Classroomscreen.com is a very useful tool that turns your browser turns into an interactive board and has the capability to display various helpful tools. Click here for a link to a post I created (May 31, 2017) about classroomscreen as well as a new features post on October 19, 2017. An update to classroomscreen includes a stopwatch and dice (1, 2, or 3 dice). Embedded below is a GIF followed by a 56 second YouTube tutorial.
Alice Keeler's Webcam Extension is a great and easy to use extension. Once you have added the extension properly, you will then select the extension and click on Start. The webcam will instantly record you (bottom right of your screen). The default is set to 30 seconds which can be adjusted to between 10 and 90 seconds (one way is to right click on the extension and select options).
What I really like about this extension is that once the recording is completed, a URL of the video is copied to your clipboard as well as a copy placed directly in your Google Drive.
One thing to remember is that if you would like to share this video make sure to change the sharing of the file as the link is defaulted to private.
Embedded below is a GIF as well as a 1 minute and 23 second YouTube tutorial.
Earlier I was working with students and they were copying (Ctrl c) and pasting (Ctrl v) text into a Google Slide. When they did that the formatting was included. In order for the formatting not to show up simply have them use Ctrl Shift v.
Embedded below is a GIF followed by a second YouTube tutorial.
As many of us spend time with family this week and may need a fun activity to create - here is an option that I did every year with my 4th grade classes.
I read the 1999 Caldecott Medal winning book - Snowflake Bentleyby Jacqueline Briggs Martin. Below you will see a nice summary of the book on Amazon.com.
From the time he was a small boy in Vermont, Wilson Bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. Bentley's enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but his patience and determination revealed two important truths: no two snowflakes are alike; and each one is startlingly beautiful. His story is gracefully told and brought to life in lovely woodcuts, giving children insight into a soul who had not only a scientist's vision and perseverance but a clear passion for the wonders of nature.
If you would like to see the story on YouTube please click on the embedded 7 minute and 7 second YouTube video below.
After I read the story to them - the students would then pick out a snowflake design that I had for them.
Martin Hawksey - (he was the one who created the script to embed your Twitter feed into Google Sites in late October) created an awesome script in Google Slides - he made it snow!
Recently I have received numerous messages from frustrated educators when trying to share a fun activity in Google Classroom with their students and students are getting the "you do not have permission..." Mostly it revolves around the fact that the file that is trying to be shared was created outside of your G-Suite domain.
If you would like - at the end of this post there is an embedded 1 minute and 21 second YouTube tutorial (also available clicking here).
Here are the 6 steps followed by a GIF for each of the 3 sections (make sure you select Make a Copy of the file you would like to share).
Make sure to select the Blue Share button (right side has lock on it)
Click get shareable link (this will copy the link to your clipboard)
Paste the link in a new tab and remove anywhere from edit on and replace with copy. Make sure to copy the link
4. Open up Google Classroom
5. Create an announcement
6. Type in a subject, paste (ctrl v) the link you made and Post!
Here is what your students will see when they open the link. It is a view only file.
1. They will need to select File - make a copy.
2. Rename the document (it is now there file)
Embedded below is a GIF of the whole process followed by a 1 minute and 21 second YouTube tutorial.
Previously Richard Byrne shared Webroom.net a free platform that includes video, chat, screen-sharing, as well as link sharing. Webroom is very similar to Google Hangouts; however, you do not need to register or log-in to create or join a room.
If you do want to create an account - you can sign-up through Facebook log-in or email.
What I really like about this site is how easy it is to create and join a room - not having to sign-up and have your members remember their log-ins is huge. You also are sent an email afterwards as well with a summary of Instant Meeting online session (includes participants, length of session, as well as any files shared.
summary of session
Embedded below is a GIF followed by a 2 minute and 32 second YouTube tutorial.
I have also included Richard Byrne's video tutorial as well.
With the Holidays right around the corner, many people have asked the quickest and easiest way to generate labels is to use a mail merge with Excel and Word.
