Read and Write Extension for Google Chrome

Read & Write

Sign into Chrome, go to Chrome App Store, and add Read & Write.  Use this link to receive Free Premium Account for teachers:

https://rwchrome.texthelp.com/drive/Home/RegisterTeacher

Students receive premium features for 30 days and after that, have Read Aloud and Translate features.

If you highlight a word, you can select dictionary, picture dictionary, fact finder (web) and it will give you the information.

Read Aloud:  If you click “play button”  will begin to read aloud all text.  You can click “pause” (double bars) to stop at any point and text will remain highlighted.  If you click “stop” (black square”, highlights go away.  In settings, you can change voice, speed.  Screenshot reader will allow you to choose part of text, immediately load, and begin reading.  Be sure to click off of it to reset.

HIghlight tool:  choose words to highlight (can choose different colors), and will collect to Google Doc with a link to the original doc.  If you want to create a vocabulary list, choose vocabulary icon (3 dots/3 bars) and will create a vocabulary page with definitions, pictures, and notes tab all in table form.

Simplify Page for websites is another tool.  For example, if you are on Wikipedia, and you want to take away distractions or just simplify page for younger readers, click icon (4 bars with arrow down) and it will take you to new tab with website simplified.

On PDFs, you can annotate, comment, etc.  You have option to open PDF with R & W.  

There is translator feature to translate text to several languages.  

Any website or Doc that the R & W is purple, you can use it.

****This extension is an invaluable tool for struggling readers. The Read Aloud feature can be adjusted in settings for speed and also, the type of narrator (male, female, and accent). I wish all the premium features were free for students but, since teachers receive a free premium account, you can still use as a teaching tool.

Wizer -Interactive Worksheets on Steroids!

C-Span and PBSkids.org help explain the election process

With the Presidential Election rapidly approaching, here is a great resource for explaining the Electoral College from C-Span Classroom.  Richard Byrne shared this on freetech4teachers.com

There is also a website from PBS Kids called “The Democracy Project”.  Here is the link:

http://pbskids.org/democracy/

It has great resources to help students understand the voting process and why voting is important.  There are free templates to create a campaign poster and an interactive map that describes how government affects everyone.

PicLits Creative Stories Through Pictures

Safe and Great Search Engines for Students!

http://www.kidtopia.info/

Kidtopia is a great search engine for children in grades K-5. They learn to do simple research, or just browse through age appropriate topics. Find stories, videos, pictures, homework help, and more.  It was created by school librarians and only uses websites recommended by teachers and school librarians.  It is a Google custom search engine with just the info students are looking for and without the ads, etc.  

http://www.kiddle.co/

 Kiddle, powered by Google’s safe search, is a visual search engine that aims to help preserve kids’ innocence by making certain searches off limits.  

The site looks similar to regular Google as far as color scheme -- but instead of a white background, kids are greeted by a robot alien in outer space.

After a child inputs a search, the first three results that pop up will be pages written specifically for children. The next three results will include content written in a kid-friendly fashion. The final eight or so results will include content written for adults, but screened for certain unsavory words. All results are handpicked and checked by Kiddle editors, according to their site.

Should a child veer off the kid-oriented path that Kiddle has paved, the site’s guard robot will block the search. Kiddle’s privacy policy also aims to help keep kids safe.

Mystery Science Free through end of year!!!

Mystery Science  is offering a free membership through the end of the year.  It has a complete science curriculum for 2nd - 5th grades.  Each lesson is aligned with Common Core and NGSS.  Each “Mystery” is an activity, short series of videos, and discussions.  Each hands-on activity is based on simple supplies you already have in the classroom or at home.  There are PDF print outs, parent letters, and videos with demonstrations for the activities.  

https://mysteryscience.com/

RealTimeBoard.com Awesome!