Since its launch in 2014, Google Classroom has been one of the most popular learnings and teaching tools available for the modern classroom.
Ever since its release, many best Google Classroom tools have been designed with the purpose of extending their use or have been redesigned in order for seamless integration with the platform.
These Google tools vary significantly, with each providing different purposes in order to make the teaching process easier and more seamless.
With this in mind, below, in no particular order, you will find the best tools for teachers to integrate with their Google Classrooms learning. You’ll find a combination of content platforms, browser extensions, and many more learning tools and teaching tools to extend and improve your experience.
Let’s get straight into it!
30 Of The Best Tools For Google Classroom
1. Kidblog
Kidblog is a popular digital portfolio and blogging platform that provides a secure Google classroom blogging community where students can upload individual blogs under the control of their teachers.
When integrated with Google Classroom, teachers can grade and create assignments, while embedding Slides in Google Docs, Google Slides, PDFs, Google Sheets, Drawings, videos, and audio into Kidblog Posts.
2. Boclips
This platform is designed for teachers to easily find and share videos without having to create individual accounts for each student. Students can find, watch, and learn through educational video clips.
3. Additio
This is a school management tool that, when integrated, allows teachers to teach important students and their corresponding data, important Google Classroom grades, manage their Google Drive documents on Google Docs, and upload and search Google Drive learning resources all within one platform.
4. GeoGebra
GeoGebra features dynamic mathematics software that allows all levels of students work on algebra, graphing, geometry, spreadsheets, calculus, and statistics all in one place.
5. Edcite
Edcite allows teachers to create, find, and send out Common Core-aligned assessments to students, with the ability to create a printed version of an assignment for students who may not have access to online platforms.
6. Classwork Zoom for Google Classroom Chrome Extension
Google Docs is an extensive platform that can hold thousands of documents. However, with so much information, it can sometimes get tedious digging through files and looking for the right one.
This is where Classwork Zoom comes in handy. It takes all the information from your revision history and organizes it in a clear timeline, making it infinitely easier to find what you’re looking for which not only benefits you but also your class.
You don’t have to worry about it only working for one document, it works across the class, too! Just select the assignment(s) you want to include in the timeline and all your work is laid out neatly in front of you. This includes suggestions, pasted text, and a hover preview of comments.
7. Writable
From practice to assessments, Writable enables schools to organize their writing projects based on research-backed feedback and instructions – for all types of students and teachers.
8. Grade Transferer Chrome Extension
Not only does GradeTransferer save precious time but it also reduces some of the headaches by seamlessly gathering data, automatically sorting it, and then transferring it to the correct student grade level.
With just a few clicks, all your student’s grades are organized in a clear manner, reducing typos and mistakes.
9. Insert Leaning
Insert learning provides teachers with the ability to transform any site into an interactive online interactive lesson plan. Teachers can insert discussions, insights, and questions into any website.
10. Actively Learn
Actively Learn is software that has additional support and enhances your core curriculum, providing interactive content that covers all your requirements, from textbook sections, short stories, novels, news articles, science simulations, multimedia content aligned to ELA, primary sources, social studies standards, and science.
11. Add To Google Classroom
This extension allows you to add your current site to Google Classroom.
Instead of having multiple browsers open, it enables you to save sites all over the web onto your Google Classroom.
Simply select the Google Classroom button to attach your selected site to Google Classroom. Here, you can share it with your students as either an assignment or an announcement.
Note: for this attachment to work, you need a teacher account on Google Classroom.
12. Go Formative
This is a web-based tool that allows teachers to create interactive assignments, tasks, or digital formative assessments that can be easily accessed over a range of different devices.
Whether you’re looking to create PDFs for student questions, or original tasks or upload pre-created documents, you can do all this and more here.
13. Bakpax
Bakpax is an add-on that uses AI to grade assignments and read handwriting. Not only does this save teachers and students time, but it also provides students with instant feedback on how they can improve their engagement.
The AI can convert teachers’ handwriting into accessible digital content that students can access at home and in school.
14. Pear Deck
This software works alongside Google Slides. All you have to do is upload the interactive lessons to Google Slides, then use the helpful Pear Deck attachment to enable interactivity on any slide.
Using their Google accounts, students can connect to a lesson using a device, allowing teachers to understand each student’s input.
This provides a safe space for students to contribute ideas to the class, becoming important contributing members of the whole class without any pressure.
15. Marker Empire
If you’re looking for an evidence-based teaching tool that provides your students with the ability to manage technology and design, as well as cover the required curriculum, then Marker Empire is just the tool for you.
This tool provides busy primary and elementary school teachers with the power to harness 3D technology to make teaching and learning an enjoyable experience while teaching students all about the importance of STEM, 21st-century skills, and Design Thinking.
16. Quizizz
Quizizz provides teachers with the ability to not only assign quizzes using Google Classroom but to receive real-time notifications on the completion of student work. In the Google Classroom grade book, you’ll find all your student’s automatically updated grades.
17. Quizlet
Quizlet is a great tool for teachers and students alike to create quizzes for in-person and remote learning that makes the building and reviewing process much easier. Its primary products include flashcards, matching fun games, and live quizzes.
