J Hudson-McQueen Apps Review

ISTE: Standard 4. Innovative Designer

Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful or imaginative solutions.

 

www.sitejabber.com/reviews/classroom.google.com

https://classroom.google.com

 

You must have a google email account to be connected to Google Classroom. Google Classroom accounts for teachers and students are free, however, your education institution must register for the Google for Education platform. Google Classroom allow the teacher to create, organize, and communicate with the students involved in that class. Google Classroom is simple to use and was huge during the pandemic. During the pandemic collaboration was extremely important. Teachers were able to add students by name and send them a code to join the class. After the teachers created a class to provide assignments with students and students were able to complete and return the lessons for a grade. Students can see what assignments are listed when the assignments are due. Google Classroom can also be used in the classroom and whole group participate. With Google Classroom teachers can send messages and post announcements to everyone in the class on the “stream” page.  Google classroom can be used from grades Pre-K through 12 grade. 

A free trial for Parents: https://go.brainpop.com › access-free-stuff › family

Educator access code: https://educators.brainpop.com

www.sitejabber.com/reviews/brainpop.com

 

Brain Pop is used world-wide by teachers. Dr. Avraham Kadar founded Brain Pop in 1999 as a creative way to explain difficult concepts to his young students. BrainPOP provides engaging learning games, animated movies, and activities. BrainPOP provided reflective learning by challenging students to reflect, make connections, and engage in deeper learning. Brain Pop is provided through BrainPOP Jr. (K-3). BrainPOP and BrainPOP ELL. Brain POP Jr encourages young learners to ask questions and form their own ideas through STEM, Social Studies, Reading, Writing, Health, and Arts. BrainPOP provides resource such as STEM, Social Studies, English, Art, Health and Music for upper elementary and middle school students. BrainPOP ELL provides an English language learning program in vocabulary, grammar, listening, reading, and writing for all ages. BrainPOP provides animated movies that engage students through narrative, humor, and characters who speak in a voice student can relate. BrainPOP encourages self-focused learning and further exploration through Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Social Studies, and Reading. I would and have used this app during science and social studies. It is an awesome tool with assisting students with comprehending topics.

 

www.ixl.com

www.trustpilot.com/review/ixl.com

IXL is an education platform that can be used at school and at home. Most educational institutions must pay for a subscription for IXL.  Teacher set up students with a username and password. Student will sign in with that username and password. IXL is useful to bridge gaps in education. I provide certificates of achievement for completed and mastered exercises.  IXL provides subjects by grade levels Pre-K trough 5^th in math, reading, science, and social studies. On the teacher view, the teacher can see the growth of each student, which students are working, and which are not. Teachers can assignment lessons to students based on their particular needs. A teacher can get a visual of the students’ knowledge with IXL's Real-Time Diagnostic that identifies the students' level of proficiency in key math and English skills. I use IXL frequently. Being special education teacher, most times there are skills that need to be revisited. This is a great tool to use. The students love receiving the rewards and certificates.

 

It's difficult to choose between these apps. I really love them all. I would choose IXL because it provides so very many skills and skills levels. It also provides all the subjects. I love that it provides instant rewards and certificates to the students which make them more excited to continue practicing. IXL lets you view real-time activity that is going on with your students, even if you are at home and the students are at home. IXL allows you to allow you student to work of skills that are on their functioning grade level.