Tuesday, July 22, 2025
AVL Demonstration- Galileo Teen By Bailey Arnaud
Monday, July 21, 2025
AVL Demonstration Gale OneFile Science - Petty
Video: https://youtu.be/LB5WfQpiPSg
The resource discussed in this video is Gale Onefile Science. It has the intended audience of high school students in grades 9-12. It focuses on science journals and article publications in many different disciplines of science. The database has many user-friendly functions that allow students to easily search for topics while narrowing the topics down after the initial search. The database has a quick and easy way to store research in Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive, while also allowing students to highlight and annotate the documents. At the bottom of each article or journal entry there is a citation in many different formats including both MLA and APA formats great for English and science classes. I would use this resource in my class in multiple ways. Number one I would select an article that was related to the topic that we finished discussing in class. Then I would use AI to make a reading comprehension quiz and then discuss the article and the real world application of the topic that we discussed in class. Another way I would utilize the resource would be for students to research a topic off of a topic board and have a presentation of advanced topics in an independent study unit at the end of the year.
AVL Demonstration - PebbleGo
The resource I have decided to share is PebbleGo. It has two sections, one is a virtual library and the other is a collection of articles on different topics. It focuses on animals, biographies, science, and social studies. It contains printable worksheets for each topic along with videos that relate to the article. There are so many amazing things you can do with this resource! I would recommend this for K-2 but it could be used for older students in some cases. I hope you guys will check this out and utilize it in your own classrooms!
AVL - Demonstration Video - Sunshine Williamson
I chose two places to visit in the AVL website and shared about them. The first one I went to was the PBS website. I had never visited before and enjoyed exploring it. I went to the ARTS and then to the theatre page and viewed the makings of the Broadway show Annie. How wonderful to be able to access that and any English or Theatre class can enjoy. I think the PBS page can be used for so many classrooms. The second one I went to was under the High School link and was called Gale OneFile: Hospitality and Tourism. I have a dream to visit Greece so I showed some neat ways to explore that. My daughter teaches FACS and they cover some tourism so I plan to share with her some fun ways to use the AVL library.
Sunday, July 20, 2025
AVL Demonstration of Britannica High School Database
The Britannica High School database is a user-friendly option for students that can make the research easier for them to navigate. After going through and exploring the database, I determined that it provides students with many options to help them in their research ventures. Students have the opportunity to search for different topics and receive results just like any other database, based on articles, magazines, books, videos, and images. When going through these different resources that are provided students have a taskbar that helps them navigate through there is a reading level changer at the top that has three reading levels there is a translation button that translates all information two different languages there are different buttons that help students sort through the different types of resources that are available and there is a very visually pleasing aesthetic to the site that helps students be less intimidated by the amount of information being presented. One of the cool parts of Britannica is that it provides a tab for students to help and assist them; no matter where they are in their research process, they can start in the beginning stages, or they can be assisted later in their process as well by clicking a button. Teachers also have resources for Britannica as well as which gives options to help navigate through the site, as well as lesson plans and professional development opportunities through the site. I believe Britannica provides an important resource that teachers and students alike can gravitate towards without intimidation and a comfort level with research projects.
Saturday, July 19, 2025
AVL Demonstration GALE Kids Info Bits- Léah Spears
I chose the resource Gale Kids Info Bits to explore for this AVL demonstration assignment. This resource is intended to be used by elementary students. Gale has collaborated with academic institutions, schools, and public libraries around the world to empower the discovery of knowledge and insights that push the boundaries of traditional research and advance learners in all areas of life. Gale supports the mission of libraries and advocate their importance by helping libraries reach higher usage and demonstrate measurable value. I would use this resource for my upper elementary students to use for research papers and projects. In addition, I could also teach the younger students health lessons with this resource. I can display pictures and videos of nutrition or body systems on the view board for my visual and audio learners. These were just a couple of uses I found for my classroom, but there are many more. I think this is a great resource that all elementary teachers should explore. Below is a link of my AVL demonstration. This will help you navigate through the cite.
