Using Daily Agenda Slides to Stay Organized & On Task

At the end of last school year, the other two members of my sixth grade team and I sat down together to reflect on our year. One of the big issues that came up was our students' struggles with the transition from fifth to sixth grade. 

We work in a K-8 school and the fifth grade classrooms are self-contained, so moving up to middle school and switching classes in sixth grade can be a big adjustment for many students. Moving from room to room and teacher to teacher means students had to now keep track of all of their belongings in additional to several different teachers' personalities, expectations and routines. 

One solution for easing this transition and creating some consistency from class to class was for all of us to use a daily agenda slide made using Google Slides. All of our students have Google accounts and we already use Google Classroom as our learning management platform. In addition to displaying our daily agenda slide at the start of class, we also all posted our daily agenda slides in the same place in our Google Classrooms so students could access them at home.

My daily slide includes the date, our agenda and objective for the day, any materials students need to have out, homework and other reminders, and a timer. Having all of these things together in one place has helped me to be more intentional about connecting the objective to our activities for the day. I never forget to assign the homework or remind students about upcoming events. Having the ten minute timer for our independent reading on the screen means we can go right into reading once we've reviewed the agenda slide.

So that students have access to this daily agenda after class ends, I have the Slides posted in the Stream on their Google Classrooms. That's the only thing I have posted there (in "settings," you can turn off classwork notifications so they don't appear in the stream) so it can't get lost among other postings. I have found that the posting disappears after time, but clicking "move to top" (even though there's nothing else there) makes it reappear. Because Google Drive resources automatically save and update, there's no need to ever repost the Slides.

While I encourage parents to sign up for Google Classroom email summaries and sit down with their child each night to review homework, technically parents can't access Google Classroom on their own, so I also have my daly agenda slides posted on my classroom website (created with Google Sites).

I'll be using the same Google Slides presentation with my daily agenda for the entire year. Each day, I pull the most recent date to the front of the presentation. Having a single presentation allows students to look back at previous days, which is extremely helpful if they missed class for some reason or were absent. I also link other Slides presentations, handouts, etc. to my daily slides to make finding materials easier. This will be such an amazing resource to have next year.

Interested in using a similar daily agenda Google Slide in your classroom? Find it a completely customizable one here, including two different layouts and eighteen different color combinations.

Making the Most of Google in the Classroom

This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about Google Apps for Education, also known as the G Suite for Education. Middle school and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed how they use Google Classroom and other applications as part of their instruction. Teachers also shared their favorite Google App and how they use it in the classroom.

Read through the chat below to find out how Google Apps can change how students interact and collaborate. You'll get ideas about new Google Apps, features or activities to try.  You'll also find ways to use Google Apps to help you work smarter, not harder.

Hope you'll join us next week for another chat. We'd also love for you to join our 2ndaryELA Facebook group (even if you aren't on Twitter). 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

Making the Most of Google in the Classroom

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat on Tuesday 4/24 Topic: Google Tools in the Classroom

Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven & Kristy, 2 Peas and a Dog host #2ndaryELA on Twitter every Tuesday evening from 8 - 8:30 PM EST. #2ndaryELA is a weekly chat for secondary English Language Arts teachers focused on a topic. Every Sunday, we post the topic and questions on our blogs to allow you to prepare for the upcoming Tuesday evening's chat. Thank you to everyone who joined us last week and we hope that you will join us again.

We'd also love for you to join our 2ndaryELA Facebook group, even if you aren't on Twitter. 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On Tuesday, April 24, our #2ndaryELA chat will be about using Google tools in the classroom.

