Exploring TumbleBooks: Website Evaluation

 

Exploring TumbleBooks

For this assignment, I created a short video tutorial designed to help elementary teachers discover and use the TumbleBooks platform available through our school library website. My goal was to introduce teachers to this free digital resource that supports literacy with read-alouds, Spanish books, STEM content, graphic novels, and educational games.

TumbleBooks is an incredible tool for classroom use, but many educators haven’t explored it yet. In my video, I demonstrate how to access it through our library page, and I walk through some of its most helpful features.

🔎 What I Demonstrated in the Video

I began by showing how to navigate the school website to reach the library’s resource section, where TumbleBooks is listed. Once on the platform, I explored it by using both the search bar and the category tabs at the top of the screen. I clicked on various categories to show how teachers can browse by book type, subject area, and reading level.

I also highlighted several helpful features:

• The lesson plans that accompany many books

• The read-aloud functionality, which includes word highlighting

• The Spanish-language titles available for bilingual or ESL support

• The Quizzes tab, which features two difficulty levels 

🧠 Why It Matters

TumbleBooks offers a wide variety of multimedia reading tools that can support independent reading, small group instruction, or center activities. It’s also aligned with Common Core standards, which—while not identical to TEKS—can still help guide instructional planning.

🎥 Watch My Tutorial

How to Use TumbleBooks

TumbleBooks is a resource we already have access to, and it's designed to support literacy in a fun, engaging way. I hope this tutorial encourages other educators to give it a try and incorporate it into their classroom routines!

***In my first video, I introduced TumbleBooks, a vetted and educator-approved digital resource available through our school library. It’s a safe and reliable platform for students to access read-aloud books, games, and educational content. For this second video, I demonstrate how to search online for safe and reliable slime recipes using the phrase “how to make slime without borax.” I walk through how to evaluate the top three search results: the Arm & Hammer website, which offers trusted, brand-backed recipes and safety tips; The Kitchn, a family-friendly site with personal experience and clear instructions; and a YouTube video by WhatsUpMoms, which provides a kid-friendly, visual tutorial. This project highlights the importance of information literacy—the ability to search, evaluate, and select credible sources online, whether you're researching for fun or in the classroom.