AVL Demonstration-Lin Slater (Consumer Health)
The AVL database I chose to explore during my demonstration was the EBSCO Consumer Health Complete resource. This database proved to be very helpful, offering a wealth of information on various health topics, including mental health, food and nutrition, substance abuse, conditions and diseases, and drug abuse. The focus on health-related issues would prove to be extremely helpful to middle school and high school health teachers.
This database provides a range of information, including articles on health and wellness, as well as e-books on various health topics. It also features a range of videos on selected health topics. There is also a link to over 800 medical fact sheets and pamphlets for general wellness tips and frequently asked questions. I could utilize this resource in my Health classes, as we cover a majority of these subjects. This database could help my students with their research and provide important information and tips on the subjects we cover in class.
AVL Demonstration: PebbleGo by Kaylee Howard
Link to video: https://youtu.be/xBsbXisyVbc
Throughout exploration of the Alabama Virtual Library's resources, I was able to further discover the database PebbleGo. This online research database is a kid-friendly platform allowing young learners to research different topics with ease. PebbleGo contains articles organized within four main topics: animals, biographies, science, and social studies. Within these topics, articles present a variety of information avaialble for students to research. PebbleGo is most useful in elementary-age students, ranging from 1st grade to 5th grade. Overall, its accessibility, resources, and information makes it very useful and applicable for supporting research in the elementary setting. As a first grade teacher, I believe this resource could easily be incorporated as an extension activity to allow students to independently research topics. I would love to use this during our social studies units to discover more about important American figures.
Friday, July 18, 2025
AVL Demonstration : Novels for Students
After exploring the resources available on the AVL website, I chose to research and learn more about the Novels for Students resource. Here you can find an e-book collection designed to help students understand and analyze commonly studied novels while connecting past writings and issues to the current time. This resource is easily accessible for teachers and students, and it offers a wide range of content novels specifically for the grade level of students you serve. Educators can find relevant and meaningful novels that connect to the education and reality of each student. Also, the Novels for Students resource includes author biographies, plot and chapter summaries, critical thinking questions, historical context information, and related subjects and articles for each novel provided. The novels are chosen by a panel of teachers and librarians to ensure the content is age-appropriate and meets students' needs. This source can be used to serve elementary, middle, and high school student along with college scholars. I recommend this source for individuals of all ages because there is something for everyone.
In my current position as a high school English teacher, I plan to utilize this source to allow students to pick out novels they are most interested in after being assigned a genre, topic, social issue, or reading skill. For example, the topic of "Father-child relationships" offers 4 novels related to this topic, and I will allow students to choose which story they want to work with for a project defining and analyzing characterization, plot development, and author choice.
AVL Demonstration Video - Tiffany Whitten
AVL Demonstration Video Link: https://youtu.be/-hbSYGlPoyc
For this assignment, I explored the EBSCO database resource known as the Teacher Reference Center. This resource is highly beneficial for both teachers and administrators, offering access to academic journal articles on teaching strategies, classroom interventions, and current topics across various content areas. It is designed to support professional growth of adult educators by providing evidence-based information to enhance instructional practice. In my video, I focused on a topic of great interest to me—accelerated mathematics—and how it impacts middle school students’ preparation for high school and beyond. Prior to this assignment, I had not used the Teacher Reference Center in depth, so this was a valuable opportunity to become more familiar with its features and consider its potential applications in my role as an educator.
