Trying Something New Is Always A Risk

Trying something new is always a little scary. Yesterday I decided I wanted to create a paperless vocabulary lesson for today. I reviewed the graphic organizer provided by our curricular resources and then adapted it to Google Drawings. Then I inserted text boxes where I wanted students to respond. Finally, I created an assignment in Google Classroom and added the Google Drawing so each student would get their own copy. 

I began the lesson by stating this might not go as planned, but let's be flexible. My students are awesome and willing to try just about anything!

We opened up our story on our Chromebooks, read the passage and then identified multiple-meaning words. Next, the students opened their copy of the Google Drawings graphic organizer and started completing it. It worked like a charm! Success!!!

My students worked on their vocabulary words, used the online Webster Dictionary and talked with their table partners to complete the assignment.

I will definitely do this again.

3 Ways to Use Google Classroom During Literacy Stations

Have you ever used Google Classroom with your literacy stations? Recently many schools I work with have been purchasing chromebooks and are wanting to use the devices during their station/small group time. Here are a few ideas I have seen in classrooms using chromebooks in literacy stations.

The Morning Journal
The teacher linked a video to the Classroom Assignment and then attached a Google Slides where students could type their journal response on a specific slide. This could be a collaborative effort or the setting in Google Classroom could force each student to make their own copy. After the student creates their response, they can turn in the assignment for the teacher to review.

Reading Log Recording Sheet
The teacher created a reading log recording sheet template and then added it to an assignment on Google Classroom. The students were then able to get their own individual copy which was saved in their Google Drive. This made it easy to distribute a paperless reading log which will always be in the student's Google Drive for easy access to complete each time a student completes a book.

Reading Comprehension Activity
If you are looking to create a paperless classroom, this might be the route for you! Google Classroom allows you to upload a reading passage as well as a comprehension quiz. Not only can students read the passage on the chromebook, but they can also take the comprehension quiz online, thus creating a paperless classroom.

After watching a few teaching in action, I put together a short presentation to help other teachers incorporate chromebooks into station work time. 


These are just a few ways I have seen teachers incorporate chromebooks and Google Classroom into their literacy/small group stations. What other ways have you seen teachers use chromebooks during literacy/small group time?

This Week in Pictures...

What Happened This Week! 10/26/2015

This week started with our PD department tackling Twitter. They created a department Twitter account as well as professional accounts for each instructional coach.

I also visited Rancho Village where we learned all about Socrative. This school has been focused on tools for formative assessments this fall.

On Tuesday, I started at Coolidge. We were able to get all of the 6th graders logged in to their Google Drives on desktops as well as chromebooks! Success!!! Sadly, I don't have 1 picture from the morning event:(

Tuesday afternoon I met with teachers from Fillmore and we were able to  learn 10 ways to use Google Docs. This event was awesome.

Wednesday was our regularly scheduled department meeting and then Part 4 of the Hour of Code series.

Thursday we were able to attend SMART Amp training. SMART Amp is COOL!

On Friday, I visited Wheeler to meet with a 4th grade teacher who is exploring gamification and has had wildly awesome improvements in test scores!

9.28.15 - What I'm Seeing this Week in Classrooms!

This post is about all of the random cool things I am seeing in classrooms around the district. 

On Tuesday, I started my day at Pierce. I saw GoNoodle and quite a few brain breaks. Brain breaks are a great opportunity to get students moving and are a nice way to transition from one activity to another.

Also this week, my blog post about Part 2 of 5: Hour of Code Series was posted. This week consisted of learning to code with Code.org and then setting up your class in Code.org to have students start coding.

As I visited another school, 5th & 6th grade students were practicing their Google Search skills as they researched and learned about Jamestown. 

Then I stopped by school to follow up with a few teachers and found more students using technology. My favorite room was the nonverbal special education class where students were using the SMART board and switches to take assessments. 

Anything is possible! What a great week! I love my job!!!

What are your Hot Topics?

As I've been planning for the 2015-2016 school year with administrators, I've noticed a few trends. Here is a list of trends and resources to go along with those trends.

1. Google Apps for Education - GAFE
Our district has been a GAFE district for a few years but there was never an official launch. As more people have been made aware of GAFE, they want to learn more. Then once they learn more, that want their staff to use the Google productivity suite of tools.

2. Chromebooks
Many principals have discovered Chromebooks are cheaper than iPads. Then once they realize Chromebooks and GAFE go together like peanut butter and jelly, they are sold! I also like the fact Chromebooks can have a personalized login for each student.

3. Web 2.0 Tools
The popular web 2.0 tools seem to be Socrative, Kahoot and Today's Meet. You can read more about these in the blog post listed above.

4. Online Learning
Faculty and staff want more online learning for that anytime, any place access.

These are a few trends, I have noticed in 2 weeks of working with administrators and teachers as they prepare for school to start. What other trends have you noticed?