Reading on the Web

In this post I'd like to highlight four of my favorite reading websites (technically, the first two are web tools). I hope you find them as useful as I do.

The Lexile Framework for Reading website is very helpful for matching your student with an appropriately leveled book.  You can type in a book title and it will give you the Lexile level for that book (for more information on Lexile levels click here). If the book title isn't in their database, then you can type in a paragraph of text from the book, and it will give the general Lexile level of that text.  You can search by author, keyword, and ISBN number if you'd like. This website includes the same search tools for books written in Spanish. The Lexile Framework for Reading website is very user friendly and easy to navigate.

Google's search engine includes a reading level filter. Let's say your students are researching wolves of North America, and you want some appropriate articles for them to read. You can use Google's reading level filter to help. I have added hyperlinks to three web articles on gray wolves that Google considers to be at basic, intermediate, and advanced reading levels.



KidsReads.com is a fantastic website for young students to read reviews about books they might like. There are book reviews, interviews with authors, and trivia questions based on favorite books. The best part is students have an opportunity to have their review posted on the website. This is a great place for kids to get excited about good books.

Storyline Online is fantastic. If you haven't been there, go there. Members of the Screen Actor's Guild read aloud picture book favorites. Your students can read along with the narrators, or just sit back, relax, and enjoy. As a special feature, each book comes with lesson plans and activities.