Galileo Virtual Library Demonstration
https://app.screencastify.com/watch/R54XXtoEfI3CjsL3tuxk
Georgia’s virtual library, GALILEO, offers access to a diverse range of scholarly databases, academic journals, e-books, encyclopedias, and educational videos. Its focus is to support research and learning across disciplines, with content tailored for users from elementary school through college and beyond. For K–12 educators, GALILEO offers specialized resources, including Explora for Educators and ERIC, which provide lesson plans, peer-reviewed articles, and teaching tools. As a Physical Education teacher and Athletic Director, I can utilize GALILEO to find evidence-based strategies to support student fitness, develop health-related curriculum, and access professional development materials on topics such as childhood obesity, motor development, and inclusive physical activity. This resource is particularly helpful in ensuring that my teaching practices are grounded in credible research and aligned with state and national standards.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Alabama Virtual Library Demonstration- Ridge Watson
https://app.screencastify.com/watch/Mm4jew4I4z9qx8GnBtJZ
One resource that I found on the Alabama Virtual Library was EBSCO's History Reference Source. This resource is very helpful in discovering information for your research on historical events, people, and eras. There are hundreds of thousands of articles, books, journals, newspapers, and videos that are academically valid and reliable. These resources are a great option for academic research for an academic project. For example, in my AP World History class, I would give my students this link and source to use to find academic writing about a certain topic. They could filter through the database, searching for their specific topic with ease. This resource has easy search options and allows you to adjust filters for full text and PDF options. This resource would be perfectly useful for secondary education, including middle school, high school, and university students.
Saturday, July 12, 2025
App reviews
PE19.6.1
Anchor Standard 1: Motor Skills and Movement Patterns: The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.
PE19.6.3 Anchor Standard 3: Physical Activity and Fitness: The physically literate individual demonstrates the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness.
Nike Fitness App: https://www.nike.com/a/running-goals
The Nike Fitness app is an app that offers structured workouts. Structured workouts are vital for the middle school level kids that I teach. The kids must have structure, and the workouts must be broken down in a way that is understandable. Nike Fitness app offers exactly that for kids. The app offers techniques to ensure that one can understand how the form must be done for different exercises to allow one to perform the exercises the correct way. The Nike Fitness app is completely free; the majority of everyone in the world has an iPhone. This app would be great to use because it has all you need in one place. Routine, sets/reps, audio, and many more features that will give one the advantage of staying fit.
MyFitnessPal App: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/myfitnesspal
The MyFitnessPal app is a free app that can be used. This app is free and can be used on the iPhone as well as other phone carriers. The free premium of the app does not offer the same things as the other premium. The other premium prices can range from $19.99 a month to $79.99 a year, that is a price that will not suit well people. This app is an app that mainly tracks one food calorie intake, but this app allows one to be able to track their fitness goals. The app offers one to log their physical activity so that one can keep up with their progress. Progress and consistency are vital for results. I strongly believe this app is a great app to use because it allows one to track their overall calorie intake and log workouts to ensure one can maintain a stable routine. The routine is one of the main factors to one being able to see results and improve with form/technique.
FitOn: https://www.byrdie.com/review-fiton-app-5120926
The last app is called FitOn. This app allows one to perform several yoga movements. Yoga is vital to the longevity of life. Especially for the joints, stability and most importantly the muscles. FitOn is a platform that doesn’t just offer yoga classes, but there are classes on strength training and cardio. These different ways of staying fit have an instructor go along to give guidance in a way that will allow one to be able to be motivated with a partner virtually. FitOn is an app that is completely free. The more you want to improve your fitness goals, FitOn offers a premium that is worth $25/6 months or $30 a year.
Narrative:
I coach Track and football at Mcadory Middle School. I recommend the Nike Fitness App to all my athletes and students because the app has so much to offer. The app is completely free, and the app is set up in a way that cares about the civilians in the world. This app has structured my coaching philosophy in a way that has allowed me to gain an infinite amount of knowledge. The knowledge that I have gained and continue to gain allows me to pass the knowledge down to the youth so they can evolve at an exponential pace over my generation, perhaps they already have due to a revolution. The app offers core work, cardio, flexibility/yoga, and it challenges the kids each day after they are done with a workout. The motivation that is given at the end of a workout by an athlete or an instructor motivates one to come back eager for more work to get better.
App Reviews-Abbi Underwood
Standard Selected:
"Explain how authors use setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view to contribute to the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing. ” This is Standard 6.3, covering critical literacy in the Alabama Course of Study: ELA Grade 6.
So, think helping students recognize the tools authors use to shape a story’s meaning. It’s foundational for both reading comprehension and critical thinking, and it gives students a lens to explore not just what is written, but how and why!
App 1: BrainPOP!
