Use Google Tools to transform reading and writing in your classroom. In this session, participants will walk through the writing process using Google Apps, as well as investigate Chrome apps to maximize reading in the classroom.

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Improving Reading & Writing
with Google Apps
Presented by: Diana Benner

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This Presentation
http://goo.gl/1fWUlE

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About Me
Director of Professional Development
Texas Computer Education Association
diana.benner@gmail.com
@diben
DIANA BENNER
http://dbenner.org

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In the next 90 min . . .
Examine how students can improve their
writing skills with Google Apps
Explore some Google tools that can be used
to help improve reading
Identify ways in which these tools can be
used in the classroom

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Writing

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Writing Activity
Click on the link below to download the writing activity.
Go to File, Make a Copy.
http://goo.gl/xXyS7n

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Reading

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Word Cloud Website Preview
•This handy extension generates a Word Cloud from the page you are
currently reading.
•For students and reluctant readers, this provides an overview of the
content, a place to gather a general understanding of the article.
•Try this: ask your students to go to an article and
run the Word Cloud Website Preview extension.
•Ask them to note the words that appear the most
and create an anticipation chart.
The uses are countless!

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Try Word Cloud
1. Add the “World Cloud Website Preview” extension https://goo.gl/KkABPM
2. You should now see a cloud icon on your extension toolbar.
3. Go to DoGoNews - http://www.dogonews.com/ and select an article.
4. Click on the cloud icon and see your word cloud generate with words
from the article.
5. Think about how you can use this extension in your classroom.

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Announcify
•This is a text-to-speech translators.
•It highlights the section it is currently reading and blurs out the rest.
•One of the struggles that students sometime have is focusing on content.
•This extension takes away that obstacle.

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Try Announcify
1. Add the “Announcify” extension - https://goo.gl/BRXIT4
2. If prompted, click the Authorize button to let the extension access your account.
3. You should see a red icon with 2 eyes on your extension toolbar.
4. Go to this article - http://goo.gl/Q9QwRM and click on the Announcify
extension.
5. Think about how you can use this extension in your classroom.

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BeeLine Reader
•This extension will make text clearer.
•Another obstacle struggling readers have is sorting the “extra stuff”
from the actual content.
•BeeLine Reader strips a Website article of the fluff and leaves just the text.
•It also color codes the lines for easier reading.
•And, it also includes a checkbox for Open Dyslexic Font, allowing students with
Dyslexia to read in an adjusted font.

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Try BeeLine Reader
1. Add the “BeeLine Reader” extension - https://goo.gl/uJIv0O
2. Go this article - http://goo.gl/mQOuzK and then click on the “BeeLine
Reader” extension.
3. Watch what happens! Adjust some of settings for better reading.
4. Think about how you can use this extension in your classroom.

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Read & Write for Google
•Though this extension has premium features, there are many
elements of the free version that are useful.
•You can hear words, passages, or whole documents read
aloud with easy to follow dual color highlighting.
•Within Google Docs, students can have words and passages read aloud to them.
•The other “readers,” do not integrate into Google Docs like this.

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Try Read & Write for Google
1. Add the “Read & Write for Google” extension.
2. Open a new tab and you should see the
Read & Write icon.
3. Click on the icon and allow it to access your Google account
4. You should then see a toolbar appear.
5. Open one of your Google Docs or open this Sample Report -
https://goo.gl/RIa1a6 (Make sure to go to File, Make a Copy)
6. Try out the different items on the Read & Write toolbar.
7. Think about how you can use this extension in your classroom.

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And More ...
Chrome Apps to Improve
Reading
https://goo.gl/vcpI88

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Resources for Struggling Readers
https://goo.gl/DwWgtL
By Christy Fennewald

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Other Literacy Tools

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Big Huge Labs
• Create magazine covers, movie posters, jigsaw puzzles and more
• Sign up for a free Educator account
• Pre-register your students so they can sign in without requiring an email
address
• Students can send you their work with
a single click
• View and download content created
by your students
• Use the site advertising-free
http://bighugelabs.com/

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Storybird
• Lets anyone make visual stories in seconds
• Curate artwork from illustrators and animators around the world and
inspire writers of any age to turn those images
into fresh stories
• Sign up for free
http://storybird.com/

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PinkyDinkyDoo
• Create video story podcasts
• Download audio podcasts
• Offers podcasting tips
http://goo.gl/clWabx

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Picture Book Maker
Create your very own children’s book
http://goo.gl/draLL

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Narrable
• Narrable uses storytelling through images and narrations to
engage students and to draw out important higher order
thinking skills.
• Requires you to create a
teacher account
https://narrable.com/

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More . . .
• Animoto - http://animoto.com/
• Create great videos with animoto
• Voicethread - http://voicethread.com/
• An interactive collaboration and sharing tool that enables users to add
images, documents, and videos
• Piktochart – http://piktochart.com/
• Make your own infographic
• ReadWriteThink - http://www.readwritethink.org/
• Lot’s of teacher resources

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And even more . . .
• Online Reader QR Code Center - https://goo.gl/TRP3qy
• Literacy Center Education Network - http://www.literacycenter.net/
• Text Project - http://textproject.org/
• FreeRice: Have your students play this vocabulary game, and they’ll learn
while donating food to people in need.
• 50 Online Early Readers (with audio) - http://goo.gl/dmxY2y

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It’s Your Turn

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Literacy Tools Tic-Tac-Toe
Click on the link below to download to access the Tic-Tac-Toe activity.
http://goo.gl/Enr9kX

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Think about . . .
Share on Today’s Meet
http://todaysmeet.com/tceacba15
Tweet @diben

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Share on Today’s Meet
http://todaysmeet.com/tceacba15
Tweet @diben

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Continue Learning

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Your TCEA Social Community
Gain insights, solve problems, and share resources
Join the “All Things Google” Group

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Your TCEA Social Community
Gain insights, solve problems, and share resources
Join the “ELA and Technology” Group
Site: http://goo.gl/yjQCvF

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Get Your GOOGLE On Webinars
Upcoming Webinars:
 September 3rd – Google Apps for Education Updates
 October 1st – Making the Most of Google Classroom
 November 5th – Differentiate with Google Apps
http://goo.gl/0EAFN

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Chromebook Certification
• A program to help build foundational skills in using the
Chromebook as an effective instructional tool with students
• Gain knowledge and understanding to effectively integrate
Google Apps for Education (GAFE) into content and use it for
a variety of engaging and meaningful instructional activities
• Online and self-paced
• Member cost is $99
• Non-member cost is $144, which includes membership

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Recommended Chrome Apps & Extensions
• Each app or extension has been reviewed by an
educator before making it on the list, which is organized
by category (Tools, ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies)
and then by topic within each category.
• Each recommended extension or app is then linked so
that you can quickly learn more about it.
http://www.tcea.org/google-apps

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THIS PRESENTATION
http://goo.gl/1fWUlE
This work is licensed by Diana Benner under a Creative
Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Leave me a Comment
about this presentation
https://goo.gl/wicvxu
Resources used for the presentation are located at http://goo.gl/1fWUIE
Thank
You!