What is myON?
myON is a multimedia, cross-curricular teaching and learning tool which helps students to acquire the essential skills they need to become fluent readers.
The platform facilitates teaching and learning with a range of tools and activities that allow teachers to guide students through texts and assign further reading to boost understanding of the topic.
With myON, teachers can model, clarify, summarise and interrogate texts with their students, then collaborate together by sharing resources, from basic reading lists to more complex extended projects. Skills can be practised in the classroom and then developed further with reading at home, enabling children to feel that they own their reading space.
Skills can be practised in the classroom and then developed further with reading at home, enabling children to feel that they own their reading space.
This audio support can be very beneficial for EAL learners as pronunciation and intonation are being modelled, increasing confidence in spoken English as well as in reading fluency.
What kind of books are available for EAL learners on myON?
myON includes over 7,000 high-quality, diverse texts that are tailored to specific age groups and a range of reading abilities.
Around 80% of the texts on myON are non-fiction, covering a range of subjects, topics and themes that link with the curriculum. This supports the teaching of non-fiction reading, which is a very different style of reading as students dip in and out, rather than reading cover to cover, fact finding and learning language around that topic. The texts offer opportunities for vocabulary development across a wide range of areas.
For fiction, a range of genres are covered, including graphic novels which can be used to engage reluctant readers and make more complex texts accessible.
Each of the myON books are narrated – not in a robotic voice, but in either an English or American accent. This audio support can be very beneficial for EAL learners as pronunciation and intonation are being modelled, increasing confidence in spoken English as well as in reading fluency.
The books can be accessed at any time, at school or from home, on a range of devices including iPads and other tablets. Students can also use various reading tools, including a built-in dictionary, highlighters and sticky notes, to support learning.
What languages are available?
myOn is available in English and Spanish.
myON News, which is an additional service providing students with age-appropriate news articles at three reading levels, is available in five languages – English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Mandarin. New articles are added every day, each of which can be converted into one of these languages.
Many articles also include questions, which are always in English. So a student can read the article in, perhaps, Arabic and then look at the questions in English, developing vocabulary, knowledge and understanding across the curriculum.
Many articles also include questions, which are always in English. So a student can read the article in, perhaps, Arabic and then look at the questions in English, developing vocabulary, knowledge and understanding across the curriculum.
There's a sense of ownership and engagement that means not only learning to read, but reading to learn.
How can myON help develop comprehension skills?
To move from decoding words to comprehension, children need to have the right stimulus at the right level. They need to be able to gain a deeper understanding of what the author's intent is, whether that's non-fiction or fiction. This is something that needs to be learned in incremental steps – and with non-fiction there are enormous benefits from this process being directed in order for the maximum benefit to be gained.
myON allows children to be guided through a text by their teacher in the classroom and then choose further books to read that align with that topic area at the right level for them. Every child has their own profile allowing myON to offer personalised recommendations according to their individual interests and reading levels. So there's a sense of ownership and engagement that means not only learning to read, but reading to learn.
Which international schools are using myON to support EAL learners?
myOn is already used in a wide range of schools in the UK and around the world.
St George British School in Madrid have been using myOn since 2020 - Andrea Robson, Head of Primary explains the impact: ‘We've definitely seen that it's been a real motivator. We've got the display in our library of how many minutes children have been reading on myON each month and which classes are reading the most – and we find that really helpful in promoting reading and encouraging students to log on and read.’
myOn is used throughout primary schools in the Seychelles to improve student attainment in reading. One librarian explains ‘myON has rekindled learners’ interest in reading … and we’re seeing more engagement in classroom discussions, especially in science.’ A P5 pupil goes on ‘I could not imagine a day without reading myON. I read every day and seize every opportunity I get. What makes it more fun is the quizzes. It gives me a chance to evaluate how well I have read the book.’
I could not imagine a day without reading myON. I read every day and seize every opportunity I get. What makes it more fun is the quizzes. It gives me a chance to evaluate how well I have read the book.
myON features real-time reports that capture student engagement and growth, providing actionable data that helps teachers ensure each student has the support they need to succeed.
How can myON help all school staff to support EAL learners?
myON features real-time reports that capture student engagement and growth, providing actionable data that helps teachers ensure each student has the support they need to succeed.
Teachers can create and assign individual, group or whole class projects, as well as building their own projects or accessing projects created by other teachers. This facilitates sharing of resources across the school.
Talk to our specialists
If you would like to speak to one of our specialists about how we can support your students’ needs, including EAL, SEND, and gifted and talented learners, add your details to our form and we’ll get in touch.