Tech Tools for
Classroom Mgmt
On this page:
Feedback & Training
Timers
Name pickers
A collection of other tools like: .pdf annotators, how to download YouTube videos, screencast tools, projecting your screen
Text to speech
Dictation
Google Classroom
Edmodo
Seesaw Learning & many more
Classroom Tools
Feedback & Grading
Many apps allow you to leave comments for students, from Microsoft Word to Google Slides...use it! Additionally, most Learning Management Systems (see below) allow you to leave comments. Here are additional apps:
FloopEdu allows students to take a photo of anything they are working on, send it within the app and ask for help on certain parts of their work. You can comment back, and give students pointed feedback. Additionally students can comment on each others' work anonymously.
Spaces - Students can create portfolios and can assign standards to their posts--"makes it easy to capture, assess, and share student growth." Students can upload photos, videos, create audio recordings, files, links, journal, reflect, show growth over time. Integrates with Google Classroom and other platforms.
Quick Grade Scale If you're like me, this tool saves tons of time... you tell it the # of points possible, then plug in the student score, get the student's percentage.
GradeCam Make grading easy...see this video: https://gradecam.com/gradecam-go/
Timers
Countdown Timer Scroll down for a list of all kinds of timers!
Radial Timer (colors vs. #s) - search it, comes up in YouTube at different intervals 10, 20 min. This link is the 5 Min timer, you can also choose 20, 10 min.
Zero Noise Countdown Timer A Chrome extension. The first # is the time, the second # is the class noise level (you'll have to play with it to see what level you want it at).
Random Name Pickers
Random Name Picker Click Edit and paste your students' names into the box. Choose to Save and it will generate a URL for you...bookmark it to easily go back to it!
Tools for Parent Communication
Apps and Websites for Parent-Teacher Communication A list from Common Sense Media
Other Great Tools
10 Teacher Picks for Best Tech Tools Via Edutopia, 2/21
Download a YouTube video to your computer - Save from Net
Screencastify Create videos for your students, for a flipped classroom, for directions, for whatever you can imagine!
Loom Free component, record your screen, yourself or both!
Slidesgo Free templates for PowerPoint and Google Slides
Taking screenshots on a Chromebook, the quick & dirty guide
CleverPDF Convert your .pdf to Word, Pages and many other formats, and vice versa. Free.
Whisper If your students are working on computers, Chromebooks or iPads using Chrome, you can use this Chrome extension to send a message to the class to get their attention. Imports your class from Google Classroom.
Free tool to manage your library from Book Source
Chrome extensions for teachers There are a ton here, you'll have to try some and see what you like.
Quick Google Form Timesavers for Teachers
EDPuzzle Use any video and track student understanding
Wizer- Create interactive worksheets that can include video, quiz questions & essays. Free.
Sending your computer/tablet/phone to a projector
AirPlay Stream your iPhone or iPad to Apple TV
Project your Chromebook (video)
AirParrot Share your screen to any device
Reflector App Mirror your device to big screen
Accessibility Tools
Text to Speech in Chrome: Get the add-on "Speak It!". Once you've added it, highlight the selection, and click the speaker icon.
Text to Speech in Safari: Highlight the text, then Edit, to Speech, then Start Speaking. If you want to change the voice, go System Preferences to Text to Speech.
Dictate is a new free add-in for Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
For Students with eye problems: Teach students how to zoom in and out of browser (some students you don’t realize can’t see the text!!) It’s usually Control & + or Control & mouse wheel on a PC, and Command + on a Mac
Other add-ons: This doc (created by Steve Wick & Melissa Wilson) has tons of tools, apps and add ons for Chrome and Google Classroom
Translation Tools (for students and parents):
On the iPhone and iPad (and probably iTouch) there are voices in Arabic, Russian, Spanish and Turkish, you find it in Settings>General>Accessibility>Speech>Voices Once this is set, when you tell your iPhone to Speak, it speaks in that language.
To communicate with parents (and students if needed!): TalkingPoints Free to teachers
There are a bunch of apps (iPads/iTouch) to help Ss learn English, here are a few:
Free Apps to Support Vocabulary Acquisition by ELLs has some apps for EL students- from 2013
Best Mobile Apps for ELLs from Larry Ferlazzo
Beelingual app Features side by side reading (2 languages) and pronunciation help. New app, so reading library may be a bit limited. Some books are free and some you must pay for.
Learning Management Systems (LMS)
I listed the free services first (always my first choice!!). If you want a little more explanation, see Part 3, Tech Tool Basics
Google Classroom Free! Tutorial: How to use Google Classroom with a gmail address (if your school is not a “Google for Education” account). I have used Classroom and consider it very effective and easy to use.
Your First Day with Google Classroom Training/video from Google
K-2 Ideas for using Google Classroom and GSuite in your classroom from Susan Stewart
ClassDojo Free! Lots of people use ClassDojo!
Edmodo - Free! I used Edmodo before I started with Google Classroom, and I liked it a lot as well, but it's probably better for elementary (that's why I switched to Classroom). It also allows for sharing among teachers who use Edmodo--lots of support.
Powerschool Learning (used to be Haiku Learning, acquired by Powerschool) Free as a solo teacher, up to 5 classes, can subscribe if you want more features.
SeeSaw Free or subscription upgrade
Schoology Subscription service
Canvas Subscription service, you can get a free trial.
Otus Subscription service
Tutorials and Lesson Plans
ShowMe has tutorials on everything - good place to get ideas and how-tos
Free Technology 4 Teachers has quite a few tutorials
Shake Up Learning Tons of resources, cheat sheets, presentations, especially for Google products
Reviews on Educational Websites, Apps, Games
Brain Breaks
Swortkids App, free, iOS and Android, here's an explanation.
Energy and Calm: Brain Breaks and Focused-Attention Practices
GoNoodle Sign up for the Free Educator account
Movement Breaks Archives from Responsive Classroom
Activities that Prime the Brain for Learning from Edutopia
This page is Part 2 of Technology in the Classroom: Tools for Classroom Mgmt
For more resources check out...
Part 1: EdTech Resources
Part 3: Tech Tool Basics for how to get started
Part 4: Digital Citizenship resources