#6 Google Classroom

I can see using Google Classroom in all areas I teach! This is a very easy way to go 'paperless' and be organized! I like that you have everything you need in one spot. You can look at assignments when you have time (at home on the couch is a good option) and comment/grade when you need to. Classroom also provides a way for students to get feedback that only they can see. You get away from passing back papers with tons of RED marks all over them. They are also able to share assignments with others so they can get peer feedback before the teacher has the final say. Students can work at their own level, at a pace that works for them. You can also check to make sure they are progressing towards the necessary goal in a timely manner. (The group I worked with last year was difficult so I had them turn in their assignments at the end of each class just so I could check on them. They quickly learned how to unsubmit their work to continue.). Hopefully you can somewhat avoid the students that do not get started until the very end.

I had fun with this activity. I used Classroom last year but very limited. I really only attached docs for writing assignments. I learned through these activities that you can easily add videos or websites to add to the lesson. It was so easy to do that I can't believe I didn't do it last year! I love the idea that you can save assignments as drafts. I could honestly set up my whole unit on figurative language and have it ready to go! Talk about summer work that you could use!! I also enjoyed the blog on naming assignments. I have noted before but my Google drive is a mess & I need to fix that this year! Creating a naming system would certainly help. I am excited to do more with Classroom this year.

#3 Screencasting

Well.....I kept putting this one off because I thought it would be hard. WRONG! Reason #1,429 why I love Chromebooks......they make screencasting EASY! I used Snagit to do it. I picked that one because it would run with Chromebooks and I saw a lot of other campers use it. (Side note: when I took the Web 2.0 class I spent DAYS working on screencasting. I did not have the right supplies to record my voice. I ended up NEVER having sound. I love that the Chromebook has all of what you need already in it!) Super easy to add it on and use! I played with the side bar tools a bit and was ready to roll. I wasn't sure what to do it on so I picked how to log-in and use RAZ-Kids, an online reading site. I have been lucky enough to get a subscription to it every year so I can register up to 36 kids. I have never had good luck with kids using it at how so maybe this will help.

# 7: Assessment/Polling & Data Gathering

I had fun using Poll Everywhere!  It was quick and easy.  I like the option to change the background.  The Flicker search had a lot of good options.  I also like the response settings.  Too often kids like to vote more than once and then it can throw off your class data.  I can see using this for interactive math lessons.  Everyone can input their data and we can discuss it.  Graphs are hard to understand and interpret so I think this would really engage the students.

I also made a Kahoot!  I know students LOVE these!  A lot of our 5th grade classrooms used them last year.  (in fact I had to cover for one of them last year and I did not know how to use Kahoot.  I had trouble pulling up what she wanted me to do so I changed the lesson.  Wish I would have known how easy it is to use!)  It is such a fun way to review anything.  The competitive nature of it makes it engaging.  I did a quick book review for the book Stone Fox.  I quickly grabbed a quiz from Super Teacher Worksheets and used most of their questions.  I liked adding pictures and those were easy to find on Google Images.  I can see using this for just about anything in school.  I can see it as an easy way to review vocabulary.  It could be used as a tool to see where the kids are at.  I like that they can use a nickname so other kids don't necessarily know who is answering what.  I want to spend more time looking for public games.  These are fun but a bit time consuming to make.
https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/85f600b4-11b0-4191-92b5-701a8fdc2327

#5 Apps, Add-ons & Extensions, Oh My!

Love, love, love all of these EASY to use tools!  I can only wish I had these while I was in college!  I hope we can all share things that we use because there are a lot of good things out there.  I love anything that helps me stay organized or makes things go faster.

For apps, I added Monster Math Flashcards, Haiku Deck and Newsela (already had Pear Deck).  Monster Flashcards will be helpful for all kids.  I find basic facts a huge struggle with kids and all they need is practice!  I like that it offers addition, subtraction and multiplication.  You can set the range of numbers and number of problems.  I had my second grader try it out and she liked doing it.  I added Haiku Deck, also.  This is my most favorite thing to use with students.  It is such a great way for them to organize and present on things they have learned.  I am amazed how quick they pick up on it and the quality of their final product!  The last one I added was Newsela.  I used this a lot in my class last year.  I love the option of students doing it online without printing the articles out.  Newsela does such a great job offering articles at different lexile levels.  It makes for an easy way to differentiate within your classroom.  It also has new articles all the time.  Current events helps boost motivation and interest which is KEY to reading.

