Reviews for ReadWorks
Usage: Connective reading....showing students various writings that are similar.
Strengths: The product is free! It is very easy to navigate the site. in addition, the creators are working hard to make the text interactive and all digital so that it is more manipulative.
Suggestions for Improvement: 1Digital texts (PDF only) 2 Capability of annotation in the actual texts, and 3 tracking of student progress is needed.
Verdict: the main benefit for this program / website is that it has reading texts that are connected two different Lexile levels. In addition, it also provides unit plan and lesson plans that teachers can use that also have various activities and graphic organizers to help promote reading comprehension
Usage: This product I use weekly to generate homework that is at students' reading level yet still focuses on standards.
Strengths: Can narrow search by lexile, genre, and skill. Text type is helpful. Questions are higher level thinking skills.
Suggestions for Improvement: My district doesn't use lexiles so to have some way to convert lexiles into grade level equivalences would be nice. Not sur what the "grade level" function is when it might have a lexile of 900? I'd like to be able to make a folder for pieces I've used or plan to use for different grades/ classes. I need to track what ive assigned and what I havent.
Verdict: Great for differentiating instruction for reading. My class consists of many levels of reading from 1st to 6th grade level. Questions require more depth in responses.
Usage: I use this product to find reading passages that are catered to students' levels, and to assess their reading comprehension.
Strengths: There is a variety of passages, on a variety of subjects, and you can search and browse by Lexile, grade, keyword, and the form of understanding you want the students to have (ie. compare and contrast, close reading, main ideas).
Suggestions for Improvement: More middle school geared passages that are at low lexiles. More fiction.
Verdict: This allows teachers to find passages, and other resources, that match their students' abilities and reading levels.
Usage: This has everything to plan a great lesson with all materials included for a success ful unit
Strengths: This prodduct takes the searchung out of lesson planning materials. I would imagine that it will save precious time
Suggestions for Improvement: It could be more . I really didnt find much wrong or lacking with this product from what I saw so far. It is a great product as far as I can see.
Verdict: Well. Anything that can aid in planning and implwment engaging curriculum is what we as teachers are salivating for
Usage: At this time I am just copying the passages to teach annotations.
Strengths: I like the variety of non fiction passages. And the Lexie levels to help focus the passages for students.
Suggestions for Improvement: Combine it with annotation ability when it goes on line. Enable teacher to compile data on types of questions missed. Enable teacher to easily find other passages with this question.
Verdict: It seems like just worksheets at this time. I understand it will be going online.