If you create your data in an Excel sheet - remember to use the following in each cell:
First name
Last Name
Address
City
State
Zip Code
From there you will need to open up Word and follow these instructions:
Mailings - Start Mail Merge - Labels (choose your Vendor and product number (I am using Avery 5160 labels)
Select Recipients - Use an Existing List - Choose your Excel Sheet - then select ok
In 1st "open" field select Insert Merge Field
Here is where you select your cells - remember to put a space between First name and Last name - enter - Address - enter - city - space - state - space - zip
Select preview results (here is where you can adjust size and style of font and anything else you would like to chance
Select update labels - and you will see all your labels appear
Select Finish & Merge - Edit individual document - Merge records - All - ok
Save your doc and print away!
Embedded below is a GIF followed by a 2 minute and 11 second YouTube tutorial.
The extension allows the user to have any text read aloud to them. There are even options available to slow down or speed up the speech, change the language of the narrator, as well as start on whatever part of the page you like.
Embedded below is a GIF followed by a 1 minute and 17 second YouTube tutorial.
So you have created a Google file then went through the proper steps to create a template - click here for post.Remember to make sure you share the file and get the shareable link and then change edit to template/preview.
The link works great when sharing with a colleague or friend; however, when you want to share that file in Google Classroom with your class chaos ensues and the dreaded "Ask owner for permission..." and you now went from feeling relaxed with the fun activity, to instant frustration.
Well - I was messaging back and forth last night with Tony Vincent and his suggestion was to take the URL with template/preview and shorten it in a URL shortener - such as Google's https://goo.gl/. Once the shortened URL is created, take that URL and post that exact URL in Google Classroom.
I was working on it last night and had my daughter join my class and it worked.
Embedded below is a GIF followed by a 56 second YouTube tutorial.
On day 12 in Santa Tracker is a fun activity called Speed Sketch. You are to help Santa's Machine Learning Robot decipher letters he receives. You are asked to help Tensor practice by drawing a picture of each holiday word on the screen. The difficult part is that you only have 30 seconds for each word (4 words in all).
The best I have done is 2 out of 4 - while my kids have had fared better with 3 out of 4.
Embedded below is a GIF followed by a 46 second YouTube tutorial. I lucked out with a cookie.
Eric Curts created another amazing resource to use, this time it deals with Holiday writing and being able to have it look as if the lights are blinking. Below is my example and a 3 minute and 26 second YouTube tutorial, followed by the steps to create. Please note this was again created by Eric Curts. While I adjusted some of his steps - they are his work. You can follow his steps by clicking here.
I would recommend making a copy and then select sharing, get shareable link, make sure to set your shareable settings (I chose public), copy the link and then change the shareable link (remove the edit and change to copy) - see example below
Use the space below the instructions to write the story.
You will then need to install the Add-on Rainbow maker.
Click "Add-ons" then "Get add-ons" then search for "Rainbow Maker", or go directly to the add-on here: Rainbow Maker add-on link
Rainbow Maker Add-on Instructions
Click "Add-ons" then "Rainbow Maker" then "Advanced options".
Eric recommends choosing "Random colors" and then further specific the "Hue" or "Luminosity". The best match for the holiday lights on a black background would be a luminosity of "Bright" or "Light".
Click "Save and Close" when done.
How to apply colors to your writing
Select all of your text.
Then click "Add-ons" - "Rainbow Maker" - "Style selection".
Your text will now have random colors assigned. If you would like to change the colors associated with your text you can run the Rainbow Maker Add-on again until you get the desired result.
Animated Slideshow using Google Slides
This really is fun and does not take long to learn.
I would recommend making a copy and then select sharing, get shareable link, make sure to set your shareable settings (I chose public), copy the link and then change the shareable link (remove the edit and change to copy) - see example below
What is great is that Eric has provided a number of emojis to use in your story. If you (or your students) would like to add more emojis simply select: Insert Special Characters Emoji
If you have ever been frustrated with sharing a file with others (maybe the force a copy didn't work properly, users are asking you for editing rights, etc) try this solution:
Copy the doc's shareable link and remove the edit and replace it with template/preview
A few great items to point out about this:
Users can preview the file you share entirely - when you force a copy the user will not see the contents before making a copy
If the users like the file they can select use template (upper-right of screen)
You will not have to rethink if you forced the copy correctly or fear the dreaded "asking for permission"
One item of note - if sharing the item in Google Classroom - Tony Vincent (great follow) suggested to take the URL with template/preview on the end and paste it in a URL shortener. Then take that shortened URL and paste it in Classroom. It works very nicely.
