five strategies presented for their students' learning needs and goals; and 3. Plan hands-on, engaging activities that will help students develop content area literacy skills. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - Twinkl
Grades
K to 5This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Engage students by introducing your Spider-Man and Spider-Gwen tasks with the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse official trailer at the bottom of the page. Discover activities for learners aged 5-16 years. Fuel your student's interest with these entertaining, curriculum-aligned, Spider-Man activities! Use one of the writing prompts for a creative warm-up activity. Play interactive games on computers as a part of daily station rotations. Free downloadable activities include occupational therapy, fine motor skills, writing prompts, reading comprehension passages, interactive games, and math activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Supporting Language Learners with Book Creator - Book Creator
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many ideas and suggestions shared in Supporting Language Learners with Book Creator to create books and learning opportunities for students in any language. Book Creator includes a built-in language translator for ten languages. If you need additional translation help, download and use Microsoft Translator for Education, reviewed here, or Google Language Tools, reviewed here to translate virtually any language. Provide additional language learning opportunities by asking students to create books in English and their native language and make them available by sharing them on your class website or Google Classroom. Encourage students to read their books in their native language and discuss their culture as they learn from each other.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Achievery - AT&T
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as a resource for lessons in many content areas to engage students using popular video clips. All lessons are created as remote learning activities making them easily adaptable for both in-class and out-of-class assignments. Easily find activities to differentiate instruction for different student ability levels by browsing options below or above the student's current grade level. Many lessons include worksheets in PDF format, turn these activities into a digital format by taking a screenshot of the document, then save as the background on Google Slides, reviewed here. Add text boxes in the appropriate place on the slide for students to add responses. Use Pear Deck Flashcard Factory, reviewed here, to create flashcards for students to practice the vocabulary highlighted in each lesson.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: 3 Cool Tools That Support Growth in the K-8 Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Want to use an...more
Want to use an engaging and challenging learning platform to bridge content knowledge gaps for your students? Come to this session to learn about three tech tools that will help you reach every student at their level. Teach Your Monster to Read, CommonLit, and GeoGebra will help find and fix missing skills in Reading or Math. Learn how to leverage these free, adaptive online tools to improve student outcomes. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn about content area tools to use in the classroom to bridge knowledge gaps; 2. Understand how to use assessment data to guide intervention; and 3. Collaborate with other participants on ways to use these tools in instruction. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Easy and Engaging Projects for Your Reading Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12Tired of giving students...more
Tired of giving students the same language arts assignments? Want to switch things up? Join us to look at a few quick and easy ways to refresh your lessons and gauge student comprehension using authentic assessments. Learn to use technology to create an environment that allows students to share important connections they have made between what they have read and their personal lives, other texts, and the world around them. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn authentic ways to assess reading comprehension; 2. Explore tools for quick and easy in-class reading projects; and 3. Create a project sample for use in your instructional setting. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Sway Cool Reading - TeachersFirst
Grades
2 to 12Good readers take...more
Good readers take breaks to process what they're reading. Learn research-based strategies to use Microsoft Sway to guide comprehension. Helping students become aware of reading comprehension strategies allows them to manage their learning and empowers them to read strategically. This is especially helpful in a flipped or blended learning model. Join us and learn how to put Sway into action in your classroom! As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Learn three active reading comprehension strategies; 2. Understand where these strategies fit in the instructional cycle; and 3. Plan for the use of Sway during reading instruction. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: TeachersFirst Exclusives that Spark Curiosity in the Classroom - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Explore four free...more
Explore four free TeachersFirst exclusive resources that spark curiosity and support classroom instruction. Let TeachersFirst help you save time and assist you with creating engaging learning experiences for your students. Enhance reading comprehension across content areas with our library of pre-made virtual field trips that immerse students in literature and build context and interest in the characters and their journeys. Support geography and mapping skills in grades 2-6 with the weekly episodic adventures of Geo and Meri. Build cross-cultural understanding and practice digital writing weekly with XW1W. Explore a web-based, interactive infographic of the Battle of Gettysburg designed to raise questions and invite connections for students in grades 5-10. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Understand the importance of context within instruction; 2. Explore four curricular support resources that can be used to spark curiosity and discussion in the classroom; and 3. Plan for the use of a TeachersFirst exclusive, web-based resource in your lessons. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How to Write a Visual Essay - Virginia Kearney
