Read & Write for Google Chrome has some powerful tools for students in K-4 to utilize in their learning environment. Below is a quick overview of some of them.
Tag Archives: UDL
UDL Series: Resources for All Subjects
This post is the sixth of a six-part series dedicated to the educational technology resources available for teachers and students to use to offer the best universally designed learning environment possible. There will be resources to provide multiple means of engagement, representation, action & expression.
For more information on universally designed learning environments (UDL) please check out the UDL guidelines site.
ENGAGEMENT – the goal is to have purposeful learning and motivated students.
- Accessibility Settings – chrome environment, chromebook, laptop (Mac or PC), smartphone (iOS or Android) – all of these have accessibility settings built-in so make sure you go into the settings areas to see what they have to offer from speech-to-text, text-to-speech, magnification, font and color, size, and so on.
- Augmented and Virtual Reality – A.R., V.R. check out the K-12 spreadsheets where I have vetted various Augmented and Virtual Reality resources per grade level (according to Alberta Program of Studies)! See Get Techy with AR/VR as well.
- Chrome add-ons – Doctopus (S), Flubaroo (S), Orange Slice:Teacher Rubric (Doc) – students need to install Orange Slice: Student Rubric, Flippity (S) – website
- Chrome apps – Google Calendar – students can use their calendar to input class schedules, exams, etc. or if they are in a Google Classroom, due dates will be automatically shared within a Calendar.
- Chrome extensions – These are to make your day more efficient and informative:
- Add to Google Classroom
- Doctopus
- EDpuzzle – upload a video, add Q&A
- Google Cast for Education – allows you to turn your computer into a wireless projector for screen sharing from another device.
- Google Arts and Culture – breathe a little culture into your day whenever you open a new tab. Can use visuals as discussion and writing prompts.
- Google Keep – on the computer as a great note taking tool, goal setting, checklists and on a mobile device the added bonus of audio + transcript.
- Google Tasks – keep your lists close-by.
- RW4GC for GDocs (Voice, Talk&Type, Highlighter, Voice Note), RW4GC for Web (Voice, Talk&Type, Highlighter, Screenshot Reader, Simplify), RW4GC pdf Reader (Voice, Text, Pins). Read&Write has a variety of tools – text to speech, talk&type, dictionaries, highlighters, PDF reader, website reader, vocabulary list builder, etc. A subscription is required.
- Remote for Slides – if you use Google Slides for your presentations and have a mobile device, this extension allows you to move away from the laptop while still have access to your presentation (and speaker notes).
- Screencastify – a great screen recorder. Easy to use and saves directly to Google Drive and even YouTube.
- Digital Presence
- Google yourself, use pipl.com or peekyou.com.
- Common Sense Education
- Center on Media and Child Health
- MediaSmarts
- Feedback/Exit Tickets/Assessment
- Feedback post
- Providing Recognition
- Cues, Questions and Advanced Organizers
- Socrative
- Google Forms
- Plickers
- Kahoot
- Flipgrid
- Google Doc comments
- RW4GC Voice Note
- Growth Mindset Feedback
- Gamification
- Classcraft
- Kahoot
- Quizizz
- Quizlet
- BreakoutEDU – an immersive learning experience like an Escape Room experience but set up for the classroom. The experience can be hands-on or digitally interactive whereby groups of students must solve various riddles and find clues to complete or “breakout” of the experience. Teachers can buy Breakout EDU kits and the platform of lessons. There is also a great template for teachers to create their own learning experiences (and students can even create ones too!) Great for any age, any subject area and even for staff. If you really like this type of learning I highly recommend joining the BreakoutEDU Facebook communities as well.
- Hyperdocs – Edgaged with Hyperdocs
- Mood Meter app
- Reinforcing Effort examples
- Setting Objectives – goo.gl/rr2Tzq
- Videoconferencing – Google Hangouts Meet, Skype (Skype in the Classroom, Mystery Skype), Webex, Zoom….
- YouTube Playlists – Crash Course, Mental Floss
REPRESENTATION – resourceful and knowledgeable students.
- Accessibility Settings
- Blogging – use blogs as math/science journals, to showcase learning. Use specific blog sites like Kidblog, Edublogs or reflections in GDrive, on GDocs, on GSites.
- Chrome add-ons
- Extensis (Doc) – increase your font potential with this.
- Various Alice Keeler
- Chrome apps – PicMonkey, Pixlr Editor
- Chrome extensions
- Announcify – reads aloud any website.
