Favorite Apps for Chromebooks - Language Arts

Language Arts teachers have quite a few apps available for their use in the classroom.  Here's some of my favorites that I recommend to my teachers!


1) Google Apps for Education - ok, that's a no brainer!  Google Docs allow for creation, communication, and collaboration!  Students can peer review each others work ("3 before me!" is one of my favorite quotes), do research directly from gDocs, create their Works Cited, and much more!  Through the use of Google Classroom, teachers can more easily distribute and collect assignments; thus, becoming a paperless classroom.  I've not found much not to love about GAFE!

 

2) EasyBib - EasyBib is a Google Docs add-on. EasyBib allows you to automatically cite boots, journal articles, and websites by entering in titles or URLS.  You can format your citations in either MLA, APA or Chicago style. It also helps students learn about plagarism and copyright.

3)  Newsela - Newsela contains high-interest, non-fiction articles whose reading level can be adjusted by Lexile scores.  These articles offer comprehension quizzes, also based upon reading levels.  Teachers can assign articles and Lexile levels to their students and track their progress over time.  Now all students in your classroom can read the same article at their own level.  Helps to support differentiated learning in the classroom.

4)  iStoryBooks - iStoryBooks contains free, interactive children's books.  These books are read aloud to the student.  These books are primarily geared towards Pre-K through 1st grade.  New books are published every 2 weeks.

5)  Kindle Cloud Reader - Kindle Cloud Reader works with Amazon's Whispersync service to distribute eBooks to your students and then "collect" them when finished.  Students can look up the meaning of words, hear them pronounced, create notes, and bookmark their book virtually.  No more lost library books!

6)  Overdrive - Check out eBooks from your local library.  No more late/lost book fees.   Great to expand your student's reading choices from what is just available in your classroom/school.  

Next post - Science apps for Chromebooks!

Favorite Apps for Chromebooks - Math

I get asked a lot about what apps do I recommend for using with our Chromebooks.  Over the next couple of weeks, I'll post about apps for each content area that I like.

This week, let's talk about math.

Math teachers sometime feel slighted by Chromebooks because they don't think they can use them in their class.  They couldn't be more wrong!  Here's a few of my favorite apps!

1) BuzzMath -  BuzzMath is primarily used by middle school (grades 6-8/years 7-9) math teachers. It works with the BuzzMath website.  Both teachers and parents can create accounts and assign topics or lessons based upon the Common Core standards.  Teachers can track student progress as a class and as individuals.  If a student does not demonstrate proficiency in an assignment, then they will given remediation practice until they can.  Each student can work at their own pace, based upon the teacher's assignments.

2)  Splash Math -  Splash Math is for grades Kindergarten-5th grade/ years 1-6.   These games are also aligned to Common Core standards.  Teachers can create their classrooms, enroll students, and also monitor their progress.  This application also is a link to the SplashMath website.  Splash Math, like BuzzMath, allows parents to create and account as well to provide further math skills practice for their children.

3)  IXL - IXL can be used by students in Pre-K - High School/years 1-13.   Like the other two apps mentioned previously, both teachers and parents can create accounts and assign lessons to their students.  Activities on IXL are also based upon the Common Core or specific state standards.  A version also exists for other countries as well (such as New Zealand!).  This application also links to the IXL website.  Practice lessons are also available for Language Arts as well.  

Other apps that are more commonly known include:

• Khan Academy
• GeoGebra
• Desmos Graphing Calculator

For teachers, some apps/add-ons that might be helpful in creating assignments, documents, etc:

• g(Math) - Google Docs add-on for adding equations, fractions, and formulas as well as graphs directly in your document.
• Daum Equation Editor - an equation editor that lets you save directly to Google Drive.

Hope this helps!  Next post, we will talk about Language Arts apps.  Until then, Cheers! 

Welcome to EdTech4Schools Blog!

Here I hope to share tips and tricks that will make your life as a teacher. library media specialist, or even administrator easier through the use of technology.  I will also post reviews and evaluations of apps, extensions, websites and more.  

Here's to creating, communicating, and collaborating together!