Resources

Curriculum Resources

Additional resources for the Challenger and Laubach curricula can be found on the Current Tutors page. Free pintables are available for select items. Please contact OC Read for further assistance with supplemental materials.

OC Read Literacy Collection

In-House Collection

OC Read's main office houses a curated collection of adult hi-lo (high interest/low complexity) books, adult new reader books, and workbooks, among various other print resources. Enrolled learners and OC Read tutors are encouraged to contact the office for additional information about available titles.

Circulating Collection

More than 500 adult literacy books are available through the OC Public Libraries circulating collection! That means they can be searched, checked out, requested, or reserved just like any other book in the library. To find books in the circulating literacy collection, go to the OCPL catalog and search for OC Read in the search field to browse. Narrow your search by using the Limit Search Results function on the left-hand side.

Reading & Writing

Adult New Reader Project

This collection has 107 high interest, low-level books, written for adult learners reading at levels 1 and 2 on the Fry Index. Each book has pre- and post-reading and writing activities for tutors and learners to explore together. These books are free to use online.

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The Change Agent

The Change Agent is a biannual magazine with articles written by adult literacy learners.
Username: CLLS / Password: CLLS
*Password good through Dec 2022
Tutors, for more about how to build lessons from this resource, visit Lesson Packets and Teaching Tips

CommonLit

CommonLit’s library includes online books and short stories that can be filtered by genre, grade levels 3-12, and theme. Activities are included with each story and range from guiding questions, assessment questions, and discussion prompts. No account is needed to use CommonLit.

News for You

News for You is a weekly newspaper for adult literacy students. Each article includes the option for audio playback and a weekly teacher’s guide with access to exercises, vocabulary, a crossword puzzle, and a word search. Ask OC Read staff for the website password.

OC Read's Adult Learner OverDrive Collection

A collection of ebooks written specifically for adult learners. Titles can be borrowed using your OC Public Libraries library card.

Purdue OWL Writing Lab

The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and provided for free. Users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects.

Rewordify

Rewordify is an online tool that simplifies English sentences into more easy-to-understand text. Learners can input entire chapters or web page URLs. Words that have been simplified are highlighted in yellow. Rewordify is free to use without creating an account.

Southwest ABE: Reading Skills for Today’s Adults

Southwest ABE is a database of short readings organized by reading level. It includes reading comprehension questions for each passage, options for audio playback at different speeds, and a timer for fluency practice.

Career & Job Readiness

Career Online High School

Ready to take that next step? It’s never too late to graduate! OC Public Libraries offers individuals the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma through Career Online High School.

Occupational Outlook Handbook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a publication of the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. It includes information about hundreds of different occupations in the U.S., including required training, education, and earnings.

Job Seeker Toolkit

Tips and resources to help you in all steps of the job seeking process.

Job Seeker Resources

Locations of One-Stop Centers, Veterans Reemployment Office, Joint Forces Training Base and Workforce Centers in Orange County. Check out the Events page for information about the Mobile Unit.

Proliteracy Workforce Atlas

Proliteracy Workforce Atlas provides a series of self-tests on literacy, numeracy, and workplace skills to direct learners to recommended occupations, online resources, and local providers that can help them achieve their professional goals. Sign up for a free account to access assessments.

Computers & Technology

GCFLearnFree.org - Digital Literacy

GCFLearnFree.org offers free, online tutorials and activities to improve your digital skills. This includes typing, Microsoft Office programs, Google Suite, searching the internet, using computers, and more.

Mousing Around

This tutorial provides beginning mouse-users with step-by-step learning and practice.

TypingClub

TypingClub is a free, online game to learn how to type. Keep practicing each lesson until you get all five stars. It really doesn't take much to learn, a few minutes a day for one to two weeks and you will be a pro!

Videos

The Change Agent Teaching Tips

These 7- to 15-minute video clips will help you teach standards-based skills, such as finding the main idea and teaching mechanics in writing, using The Change Agent.

Tutor Ready Reading

Tutor Ready Reading videos demonstrate reading strategies in the areas of four components of reading: alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Tutor Ready Writing

Tutor Ready Writing videos focus on the writing process, pre-writing, getting ideas on the page, writing for everyday purposes, working on mechanics like grammar and spelling, responding to writing, editing, revising, assessing writing progress, and using learner-generated texts.

Worksheets & Games

Freerice.com

Freerice is an educational trivia game that helps you learn new words while making a difference for people around the world. Freerice is perfect for learners who want to work on their vocabulary.

Merriam Webster Word Games

Merriam Webster offers word games and quizzes that can help learners practice their vocabulary and spelling.

Puzzlemaker

Puzzlemaker by Discovery Education, is a puzzle generation tool with the ability to create and print customized word searches and crosswords using your own word lists.

Quizlet

Quizlet offers both user-generated and customizable flashcards and games on a variety of subjects. Flashcard sets can be used to test vocabulary, writing, spelling, multiple choice tests and games using those words. Flashcards can be shared via email or text.

Teachers Pay Teachers

Teachers Pay Teachers is an online marketplace for PreK-12 resources, powered by a community of educators. Find free resources by searching for your desired topic and choosing "Free" under the Price filter.

Teach Your Monster to Read

Teach Your Monster to Read is a fun, interactive game for anyone who wants to practice their letters, sounds, and reading full sentences. The computer version is free. Learners must sign up for an account to play. Check out the Classroom Toolkit for more phonics and reading resources!

Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary.com is a multimedia online dictionary that includes adaptive learning games and activities that improves vocabulary by focusing on comprehension and review, not memorization. Definitions are learner friendly. Sign up for a free account.