Two new features were added to Google Slides over the summer. 

1 - The ability to switch to a blank black or white screen while presenting. This might come in handy when you want to pause the presentation for a discussion but don't want viewers distracted by what is on the screen.

2 - You can now set your presentation to loop continuously while in presentation mode. This could be useful on occasions like parent night or if you have slides examplizing how to complete a multi-step process. 

Google Classroom is testing out a feature where you can build your own rubric, or attach ones you've already got, to an assignment you're creating.

This allows you to use the rubric seamlessly from the grading pane in Classroom and allows students to easily see your expectations.

You need to fill out this Form to be included in the early product testing of rubrics. 

Instead of going to Tools > Word Count each time you want to view the information, now, you can simply select Tools > Word count > Display word count while typing to continuously display it in the lower left corner of your doc. 

This makes it easy for students to see if they are meeting a requirement that you've set for them.

Vallivue School District does many things to support its staff. 

My job is to help you implement technology in your classroom to be effective and impactful for your students. 

Please contact me with your tech questions or help requests. If I don't know the answer I can always find one, or point you in the direction of someone who can.

PurposeGames.com is a website that has dozens of useful and educational games that teachers could/should use in their classrooms (unlike coolmathgames.com☹️)

Mr. McCormick uses the 50 states game, and others, to help his students learn about the world, catch up on geography skills they may have missed out on earlier in their schooling career, etc. 

These can be excellent options for enrichment activities when kids are done with their work or as supplements to units you are doing.

Congrats to Rachel Popovich of Ridgevue High. She won the $5 coffee card for entering the raffle!

Look for your chance to win in the November monthly newsletter.