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Google drive is a website and app that can be accessed from any device, that allows cloud storage of all documents and access to tools such as Google Slides, Google Docs, and Google Calendar. These applications make learning and collaboration accessible to all students. These tools are great for students who are utilizing text to speech software. Students can collaborate with classmates and teachers, as well as organize and store important information that will assist with learning.
These are the following UDL Guidelines and Checkpoints that this app supports:

1. Multiple means of engagement - Sustaining effort and persistence - Foster collaboration and community: Through Google Docs, students are able to complete group work from any location, utilize peer revising and editing, and have supports from teachers and peers who are shared on the same slides, docs, or calendar. This is a wonderful collaboration tool.

2. Multiple means of engagement - Sustaining effort and persistence - Increase master-oriented feedback: Teachers are able to work on documents that students are creating, providing immediate and frequent feedback that is meaningful and informative for students. This can help students immediately with what they should change or re-think. When students have questions, they can easily reply, or accept/deny changes and comments.

3. Multiple means of engagement - Recruiting interest - Optimize relevance, value, and authenticity

4. Multiple means of engagement - Self regulation - Develop self assessment and reflection

5. Multiple means of representation - Comprehension - Maximize transfer and generalization

6. Multiple means of action and expression - Physical action - Vary the methods for response and navigation

Google Drive can be used in many ways for students to work in a collaborative and organized space. This tool can especially be used for students who struggle to organize their time and thoughts, but work well collaboratively. When provided with frequent and immediate feedback by teachers and peers, their work may be more meaningful. Peer revising is a great practice that is best used online through Google Drive, where students can work at any time from anywhere.

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Visuwords is a very important tool for students. As times are changing and technology is becoming more evident in daily learning, so are dictionaries! Visuwords is an online dictionary that shows words visually. This tool is incredibly useful in the classroom rather than a regular dictionary or thesaurus. ELLs can benefit from this most definitely as a tool to identify and understand words and their connections visually. This tool creates a web of connections for students to identify parts of speech, synonyms, antonyms, and examples.

These are the following UDL Guidelines and Checkpoints that this app supports:

1. Multiple means of representation - Comprehension - Highlight patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships: This tool is most useful for identifying patterns, big ideas, and relationships. The connections and relationships that are taught through this website are those that would take much longer, for a teacher or class to create. These are at any student’s fingertips. Although, this website is not inclusive for visual impaired students. Things are color coded and connected by shape and color, but if a student cannots see color they will struggle with the connections although some are generalized by shape.

2. Multiple means of representation - Comprehension - Maximize transfer and generalization: Visuwords is able to provide opportunities for students to create connections and links between ideas. This works like a word web or concept map in order to activate prior knowledge and connect to previous or future learning.

3. Multiple means of representation - Language and symbols - Clarify vocabulary and symbols

4. Multiple means of representation - Language and symbols - Promote understanding across languages

5. Multiple means of representation - Comprehension - Activate or supply background knowledge

6. Multiple means of engagement - Sustaining effort and persistence - Vary demands and resources to optimize challenge

Visuwords is most useful in the classroom for ELLs starting in upper elementary. Sometimes these students can identify a word and what it means, but they have trouble making connections to similar words or ideas. This tool can also be incredibly helpful for them to search a word that they do not know. After searching, they can visually see the meaning, connections, definitions, and examples for that word. This program can also be used in conjunction with text-to-speech software.

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Livescribe is a smart-pen that is basically a very tiny computer. This tool can be used with a special paper, that records everything that is written. Not only does this pen record what’s written with it, but it records and plays back audio as well. Livescribe allows you to replay notes and sections of notes as well as audio recorded at the same time. Livescribe is a very updated and futuristic version of the Leapfrog tool that I once used as a kid (both were created by the same inventor). Leaprog was a pen that could be used to read special Leapfrog books just by tapping on the words, among many other things.

These are the following UDL Guidelines and Checkpoints that this app supports:

1. Multiple means of representation - Comprehension - Maximize transfer and generalization: Livescribe allows people to take notes while they are listening to a speaker, while the pen records the audio at the same time. This way students can make connections of what they were writing based on the audio recorded.

2. Multiple means of action and expression - Expression and communication - Use multiple tools for construction and composition: This pen is the ultimate note-taking tool, that can provide ample opportunities for students who struggle to remember what was taught in a lecture, and needs help with note-taking.

