Train wreck?

(I figured the subject heading might spark your curiosity!)

Ever grade student work and feel like it's a train wreck?  Either the student veers off in the wrong direction, or they have so many run-on sentences you can't keep up?

A great way to stop the train is with as much feedback as possible before it pulls into the station!

How do we do this with so little class time?  It's difficult to find time to check in and conference with kids as much as we would like.  But another way to give students feedback to guide assignments is with the comments feature built into Google.  If students share their writing before the due date, you can open the file and quickly add comments with thought provoking questions, corrections, guidance, or confidence-boosting, positive feedback.

These little digital stickie notes are an option on Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawing.  The student also receives an email when a comment is posted to their work.  Comments can come from teachers or any peers they share the file with.

Here's a sample of what it looks like:

Not sure why I chose the train wreck analogy, but I think it came from an adorable appetizer picture I saw on Pinterest this weekend!  See the whiteboard and yardstick in the background?  Of course a teacher would come up with something so adorable and creative!

                                                           

Customize your Google Apps Launcher aka "The Waffle"

The more and more teachers are starting to use Forms, the more they have asked for a faster way to get to it.  I found it is possible to customize your waffle!  Delete the apps you aren't using, and put your favorites towards the top of the list.   Check out "App Launcher Customizer for Google™"  This little trick made my day!

Math Motivation, Digital Rulers and more!

The BEST Chrome Extension for a Digital Ruler and Protractor.

Kids can install these two extensions onto their Chrome toolbar, and then they can use a ruler and protractor on their computer screen!  Click here to find out more about these extensions with a short video explanation from Ed tech blogger Eric Curtis.

A Little Motivation to Practice Math

Looking to find reinforcement activities for struggling math students, or enrichment for those who are ready for more?  Check out LearnStorm2016!  Maybe we can even create an in-school challenge between classes?

  
Students will...
1) Sign up and work on Khan Academy to get better at math and learn new skills
2) See their progress add up toward personal goals and help the school top weekly leaderboards.
3) Earn rewards and recognition, including a chance to attend an epic, in-person final event!

iXL and Google Classroom Make Sharing Even Easier

Are you using iXL and Classroom?  The two are now working together to make sharing assignments one less click.  Click HERE to find out more!  Thanks for sharing Coach Mike!

Sort spreadsheet with tabs with RowCall

Have you ever collected a large spreadsheet with information and wanted to sort the data with tabs?  For example, the whole school responds to a survey, and you want to sort the results by grade level.  Another example, teachers sign up for a PD session topic, and you want to sort by interest to make groups.  Or, a class completes the same exit ticket with Google Forms and you want to sort the daily results by student name.

There is a Google spreadsheet add-on called "Rowcall" that makes this a breeze!  The best part is that the individual tabs will automatically update as new information is entered.  

PD in your PJ's!

Join CCSD59 staff on Twitter the first Thursday of every month at 8:00pm.  Tonight we are chatting about Social Emotional Learning.  New topics every month.  A great way to collect ideas and resources from fellow educators.  #D59Chat