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.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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

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. 

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

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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.