3. Multiple means of action and expression - Physical action - Optimize access to tools and assistive technologies

4. Multiple means of representation - Language and symbols - Support decoding of text, mathematical notation, and symbols

5. Multiple means of engagement - Recruiting interest - Optimize individual choice and autonomy

Although I do not lecture in 2nd grade, and my students do most of the talking in the classroom, this tool can be used by a student attending a lecture or class where the teacher does most of the talking. This way, the student can be taking notes and actively trying to listen, all while the pen records and remembers what notes go with what audio. This way when the student goes to study, they can obtain the audio that was being presented while they were taking notes helping them make connections and foster understanding.

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Padlet is an online manipulative board that emulates a technological version of sticky-notes. Students and teachers can prepare and organize activities and directions, make posts and respond to others, or ask and answer questions all in one place. Padlet has been the number one most useful resource in my classroom to date.

These are the following UDL Guidelines and Checkpoints that this app supports:

1. Multiple means of engagement - Recruiting interest - Minimize threats and distractions: With Padlet, non-verbal students are able to take part in whole class discussions without threats. I love how so many students are willing to type their answers knowing the whole class can read them, when they are so uncomfortable speaking out in front of everyone. Padlet really breaks this barrier for many students.

2. Multiple means of engagement - Sustaining effort and persistence - Foster collaboration and community: Padlet is such a versatile tool, because it is not only a place for students to post answers or responses, but they can relate and connect to other students with the proximity of their posts, and collaborate with others. I love using padlet as a place for students to work together on a project, and have each group use their own padlet. They can use it as a place to brainstorm ideas, work together to create different parts, and have a display board that can be shared with the class and worked on from anywhere.

3. Multiple means of engagement - Self regulation - Develop self-assessment and reflection

4. Multiple means of representation - Perception - Offer ways of customizing the display of information and Offer alternatives for auditory and visual information

5. Multiple means of representation - Language & symbols - Promote understanding across languages

6. Multiple means of representation - Comprehension - Activate or supply background knowledge, Guide information processing and visualization

7. Multiple means of action and expression - Expression and communication - Use multiple media for communication

This online bulletin board can be used for many more things than it is advertised for. I have organized sorts and games for students to identify the differences between two similar things (such as topic and main idea.) In my class I have students who love to do sorts, but struggle to cut and glue when it is required due to a lack of motor skills and abilities. The way that I help them with this, is by posting pictures and words on padlet that students can drag and sort into certain categories rather than cutting and gluing. Not only does this save time and resources, but it is incredibly engaging and easy to create, differentiate and reuse!

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Evernote is a useful note taking app for students and even teachers. In this app, you are able to handwrite, type, capture, organize, and share notes. These notes can have images, drawings, checklists, tables, videos, and audio as well. This is a wonderful tool for students to create organized- or even disorganized notes that will help them retain and understand concepts. It is important that this app can be used with handwriting, typing, or voice. Handwritten notes can even be searched which I think is such a valuable capability.

These are the following UDL Guidelines and Checkpoints that this app supports:

1. Multiple means of action and expression - Expression and communication - Use multiple media for communication: With this interactive note-taking app, students or teachers are able to use writing, typing, speaking, drawing, videos, and other audio to support student learning and understanding. This media can be composed in all different ways just on one application.

2. Multiple means of engagement - Sustaining effort and persistence - Foster collaboration and community: When note-taking on Evernote, the notes can be shared with classmates, other students, or colleagues. It’s important to remember that students can take notes and share with other students if you have one child who needs to be writing while you talk in order to learn, or you can write the notes and share them with students to have them follow along with while you teach. Having these notes be shareable is an invaluable tool for collaboration and community.

3. Multiple means of representation - Provide options for perception: This app supports all guidelines under this checkpoint. Having the ability to type, write, embed videos, and record audio, supports all of the options for representation of student learning.

4. Multiple means of action and expression - Executive functions - Support planning and strategy development

5. Multiple means of action and expression - Expression and communication - Use multiple tools for construction and composition

6. Multiple means of action and expression - Physical action - Optimize access to tools and assistive technologies

Evernote can be used to support the learning and understanding of all students, but also specifically students who have trouble with remembering what was taught in a whole-group lesson. I teach most of my whole-group lessons on the rug, and I can see students coming to the rug with an iPad to use the Evernote app. They can write, record, and video while I am teaching and then use those resources to bring back to their seat with them to complete seat work. This could also specifically be used to provide an outline of notes for all students, and then using the cloze method students could fill in words or points while I am teaching. This would also support understanding and learning in multiple means.