18. Classcraft
Classcraft is a gamification platform that aims to provide students with the necessary tools and motivations to drive learning outcomes using academic performance as well as SEL growth.
Learning is re-imaged with gaming principles to transform the Google classroom experience into one where students feel empowered to reach their full potential.
This tool allows you to directly pull your assignments from Google Classroom into tasks in the form of lesson objectives in Quests.
In a specific quest, select the green ‘+’ button found in the navigation bar on top of the map, then select the map to place a new objective, and then you can open the Objective Creation screen.
Firstly, you’ll want to enter the name of your objective and then select the objective types, then select ‘Next’ and you’re all set!
19. Google Classroom Grades Filter
If you’re looking for an easier way to filter assignments in your Google Gradebook, then look no further than Google Classroom Grades Filter.
It allows you to filter the column found in your Google Classroom Grades block, allowing students to view specific assignments depending on the date.
20. Flat For Education
These kinds of education applications platform are designed to keep your students engaged in music classrooms.
It is a powerful yet easy-to-use music notation software to provide students with access to any device to create musical compositions or engage in music education activities.
Plus, it provides a unique collaborative experience whereby students can work together in real-time on music sheets, whether this is in the Google classroom or at home.
21. Using a Screen Reader with Google Classroom
This is a fantastic tool for teachers who are visually impaired. They can use this screen reader on their mobile devices and computers to utilize Google Classroom.
Simply log in with your Google account, and you can share quizzes with your students, and get instantaneous results in Google Classroom.
22. Explain Everything
This is a collaborative whiteboard app that works as an indispensable remote teaching tool that is integrated seamlessly into Google Classroom. Looking to share created explainer videos in your Explain Everything using Google Classroom, then we’ve got you covered.
- Step 1 – Select Share, which is located at the top right corner of the screen, then Create Web video Link. In mere seconds, you’ll be provided with a video link that can be shared with your students.
- Step 2 – Select Share using the Google Classroom icon to choose your video’s required assignment, then your students can share the video with you.
- Step – In Google Classroom, your students will receive their video assignments. Once selected, they’ll be automatically transported to the Explain Everything software. Here, they can watch the video.
23. Kami
More and more K12 schools are transitioning to digital devices and Chromebooks as part of a 1:1 initiative. Hence, Kami provides teachers with important tools to create a collaborative and engaging learning environment.
Kami works as your digital pen and paper, providing both teachers and students with the means to achieve.
24. Edpuzzle
This allows you to annotate videos (whether these are your own or curated ones from sites such as YouTube), and measure students’ engagement with the videos.
25. CK-12
CK-12 enables teachers to assign reading material, videos, adaptive practice, simulations, and much more that align with the CK-12 standard content library. Using your Google Classroom GradeBook, grades are automatically transferred.
26. Newsela
Newsela provides teachers with the opportunity to attach articles to materials, assignments, and discussion board posts on Google Classroom, providing a collaborative experience between teacher and student.
27. Open Side By Side
This enables you to right-click any link and open the destination URL on the right side of your screen. This is useful for teachers to open student work and view web-based content such as a grade book on the other side.
On the right side of the screen, student work can be displayed, making it easier to leave student scores and personalized feedback.
Likewise, students can use this extension to view their work side by side.
28. Tynker
This is a coding platform that provides teachers with the ability to import student rosters straight from Google Classrooms onto Tynker. While this may not be the most compelling platform, it can save you precious time when organizing your free resources and materials.
29. Keyboard Shortcuts For Google Classroom
While this may not be a Google Classroom tool, instead it is more of a tip. Learn all about the Google Classroom keyboard shortcuts to save time and improve efficiency when teaching remote lessons.
Hold down the CTRL key
On the assignment stripe, you can find out how many students have turned in graded or ungraded assignments.
Select the number or turtle of turned-in assignments to launch the assignment assessment screen. Although, keep in mind that this removes the To-do page, and you’ll have to load it again.
Hold down the Control Key (On Mac this is Command) when you select the assignment to launch another tab. This will help you get through your To-do page much more quickly.
Alt-I = Invite students
Alt-M = Mute students and teachers
Alt-Shift-S = Share screen with students
30. Ozobot Classroom
This is a coding learning platform that is fully integrated with Google Classroom. Ozobot is a programmable robot that provides an innovative way to teach programming, science, and math.
- ASSISTANCES
ASSISTMENTs is free and integrates with many existing mathematics education programs. Use the Google Classroom app to assign practice issues and the student gets feedback on-site. Teachers get a report on their student’s struggles and what problems are creating the biggest problem. Additionally, homework helps both the student and the teacher understand the content better. Test it: ASSISTANCES.
Final Thoughts
Google Classroom is a great digital learning tool. However, the use of additional digital tools makes it a fantastic learning platform. If you think about it, there is probably a tool that can help you achieve it.
Each is designed to make the teacher and student experience much more enjoyable. Hopefully, this guide has informed you of all the best online tools to incorporate into your Google Classroom.
