Elementary School
ProQuest SIRS Discover- This database is easy to navigate and provides an abundance of high-interest resources. The tools such as text to speech, citation generator, pictures, videos, and teacher resources align with content standards. Students can use the search bar to type in exactly what they are looking for or use the photos on the home page to help direct their search. Full Nonfiction books are also available on SIRS Discover.
Culture Grams-
Learn 360- This database is easy to navigate and locate the resources students and teachers are looking for. The search bar lets the user type in the topic, or you can look at the topics listed and select one. Resources come in multiple formats such as videos, news clips, read-to-me options, images, STEM lessons, maps and flags, and games that align with the content.
Pebble Go- Pebble Go is an online database that is targeted towards students in grades K through third. The home page makes it easy to select what subject area students want to research, or they can type it in the search bar. The tools differentiate the delivery of information with the text-to-speech option and videos on the content. Pebble Go also reviews vocabulary on each topic, as well as actual images.
Pebble Go Next- Pebble Go Next is an online database that is targeted towards students in grades three through six. The home page makes it easy to select what subject area students want to research, or they can type it in the search bar. The tools differentiate the delivery of information with the text-to-speech option and videos on the content. Pebble Go Next also reviews vocabulary on each topic, as well as actual images.
The World Almanac For Kids- This database is easy to navigate with the search bar or selecting one of the categories listed with the picture. Each resource is clear of distractions, easy to read, and gets right to the point. The teacher resource this database provides align with topics in the database. The resources range from handouts, activity ideas, topic alignments, and quizzes.
World Book Online- World Book Online is broken up into different sections. The home page lets one select what level or information type they are looking for. Each age range has a differentiated home page. Primary students have pictures to help guide their selections, intermediate has a mixture one pictures and topic choices, and secondary has a search bar. The information is provided in multiple formats such as a read to me option, videos, related sites, and other search tools.
Kids Discover- Discovery Kids Online provides access to award-winning science and social studies articles that align with content standards. This resource is easy to navigate and comes with text-to-speech options. The search menu allows one to tailor their search to find the article that fits their exact needs or use the topic bubbles to select what they are looking for. Teachers can also use the online quiz option to assess students' comprehension.
EdSitement- This site provides an abundance of supplemental materials on topics that are targeted towards humanities. Teachers can select different ways to incorporate the information into their lessons or choose from already curated lessons. Students also have the option to explore the content on their own.
Gale In Context Elementary- The home page provides photos and words to help guide students. Students do not need to have a topic in mind before they search; this site offers an “I wonder” question on the home page to help guide students as they research. The multiple different tools help support all learners and make differentiation for teachers easy. The educators' resource link at the bottom of the home page provides educators with ideas for incorporating the resources into lessons. The use of different text features throughout this site helps students locate information easier.
Gale Books and Authors- This site can help promote new books or help its users locate titles they may be interested in. The read a likes option enables the user to see what other books are similar to the ones they like. The filtering tools help narrow down the age group for the user and the genre they are interested in reading. This site also displays reviews for each book. Weaknesses: Does not allow multiple ways to differentiate. Primary students will need support when navigating through.
Mango Languages- The site allows the user to choose from one of the 71 language courses. They will then follow the self-paced unit that works on conversational language, pronunciation practice, grammatical rules, and semantic patterns. Multiple different tools are incorporated throughout the lessons to help differentiate the instruction. This resource can help support students who do not know English or are identified as English Language learners.
Middle School
Gale OneFile Popular Magazines- This site currently contains 52,614,038 articles alone. This does not include multiple different videos, images, and books. This site is a great tool to connect with student interest and content standards. The user can download full-text articles that support their research. Weakness: If the user is looking for a particular magazine, they may struggle with finding it. It would be nice if images on the home page for each of the different magazines could be found on this resource.
Gale OneFile Communications and Mass Media-This site allows the users to gather information on current events, journalism, and literature. They will have access to multiple resources such as academic journals, magazines, essential overviews, books, news, images, videos, and audio recordings. This resource provides different ways of sharing information such as google drive, downloading, OneDrive, email, and printing. Students will be able to explore other points of view on the same topic and first and second points of view.
