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
