TOP PICKS | 20 TOOLS

Best Common Core Apps and Websites for Teachers

Teaching the Common Core State Standards can be challenging: From lesson planning to instruction to assessment, there's a lot to learn and manage. Thankfully, these apps and websites make things easier. From calendaring to creating CCSS exit tickets and formative assessments to designing CCSS-aligned units, there's something for everyone on this list. There's also a collection of instructional tools for ELA and math that provide students with engaging, CCSS-aligned lessons, games, and interactives that'll help students achieve mastery of core skills.

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Planning and Assessment Resources

BetterLesson

Exemplary Common Core-aligned lessons from rock star peers at large

Bottom line: Get a head start on the Common Core transition with this professional community for great classroom-ready lessons.

Grades: Pre-K–12 Price: Free

Common Curriculum

Sleek lesson planner replaces bulky binders, promotes collaboration

Bottom line: Ditch pen-and-paper planning; embrace the flexibility of collaborative lesson planning and calendar design.

Grades: Pre-K–12 Price: Free, Free to Try, Paid Free for the Basic plan. $4.89-$6.99 per month for Pro plan. $7.50 per teacher per month (for 20 teachers - price per teacher goes down with more teachers) for Schools plan. $1,500 when purchasing for 3 or more schools for Site License. Free 30-day trial also available.

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 30-day free trial. There are three paid plans: $995 per year including district/administrator support, $395 per teacher per year with district/administrator support, or $795 per teacher per year with online PD and 1:1 coaching for teachers. The latter two plans require a minimum purchase of 10+ licenses.

Common Core Quest

Comprehensive CCSS-aligned resource for instruction and assessment

Bottom line: Test prep made easy empowers teachers and students to focus on areas needing improvement.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free

Edulastic

Powerful formative assessment tool tracks achievement of standards

Bottom line: Efficient platform supports teachers who are expected to assess and track student progress on meeting standards.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free

Goalbook Pathways

Helpful differentiating tool for CCSS has room to grow

Bottom line: Currently a rich reference for teachers looking to demystify differentiation and CCSS, Goalbook Pathways will be truly worth the investment when it's also a place for creation.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free to Try, Paid Quotes available for schools and districts.

Metria Master Teacher Edition

All-in-one standards planning, assessment tool supports quality instruction

Bottom line: With adequate time and resources, the tool can be a fantastic organizational support to those transitioning to standards-aligned planning and assessment.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free, Paid Teachers can try the Master Teacher Edition during the 2014-15 school year for free. Ongoing subscriptions are priced at $29.95/year.

Zeal

Address learning gaps with innovative but pricey live math coaches

Bottom line: A neat, highly useful coaching tool that won't transform CCSS instruction but removes some of the pain of tracking student progress and differentiation.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free to Try, Paid Free trial; $25 per student per year.

Edcite

Solid tool for creating CCSS-aligned assignments and assessments

Bottom line: If you're an online assessment geek, look no further for your go-to interactive questions tool.

Grades: 3–8 Price: Free

JumpRope

Upgrade your grading with tool for mastery-based tracking

Bottom line: For those trained in standards-based grading, a solid way to collect, track, and report mastery-based achievement.

Grades: 3–12 Price: Free Free for individuals. Contact for price quote on school and district licenses.

Instructional Resources for ELA and Math

IXL

Immediate feedback and breadth a major plus, despite emphasis on drills

Bottom line: Students can improve targeted skills with tons of practice modules and visually appealing tasks.

Grades: Pre-K–12 Price: Free to Try, Paid Skill practice is free but limited to a small number of problems a day. After a 30-day free trial, classroom licenses start at $249 per class for 25 students and one subject. Individual, school, and district licenses are also available.

Freckle

Target standards-based skills with dynamic practice and assessments

Bottom line: Rich with content-aligned assessments, activities, printable worksheets, and progress analytics, this valuable resource promotes skills mastery through practice.

Grades: K–8 Price: Free, Paid Free with limited features. School Edition contains more content and data/analytic tools.

ReadWorks

Differentiate reading instruction with high-quality texts and lessons

Bottom line: The quality and scope of texts, lesson plans, assessments, and supports on this platform can help facilitate targeted reading instruction in any classroom.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free

LearnZillion

Quality Common Core-aligned lessons with great modeling for teachers

Bottom line: An innovative way to enhance lessons and tailor learning for individual needs.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free

ReadWorks Digital

Research-based site makes it easy to assign, differentiate readings

Bottom line: An effective digital reinvention of the trusted ReadWorks platform that makes it simple to distribute and track high-quality reading assignments.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free

TenMarks Math

Responsive and adaptive math practice for every grade level

Bottom line: Adaptive K–12 math practice that hones in on students' areas for growth with lots of potential to empower.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free to Try, Paid There's a 30-day free trial. The Essentials plan is $5 per student per year. Comprehensive ($10 per student) and Premium ($15 per student) plans include additional features, such as tools for differentiation and assessment, as well as school- and district-level reporting.

Newsela

Absorbing daily news stories offer kids just-right learning content

Bottom line: Up-to-date, high-interest articles meet students right at their level: Use this robust tool to bolster students' nonfiction reading practice.

Grades: 2–12 Price: Free, Paid There's a "Pro" subscription targeted at schools, but pricing information isn't public; interested teachers and districts can contact them for more information.

StudySync

Superb ELA resource has comprehensive coverage, tons of supports

Bottom line: StudySync offers a complete core literacy program for secondary schools, making it easy to recommend, especially for teachers new to digital platforms.

Grades: 6–12 Price: Free to Try A one-year subscription is $16.47 per student. The student reading and writing companion bundles cost $111.24 and are available per grade level as a 6-year subscription.

CommonLit

Feature-rich literacy resource offers superb support for readers

Bottom line: Access a hefty collection of reliable, ready-to-print, leveled passages that allow you to tailor lessons, assign online reading, and track progress.

Grades: 3–12 Price: Free