Growing up if you wanted to do any form of word processing you had only one option: Microsoft Word. However, it is 2020 and Microsoft now has challengers like Google trying to woo you over to their products. If you work in a Google Apps for Education District like I do then you have probably heard of Google Docs. Here is a quick list of some helpful tips I've found while using Google Docs to get the most out of you work.
1) Send a document to someone and make it so they HAVE to create a copy to start This is especially helpful when working with 3rd graders so they all aren't on one document at the same time. If you use Google Classroom this feature is automatically a choice when assigning work to a class. If you don't use this and go through email then make your document only "Viewable" and then have them create a copy once beginning. 2) Send a document to someone and NOT add them as a collaborator. Maybe you want to send a copy of your document to someone via email without adding them as a collaborator–to provide the file to a someone, for instance, or share it with someone outside of your organization for review. Docs can do that: Just open up the File menu and select “Email as attachment.” You’ll be able to select from a variety of formats or even opt to include the text within the email body. If you use Gmail this process is even simpler. 3) Google Docs Mobile Apps Instead of carrying a bunch of papers home each night and breaking your back, try having your students submit typed documents through Docs. I love having the ability to grade student papers from my couch using my phone and the mobile app. 4) Turn your Google Doc into a Webpage. Many teachers have asked me what are some easy ways to make a classroom webpage and I've told them that Google Doc's is one. Simply publish your doc to the web through "File" on the dropdown menu. This was one of the first ways I learned about website design. 5) Get work done without WiFi. Google Docs allows you to work offline with documents you start. This means you could work on the bus, plane, or anywhere you plan to go without an internet connection. Once you connect to the Internet again it will sync up with your Google Drive. There are many more which I will revisit in a post later to come!
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Communication with parents is vital to have a successful classroom. Having multiple options to communicate with parents is also key with parents having busier lives today. One app that I enjoy using with my parents is Google Voice. Google Voice offers many great tools for teachers. Here is a quick list of benefits I've found: 1) A free phone number (Not being able to give out your personal phone number.) 2) Text messaging (Some families are better at texting than calling.) 3) Online voice mall Inbox (Your Voicemail inbox can be easily accessed on any mobile device or computer.) 4) Documentation of conversations with families (No need to stay anymore here.) 5) Not giving out your personal phone number (As you can see I like this one a lot.) Google Voice is easy to set up and if you don't currently have a classroom phone number this might be a good resource for you. Below you will find a video tutorial on how to set up Google Voice and how another teacher uses it. If interested I have included links to the apps for mobile phones at the bottom of this post. Google Voice is also available on the web. Google has made advancements in the classroom over the years. One area they continue to grow in is Google Classroom. Google Classroom acts like a Learning Management System such as Schoology. There are many tips and tricks that the Classroom app offers that many teachers may not know about. Thank you to my friends at Whooo's Reading The Blog for collecting all these great tips I'm about to share. Here are some top tips I found most helpful. You can find the rest in the resources below: 1. “Share with Multiple Classes: If you teach multiple sections of the same course, Google Classroom will create the assignment in each section.” (Alice Keeler) 2. “Adding descriptions to assignments is a good thing to do. The assignments in Classroom become good points of reference for absent students and kids that see their grades and wonder why they are as they are. Spelling out all of the details makes for easy reference later.” (Ditch That Textbook) 3. “Google Classroom can be used by schools and districts to organize and deliver professional development content for teachers.” (Edudemic) 4. “Keep due dates in order with Calendar, now available in Google Classroom.” (Google Classroom) 5. “When an assignment, lesson, or unit doesn’t work, add your own comments–or have students add their own feedback), then tag it or save it to a different folder for revision.” (TeachThought) 6. “Distribute Notes: Rather than focusing on note taking, students are able to focus on discussing. Posting the notes to a Google Classroom announcement allows students to pull up the notes easily and then spend class time talking about them instead of taking them.” (Alice Keeler) More: 3 Reasons to Bring Digital Note Taking to Your Classroom 7. “Students can make comments on the stream. This is awesome because if they have a question, I get an email when the stream post is made, which means I can respond in a timely manner. The other benefit is that sometimes students have the same question and can see that it was asked and perhaps a response has already been posted.” (Zahner History) 8. “Vertically-align student learning by curating and sharing “landmark” student assignments that reflect mastery of specific standards.” (TeachThought) 9. “Create a consistent and descriptive naming convention for your classes before you begin adding them to Google Classroom. Consider including the semester or school year to keep things organized. Example: 7th Period U.S. History 15-16.” (ShakeUpLearning) 10. “Save time at the photocopier when you use the “make a copy for each student” feature. (Google for Education) 11. “Build reading comprehension with daily news with the Google Classroom share button on Newsela.” (Google Classroom) 12. “Set up Classroom for younger students who don’t have Gmail by having your admin create Drive accounts for them.” (Google for Education) 13. “It’s important to be able to manage student responses and provide feedback in a timely manner. The Question tool is quick to use and allows teachers to comment and assign a score to each post.” (Zahner History) https://www.learning.com/news/benefits-google-classroom-integration https://www.wired.com/2014/08/google-classrooms/ |
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AuthorBenjamin's educational experiences include teaching both 3rd and 4th grades all around the state of Iowa. His commitment to students has led to various local and state awards and honors such as being named the 2014 Iowa Technology Educator of the Year and authoring a section of a chapter in Dr. Todd Whittaker's book Start. Right. Now.: Teach and Lead for Excellence on maximizing student potential. |