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Five Apps and Websites I Can't Live Without

In the past year and a half I have tried many different websites and apps but there are a few that I can no longer live without in my daily teaching life.

1. First definitely has to be Canva.
It is available as both an app and website and allows the design of displays, visual timetables, money for cardboard ATMs (it's a long story) and all manner of title pages, independent learning contracts and CVs. It is free with the option of payment for more content but at $12.95 US a month it is worth paying during busy times where you know you want the extra content. It's abundance of free templates gives you something for every occasion and it's easy to use design has me making everything on it. Move over PowerPoint and publisher! I have a new design tool.

2. Google mail, drive, docs, slides, sheets and calendar.
Both the apps and the website. Once again easy to use, awesome fonts and the ability to use them on the go with minimal data usage means I can work from wherever I want! Although this can be a bad thing.... there are some downsides for these tools. We are a partial digital classroom with devices but we do not have the apps installed into our iPads and it makes using these tools impossible when they are our main digital tool. Big oversight on Googles part as there is a need to edit without the apps. If someone has figured out an easy way to do it please let me know! In the meantime I have a new favourite tool that doesn't require an app!

3. Draftin.com
This is a new find as in over the weekend but I am already in love with this website! It is a drive like no other because it is the only one I have found that works on a device without requiring an app! It is also easy to use and laid out clearly. It offers files and archieves and you can have multiple docs open and active on different devices under the same login without issues. I'll be testing out how many this week! 

NB. Day one of use and we had over 25 children logged in and using it at once! One issue we found is it is easy to accidentally set up a new account with an email address similar to the one we used but that was an easy copy, paste and delete the account.

4. BlogTouch Pro
Which I am using right now I might add! It does everything you would find on the blogger website but you can write blogs offline and upload them when connected to internet! It also allows for seamless inserts of videos and images like the website.

5. Flick
The best way to move photos and videos from device to device or device to laptop I have found! Go to the app, chose what you want to transfer (as many items as you choose at once) then as long as you have Flick open on the other device you literally flick the item to the other device! I love amazing co-works, children and my partner with it. Did I mention you can make what you have sent self-destruct when you are done? 

There is a never ending list of apps and websites teachers go through in their daily planning and research classics include Pinterest and everything from teachstarter to twinkl but these five are often open on my laptop or device all the time. Give them a go.

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