April 2020 – ELA Source

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If you’re like me you’ve been inundated with free resources, too many to look at, too many to count. I realized that university and classroom teachers, as well as homeschooling parents, are probably overwhelmed by the options, so I spent some time curating and pulling together a streamlined list of which resources do what and how well they do it.

First, I have a few rules for choosing resources:

Choose only resources that are always free

So many companies are offering their resources “free” to teachers who are impacted by the Coronavirus. But a closer look often reveals that these are only the standard free trials that most companies offer. Also, I don’t want to get comfortable using software or a subscription that I will have to pay big bucks for in a month or two or even a year. Now, if you have the resources and desire to pay for software and subscriptions, that’s fine, but I’m focusing this guide on stuff that’s always free, or always has a free level of membership available.

Focus on your learning goals and objectives

At one I found myself printing out skill and drill worksheets for my kids at home, and then I realized that these are at odds with my teaching philosophy, which is a more holistic approach to language. No worksheets needed! We read out loud and silently, talk about our reading, and write about our reading. For skills assessment I do have my kids copy unfamiliar vocabulary and spelling words from their own reading and writing and we do “drill” these through practice and quizzes.

Prioritize sources that fit your needs

I don’t know how to teach math and science, so I’ve focused my hunt for homeschooling resources on math and science. My kids’ schools have provided access to Reflex math and Zearn, and I’m also allowing my students to create self-directed projects in science and social studies, so I’m creating little resource banks for them in Google Documents that they can use to create their own educational slide shows.