- Google Keep
- Mercury Reader – removes ads and distractions from websites.
- Open Dyslexic font
- RW4GC for GDocs (Dictionaries, Voice, Talk&Type, Highlighter, Voice Note), RW4GC for Web (Voice, Talk&Type, Highlighter, Screenshot Reader, Simplify), RW4GC pdf Reader (Voice, Text, Pins)
- Classroom Screen – https://www.tcea.org/blog/classroomscreen/
- Discovery Education: SOS
- Flocabulary – Resource Link
- GDocs – File>Page Setup, Explore features for research of sites, information and images.
- GClassroom will keep assignments, resources and information altogether in one area. Great to use as a subject tool/LMS.
- Identifying Similarities and Differences examples
- Infographics – Piktochart
- Instructional Strategy Templates
- Templates, new Templates from Google
- Knowledge Search Engine – WolframAlpha
- Non-linguistic Representation – post
- Online Reference Centre (Alberta access only)
- Public Library Card – Tracpac > Cloud Library, Hoopla, Overdrive
ACTION & EXPRESSION – strategic and goal-oriented students.
- Chrome extensions
- Bitmoji – create your own avatar! Drag those images into GDocs as part of your comments on student work. Use them on top of other images/text in a Google Slide. Make a visual story, spruce up an email or grab attention in a newsletter.
- Google Keep
- RW4GC for GDocs (Dictionaries, Voice, Talk&Type, Highlighter, Voice Note), RW4GC for Web (Voice, Talk&Type, Highlighter, Screenshot Reader, Simplify), RW4GC pdf Reader (Voice, Text, Pins)
- Cooperative Learning examples
- Digital Sign Generators – https://goo.gl/EJ8pNi
- EduMemes – https://goo.gl/Rdk9td
- Green screening
- GSuite – GDocs, GSlides, GSheets, GDrawings, GClassroom
- Image Responses
- Interactive video assessment
- EdPuzzle
- FlipGrid
- Thinglink
- Summarizing and Note-taking – post
- Video Responses
- Animated GIFs
- Animoto
- Adobe Spark
- Screencastify
- Voice Responses
- Chatterpix – make an image speak using your voice and lips.
- Fotobabble – similar to Chatterpix, only available now on the computer (hope their iOS app is fixed soon).
- Thinglink – annotate images, video and 360 content. Freemium.
- WeVideo
- RW4GC – use voice note.
UDL series: Phys. Ed and Health
Flickr photo Coach Stacey and PE parachute via Brad Barth
This post is the fifth of a six-part series dedicated to the educational technology resources available for teachers and students to use to offer the best universally designed learning environment possible. There will be resources to provide multiple means of engagement, representation, action & expression.
For more information on universally designed learning environments (UDL) please check out the UDL guidelines site.
ENGAGEMENT – the goal is to have purposeful learning and motivated students.
- Smartphone apps – Google Keep, Video capture to capture physical education movement, ideas, lessons and health-related concepts.
- Pedometers/Trackers/Heart rate monitors – simple tracking devices for both individual and group-based activity. Can also connect the information to math if looking at data.
- YouTube Playlists that showcase proper form, healthy ideas, and lessons. Even allow for writing prompts/class discussions.
REPRESENTATION – resourceful and knowledgeable students.
- GSites/GClassroom – opportunities to hold video clips, instructions, tutorials all in one easy to access place for students to look at and utilize 24/7.
- Smartphone/Tablet
- Augmented Reality allows students to interact with an environment that is enhanced. Take apart a heart, look at a skeletal system…. check out more ideas, apps and lessons at MLI – Augmented Reality.
- QR codes – create and/or use Skill Posters.
- Virtual Reality has students experiencing an environment or even creating one depending upon the tools that you have on-hand. Check out MLI – Virtual Reality.
- Voice assistants have recently come on board like Alexa and Google. I like the idea of using them in conversation, for research and ideas, however currently these Voice Assistants are still tied to one’s personal account and not a GSuite Apps Edu environment so I am a little hesitant to utilize or connect a personal account for use in the classroom (due to the difference in filtering with a GSuite account versus a private account).
ACTION & EXPRESSION – strategic and goal-oriented students.
- Student-made Videos – Smartphone, Tablet, Videorecorder, Google Keep, YouTube. Take any one of these tools to record students “in-action” for review, re-use and generation of discussion and/or skill improvement.
