EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

10 Must-Have Websites for English Teachers That Make Planning Easier

27 April 2025/ By Zineb DJOUB

Creating engaging lessons and staying organised can be challenging and energy-draining, especially for English teachers juggling grammar rules, literature units, and essay feedback.

Not only do you need the bandwidth to plan creatively, but you also need the patience to sift through endless online resources to make the right choice. Just thinking about it might make you want to throw in the towel and revert to those ready-made, déjà-vu materials you’ve used a hundred times before.

To simplify your workload, I’ve compiled a go-to list of trusted, free websites for English teachers that will save you time and enhance your creativity in the classroom.

So, let’s dive into the 10 must-have websites for English teachers.

1. British Council – TeachingEnglish 

A very well-known website for English teachers, packed with classroom activities and downloadable resources. but have you explored all its hidden gems?

You’ll also find resources to enhance your professional development through podcasts, events, and publications, including books, research papers and case studies.

Their lesson plan filters let you search by age group, level, and classroom context (like large classes or low-resource settings).

2. Education.com 

If you haven’t already explored Education.com, it’s a must-visit for teachers looking to engage every type of learner.

This site is packed with ready-to-use printables, interactive activities, and teaching tools that cover everything from basic literacy skills (handwriting, spelling, phonics) to more advanced language tasks like novel studies, essay writing, and even creating graphic organisers.

It’s also a go-to for professional development resources and tech tips that help you stay updated and bring more novelty and innovation into your teaching.

3. ReadWriteThink 

For a more interactive and meaningful learning experience, check out ReadWriteThink. This site is a goldmine if you want to take your lesson plans to the next level. It offers a rich selection of interactive tools, lesson plans, and student activities focused on developing reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

These resources are creatively crafted to make learning hands-on and engaging. Don’t miss their printable graphic organisers and writing templates—perfect for supporting both individual and group work.

4. CommonLit 

If you’re looking to hone students’ reading and writing skills, then CommonLit is a good choice.

You can find a variety of free reading materials, including fiction, nonfiction, and poems, along with guided reading questions and discussion prompts to deepen understanding.

You can even tailor resources to your students’ needs thanks to its ability to filter texts by grade level, theme, and literary device.

In addition, CommonLit provides assessment tools to track student progress, in-class learning and online.

5. NoRedInk

NoRedInk is an effective go-to platform for teaching grammar and writing. It provides grammar practice, writing prompts, and revision tools that guide students through every stage of the writing process.

What makes it stand out is its adaptive learning system. This means exercises are personalised based on students’ interests, allowing you to differentiate tasks and maximise learning opportunities.

The platform also tracks students’ progress, helping them build their writing habits with greater confidence and resilience.

6. Storybird 

Here is one of the most wonderful websites for English teachers. Storybird helps make creative writing more fun, engaging, and meaningful.

It allows students to create their own stories, poems, and even picture books inspired by beautiful artwork.

You’ll also find various writing prompts and challenges that spark imagination and help students develop narrative skills.

Using this valuable website not only sparks creativity among your students but also nudges the reluctant ones to express their voices with more ease and confidence.

7. Newsela 

Newsela is a great resource if you’re looking to bring more authentic materials into your teaching: current or real-life content.

It offers a wide range of nonfiction articles—news, opinion pieces, biographies, and more—that are classroom-friendly and aligned with learning standards.

You can easily differentiate reading materials without losing focus on your goals, as each article is available at multiple reading levels.

There are also quizzes, writing prompts, and lesson ideas to deepen student understanding and encourage meaningful classroom discussions.

8. Breaking News English 

This one came as a recommendation from one of my former students—and it’s worth sharing.

Breaking News English offers lessons based on current news articles, with various activities—listening, vocabulary, grammar, discussion, and writing tasks—for each.

But what I like most about this website is that lessons are available at different levels, so you can easily adapt them to meet your students’ needs.

9. Project Gutenberg 

To develop a love of reading among students, it’s essential to foster extensive reading. But don’t worry—you won’t need to purchase copies or sign up for a membership to access them online.

Project Gutenberg offers over 60,000 free eBooks, including novels, short stories, plays, and poetry—perfect for enriching your literature sessions.

You can download texts in various formats (PDF, ePub, Kindle) or read them online, making it easy to share with students or project in class.

10. Quizlet 

Quizlet is a great tool for creating digital flashcards, quizzes, and interactive games that help students retain and practice key terms.

These resources can be accessed anytime, making it possible to assign them for independent study or homework.

There are also thousands of flashcard sets created by other teachers—just search, select, and use or adapt them to suit your class.

 

To conclude, with so many resources available, you may feel overwhelmed. That’s why I’ve put together this list of websites for English teachers—to help you save time and find what truly works. So go ahead, explore these gems, bookmark your favourites, and let your students appreciate every English class.

If you have websites to share, please don’t hesitate. We’re all here to support one another and keep growing together.