Google Tools for English Language Arts - G Suite for Education

G Suite for Education

Recharge Learning - Digital Language Arts Resources for K-12 Students and Educators

Classrooms must be focused on the connections between teachers and students. Technology can serve as an enhancement to these connections. Digital resources can also support content understandings and the development of essential skills for students.

Objective: Connect teachers and students with resources to enhance teaching and learning in Language Arts Classrooms.
Chrome Apps and Extensions, along with Google Drive Add-ons and Apps, can provide valuable support for Language Arts Classrooms.

Guiding Question: How can G Suite for Education support and enhance teaching and learning in your classroom?

Click here to explore our Google Tools for Language Arts

Additional Google tools for teachers and students can be found in our shared curriculum resources site: Content Resources

The Google Chrome Webstore supports keyword searches for additional Apps and Extensions connect to specific Language Arts resources.

Special thanks to my PLN for sharing so many of these valuable resources. Please feel free to suggest additional resources using the Comment feature in Google Docs.

Digital #GSuiteEdu Science Resources for K-12 Teachers & Students

G Suite for Education

Recharge Learning - Digital Science Resources for K-12

Classrooms must be focused on the connections between teachers and students. Technology should serve as an enhancement to these connections. Digital resources can also support content understandings and the development of essential skills for students.

Objective: Connect teachers and students with resources to enhance teaching and learning in Science Classrooms.
Chrome Apps and Extensions, along with Google Drive Add-ons and Apps, can provide valuable support for Science Classrooms.

Guiding Question: How can G Suite for Education support and enhance teaching and learning in your classroom?

Click here to learn about our Google Resources for Science

Additional Google tools for teachers and students can be found in our shared resource folder: EdTech and G Suite Resources

The Google Chrome Webstore supports keyword searches for additional Apps and Extensions connect to specific science courses (Physics, Chemistry, Biology . . . ). We recognize that many science courses are very specialized, but we’ve chosen not to isolated resources into specific curriculum categories.

Special thanks to my PLN for sharing so many of these valuable resources. Please feel free to suggest additional resources using the Comment feature in Google Docs.

Digital #GSuiteEdu Math Resources for K-12 Teachers & Students

G Suite for Education
Digital Math Resources for K-12

Classrooms must be focused on the connections between teachers and students. Technology can serve as enhancements to these connections. Digital resources can also support content and the development of essential skills for students.

Objective: Connect teachers and students with resources to enhance teaching and learning in Math Classrooms. Chrome Apps and Extensions, along with Google Drive Add-ons and Apps, can provide valuable support for Math Classrooms.

Guiding Question: How can G Suite for Education support and enhance teaching and learning in your classroom?

Click here to learn more about Google Resources for Math.

We’ve done our best to select resources that are highly rated and do what they should do without a huge learning curve. Many of the resources are free, but some do have premium options available at an additional cost. We recommend exploring the free features before considering any paying for anything extra.

Additional Google tools for teachers and students can be found in our shared resource folder: EdTech and G Suite Resources. The Google Chrome Webstore supports keyword searches for additional Apps and Extensions.

Special thanks to my PLN for sharing so many of these valuable resources. Please feel free to suggest additional resources using the comments below.

Inspiration & Engagement - The Lesson Hook

David Burgess is a pirate teacher. One of the reasons he connects pirates to teaching is the well-known fact that "Pirates have hooks!" David recently shared some great ideas while speaking at the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit. One of my takeaways was that I need to remember that even in a learner-centered 1 to 1 classroom, the "hook" is still important!

Anticipatory sets: A brief activity or event at the beginning of the lesson that effectively engages students' attention and focuses their thoughts on the learning objective. (via Google)

Learning objectives brief statements that describe what students will be expected to learn by the end of school year, course, unit, lesson, project, or class period. (via Google)

My questions today: Is it enough to simply explain to students what they will be doing without convincing them why they should be curious?

Most teachers have had some preservice training in the importance of the "anticipatory set" or "hook" to engage students in a topic or lesson. Teachers also understand the importance of sharing learning objectives with students. There is a great deal of research that connects successful student learning to students knowing in advance what they are going to learn.

When I visit classrooms as an instructional coach, I frequently see the learning objectives front and center. Students know what they should be doing and how they should be doing it. This is great and I the students are often immediately able to start thinking about the learning.

What I don't see as often is a clear "hook". I think many teachers get so focused on making sure the students have an understanding of the objectives for the day that the "hook" get's lost. In the rush to get stuff done, we often focus more on the how than on the why. The lesson hook gets lost or forgotten.