BrainPOP brings literature concepts like theme, plot, and point of view to life with animated videos, vocabulary tools, and interactive quizzes. It’s a great entry point for kids who need visual reinforcement or quick, engaging explanations. It offers a free version with limited access; full access starts at $9.95/month for families or via school licensing. The app is designed for grades 3–8, and is compatible with iOS, Android, and web browsers.
Review Link: Brain Pop Review from Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit that evaluates educational content for quality and safety. Our family uses it a lot to pre-screen movies and shows before we allow our son to watch them. Their educator-focused reviews assess content accuracy, engagement, and pedagogical value, making them a credible source.
App 2: BookBreak
BookBreak offers livestreamed author talks (15–25 mins) for K–12, complete with Q&A sessions, lesson plans, and writing workshop integrations. These short, live author sessions give students the chance to hear about character development, setting choices, and how authors build theme or resolve conflict, all the elements we’re trying to teach. BookBreak is subscription-based at the school-building level, with district discounts and a Buy-One-Give-One model for under-resourced schools. It serves elementary and middle school students now; high school programming launching in 2025–26. It is fully web-based, accessible via tablets, Chromebooks, or desktops.
Review Link: BookBreak Review from Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly is a respected industry magazine. Their in-depth review highlights curriculum alignment, pedagogical support, and national recognition of the app!
App 3: Write the World
Write the World is an online community for teen writers where students can respond to weekly prompts, enter contests, and get peer feedback. It’s especially helpful for exploring things like character voice and point of view, and students can see how others handle similar writing challenges. It is completely free for educators and students, geared for ages 13–19 (middle and high school), and is entirely web-based.
Review Link: Write the World Review from Larry Ferlazzo
Larry Ferlazzo is an education advocate. He praises its "authentic audience" and peer review model. TeenLife notes global student participation, making these credible, classroom-centered sources.
My choice? Probably BookBreak.
While I believe all three apps enrich students’ skills toward meeting Standard 6.3, BookBreak stands out to me for middle school classrooms. There’s something special about students hearing directly from an author who created the world they’ve been reading about. When they get to ask, “Why did you write the character this way?” or “How did you come up with that ending?" it makes setting, plot, theme, and all those big literary concepts click in a deeper way. It brings the standard off the page and into real life. BookBreak helps students go beyond just identifying story elements. They start to understand why those elements matter. Plus, the lessons that come with each session are already aligned with what I’m teaching, which makes planning a breeze. The fact that it helps bring author access to schools that wouldn’t otherwise have it just seals the deal.
App Reviews- Kaitlyn Woodall
Standard: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4
Verbiage: "Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality."
To effectively support early math development in kindergarten and first grade, particularly with the standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4, I researched three educational apps that can be used to teach and reinforce the concept of connecting numbers to quantities. These apps—Nearpod, MobyMax, and SplashLearn—each offer interactive and age-appropriate learning experiences for children in grades K–2. In today’s classrooms, where digital learning tools are increasingly common, it’s critical for educators to select apps that are engaging, and easily accessible. These three apps support a range of instructional goals, from whole-group guided learning to individualized remediation and practice.
