InnEdCO18 -- ELL Toolbox

Session 1, Day 2 of InnEdCO 2018. I've often been curious of the best ways to support our English language learners. These are a list of tools, either web browser extensions or websites, that target reading, speaking/listening, writing, and research skills. These tools should give students access to grade level materials while learning the language.

We use Read&Write in our building now so I left that off the lists (it specifically targets reading and speaking/listening skills)

Slide Deck: bit.ly/elltoolbox


Reading Tools:
Scrible  - extension/website - FREE, collaborate using sticky notes, saves websites/pdfs
Mercury Reader - extension -- FREE, removes distractions from websites

Speaking/Listening:
Flipgrid - website - FREE, adding stickers/likes/ to video recording created by students, but only 1 grid allowed; PAID, free features + comments on video & more than 1 grid

Writing:
Language Tool - Doc Add-on - FREE, checks writing for grammar & spelling
SAS Curriculum Pathways Writing Reviser -- Doc Add-on -- FREE, checks writing for passive voice, repeated words, sentence variety, etc.

Research:
ReadWorks - Website - FREE, search to find article by grade/lexile level& assign to classes/groups
Choosito - Website - FREE, search engine allowing teachers to choose 4 lexile levels;  PAID, students have access to search engine, citation tool, website readability tool
Rewordify - Website - FREE, simplifies complex text, copy/paste text into website
Simple English Wikipedia - Website -FREE, wikipedia in simple English
Google Docs Explore - Tools menu within Docs - FREE, research & cite within Google Docs

Literacy for ELL's

It's a challenge to teach the writing process to students who's primary language isn't English. Many of them struggle just to access the content. EdSurge has some excellent ideas of how to scaffold the writing process for ELL's. I particulary like the tools they provide to "develop, implement, and evaluate" they're learning as they move through the process.