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CAST Science Writer is an online tool created specifically with UDL in mind for students to have an accessible online tool to help them write science reports. This program is easy for all students to use when they are writing any type of science report. The website includes report structure options, a checklist for revising, text-to-speech options and an accessibility toolbar, sentence starters, a journal option, and even ‘animated helpers’ that can provide examples.

These are the following UDL Guidelines and Checkpoints that this program supports:

1. Multiple means of engagement - Self regulation - Promote expectations and beliefs that optimize motivation: Science Writer offers a series of animated helpers that are there to coach and support the students. Although this is not in place of a teacher, these characters are able to provide examples and help to the students that promotes them to work harder and be motivated to continue.

2. Multiple means of representation - Comprehension - Guide information processing and visualization: This program provides scaffolds that break the report into small manageable steps for the students. Sentence starters and other tools like outlines are also given to support the writing. The information that the student needs to write is broken into chunks and released gradually, providing an opportunity for a calm and less anxious environment for students.

3. Multiple means of action and expression - Physical action - Optimize access to tools and assistive technologies

4. Multiple means of action and expression - Expression and communication - Use multiple tools for construction and composition

5. Multiple means of action and expression - Executive functions - Support planning and strategy development

The Science Writer tool would be able to benefit all students when writing science reports. Most importantly this would benefit students who struggle to organize themselves for a report, or get started on a report. This program provides supports for organizing, drafting, creating, and revising writing, as well as supports for getting started such as ideas and sentence starters for each necessary component.

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TextHelp Read & Write is a program that is downloadable to virtually any computer or device, that will provide features such as text to speech, speech to text, word prediction, spell checker, synonym options, etc. This program is best used for accessing websites/online books and having them read to you, or for writing something. I think this has most value for people and students with learning disabilities for assistance with writing.

These are the following UDL guidelines and checkpoints that this program supports:

1. Multiple means of action and expression - Physical action - Optimize access to tools and assistive technologies: Read & Write is a high tech assistive technology tool that allows students to have access to all writing and reading. They are able to have anything read aloud to them, as well as be able to get anything from their mind/memory onto a screen- where they can edit and make changes without having to write or erase anything on paper.

2. Multiple means of action and expression - Expression and Communication -  Use multiple media for communication: This tool allows everyone to use multiple tools to communicate their ideas and express through writing. Many students are unable to communicate what they know through writing, so using this will allow them to be able to have clearer writing.

3. Multiple means of action and expression - Expression and communication -  Use multiple tools for construction and composition

4. Multiple means of action and expression - Executive Functions -  Support planning and strategy development

5. Multiple means of action and expression - Executive functions -  Facilitate managing information and resources

6. Multiple means of action and expression - Physical action - Vary the methods for response and navigation

There are specific students in my class who would really benefit from these programs, but as I've learned with UDL, it's important to provide these options to everyone. Though, the students who would mostly benefit from these programs are ones in my class who have handwriting that is illegible and students who struggle to spell and sound out words when writing, making it unreadable. These students are at a Kindergarten or below writing level. These programs would remove the barriers of holding pencils, sounding out words, knowing what details to add to writing, and how to form proper sentences. Read & Write will also help students mostly with spelling and writing, using the text to speech and speech to text features. My favorite tools on this application include the spell checker, word prediction, and reading sentences back to you. The different graphic organizers will also help my students to organize their ideas to create a writing piece. I have many students who struggle with writing and this tool would allow them to write without having barriers that stop them such as handwriting problems, or even issues forming gramatically correct sentences.

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Inspiration and Kidspiration are tools that allow students to create or view visual representation of concepts, words, or numbers. This tool is easy for everyone to use, even children, from K-College. This application allows you to create things like concept maps, writing outlines, projects, or displays of information for anything. It’s an online workspace where students can do specific things like map out visual thinking, take notes, make connections, and reinforce skills, in every single subject area. This is a great tool for teachers and students to organize information in any way.
These are the following UDL guidelines and checkpoints that this program supports:

1. Multiple means of representation - Perception - Offer ways of customizing the display of information: This tool offers multiple ways of displaying information by allowing students to map out information in many different ways and formats. This will let students become responsible for their own learning and understanding by letting them take over how information is organized and used. Some students prefer using pictures, others with arrows, others as an outline just with words. This tool allows customization of information through many ways.

