Study Area and Tools

Preparing your student's study area

Set Up a Quiet Study Space

Create a distraction-free area for your student to participate in microschool activities. Ideally, use the same space daily to establish a consistent study routine.

Make sure your Internet Is Fast

Ensure your student has a stable and high-speed internet connection to avoid any disruptions during class sessions.

Supervise Younger Students

For younger students, parents should supervise during the first day or until they feel confident in their child's ability to participate independently.

Preparing your student's study tools

Download and Install Zoom

Ensure you have downloaded Zoom and installed it on a PC or Apple computer (avoid using a phone, tablet, or Chromebook, as they may lack full functionality). Have your student sign in to Zoom and test their microphone, video, mute, video on/off, raise a hand, screen share, and chat functions to ensure proper functioning.

Familiarize yourself with Google Workspace

Ensure your student is acquainted with Gmail, Documents, Sheets, and Slides, as they will be used frequently in class. We will provide support for learning these applications, but students should have a basic understanding beforehand.

Familiarize yourself with Toddle

Clean Up Google Chrome & Add Extensions

Remove all bookmarks from Google Chrome except for Clever [link here]. Please also add at least the essential Chrome extensions below:

Essential Extensions

Clever Chrome Extension for instant login
Grammarly: Grammarly helps students improve their writing by checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. It also offers suggestions for better word choices and sentence structure.
Read&Write: Read&Write is a powerful tool that provides reading, writing, and research support. Features include text-to-speech, word prediction, and a dictionary, among others. This extension is particularly helpful for students with learning difficulties or those who need extra support.
BlockSite: Block unecessary websites and stay focused.

Useful Extensions

Google Dictionary: This extension allows students to quickly look up the definition of words they come across while browsing the web. They can simply double-click a word, and a small pop-up will display the definition.
Google Keep: Google Keep is a note-taking app that allows students to quickly jot down ideas, create to-do lists, and set reminders. Notes can be synced across devices and shared with others.
OpenDyslexic: OpenDyslexic is a Chrome extension that changes the font on web pages to a more readable format for individuals with dyslexia. The OpenDyslexic font is designed to increase readability by adding visual weight to the bottom of letters, which can help reduce letter-swapping and confusion.
Color Enhancer: Color Enhancer is an extension that allows students with color vision deficiencies to customize the color settings on their browser. By adjusting the color filter, students can enhance their browsing experience and make web content more accessible and easier to read.
Forest: Forest is a productivity app that encourages students to stay focused by growing virtual trees. When students want to concentrate on a task, they plant a tree, which grows as long as they stay focused and avoid browsing distracting websites.