Kids use their time in the classroom to develop essential skills and gain lifelong knowledge, but sometimes they need more time with specific topics. Younger students may struggle with reading more challenging materials within the timeframe of the school day.
Teachers and education professionals can look into these online tools for improved reading comprehension to offer their students more resources that make reading easier and more fun.
1. The Literacy Shed
Watching videos may seem like the antithesis of helping students read, but it depends on the content. The team behind The Literacy Shed curates “sheds” on their website with short videos that tell a story and allow for in-depth discussions. Visitors can find teaching ideas and discussion questions listed under each video as well.
It’s an excellent way to tackle reading comprehension in remote instruction as well because the site is available to anyone with internet access.
2. Six Word Stories
Some kids don’t do well with reading assignments because they see pages of text and feel intimidated. Six Word Stories is one of the best online reading tools for students because it teaches about topics like themes, characters, and plots without requiring chapters. Use each story as a prompt to discover why it’s a story, what elements make a story, and why it’s effective in communicating its central message.
3. PicLits
Reading becomes easier when words are less of a struggle. PicLits takes a word-based approach to improve reading comprehension. Students can pick an image and peruse lists of words beneath that photo to describe what’s happening within the picture. Educators should note that this is an excellent way to build a student’s knowledge of grammar and story elements, but only if the teacher-student communication flows easily.
Miscommunication due to video lag, internet outages, or missed emails could cause confusion with some online tools. Always maintain your communication across multiple channels to make your reading comprehension tools effective for anyone who has questions or feels confused by the platform.
4. MeMeTales
Sometimes young students improve their reading comprehension in remote instruction with assistance from their parents or guardians. Elementary school students will love using the MeMeTales app to browse free picture books and read with their loved ones.
Every time they finish a new story, readers earn fun stickers and points that unlock story-related games. Kids will start looking forward to practicing their reading skills because each book comes with digital rewards.
5. Vocabulary Spelling City
Vocabulary Spelling City is another one of the many useful online reading tools for students. Readers pick four challenging vocabulary words and improve their literacy skills by playing games to learn definitions, word usage, and even phonics. It’s a helpful site for young readers in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Use Online Tools for Reading Comprehension
These are just a few online tools for improved reading comprehension, but students will have to try each one to discover which one is best for their needs. Whether kids need to expand their vocabulary, dive into thematic story elements, or rediscover why reading is fun, these apps and websites can help them get there with extra practice outside of the classroom.