Most teachers have tried Google Classroom by now, and many use it on a daily basis. It’s a handy and free way to keep your students on track and organize learning and lessons plans. Even better, there are lots of programs and apps designed to work with Google Classroom, making it easier to assign work, track progress, and communicate with students and parents online. Check out our favorite free Google Classroom apps and programs. A few offer paid options too, but their free versions have plenty of fantastic included features worth exploring!
ASSISTments is a free site that works with many existing math curriculum programs. Assign practice problems using Google Classroom, and students receive on-the-spot feedback. Plus, teachers get analytic reports to help them identify those students who are struggling and which problems are causing the most trouble. It makes homework more meaningful for students and teachers alike. (Web)
BookWidgets is a content creation tool. It allows teachers to create 40 different types of interactive activities and assessments and assign them to their Google Classes. What sets BookWidgets apart is that you can do all of that without ever having to visit another site. BookWidgets is a Google Chrome Extension that works right in your Google Classroom. Every feature (including an extensive image library) is already included. Find four ways to use BookWidgets in the classroom today! (Web)
You won’t believe the incredible amount of free resources available on CK-12. Every subject, every grade—it’s all covered in videos, exercises, lessons, and even complete textbooks. It’s a cinch to assign any of these items in Google Classroom, and completion and grades are recorded in your online Gradebook. (Web)
Motivate even the most reluctant learners when you gamify your lessons with Classcraft! Turn your Google Classroom assignments into learning quests, and provide rewards for academic and behavioral achievements. The free basic program gives you lots of fun options; upgrade for even more features. (Web)
Google Classroom makes it incredibly easy for students and teachers to collaborate. It doesn’t really have any built-in tools to make parent communication easier, though. That’s where Classtag comes in. This completely free app lets you send notes to one parent or a whole class. You can send home documents, schedule meetings, and more, all without giving parents your personal contact info. Oh, and did we mention you can earn real-life rewards like classroom supplies, just for doing what you need to do anyway? (Web, iOS, Android)
The kid-friendly news articles on DOGONews make it easy to assign reading for current events discussions. Each article is marked with reading/interest level guidelines and offers lesson plan ideas for use with Common Core and National Curriculum Standards. It’s free to assign articles for reading; paid plans provide discussion questions and quizzes too. (Web)
Here’s another fun (and free!) learning game, focused specifically on reading skills for grades 2-8. Assign learning quests through Google Classroom, and kids will clamor to do their homework! In addition to all the learning, students get cool rewards that build their digital profile and world. (Web, iOS, and Android)
Turn any video anywhere into an interactive lesson, or even upload your own. Add questions, audio, or notes, so students can watch and learn at their own pace. The tracking features allow you to monitor their progress and comprehension and integrate easily with Google Classroom. The robust free plan includes storage for up to 20 videos at a time. (Web, iOS, and Android)
Explain Everything is a whiteboard app, and you can use it just as you would an interactive whiteboard in the classroom. Even better, it allows you to record your interactions and share them via Google Classroom for students to view later. The free version has some limitations but provides plenty of cool features; premium education plans are available . (Web, iOS, and Android)
With Flipgrid, students record short videos to respond to topics you assign. This is an especially cool app for students who are hesitant to speak up live on Zoom calls; it gives everyone a chance to be heard. It’s easy to share your grids and assignments with Google Classroom. (Web, iOS, and Android)
The tools on GeoGebra may not look fancy, but they provide the functionality to bring math concepts alive for students. From basic arithmetic to high-level calculus, this site has hundreds of resources math teachers will love, including an online graphing calculator. It’s a snap to share lessons, exercises, quizzes, and more with students. (Web, iOS, and Android)
We’re willing to bet you’re already using Kahoot! Students and teachers everywhere love it, and it’s easy to use alongside Google Classroom. Learn how to get the most from Kahoot! here. (Web)
Many teachers are already familiar with Khan Academy’s incredibly wide range of free online learning resources. They cover every subject and grade level and give students the extra practice they need to master important concepts. Create and integrate classes using your rosters from Google Classroom, and you’re all set to assign content. (Web, iOS, and Android)
Listenwise regularly posts new free current events podcasts you can share with your students. These short audio lessons are great for morning meetings or starting general current events discussions. Listenwise Premium offers a large podcast library with lessons, quizzes, and interactive transcripts, currently free to try for 90 days. (Web)
Elementary math teachers—this one is for you! Follow up your math lessons with these fun and free practice games. Assign them as an alternative to boring old homework worksheets or for kids who need extra practice. (Web)
Nearpod is an easy-to-use collaboration tool that has so many applications for education. Teachers start a board and post a question or comment; then students add their own answers or thoughts. You can share pictures too. Nearpod is a cool way to introduce writing prompts, review for a test, collect virtual exit tickets, and a lot more, and it works seamlessly with Google Classroom. The free version has all the basic features and a decent amount of storage; upgrades are available. (Web)
PBS has a huge variety of video resources on every imaginable subject, all of which are easy to share in your virtual classroom. Each standards-aligned video includes suggested grade levels and support materials to help you make the most of it with your students. (Web)
Quizizz is a nifty tool for helping students review what they’re learning in class. Use one of the thousands of quizzes already available, or create your own. Host live online quiz games in class or assign them as homework using Google Classroom. Customize each assignment to indicate how many times a student may attempt each question and whether they see the correct answers when they’re done—instant feedback that makes learning more meaningful. (Web, iOS, and Android)
This is one of the most popular online flashcard apps, and it’s entirely free. Find the flashcards you need in their extensive library, or create your own to support any kind of lesson. Share the flashcards to Google Classroom to give students instant access to these practice tools in school or at home. (Web, iOS, and Android)
This site is every science teacher’s best friend. It’s packed with free videos, lesson plans, and experiments, all searchable by grade level and subject. This is also a terrific go-to during science fair season, with scientific method resources galore, science fair planning tools, and an enormous repository of project ideas. When you use Science Buddies with Google Classroom, you get access to extra quizzes and assessments too. (Web)
Think of Wakelet as a collaborative tool for organizing and sharing information. Use it to create and share lessons with your students by collecting media all in one place, with your own notes and explanations. Even better, have students use it to create presentations, book reports, newsletters, and more right in Google Classroom. (Web, iOS, and Android)
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