UDL series: Social Studies
This post is the fourth of a six-part series dedicated to the educational technology resources available for teachers and students to use to offer the best universally designed learning environment possible. There will be resources to provide multiple means of engagement, representation, action & expression.
For more information on universally designed learning environments (UDL) please check out the UDL guidelines site.
ENGAGEMENT – the goal is to have purposeful learning and motivated students.
- BreakoutEDU is an immersive learning experience like an Escape Room experience but set up for the classroom. The experience can be hands-on or digitally interactive whereby groups of students must solve various riddles and find clues to complete or “breakout” of the experience. Teachers can buy Breakout EDU kits and the platform of lessons. There is also a great template for teachers to create their own learning experiences (and students can even create ones too!) Great for any age, any subject area and even for staff. If you really like this type of learning I highly recommend joining the BreakoutEDU Facebook communities as well.
- Chrome extensions
- 1-click-timer
- Bitmoji – create your own avatar! Drag those images into GDocs as part of your comments on student work. Use them on top of other images/text in a Google Slide. Make a visual story, spruce up an email or grab attention in a newsletter.
- National Geographic Photo of the Day – have some powerful conversations and or writing prompts with this!
- Comparisons
- Dollar Street: TED Talk, Website – Gapminder visited 264 families in 50 countries and collected 30,000 photos. One can sort the homes by income, from left to right. Watch the TED talk for the introduction.
- If It Were My Home – use the country comparison tool to compare living conditions in your own country to those of another.
- RW4GC – Read&Write for Google Chrome has a variety of tools – text to speech, talk&type, dictionaries, highlighters, PDF reader, website reader, vocabulary list builder, etc. A subscription is required.
- Rubrics
- YouTube Playlists – curate a collection of YouTube video clips for students to watch and replay whenever they need.
REPRESENTATION – resourceful and knowledgeable students.
- Book Creator – this infamous book creation tool for iOS is available in Chrome. Free teacher account has 40 books in the library that can be used. Students can add text, images, audio, and video. A fantastic way to showcase student learning.
- Google MyMaps – Examples
- Online Reference Centre (Alberta access only) –
ACTION & EXPRESSION – strategic and goal-oriented students.
- Big Huge Labs – create motivational posters, magazine covers, pop art, etc.
- Civic Mirror simulation – great to have students see the results of their actions in an economy. Also nice for CALM for financial literacy.
- GSuite – opportunities to use a Science template for experiments, writing prompts, collaborations, data collection via Google Docs, Sheets, Slides.
- Historical Fakebook Template
- Videoconferencing – opportunities to connect with other schools, experts, and events.
- Mystery Skype – become a member of the Microsoft community for free and then have access to Skype programs.
- Global Encounters is an international student video conference program, offered through a partnership between the Centre for Global Education (CGE) and TakingITGlobal (TIG). We’ve hosted dozens of events on critical global issues such as child soldiers and armed conflict, women’s rights, mental health, climate change and many more.
UDL series: the Sciences
This post is the third of a six-part series dedicated to the educational technology resources available for teachers and students to use to offer the best universally designed learning environment possible. There will be resources to provide multiple means of engagement, representation, action & expression.
For more information on universally designed learning environments (UDL) please check out the UDL guidelines site.
ENGAGEMENT – the goal is to have purposeful learning and motivated students.
- Chrome extensions
- 1-click-timer – quick and easy to use.
- GIF creation with Animated GIF capture or GIFit!. Here’s where making a 3 – 10-second rotating clip from a video or screen can capture a student’s attention.
- Bitmoji – create your own avatar! Drag those images into GDocs as part of your comments on student work. Use them on top of other images/text in a Google Slide. Make a visual story, spruce up an email or grab attention in a newsletter.
- RW4GC – Read&Write for Google Chrome has a variety of tools – text to speech, talk&type, dictionaries, highlighters, PDF reader, website reader, vocabulary list builder, etc. A subscription is required.
- YouTube Playlists
REPRESENTATION – resourceful and knowledgeable students.
- BioInteractive – multimedia resources, including apps, animations, videos, interactives, and virtual labs, to bring the excitement of scientific discovery into your classroom.
- Book Creator – this infamous book creation tool for iOS is available in Chrome. Free teacher account has 40 books in the library that can be used. Students can add text, images, audio, and video. A fantastic way to showcase student learning.
