English Language Learners (ELL) represent a growing population in our schools. Teachers can look to educational technology tools to help support ELL students in their classrooms. Over the years, a number of websites and subscription services have emerged specifically geared to this population of learners. The following post focuses on free web tools that can support vocabulary and literacy skills in the general education environment.
Vocabulary Development
Pictures and visuals can help English Language Learners to master vocabulary.
- TheNounProject boasts an enormous, searchable icon library. Teachers can download PNG versions of icons and for free, provided they cite the source, or subscribe as an educator unlimited use and the ability to customize colors.
- Google AutoDraw uses artificial intelligence technology to recognize what you are trying to draw by offering icon suggestions allowing teachers to quickly develop visual aids.
- Learning Chocolate is a vocabulary learning website that groups words and provides images and audio clips to help kids learn the pronunciation of common words.
Literacy Resources
The following sites provide free stories or articles to increase literacy with ELL students.
- Storyweaver – Open source digital repository of multilingual stories for children with illustrations, sorted by reading level, read along or read aloud (audio versions w/ highlighted text). To get started, take a look at their curated lists here.
- Rivet – Over 2,000 leveled books with reading support. Tap on any word for definition, pronunciation and translation in another language. Available on Chromebooks, iPads and Android.
- TweenTribune – Find engaging non-fiction articles for students in Grades 5-8 or for younger students and emerging readers, TT Junior caters to grades K-4. Teachers can select from a range of Lexile reading levels allowing students to read and discuss the same topic.