2. Multiple means of action and expression - Expression and communication - Use multiple tools for construction and composition: Inspiration and Kidspiration allow students to show work, projects, or what they have learned through many different ways. They can customize information to be organized like a map, an outline, a t-chart, etc. Having many ways for students to construct their learning and express composition of something is important for their understanding no matter what barriers they have.

3. Multiple means of representation - Comprehension - Guide information processing and visualization

4. Multiple means of action and expression - Physical action - Optimize access to tools and assistive technologies

5. Multiple means of action and expression - Executive functions - Support planning and strategy development

6. Multiple means of engagement - Recruiting Interest - Optimize individual choice and autonomy

This program can be used to address specific learner variability for writing. Kidspiration could support my students with brainstorming ideas. They could think of one topic, multiple sub-topics or ideas within the topics, add pictures and arrows for a flow, and then simply press a button and turn it into an outline. They could then write or edit the sentences based on what Kidspiration created for them. This tool would enhance engagement and ability for specific students.

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UDL Bookbuilder is a program that allows anyone to write and create a book online that is available to everyone. There is also a public library of books that others have created, where you can search and browse by content area, grade level, language, or genre, to find a book that you need. These books are great because they all have a manual page turning option with the click of a button, and they all have a read aloud option on each page. This website is great for teachers to turn regular books into books that allow access for all learners, and support student engagement.
These are the following UDL guidelines and checkpoints that this program supports:

1. Multiple means of engagement - Recruiting Interest - Optimize individual choice and autonomy: Using UDL bookbuilder students will be able to create books and organize their writing or publish it using an online tool that makes reading accessible to all. It's also important to note that students can search for books based on their interest or what they want/need to read.

2. Multiple means of representation - Perception - Offer ways of customizing the display of information: This program also allows books to be written using multiple means of display- words, speech, and pictures. A student can "read" a book on this program without actually being able to read words- which is an invaluable thing.

3. Multiple means of engagement - Recruiting Interest - Optimize relevance, value, and authenticity

4. Multiple means of engagement - Self regulation - Develop self assessment and reflection

5. Multiple means of representation - Perception - Offer alternatives for auditory and visual information

6. Multiple means of representation - Language and symbols - Support decoding of text

This program can be used to address specific learner variability through allowing books to be created that can be read aloud and specified to any student need. For example, if there was a book that you wanted to read aloud in the classroom and have students then work on a project with it, UDL Bookbuilder would allow you to transfer that book from paper version to something that is accessible for all. It could have pictures, words, and it can even be read aloud to the student. It could have alternate resources such as words that are defined for kids, other videos about the book/topic, and even change the color and size of the font for variability. This tool essentially allows you to take any book and turn it into an accessible book for almost all students.

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Raz-Kids is an online reading and comprehension tool that students use to read e-books, take quizzes, record their own reading, as well as many other resources. Teachers utilize this to give assignments to students at their own level, and to track student progress with data. Students can even read books in Spanish, and teachers can have access to running records that are able to assist with data driven instruction, saving them time. Students are able to access this at school and at home, supporting a valuable home-school connection, and making homework easier to assign for teachers.
These are the following UDL guidelines and checkpoints that this program supports:

1. Multiple means of engagement - Recruiting Interest - Optimize individual choice and autonomy: Raz-Kids allows students to choose any book they would like to read that is at their level, and they can choose books that they are most interested in rather than being assigned only one option.

2. Multiple means of engagement - Sustaining effort and persistence - Increase mastery-oriented feedback: This program allows teachers to listen to students that recorded themselves reading aloud and conduct running records to analyze the student’s reading and plan for further individualized reading instruction. This is an incredibly valuable tool because not only does it save the teacher time, but it can provide a more accurate running record since it is a recording and the teacher can go back to listen multiple times.

3. Multiple means of representation - Language and symbols - Promote understanding across languages

4. Multiple means of action and expression - Expression and communication - Build fluencies with graduated levels of support for practice and performance

5. Multiple means of action and expression - Executive functions - Enhance capacity for monitoring progress

This program can be used to address specific learner variability because it allows students to be able to read and listen to books no matter the language. For example, if there is a student who is an ELL and is reading two levels below grade level, this program can be used to support their spanish reading which will help them become a better reader in english eventually. They can read books in spanish and in english to support decoding skills and to support english learning. The teacher can also assign books that are of interest to the student and on their exact level.