- NASA Live stream of Earth seen from space powered by NASA HDEV cameras aboard the International Space Station.
- Online Reference Centre (Alberta access only)
- Periodic Videos – Tables charting the chemical elements have been around since the 19th century – but this modern version has a short video about each one.
- PhET Simulations – interactive simulations available for any device.
- Sciencium
- The Concord Consortium – STEM repository for K-12+.
- The Physics Classroom – includes a large collection of HTML5 interactive physics applications.
ACTION & EXPRESSION – strategic and goal-oriented students.
- Big Huge Labs – create motivational posters, magazine covers, pop art, etc.
- Google Science Fair
- GSuite – opportunities to use a Science template for experiments, writing prompts, collaborations, data collection via Google Docs, Sheets, Slides.
UDL Series: Mathematics
This post is the second of a six-part series dedicated to the educational technology resources available for teachers and students to use to offer the best universally designed learning environment possible. There will be resources to provide multiple means of engagement, representation, action & expression.
For more information on universally designed learning environments (UDL) please check out the UDL guidelines site.
ENGAGEMENT – the goal is to have purposeful learning and motivated students.
- Battlesheets – take the traditional Battleship game into the 21st century with this template.
- Cathy Yenca – tutorials from Cathy that share how she uses different edtech tools in the math classroom.
- Chrome extensions:
- 1-click-timer – for the timing of work time, lessons, etc.
- Bitmoji – to add to math explanations, math comments or just for fun.
- Equatio – free for teachers (students need a subscription) and takes digital math to a whole new level.
- Google Keep – the mobile version allows for audio > transcription plus images that can have students explain their process.
- Dan Meyer has phenomenal engaging lessons for students to sink their mathematical teeth found at Three-Act Math
- Desmos Lesson: How Long Does it Take to Charge a Cell Phone? Lesson, Desmos
- Estimation 180 – a variety of challenges
- Jim Wilson – has many resources, take time to scroll down to Problems section
- Ozobots – these little tiny robots can be used in K-12 math classes easily. Check out the lessons, ideas.
- Robert Kaplinsky – always has engaging and authentic lessons.
REPRESENTATION – resourceful and knowledgeable students.
- Chrome Extension – Equatio – as mentioned above, it is a digital math area. What I really like is that students can speak out their equations or expressions and Equatio will transcribe it which can then be inputted into a Google Document. The mathspace is also an amazing area. I highly recommend you watch an intro video or attend a webinar.
- Google Graph Paper
- Put Music and Math together with Incredibox and talk about patterns, sequencing, and even algorithms. Oh, and make some pretty funky music tunes too!
- Online Reference Centre (Alberta access only)
- Interested in collaborative and omnipresent slide shows that allow student input? Check out Pear Deck and its Templates – Resource Link
- The UofWaterloo Problem of the Week is designed to provide students with an ongoing opportunity to solve mathematical problems. Each week, problems from various areas of mathematics will be posted on the website and e-mailed to teachers for use with their students from grades 3 and up.
- Youcubed‘s main goal is to inspire, educate and empower teachers of mathematics, transforming the latest research on math into accessible and practical forms. Create by Jo Boaler and team. There are many resources and ideas for all grade levels.
ACTION & EXPRESSION – strategic and goal-oriented students.
- Build math skills, look at strategies from the following sites:
- Expii Solve – Resource Link
- Expii Math – Resource Link
- Google Keep for Math – Resource Link
- HyperDrawings for Math – Resource Link
- Have students take time to reflect on their math learnings via Math Journal Prompts – Resource Link
- Math Pickle – Resource Link
- Mathsnaps with GSlides, image/Explore, Bitmoji. Take/use a photo of the math work, add it to GSlides and add ideas.
- Math Tools for Chrome – Resource Link
Use whichever tool that would fit your needs at the time and then tuck away a few more for future uses.
UDL series: English Language Arts
This post is the first of a six-part series dedicated to the educational technology resources available for teachers and students to use to offer the best universally designed learning environment possible. There will be resources to provide multiple means of engagement, representation, action & expression.
For more information on universally designed learning environments (UDL) please check out the UDL guidelines site.
ENGAGEMENT – the goal is to have purposeful learning and motivated students.
- BreakoutEDU – an immersive learning experience like an Escape Room experience but set up for the classroom. The experience can be hands-on or digitally interactive whereby groups of students must solve various riddles and find clues to complete or “breakout” of the experience. Teachers can buy Breakout EDU kits and the platform of lessons. There is also a great template for teachers to create their own learning experiences (and students can even create ones too!) Great for any age, any subject area and even for staff. If you really like this type of learning I highly recommend joining the BreakoutEDU Facebook communities as well.
