A lot of classrooms here in the US are lacking when it comes to technology. This is not to say that school budgets should be increased. However these days it is possible to find free classroom websites that teachers can use in order to get their students away from reading textbooks and trying other fun alternatives.
The classroom is the best place kids learn. The school’s task is to provide all the necessary conditions for learning. However, it does not matter how good the conditions are if teachers lack the necessary textbooks, materials or decorations for their classrooms. That is why we have prepared a list of really useful websites where teachers can find high-quality flashcards, worksheets, posters, decorations and other things needed in a classroom.
3 Reasons why you need a classroom website
Classroom websites offer an almost unlimited range of tools, designs and features so you can tailor yours to exactly what you and your students need.
1. Easy accessibility
With a classroom website, all your materials and information are stored in one place for students, family members and colleagues to access.
Missing handouts? Late homework? Parent questions? With a well-laid-out classroom website, it’s easy for anyone to find the information they need to succeed.
2. Better parent communication
Parents want to feel connected to their child’s learning, and parent involvement in education can be a predictor of student success!
Plus, you’ll be able to streamline parent communication and cut down on last-minute emails when everyone can access class information, homework resources and other important documents.
3. Effective remote learning
Use your classroom website as a space to build community during a weird and confusing time, and support your students as you all navigate it together.
With a classroom website, you don’t have to worry if students learning online are able to find resources, homework assignments or this week’s class schedule. As long as they have an internet connection, they can easily stay in the loop.
Some classroom website platforms also include easy ways for students to submit assignments online, send you an email using a contact form or even leave a comment on your latest blog.
Creating a classroom website: tips from other teachers
We asked teachers from Prodigy’s Champions Club for their best tips on creating a classroom website that really works. Here’s what they had to say.
- Keep it brief, and stick to what’s important. Pamela W., a 5th grade gifted teacher, says, “I struggle with this, but BREVITY! I often go back and make sure that I’ve communicated all necessary information…and that is plenty. Too much info can be distracting, and the essential stuff can get lost.”
- Karlie S., a 4th grade teacher, puts the fun in functional with “organized sections, streamlined information, resources for students and parents to access anywhere. Of course, cute fonts and pretty colors are also a must!”
- Make it work for your unique classroom. First grade teacher Jessica H. uses her class website to post and communicate with parents and provide resources in Spanish and English.
- Use your classroom website to make sure every student can access the resources they need. Technology instructor Natalie P. uses her class website “as a platform for links to approved websites and educational tools students can use for various assignments.”
Plus, some tips we want to add:
- Sharing is caring, but make sure you’re following the rules. Always refer to your school’s privacy policy when sharing photos of students online.
- Keep it up to date! Even the sleekest classroom website is useless if you don’t regularly refresh the information and make sure it has everything students need.
- If you want extra student security, many websites offer tools to make sure your website won’t show up in search results and only students or families with the link can access it.
- Make sure your site is accessible for every student. Don’t make pages crowded with text or information, and make sure light or dark text is on an appropriately contrasting background.
What to include in your classroom (+ a free Prodigy download!)
There’s really no limit to what you can add to your classroom website. It all depends on your needs, preferences and imagination! Try:
- Contact information
- A list of classroom rules
- Video resources or handouts
- A class calendar with important dates
- School news and class announcements
- Homework assignments, due dates and rubrics
- Information on academics and grading standards
- Learning resources and commonly used websites
- “About the teacher” bios so students can get to know you
- Class photos, either from Picture Day or classroom candids
- Bios for any educational assistants, teaching partners or other staff in your classroom
- A blog for your teaching thoughts, lesson summaries or anything else your students will find useful
Many teachers also include links to commonly used resources like Prodigy, a game-based math platform students and teachers love! We put together a downloadable image you can use to brighten up your page and quickly send parents and students to Prodigy.
Click to download
Here’s how to use it:
- Download the image to your computer
- Upload it to your classroom website
- Link the image to play.prodigygame.com. When students click on it, they’ll be transported to a wonderful world of math adventure!
P.S. Invite parents to create a Prodigy account so they can support math learning at home.
5 Best platforms for building a classroom website
When it comes to creating a classroom website, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It depends on what your goals are and what tools you need the most!
To make the decision easier, we rounded up a list of the most common platforms for classroom websites. Plus, we’ve listed the pros, cons and pricing information for each, so you can judge for yourself.
1. Weebly for Education
Weebly for Education’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create a functioning classroom website with ease. Plus, you can monitor students as they complete project-based learning activities and make their own websites!
Pros:
- Weebly for Education doesn’t place ads on its free sites, unlike some competitors.
- Easy drag-and-drop editing makes building a professional website a breeze — no coding skills required.
- Assignment submission forms and contact forms make it easy to stay in touch with students learning virtually.
Cons:
- While Weebly for Education has lots of professionally designed templates, there are no education-specific ones, which can mean a little finessing on your part.
Pricing:
- Weebly for Education is free, and teachers can manage up to 40 student sites at no cost.
- Optional Pro account features start at $39.95 USD per year, and you can also add packages of 10 student accounts for $10 each.
2. Wix
The cool kid of DIY website builders, Wix has an intuitive drag and drop editor and lots of beautiful templates, including some education-specific options.
If you’re a private tutor, Wix also includes SEO tools to help you get found on search engines.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Many templates available, including education-specific ones.
- Blogging functions so you can share long-form posts with your students.
Cons:
- The free version has limited storage and may run ads on your site.
- If you want to upload more than 30 minutes of video, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan.
Pricing:
Wix is free to use, but has a variety of plans ranging from $5 to $29 that offer custom domains, the ability to remove Wix ads and more storage space.
3- Webs
Webs has a solid site builder that allows users to set up a website in as few clicks as possible. Besides the free features one finds in site building platforms like customization, template gallery…etc Webs also offers its users the possibility to get their own domain names.
5. Google Classroom
If you’ve used any of Google’s other tools, Google Classroom’s drag-and-drop editor will look familiar to you. It’s simple to use and helps students and teachers stay connected and easily share information or resources.
While it’s not a traditional website, it is custom-built for teaching and has lots of handy sharing features.
Pros:
- If you already use Google tools for teaching and need to share documents, forms, maps or videos, this is a solid option.
- Out of all the platforms on this list, Google Classroom is probably the easiest to use, especially if you’re familiar with the rest of Google’s offerings.
Cons:
- There are no custom domain options, but you can send the site to students using Google’s sharing tools.
- Limited styling options mean that there’s not a lot of ways to customize your site, since it’s not technically a website builder.
Pricing:
- Free, although there are pricing options for extra features at the school and district level.
Conclusion
Students are all over the internet, but what sites are the best classroom websites for teachers? There are plenty around, but these are some of the best. I’ve worked with teachers for years, helping them develop their websites to make things easier for them and their students. Let’s take a look at the best free classroom websites.