Embedded below is a GIF followed by a 56 second YouTube tutorial.
One of the most requested items from teachers (or parents) is how to make sure YouTube videos do not show suggested videos, comments, etc.
In the past I have shared numerous sites such as Quietube, Viewpure, and Watchkin. All do a nice job of removing the distractions - but you always need to do that one extra step before showing.
If you do not like seeing all the distractions that comes along with YouTube videos (especially when showing to a group of students) - try Quietube.com.
All you will need to do is drag the button to your bookmarks (make sure to have your bookmarks showing (CTRL Shift B in Chrome).
When you start playing the YouTube video click on the quietube bookmark and you are distraction free.
Embedded below is a GIF followed by a 46 second YouTube tutorial. Thank you to my friend Layla Lyons for suggesting this video tutorial.
The past few days I have had numerous discussions with Kindergarten, 1st, and Special Education about coding. They stated that coding is great but felt it was too advanced for their students to try. Once I showed them the grade-level categories available and that there is one for Pre-readers.
A very user-friendly activity is Kodable. The site guides the user through the lessons with an audio guide (high-pitched voice) as well as an on screen guide that shows the user where to place the codes.
Embedded below is a GIF followed by a 1 minute and 5 second YouTube tutorial.
Check this out - you could win a video chat for your class with one of the celebrity guests below. Select the image below to be see “How to win”.
Prior to having the students logging on for Hour of Code – a great resource to use is a Slide that was created to kind of teach students what code really is. The Slide and attached worksheets are available by clicking here. The sheets describe what an algorithm is as well as what programming really is.
I recommend logging on to the site and familiarize yourself with it. Take a look especially at the STATS page – the fact that there are currently 517,393 open computing jobs nationwide and last year, only 42,969 computer science students graduated into the workforce is eye-opening.
While you do not have to Sign-in, I strongly recommend it. You will be able to see students statistics as well as have access to many lesson plans and additional resources.
When you sign-in, scroll down to Teacher Home Page and click on it, select Manage Students, select Add Multiple Students.
** If you used CODE last year, you may need to update your list of students.
When you add your students, you will then be taken to a page with all of their passwords. You must select “Show Secret” to see the password.
At the bottom of the page you will see a link for your class’s CODE page. All the students will need to do is click on their name and type in their password. This simplifies things a lot. Great to put on Google Classroom.
You will also see a link to print out all usernames and passwords.
The site is very similar to previous years with characters from Star Wars, Minecraft, Disney Infinity Characters, as well as the ability to code with Anna and Elsa (Frozen), Flappy, as well as with wayfinding with Moana.
Click here (or embedded image below) to be taken to the site users will be interested in the most (see inserted picture below). Here users can select their interests, filter searches by grade level, educator experience, student experience, as well as what type of classroom technology is available. There is a very nice video tutorial for users to watch (typically around 2 minutes) prior to the start of coding.
Here are two great videos to introduce or re-introduce your students to CODE:
Video #1 – a little under a 6 minute video – inspiring and informative
Video #2 – about a 2 minute video – with a little introduction and then a quick bit about basic concepts of programming
Last but not least - “create an app, game, or design with Code.org and tag #HourOfCode and one of our special guests for a chance to win a video chat for your classroom!” Click on one of the images to see how to win.
I hope you and your students enjoy this site. Remember, this site can be used throughout the year – does not just have to be December 4th-10th.
Google released on the 1st of December Google Santa Tracker where students can "explore, play, and learn with Santa's elves all December long".
The site has a section for educators "learning with Santa Tracker" in which they have warm ups, extension activities, and writing prompts for you. The lesson plans (aligned with Common Core Standards) are towards the bottom of the screen and include PDFs. There is also an Android App as well. Embedded below is a GIF followed by a 2 minute and 30 second YouTube tutorial.
