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Computer Log-In Tip

Classroom Management, Technology June 24, 2022
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Does it drive you crazy when you get asked, “Teacher – what’s my computer log-in for….?”  If you answered yes, you are not alone! Computer log-ins are even frustrating for adults. Every log-in requires different things and it can be hard to keep them straight. So I have two computer log-in card ideas to share with you today to help save your sanity in the classroom!

Computer Log-In Card #1

I used this version a few years ago. I started out by printing out labels for each program we have. That year we had AR, MobyMax, Pearson Realize, and Spelling City.  I have one page of address labels per app.  I label it with the title of the app and leave a blank spot by username and password. 

Then, I fill in the eight million different user names and passwords on the labels and stick them to the cards with the student’s name label on it. Voila- easy access. 

I hang it by the front white board and students can refer to it as needed, take it to their seats, etc.  It has saved me a lot of time and makes it easier for kids to be more independent with logging in to the computer program.

Photo of computer log-in cards hanging on classroom wall.
Photo of computer log-in cards with labels for each program.

Computer Log-In Card #2

This card version my teammate created and we both used it this year. We created a template in PowerPoint with each program and then a spot for username and password.  We then duplicated the page so we could type in the information for each student. We fit 4 cards to a page so we had multiple copies.  One copy was taped inside their supply box for school, one copy was sent home for homework, one was kept in their take-home folder, and I kept the final one.

Photo of computer log-in card example.

Hope this tip helps make your log-in life at school a little easier!

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Mote Extension for Student Feedback

Technology November 2, 2020
Blog Header with picture of Mote Extension that you can find on Google Chrome™.

Google Classroom™ users, I have an amazing Google Chrome™ extension to share with you today! As a virtual teacher leaving feedback on assignments in Google Classroom™ is one of my many tasks. I was finding typing feedback to be a little stale and a little impersonal. In the past with in-person teaching, I was able to of course leave written feedback, but also often would give feedback to the child in-person too. That is obviously a little difficult to do with virtual teaching! The Mote extension has come to my rescue!

Mote is an extension through Google Chrome™ that lets you leave voice feedback through Google Classroom™. I currently use the free option that allows you to leave a 30 second audio message and that has worked perfectly. (They do have paid upgrade options). What I love about this is the feedback feels more personal. Even though I’m not seeing the child face-to-face when giving the feedback, the voice touch adds a more personal feeling to it and the kids love it! They can even leave me a voice message reply to my feedback!

Have you used it before? What are your favorite extensions?

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Jamboard Ideas for Your Classroom

Anchor Charts, Technology October 27, 2020
Blog header for Jamboard Ideas for your classroom. Includes photo of a virtual gallery walk

Jamboard has quickly become one of my favorite Google™ tools during virtual learning. Jamboard can be found in the Google™ waffle and can also be assigned to Google Classroom™. I will warn you that it can be a little crazy the first few times you do it if you are allowing students to all edit on the same board. But, with expectations and practice it will become much easier and the kids will know how to use it. Below are a few of my favorite ways for using Jamboard in the classroom…

Idea #1 – Interactive Anchor Charts

Jamboard picture of Environment Questions during an inquiry launch.
Interactive anchor chart on Jamboard for end marks

I love creating anchor charts with my students in the classroom – especially interactive ones with post-it notes. I find that the interactive charts really help with student engagement. Teaching virtually has made that difficult. I can create a chart on chart paper, but it’s hard for the kids to see and they obviously can’t interact with it through the screen. Jamboard is the perfect solution for this! I can create my own anchor chart and also have the kids help me like the two examples you see above.

In the first example, we were launching our inquiry unit on biomes and our launch was focused on the rainforest. The kids added questions all at the same time to out interactive chart about what they were wondering about the specific environment we were in.

In the second example, this is a chart I’ve created many years in-person, but made it virtual with Jamboard. I created the headings – periods, question marks, exclamation marks. The students then were given a specific end mark and asked to create a sentence that fits the end mark.

Idea #2 – Independent Work

Jamboard for students to show ways to represent an amount of money
Jamboard for students to show ways to represent an amount of money

Jamboards can also be assigned to students individually through Google Classroom™. The one above is a differentiated assignment for students to show ways to represent amounts of money. I assigned each student both boards (they were in the same file) and they got to pick the amount they wanted to work with. Then using the post-it notes they came up with as many ways as they could to represent the amount given.

Idea #3 – Virtual Gallery Walk

Virtual Gallery Walk using Jamboard

This is probably my favorite Jamboard use so far. We were trying to figure out away to make a picture gallery walk that was happening in the in-person classrooms virtual. Jamboard to the rescue! We added one photo to each board and assigned it to the whole class with them all editing on the same boards. Students could click through the different boards and add facts and/or questions about each picture.

So in a nutshell – Jamboard is one of my favorite new virtual finds with virtual teaching, but it can also be used for in-person. I love how it makes things interactive and allows students to all be engaged with the same material at the same time. Have you used it before? Let me know below…

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How To Assign Work on Google Classroom™

Technology June 29, 2020
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With distance learning and the rise of 1 to 1 devices in the classroom, Google Classroom™ is a lifesaver! What I love about it is I’m able to assign my students a project or assignment through a Google App™, they complete it, and they can submit it back to me! It is the best thing ever!

Here are a few simple steps for adding a resource or assignment to Google Classroom™.

Step 1

Picture of Google™ Classwork

Go to Google Classroom™. Click on “Classwork.” Then click “Create.” Then click “Assignment.”

Step 2

Picture of Google™ assignment feature in Google Classroom™

In the assignment section, give your assignment a title and provide directions for your students.

Step 3

Picture of how to click "add"

Click “Add” at the bottom of the assignment section and select Google Drive™. Find the file in your Drive™ and double click to add this resource to Google Classroom™.

Step 4

Picture of how to choose how students will interact with file

Next, decide how you want students to interact with the resource.  Choose “View,” “Edit,” or “Make a Copy.”  You most likely will not want to choose edit since that will allow students to edit your original file.  Make a copy gives students their own copy to work on and will not edit your original file.

**PLEASE NOTE: If you are assigning a Google Form™, you do not need to make a copy for each student. They will receive their own copy by default.

Step 5

Picture of assign button

To finish, click “Assign” in the top corner.  This resource should now show up in each student’s own Google Classroom™. 

Digital Resources

Digital resources are a great way to use Google Apps™ and assign work for distance learning or work with technology. Check out some of my digital resources that can be used with Google Classroom™.

Picture of Digital Opinion Writing Prompts resource

Digital Opinion Writing Prompts are the digital version of my popular printable writing prompts. It includes 30 different opinion writing prompts. Teachers can choose to assign a specific prompt, give students a choice between 2 or 3, or can let students choose their own prompt. The prompts are in Google Slides™ and can be used with Google Classroom™.

Picture of Nouns Digital Practice resource

Nouns Digital Practice gives students a chance to practice identifying nouns and making singular nouns plural. This is available in two different formats – Google Forms™ (self-grading) and Google Slides™ (task cards with printable recording sheet). This is the digital version of my printable Nouns Around the Room Resource.

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