The first app I examined is Nearpod, an interactive presentation and assessment tool that transforms traditional lessons into engaging multimedia experiences. Teachers can use Nearpod to create or access lessons that include embedded formative assessments, interactive drawings, videos, and gamified quizzes. For kindergarten math, Nearpod offers pre-made lessons on counting, number recognition, and cardinality. For example, students may be asked to drag and drop counters to match a numeral or draw groups to represent quantities. The app encourages participation from all students, especially in a live session where responses are submitted in real-time. Nearpod offers a free basic plan, while premium plans with additional features and storage start at around $120 per year. It is compatible with all major devices and browsers, including iPads, Chromebooks, Android tablets, and laptops. The review from Common Sense Education (https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/nearpod), a widely trusted nonprofit known for evaluating educational technology, confirms Nearpod’s high quality in both design and instructional impact. For teaching this standard, Nearpod’s ability to visualize abstract number concepts and keep young students engaged makes it an excellent tool for whole-class instruction. Since it is a lesson made by the teacher, this app is great for all ages and all subjects! https://www.trustradius.com/products/nearpod/reviews/all
The second app I explored is MobyMax, a comprehensive digital learning platform that adapts to each student’s skill level. MobyMax is particularly useful for differentiated instruction in early grades, as it offers personalized learning paths in math and other core subjects. For the standard on counting and cardinality, MobyMax includes modules that teach number recognition, matching numbers to sets, counting in sequence, and comparing groups. These activities are presented through interactive animations, voice narration, and feedback that supports independent learning. One of the strongest features of MobyMax is its diagnostic tool, which identifies learning gaps and automatically assigns lessons to fill them. This is especially helpful for young learners who may be at very different levels in the same classroom. Although it can be used for all grades. The app is free for individual teachers and can be used on any internet-enabled device, including tablets, Chromebooks, and desktop computers. Common Sense Education (https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/mobymax), which reviews educational tools using a team of certified teachers, praised MobyMax for its comprehensive coverage of Common Core standards and effective use of adaptive learning technology. MobyMax is a strong candidate for small-group instruction or intervention settings, as it allows students to progress at their own pace while providing teachers with valuable performance data.
Lastly, I reviewed SplashLearn, a highly visual and gamified app focused entirely on math for grades K–5. SplashLearn is specifically designed to build foundational math skills in a fun, student-centered way. For K–2 students, it includes hundreds of activities targeting number recognition, one-to-one correspondence, counting objects, and identifying the correct numeral for a set—skills that align directly with CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4. The app uses colorful characters, rewards, and animations to maintain student interest and motivation. Teachers and parents can assign specific skills, monitor progress, and view detailed reports. SplashLearn offers a free version with access to a limited number of lessons and a premium version starting at $7.99 per month for full content access. It is available on iOS, Android, and through web browsers. According to Common Sense Media (https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/splashlearn), SplashLearn excels in both engagement and instructional value, making it a trustworthy resource for early math education. Its setup makes it ideal for young children who are still learning to navigate digital devices. In a classroom setting, SplashLearn could be used during math centers, individual practice, or even at home for reinforcement, helping students make strong connections between numbers and quantities through visual play.
While all three apps provide excellent support for the selected math standard, I believe MobyMax is the best overall choice for classroom use. Its biggest strength lies in its adaptability and diagnostic tools, which allow teachers to tailor instruction to each student’s individual needs. Unlike Nearpod, which is more suited for teacher-led lessons, or SplashLearn, which is heavily game-based, MobyMax combines structured skill development with data-driven progress tracking. It’s also completely free for individual teachers, making it both practical and accessible. MobyMax helps ensure that every student, regardless of their starting point, can master key number sense concepts through personalized, interactive instruction. For a standard that is foundational to all future math learning, this app will set the students up for success.App Review-Joseph Myricks
Standard:
PEWT.1
The physically educated student demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.
PEWT.2
The physically educated student applies the knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics related to movement and performance.
PEWT.3
The physically educated student demonstrates knowledge and skills to help achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness.
PEWT.4
The physically educated student exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.
PEWT.5
The physically educated student recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.
Nike Fitness App - Review Link
The Nike Fitness app has a variety of on-demand workouts, including strength training, HIIT, yoga, endurance, mobility, and core exercises, with options for both bodyweight and gym-based routines. It offers multi-week training programs that guide users through proper exercise form, mindset, nutrition, and recovery. Other features like guided meditations, wellness tips, and healthy recipes are also included, and it syncs with Nike Run Club or Google Fit for run data and heart-rate tracking. It’s completely free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and rated E for everyone. Reviews from this particular website are useful here because they specialize in fitness apps, offering deeper and more relevant insights than general tech platforms.