- Chrome extensions such as
- Bitmoji – create your own avatar! Drag those images into GDocs as part of your comments on student work. Use them on top of other images/text in a Google Slide. Make a visual story, spruce up an email or grab attention in a newsletter.
- Grammarly for Chrome – the free version auto-checks for spelling and punctuation.
- Power Thesaurus – a nice option when building vocabulary skills and searching for different words to use in writing.
- RW4GC – Read&Write for Google Chrome has a variety of tools – text to speech, talk&type, dictionaries, highlighters, PDF reader, website reader, vocabulary list builder, etc. A subscription is required.
- Rubrics – a great rubric allows students the opportunity to strive for a target. Co-creation with students helps them take ownership of their work as well.
- YouTube Playlists such as TED-Ed. Creating Playlists and sharing them on a classroom blog/website/GClassroom gives students the opportunity to rewatch key concepts whenever they like. TED-Ed has a fantastic set of video clips that teachers can utilize and also embed questions for student responses.
REPRESENTATION – resourceful and knowledgeable students.
- Book Creator for Chrome – this infamous book creation tool for iOS is available in Chrome. Free teacher account has 40 books in the library that can be used. Students can add text, images, audio, and video. A fantastic way to showcase student learning.
- Differentiated Reading Sources such as
- Newsela – differentiated reading articles in a variety of subject areas. Ability to change the reading level automatically (5 different levels). A great way to have ALL students reading the same information but at their level. Grades 3-12. Teachers create a free account and students sign up with a code.
- Tweentribune is much like Newsela, however, its interface is a little busier and does have a few more articles in Grades K-2 (not many but it does have some).
- Summarizers like
- Litcharts – online literature guides with a summary, themes, chapter reviews, character information. A solid backgrounder for students. Mainly for middle and high school years.
- Sparknotes is similar to litcharts. Advertising is a little annoying but the information is good.
- 60 Second recap is the brainchild of a quirky librarian that recaps middle and high school years books in video clip format. Teachers can use this to introduce, to recap, to review.
- Thug Notes YouTube Playlist – a raw version of how novels could be reviewed. Does contain inappropriate language yet the explanations are brilliant at the high school level. Highly recommend teacher preview.
- Online Reference Centre (Alberta access only)
- Resources for Division III – ELA resources have been vetted to fit directly into the curriculum.
- Division IV
- ReadWriteThink.org – supported by the National Council of the Teachers of English this site has a wealth of lessons, resources, student interactives, etc.
ACTION & EXPRESSION – strategic and goal-oriented students.
- Booksnaps with Google Slides, images, Bitmoji chrome extension. Take a text and showcase important information, facts and/or gems.
- Google Suite apps for education allow school divisions to provide a safe, collaborative, engaging and personalized environment.
- Hemingway Editor is a desktop app that allows students to see how their writing can be analyzed in order to improve. The free version gives an overview.
- National Novel Writing Month
- In the month of November, students can work on their writing via nanowrimo.org. The goal is to write 50,000 words (or a novel) in 30 days.
- New York Times Learning Network has an amazing array of resources from writing and image prompts to discussions to graphs to comments and even contests.
- Screencastify chrome extension provides the opportunity for videoing content on display. Easy to use and it save directly into GDrive (and even YouTube).
Just try ONE of these resources in your next ELA class. It WILL make a difference to your students engagement.
Going Virtual for PD
WOW, this morning was a blast working with teachers during the SWATCA convention in Southern Alberta. What was really great was that I could interact with participants even though I was 500km away!
My sessions included discussions and sharing on UDL and Digital Citizenship. The University of Lethbridge Tech department, ETCATA, PSD70 and SWATCA committee all allowed me this opportunity to connect, share and learn this morning. I want to thank them all for this experience.
My first session on Digging Deeper into Digital Citizenship showcased a draft document for K-12 teachers outlining various outcomes and strategies for teachers to use in their classrooms based on the following framework:
My second session focused on Supporting Diversity: Reaching Every Student via UDL in your Classroom. We took time to look at the three principles of UDL – multiple means of representation, action & expression, and engagement.
It’s always a great dar when I get to interact with Alberta teachers!
OTTOmaT3ch 