Resources for Tutors

Mango Languages – this is a great supplemental resource for all learners who have a Library Card through the Franklin County Library System. Log on and join in! There are many language learning experiences to choose from.

USA Learns* – Includes a variety of English Language (reading, writing, vocab, grammar,pronunciation, listening, life skills, etc) and EL Civics resources and activities (no cost, but account registration is required) This resource also has phone/tablet apps available for ESL students to use outside of class!

Read Works: ReadWorks.org is a great resource for both ABE and ESL learners. It offers supplemental reading and activities in an online classroom setting. Reading passages and other features can be printed out, too! Features include audio, activities, and a great range of skill level and topics to explore in class or as homework.

Newsela.com: Newsela is another great resource for both ABE and ESL learners. It offers supplemental reading and activities online. Features include audio, activities, and a great range of skill level and topics to explore in class or as homework.

Minnesota Literacy Council – Lesson Plans, Plus Great Activities and Information!– Great resource for very beginning to low level English Language lesson plans and activities. Free lesson plans and print-ables available, too.

Learn American English Online – Includes English Language learning skill levels , activities, and videos, and is kept up to date by the website owner. Great supplemental, work-at-home resource!

FreeRice.com – Great Practice Activities for Different subjects. Participating in these activities also fosters the donation of food to in need communities worldwide. Per their website, “For each correct answer, 10 grains of rice are donated through the World Food Programme to help end hunger.”

Pumarosa.com – Speaking and Listening Exercises, EL Civics Exercises (different ESL levels, designed for Spanish speakers)

Vocabulary.Co.IL – Vocabulary Builder Activities and games to reinforce vocabulary, sight words, and other topics you may be using with your students. Great for low level readers/ELLs

Lanternfish Phonics Worksheets and Teaching Resources – Printable phonics and reading resources (ABE/ESL)

Mixxer Language Exchange – From the website: The Mixxer is designed to connect language learners around the world so that everyone is both student and teacher. Anyone can sign up for free to find a language partner. Help them practice your native language while they help you practice theirs

Breaking News English -a tutor recommended resource for weekly in-class reading assignments. This site includes short reading passages, mini-lessons and other fun resources. Note: Be aware that the speaking and dictation exercises use British English inflections and pronunciations.

Crossword Labs – Free crossword puzzle generator. Create custom crossword puzzles using current in-class vocabulary and personally created hints that will have significance to your students. Puzzles can be completed online or printed out and used as a work sheet. Puzzles can be viewed as a PDF or Microsoft Word document by clicking one of the buttons labeled “PDF” or “Word” at the top right corner of crossword puzzle page then printed out for use in class. No membership or account needed!

Merriam Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary – recommended to support efforts with Crossword Labs in creating puzzles for students at different skill levels. This site also offers an Ask The Editor feature that answers grammar questions, a Word of the Day, fun online quizzes, and more!

Tutor Created Supplemental Resources (Deborah Barnes):

Short stories with corresponding questions designed by one of our tutors to support critical thinking and information extraction. They are designed for ESL/ELL learners, but can also be useful for ABE students.

§ Maria’s Story – Low Beginning

§ Maria and Roberto Shop For a House – Intermediate to Advanced

§ Maria and Roberto Plan a Trip – Intermediate to Advanced

Kahn Academy: Kahn Academy has great videos and activities for Math, History, Civics and Politics, and Grammar. Use in class or create a Tutor/Student classroom on the website to send supplemental work home with your learners. *This website is designed for k-12, but there is a lot of great content for all levels of adult learners to support in class lesson plans. This is a PDE approved website for supplemental resources. Check out the KhanAcademy App for smartphones, too.

Math.com, The World of Math Online: Free online study resources for practicing math from fractions and decimals to calculus. This site is designed by grade level and is targeted more for school aged students. Information is valuable but is only available in online format.

Secret Worlds, The Universe Within: Learn about measurement and scientific notation by comparing the distances of the natural world.

Jefferson Lab Science Games and Puzzles: Science knowledge games, puzzles, and other activities.

Micron.com’s Math In the Workplace – math problems based on job skills needed in specific professions. Fantastic resource to align in-class exercises with CCRS standards set forth by the PDE

Micron.com’s Lesson Plans – for STEM related lessons (and some pre-developed presentations) listed by subject and K-12 level of difficulty. These are designed for large classrooms, so adjustment to individual class needs may be required. Spectacular resource for ideas.

Workforce Atlas from Proliteracy - with this free online career pathways platform, adult learners can assess their literacy and numeracy, learn about and prepare for specific career paths, upskill their job search and resume building items, and connect with other valuable resources.

Google Applied Digital Skills Courses: Google Applied Digital Skills is a free set of courses that can be used in a myriad of ways. From creating and improve a resume to budgeting and finance management, this series of free courses supports digital literacy and life skills in the digital age. Please note: Participants need to have a Gmail account to participate.

INeedAPencil.com Free SAT Prep: Free SAT-level lessons and exam questions to take your studying to the next level. Covers multiple subjects for all levels of learners.

Free GED Practice Test: Familiarize your students with what topics or subjects they might need to brush up on before they take the GED test.

Using the Scientific Calculator: This online interactive tutorial goes over the Texas Instruments TI-30XS MultiView™ Scientific Calculator that is used on the GED mathematics test.

Learning Styles Inventory: A learning styles questionnaire to get more information on how your students learn and how they can improve their study techniques. This is an online-only questionnaire.

Free Online Typing Lessons: Anyone can get free online typing lessons and exercises from this site. It is online only. Note: BE AWARE that the course is navigated from the sidebar on the left. Advise students NOT to click the green START NOW button at the bottom of the text page. It is an advertisement, not a way to start the course. For interested students, improvement of typing skills will improve study skills and job skills and prepare them as more GED learning moves online.

Quia Driver Education Games: quia.com/de/pamain.html This is specifically for Pennsylvania

*Driving Quiz; 20 questions; it will show you which are correct & incorrect as you go along and at the end, it will show your percent correct. You can review all the questions & correct answers; if you start over, you’ll get a new set of questions; The pictures and text on this game are very small.

* Street Signs: This is a matching game. You match the sign with the definition. If you start over, you get a new set of signs & definitions.

2. USA Traffic & Road Signs Test:

http://www.usa-traffic-signs.com/Test_s/50.htm It has 5 parts; each part has 30 questions; When finished, it will show your percent correct and you can review your answers. This is not specifically for PA, but for the US as a whole, but I’ve seen most of them in PA.

3. Free Pennsylvania DMV Practice Tests: www.FreeDmvPracticeTests.com/pa-pennsylvania

*Go to Pick Your Practice Test; Free Practice Tests; PA DMV New to State Drivers; Click here to To Start Permit Test.

*The test has 17 questions; To pass, you must get 80%

Screening Adults For Learning Disabilities: A guide that includes questions that help determine if a student potentially has an un-diagnosed learning disability.

Learning Needs Screening Tool: A printable page to help guide a student through some questions to screen them for potential learning disabilities.

OneStops.info : A helpful guide with great information and guidance for screening adults with learning disabilities.

Adult LD Characteristics Guide: An extremely helpful (and printable!) worksheet designed to determine challenges in specific learning categories, such as reading, math, speech, etc. Also includes some resources for further information.