Classroom teachers around the country, eager to keep learning are on the hunt for free online resources for schools.
Well, we have good news: many companies offer teachers free or discounted access to their online learning platforms. We have put together a list of these resources for schools, educators, and administrators to navigate this new education landscape.
A new education landscape is forming and dozens of free online resources for schools are available for educators and administrators.
Whenever you are looking at utilizing a new online learning platform, it’s a good idea to check with your school and/or district to make sure it meets security and confidentiality guidelines. Zoombombing, where uninvited participants interrupt meetings, is prompting many schools and districts to take a closer look at how to protect students’ information. Northwestern University has shared guidelines for their staff to protect their meetings and respond to disturbances that you can apply to your own meetings. Knoji also released this list of tips for Teachers and Parents. If the resources on our list meet confidentiality requirements (FERPA, COPPA, etc.) we have listed that information in the description!
We will continue to monitor and update the resources listed here as new ones become available. Know of a resource we missed? Reach out to us to let us know.
For even more great content, check out our list of offline learning activities!
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Guide to Remote / Distance Learning Music for Students & Teachers
This guide from Octane Seating explores remote vs. distance learning, essential tech, and virtual meeting tools as well as music-specific resources like online games, virtual galleries, choir and symphony performances, and more!
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Children’s LibraryThe International Children’s Digital Library was founded to support the world’s children in becoming effective members of the global community – who exhibit tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, languages and ideas – by making the best in children’s literature available online free of charge. Books are available in Spanish, and you can sort the books by length, age, and topic. Free Services Offered: Free access to books.
How to Use: Visit the website, select a book, and read away!
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Multilingual Reading & Listening ResourcesThis is a collection of free resources for educators and families looking to provide children with opportunities to strengthen their reading and listening skills in multiple languages. Free Services Offered: Free collection of resources
How to Use: Visit the website and click on the tile of the resource you want to access!
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Resource Guide for Spanish Immersion StudentsThis is a blog post from a former Spanish teacher turned bilingual blogger who has curated a list of foreign language resources in reading, writing, speaking, listening and grammar – plus resources for parents who don’t speak Spanish. Free Services Offered: Free list of foreign language resources to help with Bilingual/Spanish education
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The Fable CottageThe Fable Cottage is a website that has a host of bilingual tales for language learners. These stories are available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German. There are 10 stories on the site, and you have the option of listening to the text or watching the video that goes with the story. Free Services Offered: 10 stories available in 5 languages each!
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The Spanish ExperimentThe Spanish Experiment is a website that has well-known children’s stories translated into Spanish and spoken by a native Spanish speaker. You can read along in Spanish or English. The website also contains free online beginner Spanish lessons with audio. Free Services Offered: 5 free stories with audio and text and 15 free beginner Spanish lessons
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SALSA: Spanish for ChildrenSALSA blends puppets, animation, live action, and music to create a unique experience for first-time learners of Spanish language and culture. SALSA spices up learning by creating visually exciting production with funny characters that children can enjoy. SALSA also portrays the rice variety and heritage of Hispanic culture. Free Services Offered: Free access to 42 episodes of the show, standards alignment, and supporting materials.
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Smithsonian Educational ResourcesThe Smithsonian Institution has curated a list of educational resources that are bilingual and in Spanish in the following content areas: Art and Culture, History and Social Studies, and Science and Nature. These resources are available for families, caregivers, teachers, and students. Free Services Offered: Free catalog of Spanish Resources from the Smithsonian Institution
How to Use: Visit the website to view the spreadsheet and click the URL to access the activities!
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Unite for LiteracyUnite for Literacy has developed an online library that provides free access to more than 400 original picture books, one fourth of them written in Spanish. The digital books provide audio narrations in more than 40 languages, spoken by native speakers in warm, expressive voices. Free Services Offered: Free digital books in Spanish with narration.
How to Use: Visit the website, select a book, and start reading!
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TinkerLabFor process art ideas, monthly art challenges, and drawing prompts for your child, you may want to check out Tinkerlab. The website is chock-full of art tutorials and creative experiments geared toward kindergarteners and elementary students.
How to use: Visit the website and search the art activities for inspiration.
