Best Websites for Independent Reading

Top Pick

There's no question that reading is essential to learning, and is crucial to social and emotional development and engaged citizenship. Students who read more accelerate their acquisition of literacy skills, and unlock new levels of potential in all of their classes. All too often, however, our students see reading as a chore, something deeply intertwined with school requirements rather than personal interests and passions. Help students, through in-class and at-home independent reading, to read on their own terms about subjects they care about with these terrific tech tools that put students in control, and let them discover new authors, genres, and books, dig into current news and stories, and practice reading in authentic contexts.

Reading is Fundamental: Leading to Reading Visit Website: http://www.rif.org/kids/leadingtoreading/en/leadingtoreading.htm Teachers and kids explore the wonderful world of reading together	Grades Pre-K-K Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
Ready to Learn Reading Visit Website: http://pbskids.org/read/ Vast assortment of activities encourage reading and storytelling	Grades Pre-K-3 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
StorylineOnline.net Visit Website: http://www.storylineonline.net Notable actors' read alouds bring kids' storybooks to life	Grades Pre-K-3 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Bookshare Visit Website: https://www.bookshare.org/ Unique digital library gives access to those with print disabilities	Grades Pre-K-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Reading Rainbow Skybrary Family Publisher: Reading Rainbow Kids can "go anywhere, be anything" with vast book and video library	Grades K-4 Type App Price Free to Try, Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Bookopolis Visit Website: http://bookopolis.com/ Cute social network lets kids log books and connect with other readers	Grades 1-8 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Universal Reader Plus Visit Website: http://www.readingmadeez.com Text reader and summarizer with translation for eight languages	Grades 1-12 Type Website Price Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
BiblioNasium Visit Website: http://www.biblionasium.com Site for reviewing and sharing books makes reading a social adventure	Grades 2-6 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Monster Exchange Visit Website: http://www.monsterexchange.org/ Draw, get descriptive with fun, kooky monster-based writing project	Grades 2-6 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Newsela Visit Website: https://newsela.com/ Absorbing daily news stories offer kids just-right learning content	Grades 2-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Harry Potter Reading Club Visit Website: http://hpread.scholastic.com The fun and fantasy of Harry's world plus literary discussion	Grades 3-7 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Accelerated Reader 360 Visit Website: http://www.renaissance.com/products/accelerated-reader Boundless, flexible tools promote instructional, independent reading	Grades 3-12 Type Website Price Contact for pricing Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
StudySync Visit Website: http://www.studysync.com/ Superb ELA resource spurs critical thinking with dynamic multimedia	Grades 3-12 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 5
Actively Learn Visit Website: http://www.activelylearn.com/ Empowering social ereader keeps kids actively, independently engaged	Grades 4-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Folger Shakespeare Library Visit Website: http://www.folger.edu/ Teacher's resource digs deep into the Bard's work	Grades 4-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program Visit Website: https://ywp.nanowrimo.org/ Wildly engaging contest turns students into novelists in 30 days	Grades 4-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
ThinkCERCA Visit Website: http://www.thinkcerca.com Critical-reading program buoyed by high-interest texts, clear structure	Grades 4-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
LitPick Visit Website: http://www.litpick.com Tweens' reviews of YA literature great for classroom use	Grades 5-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
After the Storm Visit Website: https://www.classroominc.org/programs/after-the-storm/ Engaging ELA game makes you the editor of your local newspaper	Grades 6-8 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Poets.org Visit Website: http://www.poets.org/ Vast array of poets and poems; on the serious side	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Goodreads Visit Website: http://www.goodreads.com Lively community for bookworms to share their love of lit	Grades 8-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Teen Ink Visit Website: http://www.teenink.com Get kids writing, publishing, critiquing in this valuable network	Grades 8-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4

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