35 TOOLS

Elementary School Reading Apps and Websites

Looking for the best reading apps and websites for your elementary schoolers? These tools get kids enthusiastic about reading by helping them explore their passions as they build literacy. Whether they're analyzing leveled news stories, finding books online and connecting to other readers, or taking assessments and monitoring their growth, students will be developing much-needed skills for comprehension and fluency. These top reading apps and websites offer content perfectly tuned to what elementary school-age students need so that they can develop into expert readers with a love of the written word.

Connect Students with Other Readers

Bookopolis

Cute social network lets kids log books and connect with other readers

Bottom Line: Kids-only social network gives students a safe space to connect, allows students to showcase and share their reading progress.

Grades: 1–8
Price:
Free

Biblionasium

Site for reviewing and sharing books makes reading a social adventure

Bottom Line: This safe, simple social network lets kids share their reading success with friends, creating healthy competition and confidence.

Grades: 2–8
Price:
Free, Paid

Harry Potter Reading Club

The fun and fantasy of Harry's world plus literary discussion

Bottom Line: With activities, discussion questions, and lots of free access to the books, this site is a great place for Harry Potter fans new and old.

Grades: 3–7
Price:
Free

LitPick

YA review site gives students a real-world, although ad-driven, outlet

Bottom Line: LitPick is a decent place for YA lovers to discover and discuss books, but the site is in need of a refresh and features a lot of promotion/ads.

Grades: 4–12
Price:
Free

Explore Current Events

Kid Scoop

News magazine features standards-aligned activity packs for kids

Bottom Line: The print version of the magazine, or a printed-out digital version, offers a nice -- if rather typical -- collection of activities.

Grades: K–5
Price:
Free, Paid

News-O-Matic

Daily news stories and supplements keep elementary schoolers current

Bottom Line: This highly useful current events platform can be a daily fixture of elementary school classrooms.

Grades: K–8
Price:
Free to try, Paid

News2you

Weekly newspaper makes current events accessible to all

Bottom Line: This a pricey tool but it's packed with a school year's worth of content and handy accessibility features.

Grades: 2–8
Price:
Paid

Newsela

Great stories, just-right leveled reading; now mostly by subscription

Bottom Line: While pricey, Newsela has ascended into an all-in-one destination for leveled, non-fiction reading.

Grades: 2–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Target Reading Comprehension and Fluency

HOMER: Fun Learning for Kids

Early learners explore fun activities to gain literacy skills and more

Bottom Line: Top-notch phonics program effectively coaches students, but lacks some standard features useful for the classroom.

Grades: Pre-K–2
Price:
Free to try

StoryWorld

ELL-friendly reading program gives students support, independence

Bottom Line: This is a good specialized program for small-group instruction, especially for ELLs, with a great teacher dashboard and a pedagogical approach informed by research.

Grades: Pre-K–2
Price:
Free to try

Teach Your Monster: Reading for Fun

Explore a village, earn books; sometimes more gaming than reading

Bottom Line: Fun and whimsical world can get kids excited about reading stories.

Grades: Pre-K–2
Price:
Free

Lexia Core5 Reading

Blended reading program offers individualized growth

Bottom Line: This is a research-backed blended reading platform that builds literacy skills and helps teachers plan and deliver targeted instruction in the classroom.

Grades: Pre-K–5
Price:
Paid

Raz-Kids

Leveled readings with progress-tracking enhances differentiated reading program

Bottom Line: It's worth considering as a supplement to your reading program thanks to the book variety, assigning and assessing, and progress reports.

Grades: Pre-K–5
Price:
Free to try

Reading Eggs

Robust reading program has individualized learning, teacher resources

Bottom Line: Presentation can sometimes be a bit outdated, but Reading Eggs remains a comprehensive destination for teaching phonics and reading.

Grades: K–6
Price:
Free to try

Bookshare

Unique digital library gives access to those with print disabilities

Bottom Line: This fantastic digital library service provides a powerful sense of independence for students.

Grades: Pre-K–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Lalilo

K–2 literacy program offers comprehensive, adaptive activities

Bottom Line: An easy-to-recommend tool thanks to its broad coverage of key skills and nice balance of student-driven and teacher-differentiated learning.

Grades: K–3
Price:
Free, Paid

Skybrary for School

Thorough lesson plans help teachers utilize an amazing digital library

Bottom Line: Though it could use some updates, Skybrary for School has a set of top-quality resources with great value worth checking out.

