Teaching can be an absolute dumpster fire (to put it nicely), so I’m always looking for tools that make my lessons hit harder and my day go more smoothly. Aside from my favorite routines and procedures, these resources help me keep my classroom going. Keep reading for the tools I love most for supporting learning (and my sanity) in the classroom!

Teacher Resources for the Classroom

Epic

As an ELA teacher, reading is a major part of my classroom. I love Epic because my students get a variety of books they can read online, and it offers differentiation for those who prefer eBooks or audiobooks to physical ones. It also is great for my struggling readers because there are many “Read to Me” selections that provide audio. Many of the books are also on Accelerated Reader, and Epic offers their own quizzes for comprehension, as well. My kids love asking me for recommendations!

ReadWorks

Background knowledge and priming are so important to my lessons, so ReadWorks is great when it comes to teacher resources. I love to use it to deepen my students’ knowledge on our ELA lesson topic, and it lets me monitor and assess their understanding. It is super flexible and offers a ton of options that make it work as a bell-ringer or even a whole lesson for days when I need a bit of a break. There are optional vocabulary lessons, and you can print articles, if needed. I really like that it integrates with Google Classroom, so it’s easy for students to find their assignments. It also is great for collaboration with the science and social studies teacher because I can assign articles that are focused on the topics they’re studying in those classes, too. 

Magic School

AI is the future, and I’m so excited to lean in. Magic School is a platform that offers a ton of AI tools to help your classroom run smoothly and tend to your students’ individual needs, and its one of my favorite teacher resources. There are about a million and one tools on Magic School, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Give yourself some time to play around and get acquainted. My favorite tools are the Raina chatbot (think Chat GPT for teachers), the academic content creator, and the behavioral improvement plan creator, but really there’s so much there that is helpful. 

Canva

This year, I’ve really been stepping into classroom ownership, so I’ve been creating my own learning materials like worksheets, data checklists, and more. Canva is a super intuitive tool that allows me to take my vision and create it. Plus, it’s free for educators to use Canva Pro which offers even more tools and flexibility. I love the ease of use because it allows me to create something quickly, so when I notice a need in the classroom, I can quickly find a creative solution.

iXL

This is probably my favorite resource on the list. iXL is SUCH an amazing supplement to my classroom. First, there is a diagnostic tool that provides detailed information about each students that helps me with instructional planning. There are also grade level skills and videos that support my lessons, as well as study plans for my specific curriculums and state tests. I love using the leaderboards for a bit of healthy competition and the group jam option for whole class lessons. The kids love logging in and crossing off skills, and I can see their progress in real time. 

To sum it up…

I love these resources in my classroom because they help me to fill in gaps and give my students the variety and tools they need to thrive. Try them out and tell me what you think!