10 Websites for Dictionaries & Thesaurus

As I have worked with Erika on designing classroom websites, I hear over and over again the question of what to include. I was saving this post for when my own class website was ready to share with all of you (its getting a makeover) but alas.... I am off studying and no time to post. So you get to see it early!

In the homework section of my website, I keep a list of reference sources for my students. I have found that having these available give my students a starting place to work from. They are also great for use on the classroom computers. I do not need to tell my students where to start researching, I have already given them the resources and tools to do so.

My list of resources for a Dictionary and Thesaurus are:

1.  Dictionary.com - My personal favorite. It is also an iPad app.

2.  Thesaurus.com - Same website as the above and my go-to reference tool. It is also an iPad app. '

3. Scholastic Word Wizard - This site provides the student with a quick definition and has word games. 

4. Your Dictionary. com - Here you can search for words in over different languages and browse for words by topic. Great for if you don't know what to put into the search engine.

5. Rhyme Zone - A dictionary for finding rhyming words... GENIUS!

6. Wordsmyth Educational Dictionary & Thesaurus - This is great for those learning how to spell as it allows you to search for a definition without having to know the correct spelling. This is also the same company who make the children's thesaurus and dictionary (the old-fashion hardback book version) that I purchased for my children to use at home and that I have a class set of at school

7.  Fact Monster - This is another multipurpose reference site. This one includes a dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, almanac, and encyclopedia.

8. The Newberry House Online Dictionary - This one allows you to search for words or phrases. It is excellent for your ELL & ESS students.

9. Merriam-Webster Online Language Center - Collegiate Dictionary and Roget's Thesaurus. I rarely use this site but it does have a few word games to play on it.

10. Visual Dictionary online - Search by theme or picture. Great for the ESS and ESL student. And its an iPad app. I love this site! I learn so much each time I visit it.

Great for science as it breaks down things into parts! So you can go from a general picture to more in depth in one area.  Just look at this strawberry and you can click on each one of those labels for more details. LOVE!

Do you recommend a different dictionary or thesaurus to your students? If so, please leave me a link with a comment below so I can add it to my list of references. Thanks!