TOP PICKS | 21 TOOLS
Best Common Core Apps and Websites for Teachers
Top Picks
RELATED
Print list
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 - Math and ELA Quizzes
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, Paid An optional $100 per year upgrade adds advanced reporting and extras like text-to-speech, shareable rubrics, presentation mode, and more. The enterprise version -- which adds school- and district-wide reports, SIS and LMS integration, and custom PD -- is available but pricing isn't public.
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.
Literably
Simple and useful reading fluency assessment tool frees up teacher time
Bottom line: Some districts may find this to be a cost-effective, time-saving option for reading records.
Grades: K–7
Price: Contact for pricing Contact for exact pricing. Pricing varies based on number of students and how frequently the school or district would like to find students' reading levels. Most plans are $6 to $9 per student with a minimum purchase of $1,000.
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–12
Price: Free, Paid The Teacher Edition is free with limited features. The School Edition comes with unlimited assignments, benchmarking and data capabilities, and access to the entire content library. The District Edition includes full access for all teachers, district-level reporting, benchmark assessments, and Clever integration.
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
Mathalicious
Toughest palates can't resist appetizing look at real-world math
Bottom line: Easy-to-deliver lessons use real-world topics tweens like.
Grades: 6–12
Price: $320 annual subscription per teacher Sliding scale: $10, $15, or $20 per month -- pay what you can.