Diverse Learning

Google Apps & Extensions To Support Learning & Productivity

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been introducing a variety of Google apps to Years 4 and 5 to support their learning. These apps include speech to text, text to speech, summarising, readability-which clears a webpage of distractions making it easier to read, spelling & grammar checkers, mindmaps and other productivity apps. 

I have shared with each student OLF Great Chrome Apps and Extensions 2020.docx  (example below) with all the recommended apps listed, with a short description, a link to the Chrome Webstore for downloading and if possible a short explanation video. The Google app doc has been divided into categories, each category has a variety of apps included, most of which are FREE!  Not every app will be needed as I have listed multiple apps under each category to support personal choice and also at any one time one of the free apps may not be working. Students have been shown how to download and pin a Chrome app or extension to their toolbar.

Read & Write for Google & Co:Writer (refer to the linked document above) are both excellent apps to support a student’s literacy. These 2 apps do have a cost but a free version is available for your child to trial first. You would not need to purchase both as they do similar things.  These apps are also great support for high school and beyond.

If your child is in Yr 4 or 5 (Year 6 had their lesson and this doc shared last year), ask them to show you the various apps they downloaded and how they are used.  I think many of you will be downloading certain apps to use yourselves (as have myself and many teachers)  as they save a lot of time. Enjoy!

Mrs Janelle Schembri

Diverse Learning Teacher