After watching David Burgess, I rewatched the Unpacking Formative Assessment YouTube video by Dylan Williams. Dylan wonders if a lessons objectives really do much good if the kids are not interested in the questions. He suggests that a good "twist" may be essential to students engaging in the lesson objectives. I could not agree more.

Dylan's video and a deep dive into lesson hooks with my PLN inspired me to start placing a greater emphasis on some "twists" or hooks. I need to make it a priority to some creative hooks in the future to help engage my students in the objectives.

I am inspired to remember that it is not enough to have great objectives. These do not lead to engagement. Students need to connect to the activity, before they can be inspired to learn and explore. A good lesson hook can help engage students. Here are a few of my ideas to hook my students:

Hook #1
Get my students talking about what they know using an online assessment tool like Kahoot or Quizlet Live to connect students to the content or concepts of the day. I've seen some incredible formative assessments that use quotes connected to the learning objectives.

Hook #2
Start with a short video from YouTube or TEDEd that connects to the learning objectives in a unique way. I'm not talking about a video that just explains the content. I am looking for a video that makes the students think about how the video connects to the objectives.

Hook #3
Explore an interactive website. For example, use Time.com's Logo Quiz to connect students to a lesson focused on consumption, advertising, or . . . . ?

Hook #4

Find something visual to get the students thinking. For example, Use the Thrillist post about Abandoned Places in the Midwest to connect students to a research project, succession, or . . . ?

Hook #5

Use a digital tool like Remind, Padlet, or Google Classroom to ask the students a thought-provoking question the night before to get the thinking started. David Burgess calls this "preheating the grill!"

How do you hook students to encourage engagement? Please share your thoughts and ideas below!

Updated for 2016 - Online Shopping and Saving Guide

Here are some tips we’ve put together to help teachers, their families, and just about anyone save a little green this holiday season.

1. Online Cashback

There are many sites that take advantage of online advertising to provide the consumer with coupons and cashback for major retailers. They also provide links to some great online coupons from major retailers. They are free and easy to use. Combine this with rewards on a credit card and it starts to add up. Mr. Rebates and Ebates are two great resources for online shopping.

Mr. Rebates - Cash Back Shopping

Ebates - Online Coupons and Cashback

2. Apple

iPad, iPod or Macbook? Apple typically runs the once a year sale on Black Friday online and in store. The MacRumors Site typically has the most updated details about Apple Store Sales

I would recommend visiting the Apple Black Friday Deals from Forbes Online.

3. Android and Chromebooks

Official Chromebook Site

Most major online retailers will run a variety of sales throughout the year. I would recommend starting with Amazon Online when looking for the best prices.

Official Android Site

Most mobile service providers will include deals on phones when you sign up for a contract, but smart shoppers can often find great deals online. I recommend the Android Authority Site if you are looking for any Android devices outside of a mobile contract.

4. Amazon and eBay

Great places to shop. You will frequently find the best prices here. Remember that you are not always buying directly Amazon. Like eBay, Amazon has items for sale from other companies and independent sellers. Both eBay and Amazon have incredible customer support. Mr. Rebates and Ebates also support Cashback for both sites.

Amazon’s Lightning Deals

Learn more about Amazon Prime Membership to save on shipping.

eBay Deals

Learn more about the eBay Bucks to earn cashback on all of your eBay purchases.

5. Union Membership Card

Did you know that both the NEA and AFT posts some excellent deals for teachers? These deals include: merchandise, restaurants, and travel.

NEA Member Benefits Site

AFT Member Benefits Site

6. Deal Websites – Online and in Store

There are a variety of websites that compile information about sales and deals year round. My favorite is the Wise Bread site. I also love the deals on Offers.com

Wisebread - Living Large on a Small Budget

Offers.com - Your Place to Save Every Day

7. Online Coupon Sites

There are several online sites that collect and share retailer coupons and deals. These coupons are often both digital or printable. RetailMeNot is a current favorite.

RetailMeNot - Coupons and Promo Codes

Honey - Chrome Extension
Click on the Honey button during checkout and Honey will automatically apply coupon codes to your shopping cart.

8. Protecting Your Credit Card Online

Most online stores / credit card companies do a great job taking care of credit card purchases, but a great way to pay from a lot of online purchases is to use PayPal. It’s free and provides an extra layer of security between your credit card and online shopping. Paypal also supports free returns for many purchases.

Paypal