30 TOOLS

Best Games, Apps, and Sites for Personalized Learning

When learning isn't attentive to each student's needs, many are likely to check out, either bored and unchallenged or unable to keep up. These great personalized learning tools help teachers put each student first, letting individual interests, abilities, and goals drive learning. They range from subject-specific tools for math and ELA that adjust to students' needs to teacher-focused tools that aid personalized learning design and instruction.

If you're interested in student-centered approaches to learning, make sure to check out our Great Resources for Student-Centered Learning. If you're a math teacher, you might also be interested in our Best Adaptive Math Games and Sites list.

Personalized Learning Tools for Math

Math Shelf: Early Math Mastery

Adaptive math app reinforces foundational skills

Bottom Line: While it's not as polished as other apps, Math Shelf has a steady and thorough approach to exploring foundational math skills.

Grades: Pre-K–1
Price:
Free to try

Redbird Mathematics

Excellent adaptive math for flipped or blended classrooms

Bottom Line: If you're looking for courseware for your classroom, this is based on solid research and proven technology.

Grades: K–7
Price:
Paid

Zearn

Innovative combo of live instruction and adaptive online math lessons

Bottom Line: It's a great balance of online lessons, in-person instruction, and instructional resources, all for free.

Grades: K–8
Price:
Free

DreamBox Learning Math

Individualized, game-based math adapts to kids' needs

Bottom Line: Great all-in-one program for math support and practice, with somewhat accurate adaptive tech.

Grades: K–8
Price:
Free to try

MobyMax

Track progress, differentiate learning with standards-aligned lessons

Bottom Line: Use these standards-based lessons to differentiate and monitor student growth, but use sparingly.

Grades: K–8
Price:
Free to try

Tailor-ED

Create differentiated math lessons and assessments in minutes

Bottom Line: Easy differentiation and unique insights that can improve math instruction.

Grades: K–8
Price:
Free

Freckle

Standards-aligned, adaptive, core subject materials with lots of support

Bottom Line: It's rich with content-aligned assessments, worksheets, and progress analytics, so mindful teachers will find it a valuable resource to promote skills mastery through practice.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free

Khan Academy

Flexible learning environment offers a personalized journey to mastery

Bottom Line: A robust resource for targeted individualized instruction in most subject areas.

Grades: 2–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Edia

Well-done worksheet generator helps reinforce learning

Bottom Line: This is a handy tool math teachers can use to reinforce learning with great feedback for students and teachers.

Grades: 6–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Mathspace

Personalized, step-by-step math coaching challenges and adapts

Bottom Line: A solid, adaptive curriculum that guides kids as they work out problems.

Grades: 6–12
Price:
Free to try, Paid

Knowre

Boost math skills with personalized learning, targeted lesson support

Bottom Line: With adaptive features and solid support, it's a fantastic tool to support your instruction.

Grades: 7–12
Price:
Paid

Personalized Learning Tools for ELA and Languages

Articulation Station

Pricey but definitely worth it for kids struggling with pronunciation

Bottom Line: For helping students with letter and word pronunciation, this highly valuable tool is worth the cost.

Grades: K–2
Price:
Free to try

Lalilo

K–2 literacy program offers comprehensive, adaptive activities

Bottom Line: An easy-to-recommend tool thanks to its broad coverage of key skills and nice balance of student-driven and teacher-differentiated learning.

Grades: K–3
Price:
Free, Paid

Lexia Core5 Reading

Blended reading program offers individualized growth

Bottom Line: This is a research-backed blended reading platform that builds literacy skills and helps teachers plan and deliver targeted instruction in the classroom.

Grades: Pre-K–5
Price:
Paid

Learning Ally Audiobooks

Digital library offers handy supports for readers

Bottom Line: A great option for students needing support, and, while the library is smaller, the narration is a serious upgrade.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free

ReadTheory

Useful if not exciting adaptive tool for assessing reading ability

Bottom Line: It's very utilitarian, but what it does it does well: getting students test-ready by effectively assessing and tracking reading ability.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free

Actively Learn

Empowering reader invites students to read with purpose

Bottom Line: Far beyond the average e-reader, this tool helps students connect with texts and each other while giving teachers useful insight into student thinking.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Personalized Learning Tools for Assessment and Instruction

Goalbook Toolkit

Set tailored targets with pricey but worth-it kit of tools, strategies

Bottom Line: You pay for quality with Goalbook Toolkit, including access to clear, well-crafted learning goals and strategies that allow for far easier differentiation.

Grades: Pre-K–12
Price:
Free to try, Paid

Classkick

Assign, assist, and assess with real-time, interactive classroom

Bottom Line: It's a great option for teachers who want to go paperless, provide specific feedback, and encourage collaboration among students in virtual or 1-to-1 classrooms.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free to try

Kiddom

LMS offers tangible options to differentiate learning

Bottom Line: An excellent option for monitoring individual progress toward goals, but teachers will need to be deliberate when selecting and assigning content.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free

Wizer

Digital worksheet builder lets students show learning in multiple ways

Bottom Line: Students will appreciate this 21st-century take on worksheets, and teachers will love all the different options for creation and assessment.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free, Paid

CAST UDL Book Builder

Sensitively designed so any student can write and share books

Bottom Line: CAST UDL Book Builder is an excellent resource to get kids started on digital content creation; it's simple and straightforward and caters to a variety of learning styles.

Grades: 1–7
Price:
Free

Mindprint Learning

Expert feedback and tools designed for individual learner profiles

Bottom Line: This impressive tool uses normed digital assessments to create a specific learning profile and provide authentic tools for individual learners.

Grades: 2–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Formative

Superb real-time assessment tool a fit for 1-to-1, BYOD classrooms

Bottom Line: This smart tool helps teachers gather a variety of student response types and then offer targeted feedback.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Free, Paid

ClassFlow

Robust lesson creation and delivery tool aids assessment

Bottom Line: With some creativity, this interactive platform can support instruction and assessment.

Grades: 4–12
Price:
Free

Knewton

Adaptive instructional site simplifies lessons, tracks progress

Bottom Line: Useful adaptive-learning site is limited in scope and sequence but should improve with time.

Grades: 4–12
Price:
Free

Rezzly

Leveling and quests turn classes into personalized adventures

Bottom Line: A ready-to-go platform for introducing game-based learning principles into assessment and class structure, but success and engagement depend on solid class content.

Grades: 4–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Showbie

Flexible desktop, mobile assignment tool works best with pro features

Bottom Line: A flexible way to collect student assignments and offer written and verbal feedback, especially with the premium features.

Grades: 5–12
Price:
Free to try

Credly

Great how-to content, flexible features boost digital badge tool

Bottom Line: A useful tool for issuing digital badges.

Grades: 7–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Pairin

Robust personality survey for students results in real-world insights

Bottom Line: For educators who have the time, drive, and buy-in, this program is a great data-analysis and character-development tool.

Grades: 8–12
Price:
Free to try, Paid

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