The Format:
8:00 – What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: How do you use Google Classroom or Apps as part of your instruction? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: What is your favorite Google App to incorporate into lessons? How do you use it? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: How have Google Apps changed how students interact and collaborate? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: What is one new Google App, feature, or activity incorporating a Google App that you want to try? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: What Google Apps or features do you use to help you work smarter, not harder? #2ndaryELA

The Directions:
1. Log into Twitter on Tuesday from 8-8:30 PM EST.
2. Search for tweets with the hashtag #2ndaryELA in the search bar. Make sure to click “Latest.”
3. Introductions are for the first 5 minutes.
4. Starting at 8:05 (@literarymaven or @2peasandadog) will post questions every 5 minutes using the format Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. and the hashtag #2ndaryELA.
5. Respond to questions using the format A1, A2, A3, etc. with #2ndaryELA.
6. Follow any teachers responding and who are also using #2ndaryELA.
7. Like and respond to other teachers' tweets.

You can schedule your responses to the questions ahead of time using a scheduler like TweetDeck or HootSuite (but don't forget to use A1, A2, etc. and #2ndaryELA). Links are encouraged, so be sure to use a link shortener like tinyurl, bitly, goo.gl or ow.ly Just visit one of those links and paste your long link to shorten it for Twitter. Using images is also encouraged when relevant.

New to chats? Here are the rules:
1. Stay on topic & stay positive!
2. Please do not post or promote paid products unless specifically asked.
3. If you arrive late, try to look through other posts before beginning.
4. Feel free to just read, like, and/or retweet.
5. Always use our hashtag #2ndaryELA, including in your replies to others.
6. Make sure your twitter feed is set to public. (Also keep in mind that Twitter is completely public – that means students, parents, and administrators can and will read what you tweet.)

You can also check out a quick video tutorial in this blog post.

Be sure to spread the word to any teacher friends who might be interested in joining us as well. We look forward to chatting with you Tuesday evening and in our 2ndaryELA Facebook group!

Get caught up on past chats here:

Google Apps: Favorite Features, Classroom Uses & What To Try Next

This #2ndaryELA Twitter chat was all about using Google Apps in the ELA classroom. Middle and High School English Language Arts teachers discussed incorporating Google Apps into the ELA classroom, favorite features, what to try next, and what to do when technology goes down. The highlights are below.

Uses for Google Apps in the classroom:
*Collaborate with students & other teachers

*Create assignments & announcements

*Share information
*Collect work
*Give feedback instantly
*Store lessons
*Create teacher presentations
*Eliminate paper piles
*Send out student surveys
*Collect & manage data
*Formative assessment
*Keep student files organized

Favorite Google Apps & features:

*Google Read and Write to read to students
*Flubaroo for self marking quizzes
*Google Classroom to post daily bell ringer, announcements for the day, assign homework, distribute and submit assignments, monitor students even when you are out of the classroom
*Google Forms for creating assessments and collecting data, student interest and reflection surveys
*Google Docs for collaborative student writing and peer editing, its voice to text feature, revision history, auto save
*Google Calendar for scheduling appointments, conferences, office hours, planning with co-teacher
*Google Keep for digital sticky notes that are searchable, taggable, and shareable

*Google Hangouts for having students converse with writers in the real world

New Google Apps or add-ons to try:

*Doctopus
*Goobric
*Site Maestro
*Digital Book Clubs that @pennykittle &@KellyGToGo are working on right now
*Google Tone
*Google Groups for book clubs
*Google Sites for digital portfolios

*Share to Classroom
*EdPuzzle

When technology is limited or isn't working...
*Have paper copies as a back up
*Do a mini lesson with one half of students while others work on computers, then switch
*Have activities set aside that connect to any text
*Play vocabulary games
*Discuss the potential of technology to fail and possible responses with students
*Try and hit the same objective with some modifications
*Have class discussions
*Allow for independent reading
*Turn it into a pencil and paper lesson
*Double up students on computers

Who to follow on Twitter for more on Google Apps:
*@alicekeeler
*@TheGoogleGooru

*@GoogleForEdu

Hope you'll join us tonight, Tuesday March 8th at 8pm EST to talk about teaching vocabulary. The questions for the chat are posted here.

