Digital Classroom Tools

It is always nice having certain tools in one place rather than trying to find them in different locations or via different apps but I found a website that has many of the ones any teacher wants for day to day use.  I found one site that has so many different tools all in one place but you might not need to use all of them.

The site, Super Teacher Tools, has so many things one can use in the classroom. They offer a seating chart tool, a group making tool, and a random name generator through the instant classroom section.  It was easy setting up the account to use this and the first thing I had to do was set up the class group.  

Once the group was set up, I could then use the seating chart tool, the group making tool, and the random name generator because they rely on the group list.  The seating chart publishes the names in the order entered in the list but you have the opportunity to rearrange all the names into the configuration you want.  The group maker is nice because you can either set up groups based on the number of people you want in a group or the number of total groups you want to use. Finally, the random name generator takes the list of students and put them in random order showing just one name at a time.  The programs are quite basic, doing exactly what you want without any bells or whiles.  I don't know if I'd use the seating chart but I would use the other two.

To help things run smoother, there is a classroom timer which offers either a timer that operates like a stopwatch or you can set a countdown timer for days, hours, minutes, and seconds.  You can choose the exact time you want.  the clock is one of those that flips as it counts up or counts down, basic but it does the job you need. These clocks are easy to use and very intuitive.

Now for the times you need dice, they have a simulated dice app where you can choose the number of dice you want to use.  For instance, you can roll 5 dice to get numbers for students to use when they are practicing order of operations and want to add specific operations to find a certain number.  Or you can use two dice to provides numbers for binomial multiplication or even three or four dice to determine the trinomial you want students to factor.

There is also a customizable spinner where one can use numbers, names, and what ever else you want.  I see possible use of adding binomial factors to the spinner so the spinner can be used to find two factors for students to multiply together. Or put trinomials on the spinner for students to factor.  A spinner can be used for things other than stats.

Finally, there are four games one can use for reviews.  There is a jeopardy type game, a rocket review game designed to review basic facts, who wants to be a millionaire, or speed match.  All four allow you to  create your own games that target specific skills.  Although most of these give you the option to search for a game, I found very few and the ones I found were a few years old.  

This site has several things teachers use on a regular basis but they are all basic without any bells and whistles.  This may have something you like so check it out. Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  have a great day.