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Educational Design & Technology

Digital Learning Resources

Digital Content Resources - English Language Learners (ELLs) or Multilingual Learners (MLLs)

These resources have not been examined for compliance with the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA)  and Education Law 2-d, therefore schools that choose to utilize any of these resources must ensure compliance where applicable. For more information on Education Law 2-d and data privacy and security in general  please refer to NYSED’s Data Privacy and Security webpage.     

The sites below are provided as options and sources for ideas and inspiration only. The list is also not exhaustive; there are many quality resources and learning activities available online.

  1. Letter from Associate Commissioner – OBEWL, Ms. Elisa Alvarez regarding continuity of learning for English Language Learners during COVID-19 school closures
  2. Resource Collection compiled by OBEWL for English Language Learners and World Language Students, with links to Resources compiled by the NYS RBERNs
  3. ESL/ELL Education: Interactive Websites for Learning(link is external)     
    • A website full of interactive websites that can be used to support ELLs.
  4. Khan Academy(link is external)
    • Accessible in multiple languages
  5. Nearpod(link is external)
    • Scaffolded grade-level learning experiences and language instruction. Free subscriptions offered for COVID-19.
  6. NewsELA(link is external)
    • Web-based resource to support reading in both English and Spanish.
  7. NYPL English Resources: Free ESOL websites(link is external)
    • These general ESOL websites offer many types of activities (grammar, listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, reading, etc.) for language learners of all levels.
  8. PBS LearningMedia: Resources for Emergency Closure – Spanish Edition(link is external) (Grades PreK-12)
    • As teachers, students, and families deal with school closures, PBS LearningMedia producers and educators have come together to curate a special collection of resources organized by grade and subject area. Find videos, lesson plans, and activities that support learning at home. Featured lesson plans in this collection contain full contextualization for the media they include. Plan and adapt our lessons in creative ways, using the Lesson Builder tool, Google Classroom, Remind, and more.
  9. Unite for Literacy(link is external)  (P-5)
    • Read alouds of books and stories. Users can choose the language of both the text and the narration (English or Spanish).
  10. Brainpop ELL(link is external)
    • Movies, quizzes, activities, and games, for English Language Learners of all ages. Curriculum organized in three levels of varying difficulty, each building upon the grammar and vocabulary of the last. 6 units and multiple lessons in each level.
  11. Global Storybooks(link is external) (2-12)
    • Global storybook includes digital stories narrated in fifty available languages, including open-licensed books for over 40 countries and regions on five continents
  12. Learning Chocolate(link is external) (2-12)
    • Online vocabulary building resource for ELLs. Users pick topics and themes and can click on images to hear the word. Topics include such things as colors, numbers, action words, routines, food, months, etc.
  13. Lingo Hut(link is external) (2-12)
    • A free resource for learning a language. Lessons begin with common words and phrases written and pronounced, and grow in difficulty.
  14. Literacy Center(link is external)
    • Pre-reading materials focusing on letters, numbers, shapes, and colors.
    • The materials are available in Spanish, French, German, and English.
  15. The Fable Cottage(link is external)
    • Classic fairy tales and fables told in Stories told in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German.
  16. New York Times English Language Learner My Learning Network(link is external)
    • ​​A plethora of varied texts, podcasts, videos, and lesson plans to engage and instruct ELL/MLL students in reading and writing. Aligned to Common Core.
  17. Common Sense Media(link is external)
    • A site for Spanish-speaking families containing videos, texts, and digital applications instructing children and sharing information for parents.
  18. Languages Other Than English Activities(link is external)
    • ​​Students can practice math and build English vocabulary while referencing their home language. Languages include French, Turkey, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. 
  19. Long Island Regional Bilingual Education Regional Network (L.I. RBERN) Videos(link is external)
    • A collection of professional development videos on how to support distance learning for ELLs