Rewordify Rewordify.com is not only the best text simplification tool I’ve seen, but it’s also a great way to teach vocabulary. Plus it’s totally free. The site has several step-by-step guides and tutorials that I have linked to throughout this post. Simplify Difficult Text Rewordify.com is the easiest way to simplify difficult text. Just copy… Read more
Looking for a quick way to create a new Google Doc? Just type doc.new and a new Google Doc will open instantly. The .new shortcut works for nearly all types of G Suite files. It’s also forgiving in allowing variations of the shortcut. For example, you can open a new Google Sheet by typing sheet.new,… Read more
My most popular EdTech Picks of 2018: choice boards, pineapple charts, backchannels, virtual field trips, great Google slides templates. Here’s a look back at my top picks. The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Choice Boards If you’re looking for an easy way to get started with digital choice boards, you definitely need to check out this… Read more
My sixth annual collection of TED talks for teachers features thought-provoking topics from unfounded fears about screen time to the important roles social justice can play in the classroom. Help for Kids the Education System Ignores – Victor Rios I cringe when I hear people suggest that underachieving students simply need to work harder. That… Read more
Make Writing Fun with Visual Writing Prompts Engaging writing prompts are an easy way to make writing fun. Every teacher needs a good collection of prompts, and the three sites below are full of great ones. The old saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words” just might prove helpful in moving students from asking… Read more
The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Leading Virtual Field Trips with Google Expeditions Google Expeditions – Beyond Virtual Field Trips From the bottom of the sea to the moon and beyond: virtual and augmented reality now enable us to take students virtually anywhere. The best part is that you only need a mobile device, no expensive… Read more
Calm – Meditation and Mindfulness Made Easy Previously named App of the Year by Apple, Calm is the most-popular app for meditation and mindfulness. Their guided meditations are the perfect introduction to mindfulness. Their Nature Melodies, Soundscapes, and Focus music tracks provide great background sound in many classroom settings. It’s available on iOS, Android, or… Read more
P.D. on the Potty – Professional Development as You Find Relief I’m always looking for new professional development strategies that respect teachers’ busy schedules and provide tools, tips, tricks, and strategies that teachers can implement right away Anyone who has spent any time in a school knows that on most days teachers barely have time… Read more
Save Time: Search Any Site Directly from the Chrome Address Bar Searching Google directly from the address bar of your browser is something most of us take for granted. Gone are the days of having to go to Google.com before entering your search. Chrome’s address bar, or “omnibox,” performs a Google search for terms entered;… Read more
Write a Letter to Your Future Self – Write Today, Receive an Email in the Future When I was in the fourth grade, Mrs. Mahoney had us write letters to our future selves and seal them in envelopes. We were supposed to open them upon graduating from high school. My parents came across mine while… Read more
