As adults we sometimes struggle with how much technology our children should use and when. Fortunately there are some educational websites geared towards improving students’ academics and helping them practice their computer skills. These websites are great for educators looking to enrich center time with technology or handpick enrichment activities. They are also useful to parents looking for a way for students to practice skills at home.
Reading Websites
Storyline Online is a free website developed by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. It features well-known actors reading popular children’s books such as The Kissing Hand, Thank You Mr. Faulkner, and Chester’s Way. Each story comes with a free activity guide that can be accessed by parents and children at home, or used by teachers at school.
Starfall is geared towards beginning readers from pre-k to 2nd grade. This site is popular with children and educators. Many of its early reading activities can be accessed for free and others are available with premium membership. Children can learn letter sounds, listen to early readers in which the words are highlighted to teach tracking, learn word families, and create their own stories.
International Children’s Digital Library is a free website for students in elementary through middle school. This site features books from around the world which students can read to themselves.
ABCya! is a free website which is hugely popular with students from K-5. It features online stories by grade-level which students can read to self, or listen to as the text is highlighted. ABCya! also features reading and writing games, where students can work on grammar, phonics and other skills. Free resources and materials are available through the site, and teachers can access the Common Core Standards that apply.
Storynory is a free website which features classic stories, fairy tales, and original works which students can listen to as they read the text. Teachers with ELL students will enjoy the feature which allows them to access the story in many different languages.
Spelling City - Parents and teachers can sign up for a free or premium membership which allows students to practice spelling, vocabulary, phonics and early reading through a variety of games.
Math Websites
Cool Math Games is a free website designed for students from kindergarten-8th grade (and beyond as it includes a review of pre-calculus and calculus). All the games are “brain-training”, helping to create spatial awareness and develop logic. Students love this site, and the games are so much fun they forget they are getting a mental workout.
ABCya! also features math games for students in K-5 which align to the Common Core Standards.
Fun Brain is a free website featuring games which reinforce concepts for students in grades K-8.
Math Blaster is a free website that requires a parent register. Once a child registers, they can become an intergalactic hero based on their ability to apply logic and math skills. The games are designed for students in K-8. Teachers can purchase a license to use this site with students in the classroom.
Multiplication.com is a free website that features fun games in which students can practice multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. It features resources for parents and teachers to reinforce these skills. The site also features a Classroom Games section, which features games to reinforce math skills offline in the classroom.
IXL.com is a pay site which parents or teachers can subscribe to. This features math skill practice for students in K-6th grade, with an additional algebra section. It aligns with Common Core Standards, and is divided by skill, grade-level and concept.
Base-10 is a free website that allows students to practice base-10 concepts through the manipulation of rods and cubes. As they build the number they view the numeral and its place on the number line as well.
TenMarks is an Amazon company that helps teachers create engaging lessons for their students. Resources and a variety of lessons are available for each standard. Questions and visuals help students develop a solid understanding of learning objectives. Feedback is provided to the teacher and tools are available to immediately differentiate based on students’ needs.
What are you favorite websites for students? Let us know!