The country is facing an unprecedented challenge in the face of the growing global health crisis. With schools closed across the country, it is critical that we find new ways to provide quality education for all students. In the last few weeks, many organizations have provided states, districts, schools, educators, and communities with resources to support remote learning. We’ve compiled a targeted list of FREE resources that districts, schools, teachers, and caregivers can use to support remote-based learning. #inthistogether
For State, District, and School Leaders
Government Guidance
Setting Up Remote Learning for Students
- Instruction Partners offers helpful guidance on selecting or modifying existing remote learning models. They also have four weeks of Grab and Go Instructional Materials for K-9 instruction, leadership toolkits to manage remote learning in various stages of transition, grading guidance, and a responsibilities matrix for support.
- ACT offers robust resources for K-12 leaders, educators, andfamilies, including access toACT Academy and thousands of other open-educationresources.
- Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd) provided a mailing with links to national sites to help leaders care for students and communities.
- Education First shares insight into making the most of remote work as a school.
- Policy Innovators in Education (PIE) Network provides a daily, updated rapid response resource list.
- Digital Promise – Accelerating Innovation in Education have developed an ongoing resource page of exemplars for schools and families as they prepare for online learning. Many reputable external links in a Q&A format.
- State Education Technology Directors Association (SETDA) has launched a resource site for state, district, and school leaders to support online learning.
- Louisiana Department of Education has a best-practice review process for instructional materials and developed an academic resources guide for COVID-19 based off this review process.
- Chiefs for Change provides a resource list from different State and District agencies across the country.
- Emerson Collective offers a list that is organized similar to this list divided into categories for leaders, teachers, and families.
- Brightworks offers a specific distance learning plan model for reference. Teachers of Tomorrow also offers a list of virtual teaching resources, including sample distance learning plans from school districts and CMOs.
- LearnPlatform provides free services to districts and states to help inventory ed tech products, identify gaps and communicate with teachers and families. They are also compiling a list of ed tech offers of support.
- The Hunt Institute provides resources and state-specific links that cover the full education continuum.
English Language Learners
Specialized Instruction and Student Supports
Social-Emotional Learning and Well Being
Remote Professional Development for Teachers
CenterPoint Education Solutions Resources
We are giving FREE access to the following resources through the end of the 2019-2020 school year:
- Diagnostic and interim assessments in English language arts/literacy and mathematics in grades K-11. These are available on a variety of platforms (and print-based).
- Curriculum-aligned interim assessments for EL Education and Illustrative Mathematics. These are available on a variety of platforms (and print-based).
- Digital and print-based formative tasks for grades K-2 to support English language arts/literacy and mathematics for early learners.
- High school math tasks for Algebra I and Geometry. These are available in our resource library in PDF and ready to print.
- Resource library of expertly developed digital tools, customizable assessments, professional learning modules, and instructional strategies, along with a curated, vetted collection of open education resources (OER).
Hosting a Digital Classroom
- Google Classroom – Get started using Google tools and products and read a post all about using Google Classroom to teach lessons remotely. See here for Google’s comprehensive Teach from Home site. See this blog post for over 50 posts on Google Classroom tips.
- Google Meet - Google Hangouts Meet, or just Meet, is Google's video conferencing software. This app is similar to the video calls in the free, consumer version of Hangouts, with a few additional features like real-time captions and support for up to 250 participants and 100,000 live stream viewers. See here for how to set up Meet for distance learning.
- Google Classroom syncs with a variety of app plugins. Go here to search apps that support digital literacy, creativity, instructional tools that align with curriculum, and more! This is a great resource site to help enhance the quality of digital and personalized instruction using Google Classroom. Of note, some apps are pay-for-use, but have extended free trial periods due to COVID-19. Zoom – Schools can apply for a free Basic account with unlimited minutes by completing this online form. Here is a comprehensive guide to using Zoom for the online classroom.
- Zoom – Schools can apply for a free Basic account with unlimited minutes by completing this online form. Here is a comprehensive guide to using Zoom for the online classroom.
- Other online learning platforms and tools include but are not limited to...
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- Moodle - Robust, open-source learning management platform
- Edmodo - Communication, collaboration, and learning management platform
- ClassDojo - Assignment and communication platform; great for younger learners!
- Seesaw - Online assignment platform. Students use tools to take pictures, draw, record videos and more to capture learning in a portfolio. Teachers find or create activities to share with students.
- Playposit, a web and Chrome-based interactive video and assessment tool that lets teachers add interactive elements, is offering free upgrade access covering over 400 learner accounts.
- Flipgrid allows teachers to record a short video and then students to record a short video responding. Students can see others’ videos & respond. A great idea to use with younger students to mimic a morning meeting or circle!