Extensions were my favorite. Quick and easy....one click get it done!  I could see myself adding more and more of these.  I added Add This (to instantly share, print or email things online), Last Pass (saves login information for sites) and Save to Google Drive.  I am excited to use these on a regular basis.

I also played with Add-ons.  I love the idea of Bibliography but it is a bit advanced for my students.  That is one I wish I had.  I think older students would LOVE this.  It makes things SO easy.  I remember spending hours on that!!  I did add Thesaurus and Open Clip Art.  I do a lot with Shades of Meaning and using synonyms.  Using the Thesaurus makes looking up different words so easy.  Forget the ABC order.....just click and search.  So much easier.  I think students would actually use it because it is right there.  The Open Clip Art is good, too.  Who doesn't like adding graphics to enhance your documents?

Super excited about this lesson.  I am ready to share them with other teachers & students.

Here is a Haiku Deck that a third grade student made.  It was her first time using Haiku Deck.


Hershey - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

#4 Google Suite

I love Google Suite!  I used a lot of these options last year but I did not use Google Forms so that is what I went with.  I run the Reading Buddies program at Bel Air so I thought setting up a form for volunteers to register for the program would be helpful.  It would be easy to share with volunteers and I love how it puts the data into a spreadsheet for me.  One less thing that I would need to do!

I love the flexibility that Google sharing offers to everyone.  Just like one of the videos said.....you never come to school without your homework!  Same for teachers, I am always working on things at home, so all I need to do is log into Google and I have everything I need! No more emailing docs back and forth, flashdrives or forgetting things at school.

I am the extension/intervention teacher for 2nd grade so I am always sharing data with my team and our BAIT (Bel Air Intervention Team).  I can set up a doc or spreadsheet and update it for everyone to use.  I like the editing options, also.  At times I just want to share data without the options of editing and other times everyone needs to input their own data. We also share a lot of lessons around our PLC so this is a great way for us all to work together.

I see many benefits of using Google Drive with students.  The overall ease of it would be the biggest benefit.  You can check in on them without getting right in their space (which intimidates many).  You can comment on their work and no one else needs to see it.  I love the idea of adding a quick link to a video or helpful site.  The students would be able to take more ownership of their work.  You can also do it from anywhere.  You don't need to bring notebooks and papers home in order to correct them.

The only con that I see with Google Drive is that I need to keep it organized.  Naming and labeling items in a meaningful way would be important.  I will be using it for so many different aspects of my job that knowing how to find things will be key.  I do like being able to search for things so if I name them correctly, I should be able to locate them.

I also uploaded documents that I made years ago for a Literature Circle.  I have them saved on my home computer.  Having these more accessible will be helpful to me and I will be able to easily share them with others.
Literature Circles

#2 Engagement

I created a Pear Deck to use with during math.  I love the idea of adding the formative assessment questions!!  I used a power point presentation that I already had, added some multiple choice slides and now can quickly add 'quick questions' to assess how the students are doing on telling time.
In playing with it a bit more I would like to add slides that are interactive so I don't have to do it on the spot.  I had to watch videos on how to do that.

Telling Time Pear Deck

I can see how using Pear Deck presentations with students would boost their engagement in what we are doing.  They would certainly be held accountable, yet in a personal way.  They would all have to answer and I could tell who was having trouble with the concept.  If I am careful on picking multiple choices then I think I would also be able to identify the problems students are having.  I work with younger students so yes/no, true/false and multiple choice seem the easiest to use.  I think the slide tools could be interesting to gauge how they are feeling about their performance.

I also like how it is very easy to login with our Google accounts and easy to share.  This would be very useful for my whole team to use & share Pear Decks.

Activity 1: Communication

I think having a blog is excellent for communication & organization.

I can use a blog for communication with parents, grade level teams and just for myself.  They look professional and are easy to use. It would not take long to post our daily goals and objectives and any homework that is assigned. Students would be able to use my blog if they need more help at home. The more you can find online (videos or presentations) can act as flipped instruction.  I work with many students that need extra support.  I could use the blog to assist them in getting the instruction again or to see it in a different way.  Many parents also want to know how to help their children so parents could use it in the same way.

In addition to helping students, the blog can be used to show off some of the things we are doing in school.  It is an easy tool to showcase student work.  Who wouldn't love showing their parents or grandparents that their school work is online for all to see?
 It is an excellent way to organize all of the excellent things you can find online.  I always struggle to remember the 'good stuff' I find online.  It is quick and easy to add a link or embed a video to a blog.  Using labels is even another step to keeping the blog organized.