Teachers
We hope you enjoy browsing this collection of tools, applications, and databases. We have included sites that colleagues, teachers, families, and students have found to be useful. Click on the URL above each description, to visit each site. If you would like to recommend a site, please send an email with the URL and a brief note about its usefulness, to contact@readingandwritingproject.com . Thank you and enjoy!
Fountas and Pinnell Book Leveler
Description
A database of book titles and their Fountas and Pinnell levels.
PurposeThis is an extensive search engine that allows you to enter a book title and locate the level.
CostFEE
Scholastic Book Wizard
Description
A database of book titles that can be leveled for Guided Reading (Fountas and Pinnell), Lexile, DRA and Grade Level.
PurposeThis is a large search engine that has many book titles and levels.
CostFREE
My Story
Description

A simple book-making app for kids that allows them to create e-books and share them widely.
PurposeThis is a very kid-friendly app, great for writers to make e-books, especially when the use of photographs and other images would be welcome. It also allows writers to narrate or read their own books.
CostFREE
Penultimate
Description

A simple writing app that teachers can use for note-taking, digital storage of images and other tools used in the classroom, as well as shared writing experiences with students.
PurposeThis is a great app for teachers to create digital notebooks for data collection (e.g. observation notes, snapshots of student work) as well as tools such as exemplar texts. Also, this is a good tool for shared writing experiences because pictures can be easily imported and words added. Use it easily for small-group lessons or connect it to a smartboard to use with a larger group. These texts can then be emailed or printed so that children can read them again and again.
CostFREE
Newsela
Description

A constantly changing collection of current events and topic-based articles that allows you to search with key terms and browse categories.
PurposeGreat for kids who love to read current events and read about issues in the world.
CostFREE for teachers and students with registration
E-books NYPL Kids
Description

Access to the New York Public Library e-book collection and link to other e-book sites.
PurposeIf students have a New York Public Library card, they can access the e-book catalogue. Also good for access to vetted, free e-books.
CostFREE
Todays Meet
Description

A resource that allows for digital classroom chat, or “backchannel” conversation.
PurposeA wonderful resource that can encourage classroom discourse. Kids can respond to teachers, videos, and each other in an easy to use and controlled chat platform.
CostFREE
Edmodo
Description

Create a robust online course to house resources and quizzes so you can distribute information to students, host multimedia, quizzes, or class activities online. Edmodo requires students to set up an account to join your class. Once they do, it works like a class-only version of Facebook.
PurposeThis is a simple, intuitive way to get a class online sharing resources and co-creating content -- especially if you are just easing into digitizing your reading or writing workshop.
CostFree - Requires some time for setup.
CamScanner
Description

A simple scanner that allows you to save any image as a PDF or JPG file.
Purpose| A great tool to use to save student writing and to easily share via email. Since you are able to save multiple pages as one PDF file, it is easy to save booklets.
CostFREE and an optional paid version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btu1ACLLa_A
Seesaw
Description

This app allows teachers to create student-driven digital portfolios.
PurposeThis is a great app to use to get started with digital portfolios. Create a folder for each student and import photos of student work, video clips and more. Students, other teachers and family members can gain access to individual students’ portfolios.
CostDigital Public Library of America
Description

A resource that provides books, images, historic records and audiovisual materials to anyone with Internet access.
PurposeThis is a great resource that has multiple filters in order to search times, places, collections from libraries. Resources are public domain, which means they can be used for presentations, websites and other shareable material.
CostFREE
Padlet
Description

A website that allows you to make a virtual bulletin board to share ideas, videos, links and documents.
PurposeGreat for read aloud discussions, book clubs, research sharing and presentations.
CostFree trial and the option to upgrade to Padlet Backpack, which includes a suite of privacy and classroom settings.
weebly.com
Description

A platform that allows teachers and students to easily design their own websites.
PurposeGreat for class or student websites, digital portfolios and landing spots for published pieces.
CostFREE
Kidblog
Description

A site that allows teachers and students to create and maintain blogs.
PurposeGreat for class, group or individual blogs that can be used for book conversations, book clubs, class news and other virtual discussion and opinion sharing.
CostFREE trial. Low cost.
Popplet
Description

A site and app that allows the making of digital graphic organizers.
PurposeGreat for presentations, book clubs, digital writing plans and writing about reading.
CostFREE
Paper53
Description
This iPad app is great for taking visual notes during your lesson demonstrations, student conferences or during professional development.
Universal Design for Learning suggests that writing is only one way to process information. There is great value in sketching.
CostFree with an option to pay for upgrades.
Common Core State Standards
Description

The official website of the Common Core State Standards.
PurposeHelpful for getting the official wording for the standards and appendices.
CostFREE
TCRWP on Vimeo
Description

This a site that houses videos and allows you to view and upload.
PurposeGreat for personal or school professional development. There are several videos of minilessons, conferences, small group work and other practices for you to view and consider.
CostFREE
Wondershare
Description

An app that allows you to download youtube or vimeo videos to your computer for offline use and instruction.
PurposeGreat if your classroom online access is spotty or certain sites are blocked. You can use this app at home and save videos to the cloud or a portable drive. Please note: this app has many advertisements.
CostFREE
Teachertube
Description

This is a site that houses a searchable database of videos for teaching and instruction. Additionally, it offers videos that support lessons for viewing with children.
PurposeGreat for access to helpful instructional videos, and sometimes offers access to videos that are inaccessible from other blocked sites.
CostFREE
Youtube
Description

A video housing site that has a variety of commercial and independently produced videos.
PurposeGreat starting place for information on a topic, including tutorials on apps and programs. Also great for content to be used in instruction. Please note: it is only lightly filtered so it is important to pre-screen any content before showing it to children.
CostFREE