We now have hundreds of e-book and audiobook titles that can be accessed through the Sora reading app from Overdrive. The app is available on smartphones, tablets, and through Class Link on desktops. (If you've borrowed e-books from the public library you may have used the Overdrive or Libby app. Sora is Overdrive's app for schools).
There are many reading activity enhancements that students can do using Sora.
Highlight words or passages and add notes. These notes can be exported from the app to a PDF File to share with the teacher
Look up the definition of an unknown word. These definitions can be exported from the app to a PDF file to share with the teacher.
Dyslexic Font and high contrast displays
Sora also personalized each students' reading achievements by keeping track of reading minutes and badges of achievements.
Attached is an instruction sheet to help you and your students get started. Below are links to quick video tutorials I created to help get you started.
Sora mobile app introduction video (6:07) This video shows how to get started from the app on your mobile device including adding the correct libraries, searching, placing a hold, and borrowing a book.
Sora additional features video (6:44) This video includes how to use accessibility features such as dyslexic font and high contrast, defining words while reading, renewing a book, and returning a book early.
Accessing Sora on a desktop using Class Link (7:51) This video shows how to get started with and access Sora using a computer and Class Link.
Click to open the document below to get you started.
Free stories for kids of all ages. Audible Stories is a free website where kids of all ages can listen to hundreds of Audible audio titles across six different languages—English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Japanese—for free, so they can keep learning, dreaming and just being kids.
TeenBookCloud is an online database of eBooks and educator resources. The collection offers a robust selection of Graphic Novels, Enhanced Novels, eBooks, classic literature, National Geographic videos, educator resources, and audiobooks. The collection is available online around the clock. No downloads, no waiting!
Junior Library Guild is offering a free stream of e-books, both fiction and non-fiction, available while schools are closed. This stream is their Middle School selections.
Junior Library Guild is offering a free stream of e-books, both fiction and non-fiction, available while schools are closed. This stream is their High School selections.
Audio Book Cloud is an online audio book library collection of streaming audio books for schools and libraries.
All Merrimack Middle and High School databases in one place. Passwords - Office 365 Login Required
Looking for non-fiction reads? Free access to ABDO Digital's titles for 5-12 available free through June 2020.