5 Alternatives to the Google Image Search Abyss

If you're a teacher who has recently lead students in creating any sort of presentation using technology, you know that many can get lost searching for photos in the vast abyss of Google Image Search. Not only that, but safe filters might not be reliable, and students end up using copyrighted material.

I urge you - end the days of using Google Image Search with your students! It's important that students learn that although it is easy and a lot of people do it, they can't just copy whatever pictures they want off the internet and use them as if they are their own.

Here are some alternative photo sites to use with your classes, as well as for your own presentation purposes:


Photos for Class - "Search now to download properly attributed, Creative Commons photos for school"
Out of all of these sites, Photos for Class certainly has the most appropriate content for all ages.

Unsplash - "Beautiful, free photos"

Pexels - "Best free stock photos in one place"

Stocksnap - "Beautiful free stock photos"

CC Search - search feature on the Creative Commons website - good for content other than photos


Students need to also get in the habit of crediting the sources of the photos they use, even if they are licensed to use/reproduce freely.


Diversity Red Flag! While I have been using these sites, I've noticed that many searches yield photos almost exclusively of white people. I'm guessing, based on limited experience, that this is typical to the image search world in general. Perhaps a worthwhile phenomenon to point out to students, and also to have them notice while searching for photos of people for different purposes.

Padlet: So Easy to Use! So Underrated!

Padlet has been around for awhile (relative to other Ed Tech tools) and although it was all the rage in Ed Tech circles around 2013, its shine has worn off a bit. This is too bad, since Padlet has made some absolutely excellent upgrades since then. It is such an easy-to-use, feature-rich collaboration tool that teachers can start using almost immediately in their classrooms for a variety of purposes.

What it is, in a nutshell:

• I think of it as an amplified virtual bulletin board
• educators can create pages with specific prompts, and students can post responses
• responders can also "like" and/or comment on others' responses
• responders can upload files, photos, links, etc. to a Padlet board
• responders can access a certain board with a url link or an automatically-generated QR code
• access Padlet on their website or through an iOS, Android, or Kindle app
• variety of privacy settings and moderation options 
• variety of board formats: Wall, Canvas (connect groups or posts), Stream (looks more like social media), Shelf (arrange responses in Columns), or Backchannel (chat-like page)
• plenty of templates and board backgrounds  
• see all of the features here

 How educators could use Padlet:

• Exit tickets or "Do Now" prompts 
• Debriefing activities & reflections with large groups
• KWL Charts using the Shelf format
• Brainstorming mind maps (especially using the Canvas format)
• Alternatives to whole-group discussions (get every student to participate by posting something on a Padlet board)
• Questions during a lecture or guest speaker (using Backchannel format): students can ask questions when they come to mind but not interrupt a speaker
• Personal collections: collect ideas for writing, books to read, project ideas, etc. 
• Planner & Reminder: students enter projects or assignments under "To Do," "Doing" and "Done" lists using the Shelf format
• Organization tree: make hierarchies, create character maps, etc. using Canvas format
• Safe way to expose students to social-media type forums (posting & responding to posts)

... the possibilities are really endless!


Padlet just introduced (finally) paid features... it was a long time coming. You can still operate under the free version if you create 24 boards or less (you can delete old boards to stay under the limit), or there is a Pro version with unlimited boards for $8.25/month. Padlet also offers a "Padlet Backback" subscription for schools that offers extra features, such as a user management platform and more privacy and security within your school. You can try Padlet Backback for free for 30 days and then plans start at $12/month.


Using Padlet in a unique or interesting way? Has it helped any part of your teaching practice? Feel free to leave a note in the comments below.

An Amazing FREE Reading Tool: ReadWorks.org

ReadWorks.org is a FREE online database with a wide range of fiction texts and nonfiction articles for all grades. You just need to create your own account with an email and password to get started.

I used ReadWorks last year in my middle school Language Arts remediation classes for fluency practice and high school entrance exam test preparation. I particularly enjoyed how many short, interesting, and challenging nonfiction passages they had to offer (you can search for articles by grade level, lexile scores, topic, or text type). Comprehension questions and focused vocabulary information accompany most passages. Articles are available as pdfs so you can easily print or digitally distribute them.

ReadWorks has added an online platform for teachers to assign certain articles to a whole class or individual students. Teachers can then see each student's progress on comprehension questions or text annotations. The platform contains accessibility features such as text enlargement and full audio (some human voice, other synthesized), as well as annotation and highlighting tools.

Other notable features:

• Article-A-Day for K-8 - a framework and resources that help teachers create a 10-minute reading routine that practices comprehension skills, vocabulary, and fluency.
• Paired Texts - ReadWorks has grouped passages that are similar in reading level and topic
• Plenty of articles about holidays or events (Memorial Day, World Health Day, etc.)
• Teacher Whiteboard/Projector view for easy article viewing in class
• Co-teaching accounts on the online class management platform 
• Check out this page to see all of the features ReadWorks offers 

Sample of articles in the Article-A-Day sets

Good luck with ReadWorks! I can't believe that they're not charging any membership fees for these kinds of features. Hopefully it will stay this way! In the meantime, enjoy.