Welcome to a new series where we feature our favorite free web tools and apps for language learners and teachers. This month we are highlighting KudosReading, which is a site that allows teachers to effectively manage book discussions in the classroom with their database of Common Core aligned questions. Language learners collaborate with each other in finding, reviewing and recommending books with collective challenges and badges that encourage them to read at/above grade level. Students also learn with their database of games. Below are details on how KudosReading encourages reading for English language learners.
Each week we scour the internet to find great web tools and apps to share on our various social networks (@TESOL, @AmericanTESOL, and @ESLWebinars). Check out our past favorites here.
Personalized Book Group Discussions
- Teachers are able to customize their book discussion groups by reading level and interest. This allows teachers to model groups appropriately and create homogenous or heterogenous groups to encourage learning.
- Teachers can further personalize the discussion experience by using different levels of questioning for each group based on interest or levels. Teachers have access to an extensive database of CCSS aligned questions that they can edit to make their own.
- The online book discussions allow students to have a voice and can be evaluated by teachers in real-time. They also allow students to think about the answer and prepare for in class group discussions.
- Sentence Starters encourage deeper conversations. Students are further motivated by social aspects, votes and reading friend’s comments on discussions.
Track Independent Reading
- Students find/review and recommend books to motivate each other.
- Students create reading lists and reading logs that teachers can report on allowing them to track independent reading.
- Teachers report on popular genres in the classroom. This gives student voice and allows teachers to gauge interest and encourage reading appropriately.
- Teachers can provide input by setting student’s reading level, so they can find books appropriately.
Motivating Vocabulary and Games
- Students collectively enter unique words that they learned in the book. This is a collaborative exercise where they can mentor and learn from each other.
- These words are used to create vocabulary games so students are playing a role in creating these games.
- Students earn points and badges that encourage authentic reading and meaningful collaboration.