We'd also love for you to join our 2ndaryELA Facebook group (even if you aren't on Twitter). 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction. 

If you missed this most recent chat, scroll down and read the whole thing below.

#2ndaryELA Twitter Chat Topic: Using Google in the Classroom

Brynn Allison, The Literary Maven & Kristy, 2 Peas and a Dog are hosting #2ndaryELA on Twitter every Tuesday evening from 8 - 8:30 PM EST. #2ndaryELA is a weekly chat for secondary English Language Arts teachers focused on a topic. Every Sunday, we will post the topic and questions on our blogs to allow you to prepare for the upcoming Tuesday evening's chat. Thank you to everyone who joined us last week and we hope that you will join us again.

Looking for the recap? Click on the image below.

New in 2016 is our 2ndaryELA Facebook group, which we would love to have you join even if you aren't on Twitter. 2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. This group is an extension of our Twitter chat and a place for collaboration, questions, and encouragement. Feel free to post teaching ideas, success stories, resource links, photos, etc. that will enhance our instruction.

On Tuesday, March 1, our #2ndaryELA chat will focus on using Google in the Classroom.

The Format:
8:00 Intros: What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one. #2ndaryELA
8:05 Q1: How do you use Google Apps as part of your instruction? #2ndaryELA
8:10 Q2: What is your favorite Google App or feature? How do you use it? #2ndaryELA
8:15 Q3: How have Google Apps changed what and how you teach? #2ndaryELA
8:20 Q4: What is one new Google App, feature, or an activity incorporating a Google App that you want to try? #2ndaryELA
8:25 Q5: What do you do when technology isn't working properly or the internet is down? #2ndaryELA

The Directions:
1. Log into Twitter on Tuesday from 8-8:30 PM EST.
2. Search for tweets with the hashtag #2ndaryELA in the search bar. Make sure to click “All tweets.”
3. Introductions are for the first 5 minutes.
4. Starting at 8:05 (@literarymaven or @2peasandadog) will post questions every 5 minutes using the format Q1, Q2, Q3, etc. and the hashtag #2ndaryELA.
5. Respond to questions using the format A1, A2, A3, etc. with #2ndaryELA.
6. Follow any teachers responding and who are also using #2ndaryELA.
7. Like and respond to other teachers' tweets.

You can schedule your responses to the questions ahead of time using a scheduler like TweetDeck or HootSuite (but don't forget to use A1, A2, etc. and #2ndaryELA). Links are encouraged, so be sure to use a link shortener like tinyurl, bitly, goo.gl or ow.ly Just visit one of those links and paste your long link to shorten it for Twitter. Using images is also encouraged when relevant.

New to chats? Here are the rules:
1. Stay on topic & stay positive!
2. Please do not post or promote paid products unless specifically asked.
3. If you arrive late, try to look through other posts before beginning.
4. Feel free to just read, like, and/or retweet.
5. Always use our hashtag #2ndaryELA, including in your replies to others.
6. Make sure your twitter feed is set to public. (Also keep in mind that Twitter is completely public – that means students, parents, and administrators can and will read what you tweet.)

Be sure to spread the word to any teacher friends who might be interested in joining us as well. We look forward to chatting with you Tuesday evening and in our 2ndaryELA Facebook group!

Get caught up on past chats here:

You Oughta Know About...Google Scholar

In high school and college when I was assigned a research paper I had the benefit of having access, through my school's library, to a variety of databases filled with scholarly articles. In college these databases could be accessed online through the library's website, but in high school they were only accessible on the library's computer (that was 10+ years ago so it may be different now). I am sure both my high school and college had to pay for costly subscriptions to these databases of information. 

If your school lacks these resources, if you can't get into your school's library due to scheduling conflicts (ours totally shuts down during AP testing), or you want students to be able to access high-quality sources at home, Google Scholar is an excellent free online resource.

Just as you would when using the Google search engine, entering search terms will display a list of related results. Under each result is listed the number of times the source has been cited. Also under the result are the options of "related articles," "cite," and "save."

