CommonLit: A Guide For Teacher & Student!

Websites have become a powerful tool that over a period of time has significantly enhanced the teaching and learning process. It has led to improved communication and enhanced student engagement. There are many such platforms available, each offering different and unique features. One among them is CommonLit. I shall be telling you more about it in this article. If you want to know, stay connected to know in detail. 

Different online gaming cum educational programs offer different types of features. Such platforms are quite helpful for the students and help them to nurture their skills. They make learning easy, accessible, and effective as most of these programs are based on the principle of learning while you play. 

What is CommonLit? What are the features it offers? These are some of the questions, I shall be answering in this article,  stay around to know more. 

What is CommonLit?

CommonLit is a website that provides educational resources to help students improve their reading skills. It is a free resource for both teachers and students. However, there is also a paid premium version that offers additional features, such as benchmark assessments and a full-year ELA curriculum. In short, it is a literary platform that has something to offer for both the teachers and the students. 

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What Are the Features of CommonLit?

A Platform is known by the type of feature it offers to its users. Different programs offer different features that make them unique and distinctive from the rest. The features of CommonLit can be summed up under the following headings. 

1. A large Library of Reading Passages

CommonLit has a huge library of reading passages in both English and Spanish language. You can find the reading material on a variety of topics and for different reading levels. Students from grades 3 to 12 can get enough material from this platform. 

2. Comprehension Quizzes

It features assessment tools that measure reading comprehension. They are free assessments and also more comprehensive ones that are part of their paid program. These comprehension quizzes are quite helpful in elevating your reading and comprehension skills. 

3. Vocabulary Instruction

CommonLit has a number of passages that include built-in vocabulary support which is quite helpful for the students to understand new words. Students can even highlight text and make notes while reading. 

4. Multiple Choice Quizzes

After reading the passage, students can take quizzes to test their comprehension. These quizzes are automatically graded and provide feedback. This helps the students to assess their performance and improve their comprehension of skulls. 

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CommonLit Beyond the Website

CommonLit is not restricted and is accessible on the website only. It is available on other platforms as well. It has an app available for mobile and tablet users, Google Classroom integration, and a YouTube channel as well  Here are some of the platforms, where you can find the material provided on this learning program.

1. Mobile App: Students have the option to access the CommonLit resources on the go using their Phones or Tablets. You can download the CommonLit app, which is available for Android and iOS users. 

2. Google Classroom Integration: It allows the users to easily assign the CommonLit material to the students and track the progress of their students with Googleroom. 

3. YouTube Channel: YouTube CommonLit Inc. is the YouTube platform where you can access its videos with tutorials and introductions to their various features. 

Who Can Use CommonLit? 

Teachers, Students, and Parents can use this platform and it can be used and supplemented for teaching and learning methods. Here is how you can you can use it. 

1. Teachers: If you are a teacher who is looking for engaging reading materials, assessments, and a comprehensive curriculum, CommonLit is a platform that you can opt for. It can be of great help. 

2. Students: Students from grades 3 to 12 can find challenging and interesting reading passages on CommonLit. As a student, you can sit back at home and practice passages on your device while sitting back at home. 

3. Parents: As a parent, you can use it to supplement your child’s reading practice at home. It at the same time can be used to track the progress and identify the areas of improvement. 

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What Are the Drawbacks of CommonLit? 

Having said that, CommonLit is not devoid of drawbacks or demerits. It has certain downsides. Here are some of the points that need to be taken into account. 

1. Culturally Focused Material 

A chunk of the material available on CommonLit is text-based in American culture. This material for a reason might not be viable for students from other backgrounds as they may find it hard to connect with the said text. 

2. Teacher & Parent Setup

Students can not use it separately. In order to gain access to it, they have to rely on teachers or parents to set up and assign lessons. This therefore limits the student’s choice. Student can use this platform out of their free will. 

3. Limited Free Features

It offers access to limited free features. The free version offers access to a substantial library. Whereas, valuable features like performance data and a full curriculum are part of a paid program. 

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My Take on CommonLit 

CommonLit boasts a massive library and assessment tools, but its content lacks global appeal. Most of the text of most of the content is based in American culture and therefore is devoid of the global implications. Free features are good but an in-depth curriculum requires a paid subscription. While quizzes test comprehension, fostering a love for reading might require additional strategies. Ultimately CommonLit can be a valuable tool for teachers, students, and parents, but its effectiveness depends on how it is used and supplemented. 

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Wrapping Up

CommonLit offers you a wealth of reading resources and assessments. It is a dream program for those who love reading text. The free version is robust however, the advanced and in-depth features come at a cost. The good thing is that it has something to offer to everyone, be that student, parent, or teacher. 

I hope you will find this article of some help. In case, something is missing, you can let us know by writing in the comments section. We appreciate your valuable feedback. You can visit our website for more content like this. 

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