Neat Add-on for Faster Feedback

If you've ventured into the world of Google Classroom, or Google ANYthing to do with education, surely you've had the chance to run into Alice Keeler. She's only the Guru of all things Google Education. For fun she writes scripts. Yes, for fun. Lucky for us. One such fun script she wrote is for Pull the Paragraph.

Working with Google Docs, when a teacher assigns "Make a copy for all students" option in the Google Classroom and "passes out" a Google Document for each child, the teacher has the option, thanks to Alice Keeler, to pull ALL of the documents into ONE spreadsheet, read each student's work by scrolling, instead of opening, commenting, closing, finding the other one, opening, commenting, closing...rinse, repeat...

With Pull the Paragraph, you read, comment and send back to student all from one spreadsheet.

Take a look at her "how to" on her blog to see some screen shots about this awesome add-on for Google Docs. (note that this works ONLY for Google Docs, not Sheets, Slides or Drawing)

If you look around Alice Keeler's blogsite, you might find a LOT of neat tricks and tips for Google Education anything. Take a look around and let us know of some great finds YOU found useful!

Flipping for Flippity!

Have you heard about the flashcards you make with Google Sheets? Richard Byrne, of FreeTech4Teachers shares this tip in his blog: TEMPLATES!! Once you create your flashcards and publish it (his video clip tells you how), then you copy/paste the link in your Google Classroom, and the kids have custom made flash cards from you!
To learn more about this, watch Richard's video clip below, and then head over to his blog for some more great tips!

Have You Met Google Keep?

Google Keep is a "to-do" option that can be utilized by both teachers and students. Anyone with a google account has access to the Google Keep. Notes created on Google Keep can be shared with others, grouped together in categories, made into a check list, or Post-It Note style. The important notes that you refer to over and over again can be pinned to the top. One of the best selling points of Google Keep is that it's cross platform.

Obviously note taking apps are a dime a dozen, and a lot of them are native apps. Create a note on your Google Chromebook, then access it later on with your IOS device. Feel free to share the note with your Android friend who also has a Google Account. Have your students turn their spelling word notes into reminders to remind them to study for their upcoming spelling test.

View the video below and see if it's something you and your students could use!

Dayboard

Hello fellow educators!
Boy howdy, this tech tip was for ME this week! Thanks to Richard Byrne, I was introduced to a to do list that helps discourage off task behavior. (ME???? Offtask? Never!) It doesn't prohibit you from going to other tabs that you shouldn't be going, but it does remind you, (Ahem, have you finished grading those slide presentations from Google classroom yet?) We all get distracted from time to time, but this Chrome extension will remind you every time you open a tab that you've got a to-do list to complete.

For me, I'll have a mental check list of what I need to be doing, and, as is the nature of the beast, something will call my attention away, and after the interruption has passed, I'd forget what I was working on. I suspect this will keep me on track.
Check out the intro video below to see what it's about.

Writing test is upon us--let technology help

For fast finishers, extra credit, tech center....here is an idea to incorporate Google Apps into a writing activity.

Have kids read two passages, then "write" their papers using Google apps.

Using Google Drawing,  students could create their "planning sheet". They could even create their own digital anchor charts. Have the kids share with you, you download as a PDF or JPG, and share via newsletter or Google Classroom.

After the students create their digital planing sheet, have them create the "paper" using Google slides. Maybe allow 1 slide per paragraph. Use a rubric to allow students one image, a specific style of font and size.

Have students share their slides with you. (And me, please!)  This will help drive home the # of paragraphs you want the students to have, and exactly what information goes into which slide.

After the slide is created, have them write the full side show out on notebook paper. Highlight some of the hard work in your weekly newsletter.

Have fun!

I need your ideas!

Today's blog post is going to be a bit different from the previous blog posts. In this post, I am inviting YOU to write!
There is a padlet created here for you to post your ideas, wishes and musings.  I never see you. I know you're out there.We never seem to talk beyond, 'Hey! Will you stop by and fix my_______?" I know there are questions of, "how can we make this better?" What ideas are there? What apps are there? Are there any tips and tricks that can make MY time more productive? Is there a way for technology to help me work smarter, instead of harder to ensure the kiddos in my classroom reach their full potential?

Click on over to my Padlet and let YOUR voice be heard! It's totally anonymous. It might take a bit for posts to show up. It's on "moderate comments" in hopes of deterring spam.
Thanks for your help!

Toontastic

Another goodie from Richard Byrne, from the FreeTech4teachers.com This little gem can help students visualize their beginning, middle, and ending of their writing piece. Using Toontastic (no sign in required) the students get to choose/customize their scenes (settings), characters, and of course, write their script. The finished product can be downloaded to the device (iOS, Android or Chrome) and shared in a variety of ways, including Google Drive and Google Classroom. (Which, BTW, have you noticed that Google Classroom can now let you pick and choose individual students to send things to? Talk about differentiation!)

Check out Richard's video below to see how easy it is to use the Toontastic Website: