How to Access and Use Sora �with Your Students
STUDENTS
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Be on the lookout for lots of new audio and ebooks to be added at the beginning of the school year. ��Talk to your media specialist if there are specific ones you would like to have available in Sora!
Table of Contents
Sora Features
With Sora, you can access ebooks and audiobooks �from your school and local library.
Sign into ClassLink and click on the Sora App.
In Sora, click the “Find my school” button.
Click here to watch an overview video of Sora.
Find Fort Mill School District - York 4 and click “This is my school.”
Click “Sign in using Fort Mill School District
- York 4.”
Sign in using your FMSD Google account.
username@fmsdmail.org
You will be brought to the “Explore” tab in Sora. Click the three lines to access the “Menu”
Browse the Explore tab or search bar at the top to check out the collection.
Once in the Search bar, click on Advanced Search to look for a specific book, author, series, language, etc.
Books are available in over 160 languages.
How to Add a Public Library
You can use Sora to browse your local library and borrow ebooks and audiobooks!
Don’t have a library card? No worries! You will be able to sync with York County Library automatically when you log in with your FMSD Google account!
Fort Mill School District - York 4�Sora Basics
Using Sora During Instruction
Explore: Read-Alongs in Sora
🔍EXPLORE: Perform an Advanced Search to view read-along books in your school’s digital collection.�
✅APPLY: How can I use read-alongs?
REPEATED READING:
Students can use the steps below to practice fluency and increase comprehension:
1. Have students listen to the entire read-along book (or a chapter), following along
with the words on screen.
2. Next, have students read along with the narration when possible.
3. After practicing, students can attempt to read sections of the book independently.
PRO TIP :
Slow down narration speed to help students read along with audio.
1. Tap in the center of the screen.
2. Tap the menu icon
3. Select
Apply: Read-Alongs in Sora
💡REFLECT: How can I use read-alongs? Consider the application of this format with your students and your curriculum. Use the ideas below to begin brainstorming.�
This format can support students while they read independently or attempt more challenging books.�
Repeated reading can help students gain confidence reading along with the narrator and then on their own, changing the narration speed as needed. Invite students to create their own read-along and record their own narration.�
Read-alongs can be projected when there aren’t multiple copies available. Group reading settings can encourage collaborative discussion and modeling of good reading habits.
Reflect: Read-Alongs in Sora
💡REFLECT: How can I use read-alongs? Consider the application of this format with your students and your curriculum. Use the ideas below to begin brainstorming.
Early learners can highlight sight words while reading, while older students can define, highlight, and leave a note for new vocabulary words.�
Professional narration can aid students’ comprehension, allowing them to focus on their understanding.
Reflect: Read-Alongs in Sora
Explore: Definitions, Highlights, �and Notes in Sora
🔍EXPLORE: Define, highlight, and leave a note while reading.�
✅APPLY: How can these features to help support my students?
WORD WORK:
Students can tap and hold until a word turns BLUE. When they let go, they can choose
to highlight it in one of THREE COLORS.
Demonstrate this process for students. Help beginning readers by having them identify the first letter “h “, so they know which option to choose. Encourage beginning readers to highlight any sight words they find while reading. More advanced readers can highlight vocabulary words or words they’ve never heard before.
PRO TIP:
See all words that have been highlighted in a book.
1. Tap in the center of the screen
2. Tap the menu icon
3. Select
Apply: Definitions, Highlights, �and Notes in Sora
💡REFLECT: How can these features help students meet learning objectives? Consider the application of these features with your students and curriculum. Use the ideas below to begin brainstorming.
Reflect: Definitions, Highlights, �and Notes in Sora
💡REFLECT: How can these features help students meet learning objectives? Consider the application of these features with your students and curriculum. Use the ideas below to begin brainstorming.
Reflect: Definitions, Highlights, �and Notes in Sora
Explore: Exporting and �Sharing in Sora
Note: The export options you see depend on your device and apps.