Novelist-NoveList is a database that works with all types of learners. NoveList K-8 provides resources to help students find the perfect book for them. NoveList Core Collection helps provide resources for librarians and gives tips on how to create the perfect library collection. This database also provides professional development options. The information this site contains is shared through News, Articles, and Events.
Gale In Context Middle School-This site's home page provides a mix of picture clues and words that help guide student research. Students could also use the browse topics feature to explore the issues that are covered with this resource. This site has multiple different tools that support differentiation in the classroom and provide curriculum standard alignment options. Topics can be browsed by date or topic name. This resource offers various ways of sharing information such as google drive, downloading, OneDrive, email, and printing. Another fantastic feature is it provides citations tools in multiple different formats.
Gale OneFile Pop Culture Studies-This site is full of resources that secondary students will be interested in. Researchers will need to know what information they would like to learn more about, but the different formats make it easily assessable. Suppose teachers are using pop culture as a research topic that will engage student interests. In that case, this resource provides multiple resources such as academic journals, magazines, essential overviews, books, news, images, videos, and audio recordings. This resource offers different ways of sharing information such as google drive, downloading, OneDrive, email, and printing. Weaknesses- Not all topics have a variety of ways to deliver information.
High School
Gale In Context High School- This site has multiple different tools that support differentiation in the classroom and provide curriculum standard alignment options. The home page offers topic suggestions relevant to students in high school. Photos that are provided connect with student interests also. Topics can be browsed by date or topic name. This resource offers different ways of sharing information such as google drive, downloading, OneDrive, email, and printing. Another fantastic feature is it provides citations tools in multiple other formats.
Gale Academic OneFile Select-Users can use the search bar to narrow down information on a given topic. Students will have access to multiple resources such as academic journals, magazines, essential overviews, books, news, images, videos, and audio recordings. This resource provides different ways of sharing information such as google drive, downloading, OneDrive, email, and printing. Another fantastic feature is it gives citations tools in multiple other formats. Weakness- To use this resource most effectively, the user should know what they need to research before using the tool.
Gale OneFile World History- This site contains 444,562 articles and is updated every day. Users can type in any country or event over time, and they will have access to magazines, academic journals, books, news, images, and videos. The topic finder tool guides students as they narrow down their search to exactly what information they need. Weakness- Users must have an idea about what they are researching; it would be helpful to have some buttons on the home page categorized by topic.
Gale OneFile Diversity Studies- Students and teachers using this site should have an idea of what they are looking for when using it as a research tool. Students will have access to multiple resources such as academic journals, magazines, essential overviews, books, news, images, videos, and audio recordings. This resource provides different ways of sharing information such as google drive, downloading, OneDrive, email, and printing. Another fantastic feature is it gives citations tools in multiple other formats. Teachers can use this site to gather research about different heritages to connect with students from different cultures. Weaknesses: Does not have a topic list to choose from; younger students will not navigate through this site; however elementary teachers will.
Gale OneFile News- This resource allows its users to search worldwide news throughout history. The information provided is from diverse perspectives and first-person points of view from those who experienced particular events throughout history. Users will have access to multiple resources such as academic journals, magazines, essential overviews, books, news, images, videos, and audio recordings. This resource provides different ways of sharing information such as google drive, downloading, OneDrive, email, and printing. Weaknesses- Younger students will not be able to use this resource it is too advanced.
Gale OneFile Vocations and Careers- Users can use this resource to gather information on any career type. The site currently has 8,396,275 articles alone. Students will have access to multiple resources such as academic journals, magazines, essential overviews, books, news, images, videos, and audio recordings. This resource provides different ways of sharing information such as google drive, downloading, OneDrive, email, and printing. Weakness- To use this resource most effectively, the user should know what they need to research before using the tool. Adding career topics to the home page would help add differentiation to this site for lower-level students.
Gale OneFile Science- This site currently contains 3,930,869 resources in articles alone. This resource is a great tool to support classroom instruction. It provides multiple ways to deliver information, including academic journals, magazines, essential overviews, books, news, images, videos, and audio recordings. Weaknesses- Only contain science information; students may need assistance while searching for the information they need.
For more information check out my Reference Assessment Database Curation