Plickers

"Today we are going to use Plickers!"  My students looked back at me with confusion as I passed out barcodes with A, B, C, and D labeled around the outside of the code.  Basically, Plickers uses a QR/Barcode system for students to submit answers to multiple choice questions.  The awesome thing is that by using an app on my phone or other device, I can quickly sweep the room and conduct a fast formative assessment.  The immediate feedback allows me to alter my instruction to meet the needs of my students. 

Plickers is FREE and you can print the cards.  If you want more durable ones, plastic cards can be ordered on Amazon.  With a free account you can ask up to 5 questions at a time (in a PowerPoint type slideshow).  If you want the ability to do more, you can pay a small monthly fee.

This amazing post by Laura Candler gives many different innovative ways that Plickers can be used in the classroom. https://www.lauracandler.com/innovative-strategies-for-plickers/

Freckle

Taken from the Freckle.com

Looking for a FREE tool to use with your students that will meet them where they are at in all four core areas?  I was on the same hunt, and fell in love with Freckle (formerly known as Frontrow).  Freckle gives a placement test and adapts practice to help students grow from where they are.  Giving students their user name and password is so easy because you can download adorable login cards that can be taped inside their binder or agenda.  I absolutely LOVE that there are science and social studies units that can be assigned with differentiated reading passages.  Want to learn more?  Click the Pig at the top to be directed to the website.

Quizizz

Do you like Kahoot?  I LOVE Kahoot, but I was running into an issue (especially with math) with my kids running out of time before they could select an answer.  Kahoot has a maximum time limit of 120 seconds.  Now, one suggestion that the help desk at Kahoot suggests is to make a copy of each question and insert it BEFORE the scored question.  This is a bit much for me, so I decided to look into some alternatives.  Quizizz has become my new favorite.  Quizizz has a bank of member-created assessments, but it has features that Kahoot lacks.  First of all, you can set the time limit to 15 minutes.  Second of all, it is self-paced.  Students move on to the next question once they answer the one they are currently on.  Finally, you can create quiz and give it as homework with a window of time to complete the quiz.  

Do students need an account?  Nope! Just like with Kahoot, students go to the site and enter the code to play :)