Professional Learning
- Concerned about students reading on a screen instead of print text? Read this article from the Fordham Institute. Print to Screen: Comparison of Reading Habits and Comprehension in Print vs Digital Text. Considerations for instruction include task and purpose as well as the length of text.
- The Cult of Pedagogy is an online resource created by and for teachers. Blogs, podcasts, and other resources are readily available. Listen to the four-part series Distance Learning: A Gently Curated Collection of Resources for Teachers.
- Corwin’s Online Teaching Toolkit As many schools and districts are rapidly transitioning to online learning in response to COVID-19, this toolkit will provide you with the resources you need to adapt and provide exceptional online instruction for your students.
- 7 Guidelines for Effective Teaching Online: from Inside Digital Learning. Four authors of books about online learning discuss how instructors and their institutions can excel in virtual course instruction.
Digital Tools
Learn with MOOSE: Maine's Online Opportunity for Sustained Education provides modules for students to use independently or with an adult (teacher or parent).
MobyMax: Meets students where they are, with personalized lessons in Math, ELA, Science, and Social Studies. The program automatically adapts based on student progress and responses, making it ideal for scenarios where teachers are not readily available. A combination of a platform and a lesson plan. Bonus: the creator is from Washburn!
- CommonLit: Providing teachers with all the resources they need to set their students up for success, while also encouraging best practices in the classroom. The CommonLit Literacy Model is built on a foundation of over 2,000 high-quality free reading passages for grades 3-12, complemented by aligned interim assessments, growth-oriented data, and expert-led teacher development. Currently offering 4 weeks of lesson plans. This does require registration but is free.
- The Fordham Institute has listed materials for podcasts, videos, and free access to materials that many publishers are offering for a short time. Consider audio and video options as you are planning lessons to provide a wide variety of access to texts in all media. Note the criteria from EdReports where comprehensive reviews have already been done.
Summer Learning Options
Smithsonian Tween Tribune: create an account then set up a class. Students can also sign in to your class. Assign articles that are accompanied by quizzes. Monitor responses to articles through the dashboard. Grades K-12
Read to Ride Summer Challange
Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge: Sign up your school or classroom for free opportunities and reading challenges to engage students in continued summer reading.
Set up your own summer reading program - here is an optional guidebook that may help with your planning.
Digital Texts
- CloudLibrary (requires an active library card, and not all libraries subscribe to this service. Some libraries use similar platforms, such as Overdrive). However, at this point, copies of the desired title may not be available. Best for those who aren't picky.
- Project Gutenberg has many books available, especially classic literature. Easy to use the site to download an e-book.
- Google Books may have the book you are looking for in an e-version, but it the formatting may be challenging to read. Look closely to see what is available.
- Advice from our library friends: if you are looking for a title or searching for a borrowing resource, send a message to your local library. They may be making special arrangements with various e-book resources to provide access for your community.
- Maine Digital Library: updated resource – used to be Marvel. Sort by age span, topics, types of resources. Create a collection and assign to students. Can be used regardless of where students are.
- Take Heart: A conversation in poetry: from the Maine State Library.