PASD LTR for Staff

Well, I know the end of the school year is quickly approaching and you may not have had time to read the latest Google for Education Newsletter. Here are a few things you need to see: Gmail Gmail is updating. Any time now we should be seeing this new updated look and functionality. To learn more check out this blog that has some great short clips describing the different look and functions!  EDU in 90 Don't forget to subscribe, it only takes 90 seconds and they have put some great content up! Like this video on the changes that have been happening in Classroom. Google Sites Updates Now this wasn't in the newsletter, however it is something that I know I found lacking when I started using the new Google Sites. They now allow you to add a hyperlink in the menu! No more creating a page just to have a hyperlink!  You can also now change who can see your website! No longer do you have to publish to the public!

Yes, you read that correctly! Digital Word Walls! Using Padlet (has a free version, but also some paid resources) you can create and embed a digital word wall for students to interact with! Taken directly from the blog article! Here is an awesome Blog entry from Zanner History that explains how to do it, it even has screenshots! Best of all, it even has ideas of how you can use it in your classroom! Let me know if you need help in this or better yet if you tried it! Think that Word Walls are only for elementary, NO they are not, if you teach content and have vocabulary your student can benefit from this!

If you haven't had a chance to checkout the newer updated GSuite Training Center, you should really check it out. Instead of focusing on specific tools, they now focus on goals for utilization in the classroom. One that was highlighted recently in an email was Unit 10: Build Interactive Lessons  where you go through step by step on how to use Google Slides and other GSuite tools to present content while still engaging your students in their ability to interact with the presentation. If you are looking for a way to reinvigorate your teaching please take a bit to explore the different resources and how you can use it to revamp what you already have!

While my Facebook account is for personal use, I do follow a few different groups one of my favorites is Angela Watson-The Cornerstone for Teachers  and earlier this week she posted: One of the resources that was posted Study Jams by Scholastic , it is math and science videos and activities for elementary aged students. There is a short informational video, vocabulary, and a test yourself for students.  If you use this resource please add a comment with your favorite resource!

In the latest Google Newsletter ( The Google for Education newslette r, Issue VII, 2018) there is an article about how Google has given a grant to the National AfterSchool Association for Professional Development. In the article they talk about how they are using Grow with Google website for Professional Development. What I like about this website is that it focuses on what your teaching target is and how you can use Google to engage and enhance that skill AND they provide lesson plans with videos to walk the students through how to complete the skill. If you find one that interests you feel free to add a comment about which one you tried and how it went!

While I have heard of Quizlet  in the past and I vaguely recall seeing it, I will be honest and say that I hadn't tried it in the classroom. That is until recently, when GIG member Nicole Leach utilized it in her class for her first Integration project, specifically the Quizlet Live feature. So, I gave it a go with my 4th grade students in the wrapping up of our Steps to Research unit that we have been working on. Upon completing the 5th step I shared out the Set that I had created for 4th Grade Research Process  and let the 4th graders explore the different features. I stressed to students to do the Learn, Flashcards and Match with students as they explored. Write, Spell and Test would be for when they are more secure in the terms as it has them type in the answers. For the games, I stressed Match as Gravity also has them typing in the answer and is frustrating if you can't spell or type fast enough for the game. The next class we warmed up with review and then play...

Ctrl Alt Achieve from Eric Curts is a HUGE resource for me to keep me up to date with G Suite changes, techniques and just general technology information. He has a wealth of information and templates that are FREE to use with your classroom. It is as easy as just sharing a link with students, giving them a quick tutorial on how to use it and they are off and running! I have used these templates with my 3rd graders on up, and even had a second grade teacher give the Halloween Jack-o-Lantern activity a go with her class this year! This year for his 12 Days of Techmas he has posted more awesome resources for blogs to follow, podcasts AND my favorite ACTIVITIES! All free, and all ready to just be shared with students. My personal favorite from the 6 Googley Wintertime Activities for Kids and one that I think my students will really enjoy is the Pixel Art Ornaments, with Minecraft on the brain students are sure to get into this pixelated style creation of images. While, I won't be g...