- Kialo Edu is a custom, open source version of Kialo (kialo.com), the world's largest argument mapping and debate site, specifically designed for classroom use. This is a great tool for facilitating online discussions and Socratic seminars with a focus on amplifying student voice.
- Canva allows teachers and students to work collaboratively to create presentations, infographics, websites, reports, worksheets, posters, flyers and signage. A tool for project-based learning.
For Schools and Teachers
Planning, Guidance, and Tips
- Digital Promise – Accelerating Innovation in Education has developed an ongoing resource page of exemplars for schools and families as they prepare for online learning. Many reputable external links in a Q&A format.
- ISTE/EdSurge (International Society for Technology in Education) have launched org with online tools and resources from the EdTech community, including how to design online learning, directories of free online learning tools, and webinars led by EdTech experts. Offering new webinars every Friday.
- Louisiana Department of Education has a best-practice review process for instructional materials and developed an academic resources guide for COVID-19 based off of this review process.
- TNTP provides a resource guide for developing lessons for home learning.
- Instruction Partners offers a comprehensive resource hub to support schools in remote learning.
- Charter School Growth Fund offers notes on approaches to instruction during school closure.
- Teaching Tolerance offers resources to supplement curriculum, to inform teacher practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities. They have launched an important remote learning resource page.
- Policy Innovators in Education (PIE) Network provides a daily, updated rapid response resource list.
- Tech for Learners is a newly launched and regularly updated resource site with a searchable database of online learning products, resources and services.
- Edmentum is offering free program access to Study Island for Home, Study Island, and EdOptions Academy to any school or district who has shut down due to COVID-19. They also offer free webinars and additional resources.
- ACT offers robust resources for K-12 leaders, educators, and families, including access to ACT Academy and thousands of other open-education resources.
- Instruction Partners offers four weeks of Grab and Go Instructional Materials for K-9 instruction as well as example grading guidance for remote learning
- Uncommon Schools has made their remote learning platform open to all educators and families, including their instructional videos and learning packets for grades K-12.
Social-Emotional Learning and Well Being
CenterPoint Education Solutions Resources
We are giving FREE access to the following resources through the end of the 2019-2020 school year:
- Diagnostic and interim assessments in English language arts/literacy and mathematics in grades K-11. These are available on a variety of platforms (and print-based).
- Curriculum-aligned interim assessments for EL Education and Illustrative Mathematics. These are available on a variety of platforms (and print-based).
- Digital and print-based formative tasks for grades K-2 to support English language arts/literacy and mathematics for early learners.
- High school math tasks for Algebra I and Geometry. These are available in our resource library in PDF and ready to print.
- Resource library of expertly developed digital tools, customizable assessments, professional learning modules, and instructional strategies, along with a curated, vetted collection of open education resources (OER).
Professional Learning Resources
ELA Resources
- EL Education has a Coronavirus Resource Center, including curriculum connections for at-home learning, access to EL’s Premium Library and online Canvas courses, and Projects at Home, an initiative derived from EL’s library of high-quality student work.
- Great Minds has launched their Knowledge on the Go collection with daily updated free videos of lessons for grades K-8 Wit & Wisdom. They have provided a free implementation guide as well.
- Core Knowledge Foundation provides open access to content-rich curriculum materials for preschool to grade 8.
- Amplify has launched resources for remote learning for use of their curricular products, including ELA.
- Scholastic has a learn-at-home site with day-by-day ELA lesson activities for students to do at home. Families can use this on their own and/or teachers can plan to integrate activities into their plans.
- UnboundEd offers free, high-quality, standards-aligned PK-12 ELA instructional materials, content guides, and bias toolkit to enhance knowledge of equity & standards.
- Student Achievement Partners offers high-quality open-source classroom resources, including ELA lessons and assessments.
- Louisiana Department of Education has open source ELA guidebooks with daily lesson plans and materials.
- Newsela is offering temporary free access to their entire content suite for the remainder of the 19-20 school year. CommonLit and ReadWorks are also quality free print and online resources with guidance for educators.
- Time for Kids is offering temporary free access to a library of digital editions of TIME for Kids for grades K-6, along with worksheets and quizzes.
- National Emergency Library is offering a collection of books to support emergency remote teaching. Local public libraries are also a great source for digital texts!
- New York Times Learning Network is offering temporary free access to daily writing prompts based on NYT articles, pictures and data visuals for students 13 and older. Moderated comments feature for class or open discussion.
- Curriculum Associates is offering temporary free printable home packets and online iReady Reading content.
- Quill is a free, interactive online tool to help students in grades 3-12 with writing and grammar.
- ReadWriteThink provides activities and projects, games and tools, tips and how-to’s, printouts and more to focus on reading and writing for grades K-12.
- Smithsonian Museum Learning Lab offers online resources in a variety of subject areas, including lesson plans. Resources are curated by educators for educators and families.