Couch to 5k App- Review Link
The Couch to 5K app is designed for beginners who want to ease into running with a structured 8–9 week plan that gradually builds you up from walking to running a full 5K (3.1 miles). It uses alternating run/walk intervals and includes in-app audio coaching with motivational cues to guide you through each session. The app also tracks stats like distance, time, and pace, and integrates seamlessly with Apple Health, Google Fit, WearOS, Samsung, and Fitbit. It’s free to download on both iOS and Android and is rated “Everyone” on Google Play and “4+” on the Apple App Store, making it accessible to users of all ages. Business Insider, a trusted media source and gave the app a review, highlighting its beginner-friendly design while honestly pointing out challenges, like the tougher workouts around week 5. The review gives a realistic take on what to expect, making it more helpful than hype.
Rackcoach App/ Program - Review Link
RackCoach is a program/ app designed specifically for weight rooms, making it easier for coaches to build, schedule, and display workouts for their athletes. It features audio and visual timers like whistles and countdowns to guide athletes through reps and tempo, creating a structured and efficient training environment. The app is free to download on both iOS and Android, with a 30-day free trial of the Pro Subscription, which unlocks more advanced features like detailed analytics and enhanced timers. After the trial, a paid subscription is required for continued access to premium tools. This app is rated 12+ on the App Store, RackCoach is ideal for both teens and adult athletes. Reviews from this website come from actual users and are pulled from platforms like the App Store and Google Play, offering unfiltered insight into user experiences and potential issues, without being curated by the developers.
Narrative:
As both a football coach and the strength trainer for all sports at my school, RackCoach is a great tool that helps manage and improve our athletic programs. This program allows me to track individual athletes’ progress in detail, making it easier to set personalized goals and share updates directly with each athlete. It also allows communication with other coaches both inside and outside our building so everyone stays on the same page regarding an athlete’s development and performance stats. One of the biggest benefits has been the built-in timing features, which help keep workouts and training sessions perfectly on schedule. This is crucial because it ensures we make the most out of every minute during our limited class periods, maximizing efficiency and allowing athletes to get the full benefit of their training without wasted time. Overall, RackCoach helps me stay organized, keeps our athletes motivated, and supports a more structured environment.
APP Reviews- Petty
ALSDE Standard: SC23.CHEM.2a Develop and use Lewis dot diagrams to model the formation of covalent and ionic bonds.
NearPod Review:https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/nearpod
NearPod is an app that allows teachers to present lessons to students in a more engaging way. Teachers can create their own lessons in the program or select an already existing lesson and modify it to their desire. Activities that can be implemented during the lesson include the likes of discussion boards, drawing, matching activities, review quizzes, and virtual field trips along with your already planned Google Slides or PowerPoint presentation. NearPod has three tiers for the individual teacher: silver (Free), gold ($159/year), and platinum ($397/year). Silver tier is the core of NearPod and it is personally what I use. Gold has more features like Google Slides integration and more activities along with an AI component. NearPod is completely adjustable to meet the needs of the students therefore making it suitable for K-12 applications, but could be used in university settings as well. NearPod is available on Apple, Google Play, Microsoft Store, and Google Chrome Webstore. It also has a web browser capability. The CommonSense review informs with great detail how to use it for teaching, what it is used for, and the quality of learning. This is a reputable website that allows teachers to see over 300 community reviews on the website as well.
Wayground/Quizziz Review: https://www.softwareadvice.com/student-engagement/quizizz-profile/reviews/
Wayground/Quizziz is an app that allows students to review the concepts that they have learned in class. Teachers can use the AI quiz creator function to import PDF files of the work that they have done in class and it can create a diversified assessment for the students with added suggested questions. Quizziz can also be used for an online assessment with adjustable accommodations for students in your class including putting the test/quiz in a different language. There are also test accommodations where the teacher can allow for “redemption” chances for students to correct wrong answers on the quiz. There are multiple game modes that the students can play and I have personally seen great engagement in this app in my class. Wayground/Quizziz has a free option for teachers and also has multiple paid tiers which ranges from $75 per month to $125 per month. The paid versions have more features built into them as one would expect. Wayground/Quizziz is appropriate K-12 and even businesses use it for training purposes. It is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play; there are also web browser capabilities. Software Advice is an appropriate review site because it sorts through how many people are in the business, how long they have used the product, lists the pros and cons, and gives honest reviews from people that have actually used the software.
