What to Organize Now Back To School Technology and Apps
This year we have seen a major shift in the use of technology and apps. As corona home school began, we all had a crash course in Google classroom and more. Most of us felt overwhelmed and behind the curve. Get in the Back to School groove with technology apps that can help you and your student do your best work this year.
Digital planners
Your students can use a digital version of their planner. MyHomework offers ways for students to track their assignments and get due date reminders.
Google calendar
Favorite because it integrates with all things Google, your kids can use this as their planner with easy access.
Trello is a visual tool that works using boards, lists, and cards to enable you to organize and prioritize your projects in a fun, flexible, and rewarding way. It’s like shuffling a set of cards and laying these out by priority and project.
Kid Productivity
This app is a visual timer to use to help you student stay on track and stay focused. It works by visually showing time elapsing. It’s especially helpful for students with ADHD.
Much like the Pomodoro Method, this app helps student set up work and free times. It helps student keep from procrastinating and learn time awareness by knowing how much time they are spending on studying.
Personalized focus music to help you get stuff done by customizing music at intervals.
Freedom helps your student stay focused by blocking distracting websites and apps.
Favorite learning apps
Quizlet makes repetitive studying fun and effective. Many classes already have set up their vocabulary and your student can find existing study materials. This app has video and audio components to make learning more interactive and engaging. There’s also an option to create your study materials with flashcards, tests and games.
StudyBlue is similar to Quizlet, offering virtual flashcards, vocabulary review and concept repetition. The study aids have text and images.
If your student needs a spell and grammar check, this is for you. It can be installed on multiple devices.
EasyBib helps your student create a bibliography with a free tool to generate citations.
Family Organizing
So many passwords! Keep these all here on LastPass. Free and purchase options available.
Meditation might be just what we all need when it’s Back to School. This app for mindfulness helps you relax and encourage focus.
Cozi is free, easy-to-use planner for all family activities. You can keep events and activities, set up your weekly schedule, create, store and and share the grocery list in real time.
To get started, choose one app to start and test it out. See how well you and your student use it. After 2 weeks, assess if you are feeling accomplished with this. To organize your new apps, group these apps together in a cluster on a single screen for easy access.
I’m fascinated by EasyBib. I remember that putting together that “works consulted” sheet for a project was always a big hassle for my girls. There were very specific rules they had to following regarding formatting. If this could have been automated, it would have saved them a lot of time. Now is the perfect time to bring on helpful tools!!
Wow, Ellen! I love all the app suggestions. Some of them I’m familiar with and/or use like Grammarly, TimeTimer, Freedom. But there were I few I was unfamiliar with that look interesting- My Homework, Focus@Will, Quizlet, and Study Blue. So many great tools to help students and families stay productive and organized.
Yes, there are new apps constantly so knowing what is your goal is most important.
Yes, that formatting can be tricky! Having help is big!