Classroom digital tools are a hot topic of conversation among teachers these days. Many districts are debating whether their schools will go back full time or if there will be a hybrid schedule.  Nonetheless, teachers want to prepare for the “just in case” scenarios. Teachers want reliable, engaging digital tools.  Specifically, English Language Arts teachers are searching for digital websites and resources that help their students with annotating, reading and writing skills, grammar practice, among other English skills and techniques.

I wanted to share with you a few digital platforms and resources for the English Language Arts classroom.  I used and found these tools extremely helpful during distance learning.  Regardless of what your school district is doing in the fall, it is important to have a list of go-to digital tools in your back pocket. Distance learning is now a part of teachers’ vocabulary.  They have to be ready for the distance learning scenario at a moment’s notice.

Digital Resources for the Classroom

Here are three of my favorite digital tools for the English Language Arts Classroom-

Kami– Have you used Kami? It is an amazing digital tool for the English classroom. Kami is a Google Extension™ one can easily download to a Chromebook or Chrome extension bar.  What is so incredible about Kami, is the teacher uploads a PDF assignment, and it allows the students to highlight the text on the PDF. It also allows the students to listen to the text, annotate, write, and make notes on the document. Teachers can assign work through Kami, and the students can turn it in Google Classroom™.

Google Meets Grid View– During distance learning, many teachers were using Zoom; however, many districts were finding issues with the platform, as it was not safe.  Districts were and are using Google Meet because they are GSuite subscribers, and the students are 1:1 with Chromebooks. One of the nice features about Zoom is it provides a grid view of the students who enter a meeting.  For a while, Google Meets™ did not have the grid view features…but now they do.  You can now download this Google extension, and you get the same features of the grid view Zoom is offering. I love seeing all of my students’ faces in the meetings and creates the personal connection.

Quill– Quill is one of my favorite digital websites I used during distance learning.  I worried my students would digress in some of their grammar, punctuation, and mechanic skills, and this website came to the rescue. Quill provides free writing and grammar activities for elementary, middle, and high school students. What is incredible about Quill is the teacher can build an assignment for their students or s/he can assign a diagnostic test to see where the students are lacking in skills. Quill makes it so easy because if the teacher is using Google Classroom™, s/he can just connect his/her classes right to Quill. You will love it!

The ELA Success Summit

Are you looking for MORE engaging, exciting digital tools, resources, and insights for the English Language Arts Classroom?

My dear friend, Kristy, from 2Peasandadog and I, put our creative minds together and created the ELA Success Summit. Together, we had discussions about what we thought English teachers will need for the upcoming school year. Since online learning may continue, we put together an online conference focusing on digital tools, resources, websites, and insights to help teachers in the classroom.

In this online summit, registrants will receive 20+ videos ranging from creating in Google Slides™, writing and reading in the digital classroom, using Google Forms™ for assessment purposes, classroom discourse, and so much more! Registrants will also receive the replay of the videos for two months, and s/he can watch them at his/her leisure.

This summit will give you a tremendous amount of information, incredible planning ideas for the new school year, as well as relieve some of your stress and apprehension you may have with remote learning.

If you are interested in learning more about the ELA Success Summit, you can check it out HERE!

If you ever have any questions or want to reach out, please feel free to email me at englishohmy@gmail.com!

Talk soon,

Kim

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Teachers are on the hunt for engaging ELA websites for their middle school English Language Arts students. Because of distance learning, teachers are scouring the Internet. They are trying to find a variety of lessons and activities to make the distance learning experience interesting and appealing. Teachers want to give their students a variety of online resources that assesses and reviews a variety of ELA skills-grammar, spelling, punctuation, reading skills and writing-while engaging and piquing their interest.

Below, I compiled a list of engaging ELA websites I have been using in my own distance learning experience.

ELA Websites & Resources for Middle School ELA Students

Quill.org-This is one of my favorite engaging digital websites I am using with my students in their distance learning experience. Quill gives students the opportunity to practice their grammar, mechanics and editing skills. If you are using the Google Classroom platform, you can easily upload your students, and assign the lessons using the Classroom.

Actively Learn-Out of all the reading websites like NewsELA, CommonLit, and such, this is one I really like because the articles are a bit more relevant and engaging for middle school students.

IXL-IXL offers a variety of skills for any subject; however, you can have your students take a diagnostic test, and focus on specific ELA skills with them. IXL is offering their premium membership free for 30 days.

EdPuzzle-EdPuzzle is an engaging video website. Teachers can assign videos with questions, and EdPuzzle pushes out the videos into Google Classroom.

Writable-This websites allows teachers to build purposeful, proficient writers while saving time on grading and prep. Teachers can choose from 600+ customizable assignments and prompts or create your own, then assign to start growing great writers. This is Google Classroom friendly! This website is currently free to teachers.

Teaching Tolerance -Teaching Tolerance has great lessons on inclusion, diversity, and tolerance.

I hope these websites are helpful in your exploration in digital and remote teaching.

Digital ELA Resources for Distance Learning

Here are some of my digital English Language Arts resources I have created for my own classroom and digital learning:

I hope these websites are helpful to you, and if you have any questions about any of the websites or my resources, please always feel free to email me at englishohmy@gmail.com.

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