Google Classroom
A Teacher's Guide
Embedded Files
Helpful Tips and Tricks
Helpful Tips and Tricks
Create a Repository Class for all of Your Assignments, Materials, Videos, etc.
Create a Repository Class for all of Your Assignments, Materials, Videos, etc.
One great feature of Google Classroom is that you can reuse posts from other classes. So, instead of trying to remember where you assigned something last year, create all of your assignments in a single class but don't add any students to it. Then, you can reuse posts from these classes and adjust them as needed.
Organize your assignments with quarter and unit numbers or any other organizational system to be able to find them later. Topics also help your organizational system.
Another benefit to this practice is that you can add co-teachers or other team teachers to the repository classes and share assignments without having to worry about class notifications and being co-teachers in more classes than you need.
Number your Google Classroom Assignments for Easy Access and Minimized Student Confusion
Number your Google Classroom Assignments for Easy Access and Minimized Student Confusion
Numbering your class assignments (three digits long, just in case) dramatically reduces the amount of confusion for you and your students. This will help your Classwork page stay in order, and it will be easier for students to find resources down the line.
This image is super out-dated, but it's a good example of what I'm talking about.
Use Emojis in Topic and Assignment Titles for Fun and Organization
Use Emojis in Topic and Assignment Titles for Fun and Organization
Emojis are good for more than just expressing 27 specific emotions. They can also be good for organizing your Classroom assignments and resources. You can use them to easily spice up a Classwork page, or you can use them for organizational purposes.
For example, you might use a 📝 to signify essays, and a 🗨️ to signify class discussion or reflection. There are tons of places to find free emojis. All you have to do is copy and paste.
For Class Resources, Add Links to Drive Folders Instead of a Bunch of Individual Posts
For Class Resources, Add Links to Drive Folders Instead of a Bunch of Individual Posts
Sometimes posting a number of documents or files in the Classwork section of Classroom can be difficult to sort through. And if it's tough for you, imagine how hard it is for your students. Sometimes, it's easier to include a link to a shared Google Drive folder where your resources are located. Then at least students can easily search that folder for the resources they need.
To do this, you first have to go to Drive and create a folder or two that you want to be accessible by your students. Be sure to change the sharing settings on that folder to be viewable by anyone with the link.
Then you can simply copy the link from that pop up right there and paste it in a Material post in Classwork by adding the link. Since you can't actually add folders from Drive, this is the only way it works.
But now, any time you need to add a resource for your students, just put it in that folder. It will be automatically accessible to them and you don't have to post anything new. You might even create three or four folders and put them all in Classroom to be accessed when needed.
Include a Short Video Instead of Written Instructions
Include a Short Video Instead of Written Instructions
Sometimes things are explained a little better in person than they are with the written word, but that isn't always possible. Fortunately, Google makes it easy to record videos right on your Chromebook, then add them to your Classroom assignments.
All you need is the free Screencastify extension which will allow you to record videos right in the Chrome browser. If you've never used Screencastify before, here are some handy instructions for installing and using it.
Once you've recorded the video and its been uploaded to Drive, you can either add the video's link to the assignment, or you can add the video from Drive. Google will recognize both as videos and will include a thumbnail image, so it'll be easily recognizable as a video.
Create Templates for Reuse Using Google Docs and Slides
Create Templates for Reuse Using Google Docs and Slides
Matt Miller, one of my favorite EdTech people out there, has created a number of really cool guides for teachers using technology creatively in their classrooms. One guide he put together is a guide for making interactive student templates out of Google Docs and Slides (specifically Slides) that you can use for more than one assignment. You can read about that here:
Here's some more cool template resources
Here's some more cool template resources
Click "Use Template" in the upper right corner.
Use Classroom for Administrative Tasks
Use Classroom for Administrative Tasks
Supplement staff meetings with a repository for resources and materials organized by date. You can even include due dates on tasks. (That sucks, but you can do it.)
Use it as a way for new teachers to communicate, share ideas, and complete check-ins
Use it to organize staff Professional Development opportunities
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