Like many other people I was a Firefox and Safri user. It was not until recently that I made the switch to using Google Chrome, and I'm glad that I did! One thing that I love is that it is definitely quicker than other web browsers/OS. Though it has taken some getting used to I don't see myself switching back to another web browser.
One application that I checked out was Newsela. I had heard about it from a few teachers at my school, and only took the time to check it out briefly. I'm glad that I spent more time with it now. I can definitely see myself using this upcoming school year. In 4th grade we focus on current events as part of our social studies curriculum, so Newsela will be a great resource for my students to use. I don't know if it is because it is summer, but I saw that there didn't seem to be too many current articles on the site. If the site stays 'current' during the school year I will definitely use it as a resource. One thing I really liked about it, is that there are different reading levels which is a great way to differentiate for our students!
One of the extensions that I really liked was 'Ad Blocker' I have been doing some of the 'things' on my personal computer at home, and since installing 'Ad Blocker' I have seen a real decrease in ads coming up. I have used a different blocker in the past, but it does not seem to be as effective as 'Ad Blocker'. It is a great free product!
Finally I spent some time messing around with 'Typing Club'. First of all, I love that it is a free application. I also like that the lessons are fairly quick to complete, which is perfect to have students spend just a few minutes a day working on their typing at home or at school. In the past my students have used 'Type To Learn'. One issue with that program is that the lessons can take students a long to time to complete, and there is no save option in the middle of a lesson which can be frustrating to a student. I will definitely introduce my students to 'Typing Club' so they can use it when they have a few extra minutes of morning work time.
Overall, I'm a big fan of Google Chrome. Again I love how quick it is overall, the free applications are great, and 'Ad Blocker' seems to do exactly what it advertises.
I agree about Ad Blocker. It is always annoying when the students are searching for something and then get distracted by all of the ads. I think using Typing Club during morning time work is an excellent idea! We all know that the best way to become better at typing is consistent practice. The issue I have always had with our intensive typing unit in the RC is that after the first few weeks of school, typing is not practiced that often. It will be interesting to see if a few more minutes a day will make a difference for your students.
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