Hey there! Tanner here, and I’m with Chrissy, my co-editor at Common Sense Education. We’re super excited to share some awesome tools you can find at CommonSense.org/education. Today, we’re going to talk about one of our favorite tools that you might find interesting.
Chrissy has an amazing tool to tell you about, and the best part is, it’s completely free! It’s called Read to Lead. This tool used to have separate game experiences, but now everything is combined into one easy-to-use platform. The main idea is to mix reading with fun simulations, which are like simple point-and-click games. These games are not only entertaining but also help with social-emotional learning (SEL) and exploring different careers.
When you log in, you can choose the grade level that suits you best. While it’s perfect for middle school, it can also work for ninth graders. You can filter the games by reading skills, Lexile range, SEL skills, and even career types, depending on what you want to learn.
Some of the cool experiences you can try include “Vital Signs,” “After the Storm,” and “Community in Crisis.” When you click on one of these, you’ll find resources for teachers, like lesson plans and guides, to help bring the game into the classroom. The scenarios involve making choices and even have translation and audio features to make them accessible to everyone.
As you play, you’ll make decisions and write documents related to the situations in the game, giving you lots of chances to improve your reading and writing skills. Middle school students will love these scenarios because they feel real and include a variety of characters and situations.
The platform has done a great job of bringing these games together into a smooth experience, and there are plenty of resources for teachers. We have reviews of the three main games and an overall review of the platform. What’s unique about these games is that they teach job skills, making it a fun way to explore different careers.
The games have a great tone; they aren’t too silly or childish. Instead, they put you in realistic situations where you can build your literacy skills through practical experiences, much like what you might face in a real job. It’s a fresh and effective way to learn.
Don’t forget to check out all our reviews at CommonSense.org/education. We post new videos every Tuesday, so make sure to watch and share them with your friends. See you next week!
Imagine you’re a game designer for “Read to Lead.” Design a new simulation game that combines reading with a real-world scenario. Write a brief description of the game, including the main characters, setting, and the decisions players will need to make. Share your ideas with the class and discuss how your game could help improve reading and social-emotional skills.
Choose one of the scenarios from “Read to Lead,” such as “Community in Crisis.” In small groups, role-play the characters and situations. Focus on making decisions and writing documents as if you were in the game. This will help you understand the importance of each role and improve your communication and decision-making skills.
Research a career that interests you from the options available in “Read to Lead.” Create a presentation that includes the skills needed for this career, how the game helps develop these skills, and why you find this career appealing. Present your findings to the class to inspire others to explore different career paths.
Select a game from “Read to Lead” and focus on improving a specific reading skill, such as comprehension or vocabulary. Track your progress over a week and share your achievements with the class. Discuss how the game helped you enhance your reading skills and what strategies you used to overcome challenges.
Play one of the games on “Read to Lead” and write a review. Include what you liked, what you learned, and any suggestions for improvement. Share your review with the class and discuss how feedback can help improve educational tools. This activity will enhance your critical thinking and writing skills.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hello, everybody! It’s Tanner here, and I’m joined by my co-editor at Common Sense Education, Chrissy. We’re excited to talk to you about some tools we have available at CommonSense.org/education. Today, we want to highlight some of the newer reviews that might interest you.
Chrissy, what do you have for us today?
Well, Tanner, I have an absolutely free tool to share with you! It’s called Read to Lead. This tool used to feature separate game experiences, but they have now unified them into a more searchable and user-friendly platform. The basic idea is that it combines a reading experience with simulations, which are simple point-and-click scenarios. The added context makes these games engaging and fun. Plus, there are some social-emotional learning (SEL) benefits and potential career exploration opportunities.
Once you log in, you can choose the grade level. I would say middle school is the sweet spot, but it could work for ninth grade as well. You can filter by specific reading skills, Lexile range, SEL competencies, and career types if that aligns with your goals.
To give you a sense of what you might see, there are different experiences available, such as “Vital Signs,” “After the Storm,” and “Community in Crisis.” When you click on one, you’ll find resources for teachers, including lesson plans and educator guides, which help integrate the game into your classroom. The scenarios involve dialogue choices and include translation features for accessibility, as well as audio options.
As the game progresses, players make different choices and write documents relevant to the specific situations, providing various literacy opportunities. I believe middle school students would really engage with these scenarios, as they feel realistic with a diverse set of characters and circumstances.
This platform has curated these games into a cohesive experience, and they’ve done a great job providing resources for educators. We have individual reviews of the three core games and a unified review of the entire platform. The unique aspect of these games is that they incorporate job skills, making it a form of career exploration.
The tone of the games is excellent; they don’t feel overly silly or game-like. Instead, they immerse players in realistic scenarios, allowing them to develop literacy skills through practical experiences, similar to what they might encounter in a job context. It’s a novel approach that I find very effective.
You can check out all of our reviews at CommonSense.org/education. Just a reminder that we come back every Tuesday with new videos, so be sure to watch more and share with your friends. We’ll see you next week!
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This version maintains the key points while ensuring clarity and professionalism.
Reading – The process of looking at and understanding written language – Example sentence: Reading helps students improve their vocabulary and comprehension skills.
Skills – The abilities or expertise needed to do something well – Example sentence: Developing good study skills is essential for success in school.
Games – Activities that are played for fun and often involve rules and objectives – Example sentence: Educational games can make learning more engaging for students.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially in a school or university – Example sentence: Education is important for preparing students for future careers.
Students – Individuals who are studying at a school or other educational institution – Example sentence: Students are encouraged to ask questions to enhance their understanding of the subject.
Careers – Professions or occupations that individuals pursue for a significant period of their lives – Example sentence: Exploring different careers can help students decide what they want to do in the future.
Learning – The acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or teaching – Example sentence: Learning new things can be both challenging and rewarding.
Writing – The activity or skill of composing text – Example sentence: Writing essays helps students organize their thoughts and express their ideas clearly.
Resources – Materials or tools that can be used to help achieve a goal or complete a task – Example sentence: The library provides many resources for students to use in their research projects.
Literacy – The ability to read and write – Example sentence: Literacy is a fundamental skill that is essential for academic success.
