CommonLit is a fully free literacy tool intended for classrooms from 3rd to 12th grade. CommonLit is available on any device with internet access and provides an expanding array of literacy materials, questions, and tools to aid students in enhancing their English Language Arts skills. In summary, CommonLit is extremely easy to use and, as a free resource, provides numerous opportunities for the classroom.
CommonLit is an online literacy platform that offers instruction and assessments aligned with educational curricula for students. Aimed at a wide range of learners from grades 3 through 12, this program addresses various aspects of reading development. It includes a large collection of reading materials across different genres, all available for free.
Designed in accordance with common-core standards, this resource can significantly enhance a teacher’s current collection of tools. CommonLit also provides students with the chance to engage in self-directed learning outside the classroom environment. The interface is simple and easy to navigate, filled with rich content, which makes it an appealing way to encourage students to read. Is CommonLit the right fit for you?
What Is CommonLit?
CommonLit is an online resource designed to enhance literacy skills and support instruction. It offers a wide selection of reading materials and assessment tools that align with Common Core standards. Accessible on various devices, CommonLit features well-organized content presented in a user-friendly format, making it easy for learners of all ages to discover and engage with the materials.
A range of materials is available, including news articles, short stories, poetry, and historical documents. There is also a curated selection of texts organized by various literary or historical periods, making it particularly valuable for educational use. Additionally, multiple language options and voice recognition features are offered to enhance the accessibility of these texts for a wide variety of students.
How Does CommonLit Works?
CommonLit offers several search features, allowing users to explore various categories and a specific section for Themes. You can also narrow your search using criteria such as grade levels, gender focus, lexile range, and more. Moreover, if you have a specific book title in mind, you can search for it directly.
Once you’ve found the item you’re interested in, click on the title to access the introductory page. Here, you can either begin reading right away, use the text-to-speech option, or translate the text into another language. Furthermore, if you want to read offline or save the content for later use, you have the ability to download it as a PDF.
At the top, you’ll find tabs providing extra resources, including guides for teachers and parents, relevant multimedia content, and complementary texts. You can adjust the text size for improved clarity and bookmark items for later access. Additionally, there’s a sharing option, ideal for educators who want to distribute specific materials to the whole class, smaller groups, or individual students.
Written content frequently contains images that are integrated into the text or positioned next to it. These images are usually of a standard size and can be accessed without requiring a fast internet connection or using a lot of data.
CommonLit Best Things
CommonLit offers immediate access to text translations in more than 13 languages, including Spanish, Arabic, and Russian, among others. Each text section conveniently features built-in annotations, allowing students to quickly find word definitions with just a click. Users can also add their own annotations, which is especially helpful for giving tailored guidance or instructions to students.
CommonLit offers various assessments that come with its reading materials, tailored to different skill levels, along with instructions and discussion prompts. The assessments include different types of questions, such as multiple-choice and short-answer formats, aimed at evaluating students’ understanding. Furthermore, there are guiding questions that can be turned on or off, and students must answer these correctly to progress through the content.
Offering supplementary reading materials and associated resources is a great way to deepen understanding of a subject and to give students reading options beyond the classroom. Tools like Google Classroom and Clever make it easy for students to log in. However, many of the more advanced functionalities are included only in their paid premium versions. Further information on this will be provided.
CommonLit Cost
Well, CommonLit offers multiple versions, including a free option and subscription-based premium tiers.
- The Free Membership includes access to the CommonLit Digital Library as well as the full CommonLit 360 Curriculum.
- The Essentials plan, priced at $2,000 per school, includes all the previously mentioned advantages, along with user-friendly webinars, prioritized customer support, integration with ClassLink and Clever for managing rosters, and access to professional development resources whenever required.
- The Essential Pro tier, priced at $3,250 per school, includes all the features previously listed, along with access to the CommonLit Assessment Series, integration with Canvas, and data insights available for administrators.
- Choose the Essential Pro Plus package for $5,500 per school. This package includes biannual virtual personal development and consultancy sessions, along with thorough skills assessments every quarter.
CommonLit Tips & Tricks
Use The Themes
Investigate a key theme within a single lesson or across an entire week, examining topics such as Family, America, Prejudice and Discrimination, and Resilience, among others.
Use Text Set
use the Text Set feature, which offers 50 varied selections categorized by historical period, literary movements, and other criteria, to help organize assignments for students.
Annotate
Motivate students to use the annotation tool to share their thoughts and highlight any questions that need your attention during class, enabling you to offer support.
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Final Words:
In general, I am quite fond of CommonLit. As a resource dedicated to remaining free for both teachers and students, it offers an excellent array of high-quality reading materials, assessments, and analytics. While it would be beneficial to have the ability to add custom questions and to see an increase in feedback options, CommonLit is largely excelling in its endeavors.
