Resources for Learning at Home During COVID-19

School may be paused for the time being, but that doesn't mean education should be too. Continuing to learn during this time is more important than ever. There are lots of free resources available online to help make that possible. We've rounded up a few of our favorite here, including educational websites, apps, and online storytimes.

Metro Nashville Public Schools released a super list of helpful resources for learning at home including access to digital tools that are frequently used in MNPS classrooms.

Check out a few more of our favorites below!

Read Alouds Online: 

  • Oh, The Books We'll Read - Books read to Nashville's kids read by our very own community members!
  • Book'em Facebook Live Read Alouds - Every Monday and Wednesday at 5pm CT on the Book'em Facebook page
  • StorylineOnline - SAG-AFTRA foundation’s video collection of children’s books read by celebrities
  • Goodnight with Dolly - special 10-week series of Imagination Library stories read weekly by Dolly Parton (begins April 2)
  • Authors Everywhere! YouTube channel - read alouds, supplementary activities, and workshops from authors and illustrators
  • Kate Messner - compilation of videos of authors and illustrators reading their books aloud along with how-tos, lessons, and supplementary content to their stories
  • The Spanish Experiment - classic children’s stories read aloud in Spanish 
  • Audible - stream stories & audiobooks in 6 languages; free while schools are closed for COVID-19
  • HarperKids - Storytime Read Aloud YouTube playlist
  • Story Time 2 Pass the Time - Franklin, TN based elementary librarian reading stories aloud through this Facebook group while schools are closed for COVID-19 (must join the private group to participate in order to comply with copyright laws)
  • CBC Books - Canadian authors reading their books aloud

Check out Nashville Public Library’s list of live author storytime events (and apply for a digital access library card while you’re at it to get access to NPL’s extensive online catalog for free).

Free Phone Apps - Literacy & Learning Related

  • RIF Literacy Central App - app version of RIF’s extensive book resource collection. Scan a book’s barcode from the app to bring up related resources or track reading in a Reading Log!
  • PBS Kids Video App - on-demand educational videos + live stream of the PBS Kids 24/7 channel
    • Starting April 6, PBS stations in Tennessee will begin streaming high-quality educational content from 10:00-noon daily, as well as 4 hours overnight that can be recorded.
  • PBS Kids Games App - educational games for kids ages 2-8
  • Khan Academy Kids - educational games for kids ages 2-7

 

Online Learning & Literacy Resources

  • Homework Hotline - free one-on-one tutoring for students in Tennessee (K-12); Monday-Thursday, 2:00-6:00 pm
  • RIF Literacy Central - digital library of over 10,000 book resources for parents, educators, & volunteers
  • Scholastic Learn at Home - Day-by-day learning experiences for kids in preschool through 9th grade
  • PBS Kids - educational games & activities
  • PBS LearningMedia - preschool-12th grade resources covering various subjects
  • First Book - downloadable Learn from Home Resources and activities for preschool-8th grade (English & Spanish)
  • Wide Open School - curated collection of high-quality resources for educators and families, including daily schedules for pre-k-12th grade, virtual classroom setup, and resources for ELL and kids with special needs
  • Time for Kids - digital library free for the rest of the school year (K-6th grade)
  • Khan Academy - pre-made daily schedules for preschool-12th grade home learning with links to their lessons, other resources, and free apps
  • Unite for Literacy - hear short nonfiction books narrated in multiple languages including Spanish, Arabic, Burmese, and more
  • Camp Wonderopolis - “interactive STEM and literacy-building topics boosted by Maker projects”
  • We Are Teachers - list of 130+ additional resources for online learning

Authors offering special resources online: 

  • Mo Willems’ Lunch Doodles - doodle, write, or make something new every weekday with the bestselling author and illustrator of the Elephant & Piggie and Pigeon
  • Jessica Young - resources and activity sheets to supplement the Nashville based author’s books (A Wish is a Seed, My Blue is Happy, the Haggis & Tank series, and more), plus instructions for making your own Reading Fort!
  • Laurie Halse Anderson - Use hashtag #QuarantRead on social media to participate in the author’s virtual book club or ask questions about her books (Speak, Shout, Fever 1793)

Check out First Book’s list of KidLit author live events for more lessons, activities, and storytimes with well-known authors and illustrators.

 

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