5 Tech tools that make teachers’ jobs easier
Guest Post by Jessica Sanders
There are some things that will never get easier as a teacher, like transitioning back into a new school year or dealing with students right before holiday break. However, there are many other things that you can make easier, like managing reading logs or keeping student grades organized.
If you want to make this year as stress-free as possible, add these apps to your teacher toolbox. You won’t just save time and energy; you’ll save your sanity too.
Keeping all student info organized, from grades to personal notes, can be stressful, especially if you’re doing it with pen and paper. Instead, use TeacherKit to streamline this data collection. Simply add your students, collect information about behavior, attendance and grades, and then view it in one glance-and-go spot (their student card), or share information directly with parents via email.
You can also use this app to organize a digital seating chart, or export data for parent-teacher conferences and student interventions.
Check it out here.
Having students keep manual reading logs is bothersome for you and them—they have to carry around an extra notebook, and you have to collect them and carry them home on a regular basis.
Transition to Whooo’s Reading, an interactive, online reading log, where students can track their reading and answer CCSS-aligned comprehension questions online. With this tool, teachers are also able to score and give personal (private) feedback to each and every student immediately, improving student-teacher engagement and reducing the number of things you have to bring home.
Check it out here.
Parent-teacher communication is one of the biggest headaches for educators. Keeping emails organized and getting parents to read the message is always difficult. Remind allows you to upload parent cell phone numbers and send group or private messages quickly and easily. You can also schedule your messages, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to write an announcement or reminder email, for example.
Check it out here.
Like Google Docs, Live Binders allows you to keep online resources organized and easily accessibly from anywhere with an Internet connection. Add resources at the beginning of the year, and share the class binder with students, so they always have access to important forms.
You can also use it to share rubrics, field trip permission slips and at-home exams. Take advantage of Google Docs integration to bring any items you already have stored online into this new location.
Check it out here.
This simple tool will make it easier than ever to call on a variety of students without having to think about who you chose last. Simply add names and click the “Click to Spin” button. Turn the volume up on your computer so students can hear the spinning noise, followed by a crowd cheering when a student is chosen, or keep it on silent so they don’t know what you’re doing.
Check it out here.
There are hundreds of tools that could help make teachers’ lives easier. It all depends on what you struggle with. These tools can help to alleviate some of the most common teacher problems, but your toolbox may be even more effective if you add more great finds throughout the year.
About the author: Jessica Sanders is the Director of Social Outreach for Learn2Earn, an online fundraising platform that allows students raise money by reading books. She grew up reading books like The Giver and Holes, and is passionate about making reading as exciting for young kids today as it has always been for her. Follow Learn2Earn on Twitter and Facebook, and send content inquiries to social@learn2earn.org.
