Guest Blog Post
by Robbert Perrine, Stonegate Elementary
Wow! How exciting! A new cart full of Chromebooks, eager excited students, eager excited teachers, California Common Core Standards, 315 minutes of instruction minus 20 minutes for PE, how can I possible use these in a meaningful rigorous manner!? Incorporating Common Core with the adaption of technology into our classrooms can be quite a feat. So here are some ideas and suggestions to help you keep rigor in your instruction using the Chromebooks.
Want the use of Chrome books to run smoothly and effectively in the classroom without pulling your hair out? You have to go over routines, procedures, and computer safety. Students will be at different levels in their understanding of who can see what and the permanence of the web. It is also very important for students to understand how to care and protect the notebooks. I also highly recommend a set structure for getting the Chromebooks to the desks and putting them away in an organized manner. The use of steps and procedures posted near the Chromebooks is highly recommended.
Ready to dive in? I have chosen to use Google Classroom as a way to organize my class, send messages, and I use it as in-box to collect assignments. With our focus on writing, and the way the LA tasks are set up on the SBAC, Google Classroom is an excellent place to Practice this skill. Our grade level has been working on opinion pieces, so we have been using the prompt question of “Would you rather?...” I create the assignment on Google Classroom by posting a couple of informational articles, and have the students use evidence from articles (Close Reading) to form their opinions. We have tackled tough questions about swimming with box jellyfish, or great white sharks, California Dams good or bad, and recently we compared being a California Fish and Game Officer to being a California State Legislator.
We have tried to keep the writing process in tact by starting with a graphic organizer than moving to an outline, drafting, editing, and publishing. Both Word and Google Docs work great in Classroom and after a few short mini-lessons on editing, adding, saving, etc. students become self-sufficient very quickly. I have found that students are much more willing to fix, repair, improve and keep their writing fluid. Collaboration with peers and myself is something the students are not dreading. They look forward to being able to get new ideas and respect their writing to produce a quality product. I have had students voluntarily revise their writing 3-4 times. Using Google Classroom will open your eyes to a whole new world when it comes to writing!
I know this is a short overview, and you may have questions. I am very willing to collaborate, help, answer, or listen to your thoughts, questions and ideas. I can be reached at rperrine@wusd.k12.ca.us. Future posts will discuss blogging, story board summaries using Paint and pictures, Class DoJo, and great teacher dashboard sites and apps to help you keep your rigor up using our awesome new technology!
Mr. P.
Want the use of Chrome books to run smoothly and effectively in the classroom without pulling your hair out? You have to go over routines, procedures, and computer safety. Students will be at different levels in their understanding of who can see what and the permanence of the web. It is also very important for students to understand how to care and protect the notebooks. I also highly recommend a set structure for getting the Chromebooks to the desks and putting them away in an organized manner. The use of steps and procedures posted near the Chromebooks is highly recommended.
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| classroom.google.com |
We have tried to keep the writing process in tact by starting with a graphic organizer than moving to an outline, drafting, editing, and publishing. Both Word and Google Docs work great in Classroom and after a few short mini-lessons on editing, adding, saving, etc. students become self-sufficient very quickly. I have found that students are much more willing to fix, repair, improve and keep their writing fluid. Collaboration with peers and myself is something the students are not dreading. They look forward to being able to get new ideas and respect their writing to produce a quality product. I have had students voluntarily revise their writing 3-4 times. Using Google Classroom will open your eyes to a whole new world when it comes to writing!
I know this is a short overview, and you may have questions. I am very willing to collaborate, help, answer, or listen to your thoughts, questions and ideas. I can be reached at rperrine@wusd.k12.ca.us. Future posts will discuss blogging, story board summaries using Paint and pictures, Class DoJo, and great teacher dashboard sites and apps to help you keep your rigor up using our awesome new technology!
Mr. P.
>I have found that students are much more willing to fix, repair, improve and keep their writing fluid. Collaboration with peers and myself is something the students are not dreading. They look forward to being able to get new ideas and respect their writing to produce a quality product.
ReplyDeletewell, gone are the days of white-out, hand-cramps from re-writing, and having to look a friend in the eye to ask for a revision!
Thank you Rob. This has helped me focus back on what I need to do after feeling quite scattered! I look forward to your next installment.
ReplyDelete