Before having students begin research for an assigned research paper, you may want to familiarize them with this site and discuss how to research. Ask them how the "related articles" feature can help them with their research. Have students examine sources that have been cited frequently and infrequently and the reasons why they think that is (older versus newer publication, more or less credible, etc.). The "cite" feature formats the citation in MLA, APA, and Chicago. Discuss the different purposes and usages of the different styles. The "save" option allows students to save the article for later reference. 

You can also have students create alerts for topics, which sends the search results to them as new publications are released. This would be especially helpful if students are doing a long-term research paper or researching a very current hot topic.

As students are working, they can return to "my library" to see all of their saved sources or "create alert" to add or edit alerts.

These features are also located on the Google Scholar homepage.

Two other important features are the "metrics" and "advanced search."

Under "metrics," the top publications are listed as well as other language options. Regardless of their research topic, have students look at these top publications and identify qualities of high-quality sources. ESL students may benefit from the other language options.

Have students play around with the advanced search to see how limiting or broadening their search terms changes their results.

You can see how easy Google Scholar is to use. I love that its simple site name is easy to remember, and best of all it is free and accessible anywhere. Hopefully Google Scholar will be a tool you can use with your students next year for writing research papers or just practicing research skills. 

Improving the Writing Process (or Why I'm Loving Google Drive)

This year I am trying to go as paperless as possible with the writing process with my students, or
perhaps a better way to say it is I am trying to go as copy-less as possible.

In the past when we were working on an essay, I would have a step by step packets put together for all of my students. These packets were great because all of the materials were done and put together at the start, no last minute creating of documents. Students who were ahead or behind had all the papers and directions they needed. Like I said, these packets were great until students lost them and days of work disappear.

This year I am not jumping right into essays. I am using the writer's workshop model to work on stories that matter with my students (that should sound familiar to all you elementary teachers using Lucy Caulkins resources).

My hope is that after writing stories and poems that connect directly to their life experiences and increased exposure to the writing process of drafting, revising, editing, and publishing, students will be able to incorporate the writing skills and techniques into later essays and larger writing assignments.

So where does the paperless/copy-less part come in? For as much of the writing process as possible, I use Google Drive. Instead of handing out paper copies of assignments, I share the document with the students on Google Drive. 

Like the packets I loved so much, everything is in one place for students, but the big difference is that students can't lose the assignment, which means their hard work never disappears and I never have to make extra copies.

Students then write their draft in Google Docs, a Google Drive app similar in function to Microsoft Word. I can comment, make suggestions for revisions, and directly edit their papers in Google Docs. 

During peer review, students can share their writing with each other using Google Docs and then make comments and suggestions.

When sharing with others, Students have the option of letting those individuals edit, comment, or just view the files they are sharing. I would suggest having students select comment so that their peers are offering suggestions rather than making direct changes to their work. This will also help you resist the temptation of fixing any errors for them.

My favorite part of Google Drive is that once a file is shared, it is always visible. There is no resending each time changes are made. 

My other favorite part is that Google Drive is connected to your Gmail account so it can be accessed anywhere. When a writing assignment is due, there is no scramble to print or excuses of "I forgot to email it."

Tip: If your students do not already have Gmail accounts and have to create them, ask them to write down their usernames and passwords on index cards. Collect those cards and hold onto them because someone will always forget their username, password, or both. Always.

If you teach lower grade students and don't want them all to have email addresses, you could create a class email address that all students could log in to in order to use Google Drive.

Google Drive allows you to create documents, but also presentation slide shows, forms, spreadsheets, etc. To learn more about these Google Apps and others, check out this summary of a recent #2ndaryELA chat about Google Apps for Educations. The summary includes teachers favorite apps and features, how they use then in the classroom, and apps and add-ons they'd like to try out next.

If you have any questions about Google Drive or want to share how you use it in your classroom, please leave a comment below.