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Visual essays are the perfect way to engage students. Share the ideas and examples found on this site to inspire students and introduce the concept of a visual essay. Ask students to use their own images or use images from a free site such as Unsplash, reviewed here. Use visual essays in any content area. For example, after reading a novel or story, ask students to create an essay using images and music to retell the story or to analyze a character. In science class, use a visual essay to tell the story of physics concepts or as a journey through different landforms in social studies. Have students create an essay to tell the story of a journey through a continent or during a historic event such as the Civil War. Google My Maps, reviewed here, is an excellent tool for creating interactive maps to include with visual essays. For final projects, moovly, reviewed here, is a very easy to use video creation tool for creating and sharing students' visual essays.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BeeLine Reader Collection - Reading is Fundamental
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
These BeeLine Reader PDFs are an excellent addition to the already valuable reading materials found at Reading is Fundamental - Literacy Central, reviewed here. Be sure to bookmark this site to find leveled reading passages with the enhanced function of BeeLine Reader. These PDFs are wonderful to share with ENL/ELL and Special Education specialists to use with their students. Remember, all teachers are reading teachers. Share this tool with your science, social studies, and math teachers, too!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Quillionz - Harbinger AI
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Use Quillionz as a time-saver to create quizzes covering any content. Before teaching the material, use this tool to help define key terms and content you want to cover. Share Quillionz with older students as an excellent tool to help with reading comprehension and understanding content. Ask them to use the site to create questions to review before quizzes. Enhance learning by asking students to transform technology use and transfer their learning from quiz questions into the creation of an infographic using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here. Have students include images, data, and links with additional research information into their infographic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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For the Teachers - For the Teachers
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Be sure to bookmark this site to save as a favorite to find lesson ideas and activities throughout the school year. When planning for a substitute, look through the site to find useful ideas for lessons and planning organizers. There is so much material here to use, consider exploring the site with peers using techniques similar to a book study. Divide the site into sections to discuss at different times of your study. Organize your favorite materials from this site and your other resources using Padlet, reviewed here. Share your Padlet with peers to collaborate and create a useful time for organizing and sharing your favorite teaching materials. Supplement information included on report cards by using a site like Seesaw, reviewed here, to create portfolios for your students to demonstrate progress in reading, math, and other content areas. Include student-created projects based on activities found on For the Teachers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Graphic Organizer Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Whether you call them concept maps, mind maps, KWLs, or graphic organizers, these visual diagrams show relationships between concepts and provide a powerful tool for learning and connecting new ideas. Use graphic organizers to help your visual learners build reading comprehension. Find something for all grade levels in this collection.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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In the Swim eGuides - Make a Splash in the Classroom - In the Swim
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Follow these links for some supplemental materials to enliven lessons that could include water as a recreational resource. Science teachers will find real world applications and information about chemicals. Use interactive boards to show videos and activities as whole group lessons. Have students read articles for informational reading practice. Use the resources for flipped or blended learning links on your class website for individual or small group work.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TeachThought - Teachthought
Grades
1 to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Think beyond your everyday lessons to something that makes you a teacher that kids always remember. Interesting ideas challenge you to do what you want the most in your teaching, inspire and motivate. Subscribe to the newsletter and follow the latest articles. Use the resources for enrichment or information. Share with colleagues and the collaboration begins. Share at a professional development meeting for many relevant ideas.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Read Theory - Read Theory (Tanner)
Grades
2 to 12In the Classroom
Take your students to the next level in their reading and reading skills! Sign up students yourself (assigning a password and username). Students can sign up for themselves if they have an email (and school policies permit). The first task is to provide the reading level. Use this site to differentiate reading levels for your students. Use this tool in a blended learning or remote learning classroom so students can have time to read at their own pace, or set up a learning center for use during your L.A. block. This will allow you one-on-one time to begin the program. In a learning support or remedial reading class, especially at upper levels where "reading" is no longer a regular subject, this tool will allow students some autonomy in improving their skills. It will also let them see progress. Discuss with individual students the questions they answered, where the answer was in the reading, etc. Be certain to save this site in your class favorites and list it on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom. If students cannot have their own email accounts, consider using a "class set" of Gmail subaccounts, explained here; this tells how to set up Gmail subaccounts to use for any online membership service. Using Gmail subaccounts will provide anonymous interaction within your class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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