Tech Tip Tuesday

• WriQ Chrome Extension
• Read&Write free premium access for all teachers
• 21st Century Classroom Strategic Technology Integration 6 part series

User Guide Click Here

Download the Chrome Extension Click Here

Overview

Create better writers, reduce teacher workload, and track progress over time.

WriQ is a writing achievement tool, made by Texthelp, that helps teach students the art of writing. Students can work with greater independence and teachers have less grading to do. Teaching writing can be a challenge but with the right tools in place it can be rewarding and more importantly fun!

To help your classes work on their writing skills, the software provides nudges and reminders to encourage students to do a little better each class. It’s tailored to suit each student’s needs, regardless of ability.

By using WriQ, students can:

• See their own progress •
• Get immediate feedback on their work without teacher input •
• See badges and goals to work towards • See where to make improvements and work independently

By using WriQ, teachers can:

• Save time, as spelling, punctuation, grammar and vocabulary checks are done automatically •
• Give meaningful feedback and motivation directly to your students. •
• Use data to identify patterns in writing performance. •
• Track progress and support curriculum planning •
• Use the WriQ score to compare across the class, the school, the district or even the state •

Work seamlessly with Google Docs and Google Classroom You can download this free version to get a taste of what WriQ can do during a 30 day free trial. Just keep in mind that the premium version will allow you full access to all the reports and stats you need.

User Guide Click Here

Read&Write for Google is an easy-to-use toolbar that makes documents, files and web pages more accessible. Read&Write is a big confidence booster for anyone who needs a little support with their reading and writing, at school or in the workplace. And its friendly literacy features help English Language Learners, as well as people with learning difficulties or requiring dyslexia tools.

All K-12 teachers receive FREE premium access to Read&Write! Download it here & register your account!

• Hearing web pages and documents read aloud to improve reading comprehension, with choice of natural voices and adjustable reading pace

• Understanding unfamiliar words with text and picture dictionaries

• Developing writing skills with word prediction and a grammar, spelling and confusable words checker

• Supporting independent student research with valuable study skills tools

This is the first video in a 6 part series that is a step by step approach to technology integration into the classroom. This series really is an excellent resource for all teachers, beginners to advanced technology users. In the video Sam explains the urgent need for educators to take a strategic approach to how we use technology to teach our students.

After facing the unprecedented challenge of adapting to school closures, the need to teach with technology, as well as teach students how to use technology, has never been more clear.

Other than hybrid learning, I strongly believe technology can be a transformational force in education, when used strategically. Teaching with technology makes personalized instruction possible, helps provide students with authentic learning experiences, and cultivates 21st century skill development.

These tech-infused practices are all skills we can and should bring back to our brick-and-mortar classrooms.

Please stick with me for the next 6 weeks as I share one short video at a time.