There are a lot of tools out there for educational technology or virtual / distance learning.
It can feel overwhelming to choose the best ones! Especially if you don’t have much time to plan. As I’m writing this, hundreds of thousands of teachers across the globe have had to shift to distance learning with a moment’s notice.
Boom Learning cards can help make that shift much less stressful – and provide digital activities for your students that they can use at home (or at school) on ANY device!
In this blog post, I’ll explain what Boom Learning is, how it can make distance learning much easier, how TpT and Boom work hand-in-hand, and how to get started using Boom Learning on its own or with Google Classroom.
What Is Boom Learning?
Boom Learning is a platform that allows teachers to download free or paid digital activities for students of all ages. Boom “decks” are made up of individual, digital task cards for students to complete.
Watch this video to get a peek at what a Boom Learning deck is like:
Boom Learning cards are truly transformational in what they allow us to accomplish with our students! Here’s why:
- 1. Boom cards give students instant feedback on their answers – so students aren’t practicing incorrectly!
- 2. Boom allows creators to include audio clips. In the Boom cards I create for Learning At The Primary Pond, I include audio directions for every task. Students can also touch a picture and hear the word pronounced aloud, so there’s no confusion about what an image is supposed to represent. When they use my Boom decks, it’s like having a teacher sitting next to them even though they’re working independently or at home!
- 3. You can differentiate assignments within seconds by giving students different decks to work on.
In order to use Boom Cards, All students will need is a device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, computer) with an internet connection.
And all you’ll need to get started is a free Boom Learning account! Keep reading to find out how to get that set up.
Accessing Boom Learning Cards on TpT
TpT is a great place to find Boom Learning Cards. Educators have created Boom cards for all kinds of topics and grade levels!
When you start searching for decks, you might want to try out a free one first to see how it works. You can get started with my free Boom cards HERE (phonics cards for K-2 teachers) – but for now, keep reading this post to learn how to get set up!
Once you find and purchase the Boom decks that you’d like to use, you’ll have a PDF to download. The PDF will provide you with a link or links to click.
Click the provided link, and you’ll be prompted to log in to your Boom Learning account. If you don’t have one set up yet, you can set up an account for FREE at that point. (Or, just go ahead and sign up for a free account HERE.)
Once you’ve logged in upon clicking that link, the deck will then be in your Boom Learning account library – forever! Just one click and you’re all set to go.
When it’s time to assign decks to your students, you have two options:
- 1. Use the “Fast Pin” option – students receive a code that works for 14 days.
- 2. Assign decks to students by having them log into their accounts. This option requires an upgraded Boom Learning account but also gives you great feedback about student performance on the decks.
I walk you through these options in this video:
You can also assign decks via Google Classroom, which I’ll explain in the next section.
Using Boom Learning and Google Classroom
Google Classroom makes it easy to assign Boom Cards to your students. As I explained above, there are two ways to assign Boom Cards (via the Fast Pin option, or by having students log in). In Google Classroom, simply create an assignment that A) provides the Fast Pin or B) asks students to log in to Boom Learning and complete a certain assignment.
Watch this video to see exactly how to assign Boom Cards for your students via Google Classroom!
If you like, you can also set up your class in Boom by importing your Google Classroom roster. Students can then sign into Boom with their Google Classroom account. Learn how in this video.
Ready to Get Started?
Imagine being able to assign students all these activities with just one click! Boom Learning is truly a time-saver AND and a super engaging tools for students.
Get started with my free Boom cards HERE. If you have any questions, I’m happy to help! You can reach me on Facebook here, on Instagram here, or in my TpT store here.
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About Alison
Alison Ryan is a reading specialist in the Nashville, TN area. Since 2012, she has run her TpT store and blog to help K-2 teachers implement effective literacy instruction. You can follow along with Alison on Facebook or Instagram.
