10 Cool Tools

1: Newsela https://newsela.com/

• News and ELA combined
• Helps students develop critical thinking skills aligned with common core
• Teachers can view students' progress to see strengths and areas for improvement
• Students can read the same text at their own levels

2: Glogster www.glogster.com

• Students with fine motor disabilities can create a poster on here instead of cutting and gluing
• Students can combine text, images, and videos on online posters either individually or in collaborative groups
• Allows students who struggle with logic and reasoning skills to have repeated attempts while creating their poster
• Allows for manipulation of elements

3: InstaGrok www.instagrok.com

• Search engine for students
• Generates a web of resources including videos, pictures, and articles
• Interactive experience of searching for content
• Includes note taking tools, journals, ways to post assignments, and quizzes
• Great tool for students learning about the research process

4: Duolingo www.duolingo.com

• Language-learning app
• Great tool for ESOL students
• Provides learners with a step-by-step learning path designed personally for them and to challenge them
• Engaging and easy to use

5: Plotly https://plot.ly/

• Way to create data graphs and present
• Helps students visually represent and interpret data
• Teachers can collect assignments online
• Students can collaborate within the classroom and with other classrooms

6: Socrative www.socrative.com

• Runs assessments from any device
• Creates instant class reports and student level reports
• Teacher creates assessments with multiple choice or open ended questions
• Gives teachers instant feedback on students' results

7: Poll Everywhere www.polleverywhere.com

• Helps teachers gather live audience/class responses anywhere or anytime
• Ask the audience a question, they answer using mobile devices, and the results show up live on the web or in a Powerpoint
• Easy to use and instant feedback

8: Popplet http://popplet.com/

• Can be used on an iPad or on a desktop
• Using a mini-map, Popplet helps students think and learn visually
• Capture facts, thoughts, and images and create relationships between them

9: Nearpod http://www.nearpod.com/

• Engage students with fun and interactive content through any device
• Collect and share student responses instantly through reports
• Track student comprehension in real time
• Teachers have the option to create lessons or chose from Common Core aligned lessons available (HUGE variety of topics available)

10: Story Bird http://storybird.com/

• Participate in digital storymaking
• Teaches media literacy and online social interaction
• Allows teachers to create online classroom library with resources and student creations
• Teachers can create assignments and lessons
• Students can read and comment on each other's work while teachers can easily give feedback