During this challenging time for educators and their students, AdoptAClassroom.org will share distance education tips and resources that we hear about that may be helpful for you. This is not advertising. We are not making money off of this, and we are not endorsing products, services, or companies. We are sharing things that might be helpful for the educators we support.
In response to school closures across the country, many companies are offering their services for free to educators who are teaching remotely this spring.
Check out these free distance education resources for educators working remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak:
From AdoptAClassroom.org Vendors and Partners:
Beckers
Beckers is offering free Weebinars presented by Bari Koral, a children’s yoga teacher, adult instructor, and award-winning recording artist. They also have a Home Teaching Tools resource page here.
Lakeshore Learning
Lakeshore Learning has more than 1,000 free downloadable resources including worksheets, writing prompts, crafts, and more.
If you’re a parent wanting to help your child get the most out of at-home learning or a teacher looking for activities to send home with students, Lakeshore Learning is also providing free videos lessons and activities to help keep students engaged and learning from home. Check out their selection of videos here.
Lakikid
Lakikid has a resource page for parents about talking to children about Coronavirus/COVID-19, including a downloadable eBook.
Learners Edge
Learners Edge provides teachers with relevant, applicable, credit-bearing continuing education courses. They also offer a variety of free resources, downloadables, and tips for teachers who are teaching remotely during COVID-19.
Check out a few of the helpful distance learning resources Learners Edge is sharing with teachers that include downloadable instructional content:
Three Key Questions Educators Need to Ask About Microaggressions
Engagement Strategies for Online Teaching
10 Google Classroom Tips and Tricks for Teachers
Learning Without Tears
Learning Without Tears is now offering educators and families access Pre-K Interactive Teaching Tool and/or Handwriting Interactive Teaching Tool for 60 days at no cost. They also offer free, easy-to-print handwriting starter packs.
LEGO® Education
LEGO Education® has free resources to help teachers support their students’ STEAM learning whether they’re in the classroom, distance learning, or a hybrid of both.
OOLY
OOLY has free coloring pages and craft projects to download so students can create their happy at home.
Really Good Stuff
Really Good Stuff has a Free Resource Library including activity printables for math, reading, writing, science, and more.
Vocabulary Spelling City
VocabularySpellingCity.com, the K-12 game-based learning program for vocabulary, spelling, phonics, and writing practice, will be free for the remainder of the school year.
Wonder Workshop
Wonder Workshop has a free printable Coloring Book that features Dash, Dot, and Cue robots! For children ages 4-8, get a behind-the-scenes peek at how their product team designs the robots.
Other Educator Resources:
Artful
Artful provides teachers and K-12 schools around the world with free access to classes and lesson plan ideas from industry-leading performers, professionals, and instructors.
Craft In America
Craft In America, the nonprofit that’s dedicated to the exploration, preservation and celebration of craft, has free guides, videos, and lesson plans for K-12 teachers.
#DiversifyOurNarrative
#DiversifyOurNarrative offers sample curriculums to aid teachers in their efforts to teach texts by and about people of color! They currently have lesson plans for “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, “I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika L. Sanchez and more!
Flipgrid
Flipgrid is social learning tool. Grids are the meeting place for your classroom, your school, your department or any learning community to discuss your Topics.
LabXchange
To help high school students navigate the U.S. college application and financial aid process, Harvard University’s Labxchange offers practical information, advice, and tools in the form of free videos.
LifeChanger
LifeChanger gathered tips, tricks, and tools for remote learning and made them available to educators. These resources will help keep instruction informative, timely, and fun for students.
Newsela
Instructional content platform Newsela is free at the base level, though teachers can purchase a premium prescription. The instructional content includes ELA, Social Studies, Science, and SEL.
The New York Times
The Times is giving high school students unlimited free access to their articles and videos through September 1, 2021. Educators can invite their students to receive free access here.
Operation CORE
Operation CORE is a volunteer-run, Harvard-based student organization dedicated to supporting students from under-resourced communities through the college application process. This Fall, high school students can receive free one-on-one mentorship, college insight curriculum, and webinars.
Planet Bee Foundation
Planet Bee Foundation is working to expose children and adults to global environmental issues, and provide them with the tools to combat them. They offer free virtual distance education bee lessons for schools here.
Professional Learning Board
Professional Learning Board is offering “How to Teach Online for the Classroom Teacher,” a free PD course designed for distance education during school closings. Teachers gain new skills and learn about cutting-edge tools and resources.
Remote Quiz
Remote Quiz, an app that a provides students with remote, social and interactive quizzes, is offering their product free to K-12 teachers. Teachers can sign up here and enter “Adopt a Classroom” in the “Source” section to receive a premium account for free.
Summer Math Challenge
The Summer Math Challenge is a free, six-week program that helps students practice math skills taught during the school year. The 2021 Math Challenge starts on June 21st.
Tynker
Tynker is offering free resources to educators including teacher training, free apps kids can use to learn how to code, and free access to school curriculum.
Virtual Field Trips
Virtual Field Trips provides K-12 teachers with educational destination-based videos for social studies, geography, life science, and ancient civilization curriculums. They offer plenty of free videos that teachers can access without a subscription.
School Resources:
Avaya
Avaya Spaces provides users with voice and video conferencing for up to 200 participants, persistent chat spaces, and file sharing, accessible from a browser or mobile app. Teachers can create an account for a 60-day free trial.
Microsoft – Office 365
Microsoft is currently offering Office 365 with technical documentation for free to schools. Teachers and students can also sign up.
AdoptAClassroom.org will continue to share advice, insights, and tips for educators regarding distance education, as well as information on the resources available to support educators during this time, through our newsletter, social media channels, and blog. If you have tips that you think we should share, please email Devon at [email protected]
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For even more updates, check out this article from We Are Teachers with hundreds of free distance learning tools for classrooms.