Chromebook Maths Support: Digital Paper and Classroom Tools
Many families find that when children move to using Chromebooks, maths is one of the trickiest subjects to manage. Traditional lined and squared exercise books are no longer there, and typing into a blank screen doesn’t always work for setting out sums or showing working.
The good news is that there are several digital tools and “digital paper” options that can bring structure back, helping students keep neat, accurate maths while making full use of Chromebook accessibility features.
Why Digital Paper Matters in Maths
Place value clarity – lined-up digits make addition, subtraction, and long multiplication possible.
Neat presentation – a clear grid helps both student and teacher to see the maths process.
Familiarity – most students are used to squared exercise books, so digital versions reduce anxiety.
Confidence – grids are especially important for learners with dyslexia, ADHD, or motor coordination needs.
Digital Paper Options
Google Slides with Squared Backgrounds
Upload a squared paper image as the background.
Or create a table (e.g. 1 cm × 1 cm cells) to type into.
Students can move neatly between boxes with the arrow keys.
Keep one slide deck as a digital maths exercise book with a new slide for each lesson.
Kami with PDF Templates
Generate a blank squared-paper PDF and open it in Kami.
Students can type or handwrite over the top, highlight work, and submit to Google Classroom.
A good option for those who like the look and feel of paper.
Equatio (Chrome Extension)
Equatio allows neat entry of fractions, equations, indices, and algebra.
Includes speech input, so students can speak maths aloud and see it appear onscreen.
Especially useful at secondary level.
Google Docs Table Hack
In Google Docs, insert a large table and resize cells to squares.
Digits can then be typed into each box.
Slightly fiddlier, but helpful for those who already work confidently in Docs.
Other Chromebook Maths Tools
Alongside digital paper, there are several built-in or add-on options that support maths learning:
Desmos (desmos.com) – free graphing calculator, accessible on Chromebooks.
GeoGebra (geogebra.org) – interactive geometry, algebra, and graphing tool.
Jamboard (or alternatives like FigJam/Miro) – collaborative whiteboards for working through problems.
Math Learning Apps – including Khan Academy, Quizlet, and BBC Bitesize.
Accessibility Features on Chromebooks
Chromebooks have built-in tools that can make maths more accessible:
Dictation – speak text aloud into a Chromebook (Ctrl + Alt + S).
Magnifier – zoom in on small grids or equations.
High Contrast Mode – flips colours for greater legibility.
Screen Reader – reads text aloud for those who benefit from auditory input.
These can be switched on in Chromebook Settings → Accessibility.
Organising Maths Work Digitally
Treat one file (Slides or Docs) as the digital maths exercise book.
Add dates at the top of each page or slide.
Use colour to highlight answers, corrections, or steps in working out.
Encourage the same habits students use in their paper books: underlining, numbering, showing working clearly.
Downloadable Templates
Ready-made digital paper saves time:
Final Note
Using Chromebooks for maths can feel unusual at first. Parents and students may miss the security of pencil and squared exercise books. But with tools like Slides, Docs, Kami, and Equatio, digital paper can recreate the structure of maths notebooks—while also giving students the benefits of accessibility, collaboration, and digital submission.
The aim is not to replace pen-and-paper entirely, but to give students a choice of tools that support clear thinking and confident working in maths.
Disclosure
This page gathers together research and ideas that other parents and educators have shared. I haven’t tried all of these approaches myself, so please treat them as options to explore rather than endorsements. Every child and every school will be different, so check with teachers or SENCos before settling on a method.
