Here are two websites that you may want to try out for yourself and/or have your students use.
1. Google Books... (https://books.google.com/): Google books works just like a search engine would but it focuses on books and magazines. While there is an option available to purchase the resulting materials, there are many texts that are available for online viewing, free of charge. Google Books allows users to narrow searches to limit the output (pick the century of the publication, the type, etc), to store the texts as a whole in a library on virtual bookshelves that can be either private or public, to search of each text for specific content, and to copy selections of text to be added to websites, blogs, or other documents. Our school Google logins work for Google Books.
Here is a great (short too) video that walks you through features of Google Books and offers suggestions on how you can use these features in your classroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyrHFXbeMu8
2. Typically when I use a search engine for research, I encourage students to type "for kids" after the topic. When teens appear insulted by my suggestion, I tell them I even do this for my own research. Why struggle to read a complicated text when I can get the same information in a more efficient, less stressful way?
1. Google Books... (https://books.google.com/): Google books works just like a search engine would but it focuses on books and magazines. While there is an option available to purchase the resulting materials, there are many texts that are available for online viewing, free of charge. Google Books allows users to narrow searches to limit the output (pick the century of the publication, the type, etc), to store the texts as a whole in a library on virtual bookshelves that can be either private or public, to search of each text for specific content, and to copy selections of text to be added to websites, blogs, or other documents. Our school Google logins work for Google Books.
Here is a great (short too) video that walks you through features of Google Books and offers suggestions on how you can use these features in your classroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyrHFXbeMu8
www.youtube.com
How to use Google Books for research. Screenshots of this process are available here http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/10/a-short-guide-to-using-google-b...
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Another option is to use a search engine that offers a reading level index when results are delivered. Choosito is a website I have recently read about that does just this. There is an option to choose a reading level for the results (Early Readers, Emerging Readers, Fluent Readers, or Advanced Readers), as well as the option to narrow the search by a specific area of study. Users must register to search and the basic search features are free. For a yearly fee, teachers can make collections and manage student accounts.
Do you have any great technology tools you are using in your classroom? Please share with your ITRT!
