Moving to the New Google Sites

Don't forget about the June 4th professional development day to work on transferring your current google site to the NEW google sites. This day is already posted on the Performance Matters website. Here are some resources to get you going if you want to get a head start. NEW Google Site Help Links

Graphic Organizers Using Google Drawings

Graphic organizers are great for organizing thinking around a writing piece, research project, note-taking, finding relationships between topics and more. Having a digital graphic organizer using Google drawings where an entire group can edit at the same time can also be helpful. Eric Curtis links to a variety of graphic organizers built in Google drawings. 

Graphic Organizers Templates - Eric Curtis 

Another way to use Google drawings is to have them embedded in a Google document (Insert - Drawing) The downside is that the drawing tool does not expand so you have a fixed space, but the upside is that the graphic organizer is with the rest of the project so students can easily refer to them while writing. Students can remove the drawings from the document before turning it in or keep the graphic organizer in the document for reference. 

Check out these Graphic Organizers Embedded in a Google Document - use them with students. Just Make-A-Copy.  

Google Sheets has Checkboxes

We use Google sheets in the classroom for many reasons: 

• student class lists, field trips... 
• Google Form response sheets from Common Formative Assessments...
• material lists
• to do lists... 

Well now Google Sheets has the NEW feature of adding checkboxes that can come in very handy. Check out Alice Keeler's blog post with great directions on how to add checkboxes to your next spreadsheet.

Google Certifications

Looking for resources to help with Google Certifications? Kelsey Bell's blog is FULLY LOADED with everything you need! There are lots of levels and types of certifications. 

• Google Level 1 
• Google Level 2 
• Google Certified Trainer 
• Google Innovator 

Her resource bank is sure to help you be successful in getting your certification. Her blog resources are full of videos, info-graphics, blog posts, and on-line courses to help. 
Click here

Also check out:
Google for Education Training Center Resources

Student Cheating with Google

Addressing student cheating in Google Apps Cheating happened before computers and continues now in this on-line medium. The blog post linked here gives some guidance and options on ways to mitigate this happening in your classroom. 

The tips from 2016 are still relevant today. 

• Non-technology options 
• Technology options - Preventing Cheating 
• Technology options - Investigating Cheating

Extending Your Classroom Reach - Using Skype or Google Meet

The 5th grade team of Sally Moore and Camille McCullough at Field elementary gave their students an amazing experience to Skype with Erik Weihenmayer. He has summited each of the highest peaks on each continent all while blind. He spoke to students about pushing through, believing in yourself and trusting your team/classroom. Learn more about Erik at his No Barriers website. If you are interested in Skyping or using Google Meet to reach out to another class or expert, contact us so we can be there and walk you through the process.    

Coding in All Elementary Schools - Ozobots

The ITS team has partnered with the LPS Foundation and Learning Services to begin introducing robotics/coding in each elementary school starting with 5th grade. The foundation of this work is that all students have access to these experiences. These activities are not after school clubs or just for a specific group. These coding activities are embedded in math and science and connected to the grade level content standards so all students participate.



Fifth-grade teachers worked with teams from the other LPS elementary schools in an after-school training on the basic functionality of Ozobots and how they can support/ extend classroom learning in math and science. Students start off using markers to tell the Ozobot what to do and gradually work to using the on-line Ozoblockly editor for more complex coding. We are excited to continue our STEM support in K-5 classrooms next year.