Clutter-free reading in Safari

Do you prefer using Safari on your Mac?  Have friends told you about the Google Extension TLDR or Mercury Reader?

Safari has its own feature to clear the clutter and make articles easier to read.



Reader is a Safari feature that allows users to read online articles in a continuous, clutter-free view, with no ads or visual distractions.
Reader turns multi-page articles into a single scrolling pane.

Reader is available on the right side of the URL bar.  It turns blue if it is available.  If you are a Safari user, try it out for yourself.

Google Keep

Google Keep is a helpful tool that can be used for taking quick notes or making lists. You can save notes on the Google Keep dashboard or export them to Google Drive.





You can quickly capture notes, lists, documents and photos to Google Keep.  You can also record a voice memo in Google Keep.  

Google Keep notes can be shared with others for easy collaboration on any activity.

Keep notes can be color coded or labeled for easy organization.  

Google Keep is available as:
a Chrome Extension,
(https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-keep-chrome-extens/lpcaedmchfhocbbapmcbpinfpgnhiddi?hl=en_ )
a Google App,
(https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-keep-notes-and-lis/hmjkmjkepdijhoojdojkdfohbdgmmhki?hl=en)
an iOS app 
(https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-keep/id1029207872?mt=8)
and on the Google Play Store
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.keep&hl=en).

AMMR: Accessible Materials Made Right

In October 2017 I attended the Alt+Shift AMMR 2-day conference with Peter Schaafsma. I left the conference with an increased awareness of the need for making documents accessible for the visually impaired as well as some cursory knowledge on how to begin making documents accessible.

What have I done to help promote this need since the conference you ask?
The true answer is, not as much as I had hoped.
I have started by working to create my correspondence and my presentations accessible, based on a few simple to follow standards. This has not gone as smoothly or quickly as I would have liked but I am still plugging along.

How does this apply to you? How can you help?
The Washtenaw Intermediate School district has posted a PDF document on their website "Making Accessible Word Documents" (https://goo.gl/x93NxC). This PDF walks you through some of the steps that need to be taken in order to create an accessible Microsoft Word document for individuals with vision impairments.

Many of the steps listed are the same for Google Office Suite as they are for Microsoft, but not all. If we can all start consistently following the steps in the "Before Beginning Your Document, Keep the Basics in Mind" section we will be one step closer to having accessible documents.

I will continue to work towards making all of my materials accessible and I hope you will work on this journey with me.

Sudoku Sheets

Need a break from your work? 
Want to put some fun, easy to create puzzles in your math centers?

Sudoku Sheets may be the answer you are looking for.  You can quickly and easily create Sudoku puzzles using Sudoku Sheets.  This Add-on lets you create a Sudoku puzzle in Easy, Medium, Hard, or Insane.  You can also use this Add-on to create our own Sudoku.  The add-on will let you check the puzzle as well as solve it, right in Google Sheets.  As a teacher this would allow you to make the puzzle and the answer key (but wouldn't it me more fun to solve it yourself 😊 ). 



It is cold and snowy here in Michigan.  Let's warm up the classroom with some fun with Sudoku!