Boost Literacy with Top Online Educational Sites

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Favorite Platforms for Student Practice
   1. Blicket
   2. Boom Cards
   3. Add Puzzle
3. Platforms for Teacher Instruction
   1. Explain Everything
   2. Partsofspeech.info
   3. Chat GPT
   4. Conquer.ai
4. Conclusion

Article

Introduction

As an English Language Arts (ELA) and social studies teacher, I have found that while there are numerous apps and platforms available for math education, it can be challenging to find ones specifically targeted towards ELA. In this article, I will share my favorite platforms for students to practice reading and writing online. These platforms are not only beneficial to students but also aid teachers in planning instruction.

Favorite Platforms for Student Practice

Blicket

One of my top recommendations is Blicket, a web-Based quiz game platform for group competition or solo study. Similar to popular platforms like Kahoot or Quizzes, Blicket allows the entire class to play together. However, what sets Blicket apart is its ability to engage students and foster independent learning. Once the game starts, students can join in and quickly answer the questions. The game continues to review the same questions, enabling students to score as many points as possible. Blicket offers different game types to keep the review fresh while focusing on the same content. The best part is that students can play as a team or independently, making it an excellent tool for review practice.

Pros:

• Engages students in independent learning
• Encourages review and retention of skills
• Can be played as a team or solo

Cons:

• Paid version can be costly

Boom Cards

Another fantastic platform for ELA practice is Boom Cards. These are digital task cards that exist exclusively in the cloud. Boom Cards provide immediate feedback for students, allowing them to know whether their answers are correct or incorrect. They can also view their scores, providing a visual representation of their progress. Teachers can Create their own Boom Cards or use pre-made decks from the marketplace, making it easy to find grade-level or topic-specific content. While the platform offers a free plan, it is limited in terms of class size and features. To fully benefit from Boom Cards, I recommend considering the Essential Plan, which allows for more classrooms and self-made decks.

Pros:

• Provides immediate feedback for students
• Offers a marketplace for a wide range of content
• Allows for customization and creation of decks

Cons:

• Free plan has limited features

Add Puzzle

Add Puzzle is a platform that I discovered this year, and it has quickly become one of my favorites. This web-based tool allows teachers to edit online videos and add interactive content to target specific learning objectives. I use Add Puzzle for various purposes, including sub plans, reviews, and introducing new lessons. The platform offers several benefits, such as its compatibility with different video sources and the ability to add questions to ensure student engagement. Furthermore, teachers can Record their own voice or use voice recordings to provide additional support for students. While Add Puzzle offers a free account, some advanced features require a subscription.

Pros:

• Allows for editing of videos and addition of interactive content
• Provides various options for engaging students
• Enables teachers to create their own recordings or use voice recordings for support

Cons:

• Some advanced features require a subscription

Platforms for Teacher Instruction

In addition to platforms beneficial for students, there are also several apps and platforms that greatly aid teacher instruction in ELA. Here are a few recommendations:

Explain Everything

Explain Everything is an app available for iPad and iPhone that allows teachers to create dynamic presentations. With this app, teachers can save their presentations locally, allowing for easy projection onto a whiteboard or screen. Explain Everything is an excellent alternative for those lacking access to a smart board. It also enables teachers to make recordings and share them with students, making it a versatile tool for instructional purposes.

Pros:

• Offers a dynamic presentation platform
• Facilitates easy projection or screen sharing
• Allows for recordings and sharing with students

Cons:

• Limited features in the free version

Partsofspeech.info

Partsofspeech.info is a free web-based tool that helps identify parts of speech in sentences. Upon pasting a sentence into the site, it automatically tags the different parts of speech. This platform has been instrumental in running mentor sentences through to ensure accurate identification of parts of speech. It aids in discussions about words and enhances students' understanding over time.

Pros:

• Free and no account creation required
• Helps identify parts of speech in sentences
• Useful for running mentor sentences and facilitating discussions about words

Cons:

• None identified

Chat GPT

Chat GPT is an AI Chatbot system released by OpenAI. It enables teachers to create short passages or sentences based on specific topics or learning objectives. By asking Chat GPT questions, teachers receive useful answers that can be incorporated into their lessons. This platform is particularly beneficial for creating sample sentences or practicing specific skills as a group or independently.

Pros:

• Provides useful answers based on topic or question
• Facilitates the creation of sample sentences or passages
• Allows for group or independent practice

Cons:

• None identified

Conquer.ai

Conquer.ai is a platform that generates quizzes, fill-in-the-blank activities, true/false questions, and more. These assessments can be exported to Google Forms, saving teachers valuable time in creating quizzes. Conquer.ai utilizes Chat GPT to generate questions based on specified topics or passages. Teachers have the option to choose the number of questions and grade level, making it a versatile tool for assessment creation.

Pros:

• Generates quizzes and assessments quickly
• Utilizes Chat GPT for question generation
• Offers easy export to Google Forms

Cons:

• None identified

Conclusion

In this article, we explored various platforms and apps that cater to different aspects of ELA instruction. From student practice to teacher instruction, these platforms offer valuable resources to enhance literacy education. Whether You're looking for interactive games, digital task cards, or tools for content creation, there is a platform suited to your needs. By incorporating these platforms into your teaching practice, you can engage students, save time, and promote effective learning in the ELA classroom.