4 Technology Tools to Help Struggling Learners

Hello all! I have two days left of work and they couldn't come fast enough. Although this was a great year, it was also a fabulous year.

In my job as a technology coach, I tend to pick a passion project and research the heck out of it. Last year I spent a ton of time researching virtual field trips and created a list of 250 possible field trips. This year, I'm working on organizing tools to help students with reading difficulties, writing struggles, weak executive functioning, and English Language Learners. Although I am compiling a big list of web sites, extensions, add ons, and apps, I'm going to tell you my favorite tool in each category!

Reading

Text Compactor is a super easy summarization tool.  You, or a student, can copy and paste text into the Step 1 box and move the slider in Step 2.  The slider determines the percentage of text that will be left in the summary.  You would then copy and paste the summarized information into a document!  this is great for students who are researching a topic online!

Writing

Google Voice Typing is amazing.  It is in Google Docs and allows students to dictate their thinking.  My so struggles with writing and he is a master at Google Voice Typing.  He speaks stream of consciousness and then has gotten super good at going back and editing!  As a plus, the voice typing also helps him work on speaking clearly and concisely.

Executive Functioning

Google Keep is another favorite tool of my son and I.  In Google Keep and can have "cards" for homework assignments, add to do lists, complete research than can be accessed through Docs, add pictures and colors, and organize by tags. When my son has a ton of big projects due, we create a To Do list in Keep and he share sit with me so we can both monitor progress!

English Language Learners

Read aloud does just that... reads content from the internet aloud!  It is a Chrome Extension and super easy to use!

I'm working on a database right now and so far I have 30 tools but I will definitely be adding more! Check out the database below and feel free to leave me a comment with your favorite accessibility tools!

Summer Inspirations: Week 3

Hello!  I know I'm putting this out early but I'm getting ready to go to Chicago for my PBS Summit and ISTE and I am super nervous!!!!  I can't remember the last time I traveled alone. My 12 year old told me not to worry.... I have an Uber app, I have Google Maps, and when in doubt I should ask a police officer for help.  I think that is solid advice.  Here are my #summerinspiration tips for Week 3!

If you are reading this on a mobile device click on each picture to enlarge it!

@Doinktweets

History with Tiffany

Teacher Tech with Alice Keeler

Wow in the World

Reviving Ophelia: Saving the selves of Adolescent Girls

Summer Inspirations Round Up - Click here to see all the current Summer Inspiration Weeks!

Enjoy Your Week!

Summer Inspirations: Week 2

I still have 10 work days left and today we actually had school cancelled because it is going to approach 100. New England is crazy! For those of you already on vacation, here are some inspirational people, accounts, and books to follow!

@gafe4littles

Tech Educator Podcast

Cult of Pedagogy

Learn Like a Pirate

Summer Inspirations Round Up - Click here to see all the current Summer Inspiration Weeks

Summer Inspirations: Week 1

Hey all!  I promised and my challenge to myself is to keep this up all summer long!  These books, accounts, and blogs can inspire you to kick it up a notch in your classroom next year... by the way, did I mention I'm not done till June 29th?!?! 9 snow days don't seem so fun now!!! 

If you have any suggestions for this Summer Inspiration list, enter it in the Form at the bottom of the post (You do not need to fill out the whole thing... just the stuff you want to suggest!)

Ron Clark Academy

@mrmatera #XPlap

Google Teacher Tribe Podcast

Ditch That Textbook

Hope and Wade King

Teach Like a Pirate

Summer Inspirations Round Up - Click here to see all the current Summer Inspiration Weeks

GreenScreen, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Summer Challenge.... Oh My!!!

Hey all! As usual, I'm apologizing for not blogging enough.  I always have the best intentions and then life takes over!  Life is pretty great in Engaging Them All Land.  Standardized testing is over so I'm finally back to helping teachers engage students and create life long learners.  I have been conducting a ton of virtual field trips, specifically the ones with Wild Earth TV and Safari Live. If you haven't heard of this, you must! Click here to see my original blog post of the experience!

I have also been doing a ton of green screen projects with teachers and students and they are loving it.  Teachers are starting to paint their walls green so they can easily integrate this into their students's learning next year! 

We have been fracturing fairy tales, making end of the year reading videos, traveling around the world, and hanging with penguins!

We also had a couple of fabulous visits from Google Expeditions and got to beta test the new Google Expeditions Augmented Reality content.  It was amazing!!!!

We saw volcanos explode, dinosaurs up close, and tornadoes twist!!!!!

I also got to use the Google Expeditions Virtual Reality software to teach some amazing sixth graders about World War II and the Holocaust.  I have worked with two amazing teachers over the years to create a technology rich end historical fiction station activity on World War II and the Holocaust.  One of the stations is using VR and Google Expeditions to travel to Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Iwo Jima, and the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

Click on the picture below if you would like all the resources for this station activity... for FREE!

Also, I had a really cool surprise... ish.  In May, I was named a 2018 PBS Digital Innovator All Star!

I am honored and way excited because I get to get back to work with PBS and my amazing local affiliate WGBH. Seriously..... have I told you how amazing WGBH is?

This month, the 30 PBS All Stars get to go to CHICAGO for the PBS Digital Innovator Summit and then I get to spend a day at.....

Can you tell I'm super excited?!?!?

So.... I actually came here to announce a challenge I am giving myself for the summer. I have been working with teachers all over my district and have been showing them how to use social media to up their ed game. To help them out, I am going to do a weekly post about...

Who should I follow on Instagram?

Who should I follow on Twitter?

What podcasts should I listen to?

What blogs should I read?

What YouTube channels should i be watching?

Wild Card! This will be something amazing that doesn't fit into the above categories!!!

I have a ton of ideas but I would also love to hear and share the things you love!  If you have any suggestions, fill in this form. You do not have to fill out the whole form.  If you have a super great podcast I should be listening to, just fill out that piece!  

I'm doing this to force myself to get back to my passion.... sharing with teachers.  I hope you will join me!

Summer Inspirations Round Up - Click here to see all the current Summer Inspiration Weeks