Suzanna Marshak

Oak Grove Middle School

6th Grade English, Reading, and History

Google Classroom

"I am luxuriating in the extra help that is now in my hands for guiding my students through the writing process. They are willing to type and they can and do get to work immediately. It is especially encouraging to see the struggling students being productive and enjoying it. I think we all understand that we really are moving into the future."

"Students are able to return to their work quickly and easily for reflection and revision and share with partners. Writing with paper and pencil is a painful process for some of my struggling students, but now that we are using Google Classroom, it is not unusual for them to walk in and ask hopefully, "Are we writing today?" More students are experiencing the classroom as the supportive environment it is meant to be. They like being with other students and they like being reassured that they are doing things correctly. I think we all understand that we really are moving into the future."

Example of student's first narrative writing

About Suzanna

Thoughtful, middle school teacher, Suzanna Marshak, integrated the new 37 chromebooks into her classroom this fall with a focus on how they would help her students. Before handing out the chromebooks she worked with the MDUSD Ed Tech team to develop a positive learning environment, helping her students create class rules for using the devices. Easily picking up how to use Google Classroom with one class, she soon had all her students using the program. Students in Ms. Marshak class have developed the “hidden” but necessary, digital literacy skills they will need in college and career. Suzanna reminds them “We are in the future” using this technology. Suzanna shares that using this new technology has made teaching writing more fun, both for her and her students. “The students groan when I ask them to take out their pencils” Marshak claims with a smile.