Khan Academy review: https://www.bitdegree.org/online-learning-platforms/khan-academy-review
Khan Academy is an app that is a free online learning platform that accommodates K-12 learners that supplies videos broken down by units with topics along with practice questions and unit tests to guide them through the topics. Khan Academy is used for a variety of topics, but is praised for its math and science content. This can be used for first time instruction, supplemental instruction, or review. Khan Academy is completely free for everyone to use. Khan Academy has an intended use for K-12. Khan Academy is compatible on Apple App Store and Google Play. There is also web browser functionality. Bit Degree is an online learning community that seems to be very knowledgeable about different programs and provides fact checked reviews. The review is factual and provides the pros and cons of Khan Academy fairly.
Winner Winner: NearPod
In order to best teach my standard, I would use the NearPod app because of the engagement that I get with my students. I would supply them with the slides and then provide them with drawing activities to practice the skills virtually. I could also allow students to have a class drawing board to compare answers and discuss which drawing is the most appropriate structure. The flexibility of NearPod allows me to assess students in multiple ways that I see fit, and I get the most student feedback from using this application.
Friday, July 11, 2025
App Review
Standard: CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.B.2
Fluently divide multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithmApp #1: 99math
Link: https://www.educatorstechnology.com/2023/06/a-teachers-review-of-99math.html
What does it do?: Gamified fluency practice for a variety of topics in math. Typically, it is used as a bellringer, end of class exercise and fast fluency practice. This can be played independently, as a class or as a play at home game.
Cost: The program is completely free for teachers and students. There is a premium option, but it is not required.
Age group: This is program is usually used with grades k-8 (5-14 years old), but depending on the need, older students could use this program.
Compatible with: Can be used on a variety of devices such as tablets, computers, and smartphones. It is available as an app in Apple's App Store and on the Google Play store, it can also be used through a browser.
Credibility: Educators Technology has been referenced in research as well as news articles and is ran by a k-12 teacher. The reviews are non-biased and also provides FAQs for the reviewed material.
App #2: Quizizz
Link: https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/quizizz
What does it do?: Another gamified approach for different math skills practice. This game can be played as a class with an on screen scoreboard and individually through a shared link. The students can see the placement of other students and it does update in real time. The program also allows students to repeat the quiz again if needed and also gives them a chance to complete redemption questions to increase their scores.
Cost: Mainly free, there is a paid option as well. You can get everything you need through the free version aside from a few premium lessons or quizzes.
Age group: Grades 3-12
Compatible with: Computers, tablets and smartphones. There is also offline play as an option. Generally used through a web browser.
Credibility: Common Sense is a trusted site used by school districts to determine the effectiveness of programs and apps as well as the data safety of students. There is a site rating as well as user ratings to prevent bias.
App #3: Khan Academy
Link: https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/khan-academy
What does it do?: Provides videos, practice, assessment, checks and quizzes that show mastery of a skill. Khan Academy has a wide variety of skills to learn in a variety of subjects. It can be differentiated for various learners through their assessments that can be taken at any point and if a skill is mastered, then the video and practice requirement is not necessary for continuation.
Cost: Free but there is an AI that can be used for $4/month.
Age group: Grades 2-12
Compatible with: Computer, tablet and smartphones. There is app availability and it can be accessed through a web browser.
Credibility: Common Sense is a trusted site used by school districts to determine the effectiveness of programs and apps as well as the data safety of students. There is a site rating as well as user ratings to prevent bias.
My personal favorite:
Personally, my favorite app for the standard I chose is 99math. The program is designed to help with fluency and as the standard specially calls for that, I feel it is the most natural choice. 99math helps you see how students are doing as a whole and celebrates small victories as well as a top 3 making it a potential confidence booster for students. I feel like this is a good way to keep students engaged for quite a while and can be used at any point for a surprise quick check or a planned warm up. Between the versatility of the app and the quick information that it provides, I feel like this is the best choice for supporting the desired outcome of the standard.
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