Learn how to use ReadWorks digital supports to differentiate instruction and provide scaffolds for all of your students to tackle grade-level work. Multiple research studies have shown the positive impact of differentiating with ReadWorks, from students engaging with more challenging reading passages when they use our digital supports (2020 Digital Promise study) to students completing more assignments and doing better on them when assignments are individualized (2022 NYU Stern study).

​Creating student groups in a digital class can make differentiating assignments even easier. A teacher can create different groups based on specific instructional goals and easily move students from group to group. There is no limit to the number of groups a teacher can make.

• See how to create groups 

research says

Grouping students by ability for reading instruction has been shown to have a positive effect on reading achievement as long as:

• Groups are formed and reformed regularly by careful student placement based on evidence of skill level in the specific skill being taught.
• The materials and instructional plans are substantively and substantially adapted for the differing needs.

Grouping students of differing skill levels has been shown to academically benefit both low- and high-skilled learners.

• One effective way to do this is around student interest, which also increases motivation.

 

While all of ReadWorks texts have text-to-speech, many have human-voice audio as an option for students to hear a text read aloud by a fluent reader.  A teacher can assign audio to their whole class, groups of students, or individual students. Then students can choose whether or not they use the human-voice audio.

With both text-to-speech and human-voice audio options, students can choose the playback speed, opting to slow down or speed up the audio.

• See how to turn on audio
• See how students can adjust the playback speed of the audio
• Find texts with human-voice audio

research says

Listening to texts read with prosody models fluent reading and also allows students to try a text that is more challenging than their independent reading skills.

You can also provide audio to help your students read more challenging texts. A study found that students engaged with more challenging reading passages when they used ReadWorks digital support tools, including audio, than when they didn’t. Read more.

 

For Article-A-Day assignments and the Reading Mindset Snapshot, a teacher can turn on ELL and Extra Supports in Class Admin, and individual students will always receive: 

• The directions for Article-A-Day translated and read aloud by a fluent reader in the language you set for them (including English) and sentence frames in the Book of Knowledge.
• The Reading Mindset Snapshot translated and read aloud by a fluent reader in the language you set for them (including English).​
• English audio versions of every text.

See how to turn on ELL and Extra Support features for Article-A-Day

 

Student Tools

These tools are always available for students to use and can be accessed in the student toolbar. 

Distraction free allows students to expand the text, removing the clutter from their screen to focus on the text and questions. This is especially useful for students who are using a smaller screen to access ReadWorks.

​Text magnification allows students to enlarge text. There are three text size options, which can be especially beneficial for students with visual needs.

​Split screen makes it easy for students to read and answer questions side-by-side. By clicking the split screen button, students can focus more on digging into the text and less on trying to remember what they read.

​The guided reading strip helps students track and focus on one line of text at a time. Students can choose if and when they want to use the guided reading strip.

Paragraph numbers can be added for students and teachers to refer back to a specific paragraph when answering questions or citing evidence.

Use these tools to help your students read more challenging texts! A study found that students engaged with more challenging reading passages when they used our digital support tools than when they didn’t. Read more.

Lastly, as a digital tool to improve access to ReadWorks content, offline mode makes it possible for students to download their ReadWorks assignments when they are connected to WiFi, like at school or a library, and then complete their assignments at home, regardless of access to the internet. See more here.

Student Tutorial

Share this video with your students so they can learn all about using these digital tools.

create a digital class