🔍EXPLORE: You can export defined words, highlights, and/or notes as a PDF, CSV, Text, copy to clipboard, or to your Google Drive!
✅APPLY: How can these features to help support my students?
BOOK CLUBS:
Students can use the export feature to prepare their thoughts, questions, conclusions, etc. before meeting for a book club. Book clubs can meet face to face or virtually via Google Meet or Google Classroom.
PRO TIP:
Have students use a coding system to help them quickly and easily organize themselves and prepare for discussions.
W - What they are wonder or any questions they might have
T - What they think
F - What they feel
C - Share a connection (T/S, T/T. T/W)
I - Something they found interesting
P - Predictions they might have
Apply: Exporting and �Sharing in Sora
💡REFLECT: How can exporting support learning procedures? Consider the application of this feature with your students and your curriculum. Use the ideas below to begin brainstorming.
Reflect: Exporting and �Sharing in Sora
💡REFLECT: How can exporting support learning procedures? Consider the application of this feature with your students and your curriculum. Use the ideas below to begin brainstorming.
Reflect: Exporting and �Sharing in Sora
Explore: Reading Statistics and �Achievements in Sora
🤓Reading Statistics Include:
• Total books opened
• Average time per session
• Current streak
• Total time read
• Average time per book
• Longest streak
🔍EXPLORE: Students can customize their reading experience and track their reading progress within Sora.
🏆Earn Achievements for:
• Opening Sora for the first time
• Borrowing a book
• Opening an audiobook
• Returning a book early
• Making a highlight
• And more!
✅APPLY: How can these features to help support my students?
VIRTUAL READING LOG:
Students can use the reading statistics to help them analyze their �reading habits. Student can then use data to make informed decisions �regarding their reading patterns and reading goals.
PRO TIP :
Have students look at their reading data and ask themselves questions:
Apply: Reading Statistics and �Achievements in Sora
💡REFLECT: How can Sora’s progress tracking and customization features benefit students? Consider how your students might utilize these features. Use the ideas below to begin brainstorming.
Reflect: Reading Statistics and �Achievements in Sora
💡REFLECT: How can Sora’s progress tracking and customization features benefit students? Consider how your students might utilize these features. Use the ideas below to begin brainstorming.
Sleep timers and the ability to track progress (while reading and overall) can support students’ time management and progress monitoring efforts.�
In-app statistics and achievements provide insight and can help students set SMART goals.�
Reflect: Reading Statistics and �Achievements in Sora
Using Sora During eLearning
Book Reveal:
Choose a book from the Sora app and get your student excited about it by sharing a video or photo of their upcoming book in Seesaw!
Class Book Tasting:
During a Google Meet or a video in Seesaw share a few different titles that can be found in Sora and read a few pages from each to get your students exploring in the app for those books.
�Family Reading:
Families can select a book out of Sora and read together. Take turns reading the pages or read all together.
Paired Informational Resources:
Have students read a book like, “Bedtime for Bear” by Bonny Becker and then have them read a nonfiction text like, “Bears are Curious” by Joyce Milton
Best Practices for Using Sora �During eLearning
Book Talks with Flipgrid or Seesaw:
Have students select ebooks from the Sora app. Once they have completed the book students can submit a book talk via Seesaw or Flipgrid to tell classmates why they should read the book as well.
Share a Student’s Book Review:
Either share a student’s actual book review. Or simply share the student’s name and the title they are recommending their classmates read and why. Students love to checkout books that their peers are reading.
Stat Check:
Encourage students to look at their reading stats in the “Me” section of Sora to help them determine their reading stamina and help them set new goals.�
Acting Out:
Ask students to read a specific book. Have them use the highlighting feature in Sora to mark their favorite part. Then, using Seesaw, have students record themselves acting out their favorite part.
Best Practices for Using Sora �During eLearning
How to Access and Use Sora: Student Presentation