• A Parent's Guide to Learning & Educational Apps

    While Toomer students get plenty of hands-on, face-to-face instruction, digital tools are an important part of the modern curriculum, enabling students to engage, learn, create and build knowledge. Our kindergartners have tablet access, an age-appropriate way to engage with technology as they build literacy and writing skills, Grades 1-5 have use of chromebooks, with higher grade levels able to manage projects, store documents and complete assignments via technology.

    Carefully-curated digital apps are integrated into the Toomer curriculum to support grade-level needs and objectives. Toomer uses a variety of apps to support your child’s learning journey.

    To help you stay informed and involved, here’s a guide to the apps our teachers use, how they help students, and how you can access them.
     

    Logging into myBackpack

    First things first. 

    Students have easy access to most of these apps through their myBackpack account. 

    Students (and parents) can log in to myBackpack at home using this link: https://launchpad.classlink.com/atlanta 

    Most students should know their username (usually first letter of first name + last name + last four digits of Student ID number) and password (lunch number). 

    • If they do not know either of these, parents can ask their child’s teacher who can provide it.

    • If they know their lunch number but not their student ID, parents can log into Infinite Campus to look up a student’s ID (you cannot see their lunch number unfortunately).

    Commonly used Apps at Toomer

    A list of apps that Toomer teachers and staff most frequently use are below, along with whether or not they are accessible via myBackpack (spoiler, most are!). 

    1. Beanstack (Race2Read)

    • In myBackpack?: YES
    • What it is: A reading challenge app where students log books they’ve read, track their reading progress, and earn rewards.

    • How it helps: Encourages students to develop a love of reading and build consistent reading habits.

    • How to access: 1) Click on the Beanstack icon in myBackpack; 2) Download the Beanstack app; or 3) Visit Beanstack and log in with your child’s school credentials.

    2. Canva

    • In MyBackpack?: YES
    • What it is: A design tool that allows students to create presentations, posters, and other visuals.

    • How it helps: Develops creativity and design skills while enhancing project-based learning.

    • How to access: 1) Click on the Canva icon in myBackpack or 2) Log in with their school account at Canva.

    3. Lexia

    • In MyBackpack?: YES
    • What it is: A personalized literacy program that adapts to your child’s reading level and helps them build foundational skills.

    • How it helps: Strengthens reading, comprehension, and vocabulary skills through targeted practice.

    • How to access: 1) Click on the Lexia icon in myBackpack or 2) Visit Lexia website (teachers can provide login details if needed).

    4. Formative

    • In MyBackpack?: YES
    • What it is: An assessment app that allows teachers to assign quizzes and interactive activities.

    • How it helps: Provides immediate feedback to students and helps teachers monitor progress.

    • How to access: 1) Click on the Formative icon in myBackpack; 2) Utilize teacher-provided links in Google Classroom; or 3) Log in at Formative.

    5. Google Suite

    • In MyBackpack?: YES
    • What it is: Google Classroom is a virtual learning platform, and Google Drive stores and shares assignments and materials.

    • How it helps: Keeps assignments, resources, and announcements organized for easy access.

    • How to access: 1)Click on the Google Classroom icon in myBackpack or 2) Log in with your child’s school Google account at Google Classroom or Google Drive.

    6. PebbleGo

    • In MyBackpack?: YES
    • What it is: An interactive research platform designed for elementary students.

    • How it helps: Provides age-appropriate articles, activities, and videos on topics like animals, science, and history.

    • How to access: 1) Click the PebbleGo icon in myBackpack or 2) Visit PebbleGo and log in with school credentials.

    7. Prodigy

    • In MyBackpack?: YES
    • What it is: A math game that blends curriculum-aligned practice with a fun adventure.

    • How it helps: Builds math skills in an engaging, game-like format.

    • How to access: 1) Click on the Prodigy icon in myBackpack or 2) Visit Prodigy and log in with their school account.

    8. Epic

    • In MyBackpack?: NO
    • What it is: A digital library with thousands of books, audiobooks, and videos.

    • How it helps: Encourages independent reading and offers a wide variety of genres and topics.

    • How to access: Visit Epic or download the app. Parents can set up a free account for at home use.

    9. myON

    • In MyBackpack?: YES
    • What it is: A personalized literacy platform with a large selection of eBooks and reading tools.

    • How it helps: Tracks reading progress and provides personalized recommendations.

    • How to access: 1) Click on the myON icon in myBackpack or 2) Log in at myON using your child’s school credentials.

    10. ABCya

    • In MyBackpack?: NO
    • What it is: A site with educational games for math, reading, and other subjects.

    • How it helps: Reinforces classroom skills through fun and interactive activities.

    • How to access: Visit ABCya for free games or access premium content with a subscription.

    12. eResources and eBooks

    • In MyBackpack?: YES
    • What it is: Online tools and digital libraries offering access to a wide range of educational resources and books.

    • How it helps: Expands learning beyond the classroom and encourages independent exploration.

    • How to access: 1) Click the eResources icon in myBackpack or 2) Utilize the teacher-provided links and login information in Google Classroom.

    13. Galileo

    • In MyBackpack? YES
    • What it is: A research tool offering access to educational databases and articles.

    • How it helps: Supports research projects and helps students learn to gather reliable information.

    • How to access: 1) Click on the Galileo icon in myBackpack or 2) Visit Galileo and log in with the school’s access code (provided by teachers).

    14. SplashLearn

    • In MyBackpack? YES
    • What it is: An interactive math and reading learning platform that offers game-based activities, personalized learning paths, and engaging challenges.

    • How it helps: Builds math fluency and problem-solving skills through adaptive learning and supports early reading development with phonics, sight words, and comprehension activities.

    • How to access: 1) Click on the SplashLearn icon in myBackpack or 2) Visit SplashLearn and log in with your child’s school account (if provided by the teacher) or create a free parent account.

    How Parents Can Support Their Child’s Use of Learning Apps

    1. Check in with teachers: Ask which apps your child uses most and how you can reinforce learning at home. Your child's teacher may not use all of those that are listed above or may some additional ones. 

    2. Set up login credentials: Help your child save their usernames and passwords in a secure, accessible location.

    3. Engage together: Explore apps with your child to make learning a shared activity.

    4. Monitor progress: Many apps, like Lexia, allow you to track your child’s growth and engagement.

    We hope this guide helps you navigate the many tools available to support your child’s education. If you have any questions or need assistance accessing these apps, please reach out to your child’s teacher.