- Moby.Read is offering free use of their self-administered oral reading fluency (ORF) benchmark assessments designed for students in grades K through 5. This offer extends until school is back in session. Students read and answer questions aloud, as the system automatically scores their reading. Teachers can see immediate results on a data dashboard showing students’ reading levels, accuracy, comprehension, and expression scores. Moby.Read runs in a Chrome browser or on an iPad and is a good basic estimate of students’ oral reading abilities.
Math Resources
Social Studies & Science Resources
- Core Knowledge Foundation also offers open source, content-rich curricula in History and Geography and Science for grades K-8.
- Great Minds PhD Science for grades 3-5 has free video lessons available via their Knowledge on the Go initiative.
- Amplify has launched resources for remote learning for use of their curricular products, including ELA, Math, and Science.
- Open Science Education offers free high-quality instructional materials aligned to the CCSS.
- California Academy of Sciences offers live video events and a variety of teaching and learning resources for remote instruction.
- iCivics, founded by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, has open source materials to improve students’ civic knowledge, attitudes, and core literacy skills. They are offering advice for creating a remote learning toolkit for teachers.
- PBS NewsHour offers teacher produced resources and lesson plans to create your own packets for students on events, government, civics, and more.
- Common Sense Media has tips for teaching kids media smarts during breaking news, like COVID-19.
- Discovery Education offers online K-12 curriculum for free through the end of the school year.
- Code.org has a weekly webcast and challenge to teach computer science – even for students without computers!
- The Council of State Science Supervisors has put together editable documents in English, Arabic, and Spanish for ways that families can continue to support science learning at home.
- Smithsonian Museum Learning Lab offers online resources in a variety of subject areas, including lesson plans. Resources are curated by educators for educators and families.
Art & Physical Education Resources
Early Education & Foundational Skills Resources
Specialized Instruction and Student Supports
English Language Learners
Virtual Tours and Field Trips
Other Lists
Additional Resources
For Families
Preparing for Digital Learning
- Digital Promise – Accelerating Innovation in Education have developed an ongoing resource page of exemplars for families as they prepare for online learning.
- Here’s a parents’ guide for how to use Google Classroom.
- AllConnect has a guide on ways to keep kids safe while using the internet, including each state’s internet safety laws and conversation starters for addressing internet safety with children.
- NYC Department of Education has a Learn at Home page with supplementary learning resources for all students, including support for students needing specialized instruction and supports.
- Learning Hero Roadmap provides an interactive guide for parents in English and Spanish for what grade-level skills look like, including math, reading, and social-emotional learning.
- Common Sense Media provides a webpage for families with activities, resources, and more.
- EdNavigator provides daily One Great Thing for Tomorrow list of tips, a simple list of tips, activities and resources to help you and your kids make the most of the days when schools are closed.
- Adobe launched free creative cloud tools for K-12 students offered through May 31, 2020.
Internet Access
Social-Emotional Learning and Well Being
ELA Resources
Math Resources
Social Studies & Science Resources
- The classic Bill Nye-The Science Guy series offers many topical videos.
- Mystery Science is offering popular science lessons for easy copy-paste use.
- National Geographic for Kids has games, videos, articles and quizzes.
- The Council of State Science Supervisors has documents in English, Arabic, and Spanish with ways that families can continue to support science learning at home.
Art & Physical Education Resources
- Hosted through The Kennedy Center on YouTube, author Mo Willems is hosting a Lunch Doodles series for students to draw along with the famed author.
- GoNoodle provides movement activities and lessons.
- Joe Wicks, known as The Body Coach, is holding kids’ P.E. classes every weekday (beginning March 23, 2020). Videos go live at 9 am each day. The workouts are designed to be kid friendly, will last about 30 minutes, and won't need much space so they can be done indoors.
- Cosmic Kids Yoga offers yoga, mindfulness and relaxation for kids.
Early Education Resources
Specialized Instruction and Student Supports
Virtual Tours and Field Trips
Other Lists
Additional Resources
- PBS Learning Media offers thousands of contextualized learning materials aligned to state and national standards.
- BrainPOP offers activities for studentsto discover, play and create with topics across the curriculum.
- NYC Department of Education has a Learn at Home with supplementary learning resources for all students, including support for students needing specialized instruction and supports.
- Khan Academy is providing guidance for how to use their resources in a daily schedule. Khan Academy offers content in multiple subjects, with many resources for math. When using the platform, students can navigate the site independently, click on links within a subject and learn through videos and practice questions, unable to move on to the next skill until they’ve advanced through the current one.
- Home Learning Choice Board – Provides hyperlinks for different instructional categories of activities students can complete.
- A School Meal Finder tool from Hoonuit to help families find meal sites while schools are closed.