Grades: K–3
Price:
Free to try

Headsprout

Detailed, adaptive literacy program goes from basics to analysis

Bottom Line: This is a comprehensive resource that's worth a look for teachers needing help getting students to actively engage with reading material.

Grades: K–5
Price:
Free to try

ReadingIQ

Great looking, free library has a reasonable diversity of titles

Bottom Line: This is a reading app that focuses successfully on the reading; don't expect many bells and whistles though.

Grades: K–5
Price:
Free

Epic! - Kids' Books and Videos

Free, expansive digital library unlocks treasure trove of books

Bottom Line: This large collection of books and videos on a wide variety of topics is an easy -- and free -- enhancement to any classroom library.

Grades: K–5
Price:
Free, Free to try

Literably

Simple and useful reading fluency assessment tool frees up teacher time

Bottom Line: Some districts may find this to be a cost-effective, time-saving option for reading records.

Grades: K–7
Price:
Paid

Learning Ally Audiobooks

Digital library offers handy supports for readers

Bottom Line: A great option for students needing support, and, while the library is smaller, the narration is a serious upgrade.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free

Read&Write

Useful text-to-speech extension unlocks the written word

Bottom Line: This handy set of accessibility tools helps students get the access they need when they need it, promoting independence and building confidence.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free, Free to try

ReadTheory

Useful if not exciting adaptive tool for assessing reading ability

Bottom Line: It's very utilitarian, but what it does it does well: getting students test-ready by effectively assessing and tracking reading ability.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free

LightSail

Powerful, flexible reading tool measures meaningful literacy gains

Bottom Line: A powerful literacy platform for developing and empowering readers, with useful customization features for both teachers and students.

Grades: 1–12
Price:
Free to try

RocketLit

Leveled history and science articles easy to assign, come with quizzes

Bottom Line: If teachers find topics that fit their curriculum, this easy-to-use collection works best in elementary and middle school classrooms.

Grades: 3–8
Price:
Free to try

Accelerated Reader

Boundless, flexible tools promote instructional, independent reading

Bottom Line: A stellar literacy platform for assessing student reading levels and promoting further reading.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Paid

Rewordify

Text-leveling tool gives every student access to complex readings

Bottom Line: This utilitarian differentiation tool is useful enough to be in every teacher's toolbox.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Free

StudySync

Superb ELA resource features engaging activities, stellar support

Bottom Line: An exceptional, ever-growing resource for helping your students become close readers, careful writers, and critical thinkers.

Grades: 6–12
Price:
Free to try

ThinkCERCA

Structured literacy program inspires deep analysis, thoughtful writing

Bottom Line: This is an expertly scaffolded and pedagogically sound resource for developing critical reading and writing skills.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Paid

Whooo's Reading

Read, write, and share with innovative independent reading platform

Bottom Line: With a few thoughtful tweaks on the part of teachers, this can be a useful tool for building a classroom culture of active independent reading.

Grades: 4–8
Price:
Free, Paid

Find Lesson Plans, Activities, and Resources

ReadWriteThink

Free hub for literacy lessons aims to deepen learning, engagement

Bottom Line: This is a trustworthy site that teachers of all grades/subjects could find a way to use weekly for lessons or professional development.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free

Reading A-Z

Package of leveled texts and supports can fuel reading development

Bottom Line: Reading A-Z offers much of what teachers need to support tried-and-true instructional strategies, but the pricier packages add in digital reading experiences.

Grades: K–5
Price:
Free to try

ReadWorks

Differentiate reading instruction with high-quality texts and lessons

Bottom Line: The quality and scope of texts, lesson plans, assessments, and supports on this platform can help facilitate online or offline targeted reading instruction in nearly any home or classroom.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free

TeachingBooks.net

Comprehensive site collects resources on authors and books in one place

Bottom Line: This rich database of literary resources is a must-bookmark for teachers looking to extend learning experiences with books and their authors.

Grades: Pre-K–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Related Content

Resource
Student Worksheet: 5 Questions Students Should Ask About Media
Video
5 Essential Media Literacy Questions for Kids
Article
Tech-Inspired Ideas for Students' Summer Reading
Curated List
Websites for Reading, Literacy, and Math Games
Curated List
Resources for Close Reading and Literary Analysis Lessons
Curated List
Digital Tools for School Libraries and Media Centers