Whether multiple students are adding data to a class spreadsheet or I’m sharing a sheet with colleagues, real-time collaboration is my favorite feature in Google Sheets. Unfortunately, it’s easy for collaborators to make changes to the wrong cells. Now it’s easier than ever to view the edit history of a cell in Google Sheets. While… Read more
Note: Google Classroom does this automatically for any assignment that includes a Google file. Google Docs Templates Sharing templates through Google Drive is a great time saver for teachers. You could share a “view only” version of your file and require students to go to File>Make a Copy. Unfortunately, this often results in your inbox… Read more
Phenomena for NGSS True inquiry often starts with an anomaly or at least an engaging hook to elicit curiosity. Phenomena for NGSS is an ever-growing collection of engaging phenomena, in the form of images and animated GIFs; it’s a must-have resource for any science teacher. Throughout Next Generation Science Standards resources, you’ll notice a clear… Read more
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
Note:Google Expeditions was shut down on June 30, 2021 and has been relocated to the EdTech Graveyard. Check out these alternatives to Google Expeditions. 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… 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,… Read more
