While there are many resources here in our resource library, it is always helpful to have a resource that can be used for more than one topic. And even though Washtenaw Literacy focuses on reading, writing, and math, our learners’ goals often overlap into other subjects. Resources that are marketed as specific subjects can also be really useful when it comes to reading and writing practice, especially when you are looking for a topic your learner is interested in. Take a look at these three resources, recommended by Program Coordinator Ethan Harig, and see how they might become a useful multi-tool in your tutor toolbox!
The first resource we will highlight this month is Khan Academy. Khan Academy is a nonprofit focused on providing education to anyone for free. On their website, you can find lessons on math, science, social studies, reading, language, computers, and more, all at a variety of skill levels. While this is excellent for learners who might be very independent, tutors can take full advantage of this resource through Educator lessons, which Khan Academy provides to help educators of all kinds utilize the content on their website in a real environment. These lessons also often feature multiple methods to demonstrate ideas, including different ways to visualize concepts for learners who best learn that way. If you find that one of the resources with Khan Academy works for one of your learners, explore the website and see what else they have to offer.
Click here to access Khan Academy.
Our second resources is one that has been featured before when looking at resources for math tutoring, Common Core Sheets. However, this resource delivers on its title and features content that stretches across a number of subjects that could be easily integrated into a literacy tutoring session. For example, this website features nearly 200 readings about various mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and more, each with paired comprehension questions, true or false questions, and assessments on if a phrase is a fact or an opinion. Though math is the most robust subject presented, there are many valuable pages you can print out, like geography maps, customizable spelling lists, or even fun language games to play with your learner.
Click here to access Common Core Sheets.
Finally, we have a resource that focuses on math, but also has other uses. When a learner is interested in using practical math, especially in the kitchen, one of the resources we like to highlight is the Kitchen Math Workbook. While it is certainly useful to practice how to increase the size of a recipe or how to budget for a grocery trip, this workbook also contains a lot of information about nutrition. Health Literacy is also an important aspect of literacy as a whole, and this workbook can also open the door for a learner who wants to learn more about calories, creating a meal plan, and being more mindful about what they like to eat. While there is certainly much more to think about what is right for any one person, the topic of healthy eating may be just what your learner wants to focus on.
Click here to access the Kitchen Math Workbook.