1. SlidesMania
I love Google Slides and used to spend hours making them look just right before adding the content. Then I discovered SlidesMania - what a game-changer! It has many beautiful templates and has saved me so much time! The slides are available in PowerPoint or Google Slides.This template, in particular, has been fantastic for distance learning!
2. Screencastify
Screencastify is a Chrome extension that has been key in creating lessons for my students. It saves your recordings to Google Drive, making it even easier to add to Google Classroom. There are options to record your screen, yourself, or a combination. It also has annotation tools!
It is a great resource to provide my students with a walkthrough of their independent work and my expectations. I also use Screencastify to give feedback to students on their assignments.
Here is a screencasting walkthrough of Google Jamboard, which you will see later on the list!
Here is a screencasting walkthrough of Google Jamboard, which you will see later on the list!
3. FlipBook
FlipBook turns any PDF into a book with pages that turn. It is a straightforward process and can be added to Google Classroom or as a link in Google Slides/Docs.
You can take decodable readers from Reading A-Z, articles, and any other resource that is in PDF form. It makes the content more engaging for students and looks like a book with pages you can flip.
Here is an example of what it looks like using a decodable text from Core Knowledge Language Arts. You can check out their free resources here.
4. Google Jamboard
I stumbled upon Google Jamboard while I was looking for a whiteboard app. One thing I have struggled with during distance learning is finding a way for my younger students to show their work or annotate a text, and Jamboard solved that problem! Added bonus - it easily integrates with Google Classroom because it is part of the Drive.
My students and I had never used Jamboard before the emergency closing, but my students could handle it since it is like a combination of Google Slides and a Promethean board. Here is an example of how I had my students work on digital task cards in Jamboard.
5. Wireless Headphones
I know this list is supposed to stop at 4, and this next item isn’t a freebie - but these wireless headphones have been an absolute lifesaver during distance learning, and I had to share. They are connected to my laptop and my phone. Much of my day is spent on Zoom, Google Hangouts, Screencastify, or watching a webinar, so these are perfect! They also have a built-in mic which has excellent quality for zoom-ing and recording.
Is there anything else that you love that isn’t on the list? Let me know in the comments.
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