Get ready for some fantastic news from Texthelp—your go-to for making learning accessible and joyful for every student.

Over the last decade, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with Texthelp on numerous occasions.

Time and again, they’ve proven themselves as a steadfast ally in our shared mission to make education accessible for all students. I deeply respect their dedication to developing practical, free resources for educators.

They’ve whipped up three incredible guides packed with expert tips to spice up your teaching.

From easy-peasy captioning tricks to making lessons visually vibrant and beyond, these resources are game-changers.

Whether you’re looking to enhance reading skills or make content more engaging for every learner, these guides have got you covered.

Dive in and watch your classroom transform into a place where learning knows no bounds.

This blog post is sponsored by Texthelp.

3 Essential Guides for Teachers: Adapting Instruction to Every Student Ability

by Mary Pembleton from Texthelp

As an accessible technology company, Texthelp is always looking for ways to support educators with the diverse learning needs in their classrooms.

To help, our content team recently asked five experts to share their best tips: a researcher, two teachers turned education journalists, an accessibility consultant, and one AT specialist.

Get the Guides!

They gave us excellent advice, and from it, we created three downloadable guides:

• A guide about inclusive reading instruction
• A guide to supporting English Language learners in general education classrooms
• A guide to essential accessibility practices in schools and classrooms.

…with more on the way.

These guides include advice for administrators and MTSS teams, loads of research studies, and lots of quick tips for educators who need simple ways to adapt grade-level instruction to the different levels of abilities, backgrounds, and needs in their classrooms.

Below are six of their best tips. To gain more, head over to the Texthelp website to get the complete guides delivered to your inbox.

1. Turn on captions when teaching as another way for students to take in information.

It’s easy, free, and super-supported by research. 

Turn on live captioning in Google Slides as a visual aid in the classroom, even if you aren’t using a slide deck to teach.

Who it benefits, and how:

• Learners who are deaf/hard of hearing by allowing them access to the content in an alternative way
• English Language Learners by helping with pronunciation, language acquisition, and comprehension
• Learners who are learning to read by increasing exposure to print and building literacy skills
• All learners by improving comprehension, attention, and memory of the video content

How to do it:

• To display the captions in a captioned video, simply click the “CC” button.
• To add live captions to any lesson you teach verbally, you can enable live captions with one quick adjustment in Google Slides.

Here’s how to set up live captions in a Google slide presentation: 

1. Ensure your computer’s microphone is on
2. Click or enable “Present” in Google Slides
3. At the bottom left of your screen, select “More options.”
4. Click “Captions Preferences”
5. Toggle captions on.

Now, when you speak, live captions will appear on your screen or smartboard.

For more information about live captioning options in Google Slides, visit the “Present slides with captions” section of the Google Help Center here.

2. Teach with a microphone. 

Remote Microphone Systems were created for people who have difficulties hearing, and are often used as an assistive technology in the classroom.

Casual microphone use by a classroom educator should never replace necessary assistive technology support. However, the voice amplification offered by any microphone could be a helpful tool for engaging students who have trouble with listening, students with autism, and lend a hand with classroom management.

Pair sound amplification with free live captioning in Google Slides, listed above, for added benefit. 

3. Have students record themselves reading, and listen back to it.

To help learners of all abilities with their reading skills, ask them to record themselves reading a text out loud and then listen back to it. This helps struggling readers, beginning readers, and ELLs improve their reading fluency. 

4. Use visuals to supplement instruction automatically. 

Including visuals in your instruction is a great way to build understanding in all learners, particularly EL Learners and learners with autism, who benefit from the easily understandable additional context of visuals.

To empower learners with one-click visuals while reading, try Read&Write’s visual dictionary tool. Learners can click on an unfamiliar word in a text, and the visual dictionary feature will give them a picture to help them understand it.

Related: How to Create a Dynamic Reading Experience

5. Give everyone the same required readings, and show students how to adjust the reading level.

Rewordify is a free tool that allows learners to automatically adjust the reading level in any text to adapt any digital content to their ability.

Read&Write also offers a Rewordify feature, which allows students to adjust their reading levels wherever they are reading. 

6. Play an audiobook while having students read along from a physical text.

Complex texts and grade-level content benefit all learners, but are also not accessible to everyone. One way to normalize accommodations and make content accessible to everyone in class is to play an audiobook while students read along with a physical text.

Another benefit is that bimodal presentation, or providing both audio and written forms simultaneously boosts processing speed and information recall.

For additional ways to make learning more accessible to everyone in class, visit the Texthelp website’s Tier 1 is for Everyone page.

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

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Excited for fresh, cost-free professional development opportunities? Look no further! Introducing Volume 4 of the Podcast PD Choice Board for Teachers!

Building on the success and feedback from previous volumes, we’re thrilled to offer this new edition as a tool to inspire and facilitate your journey through the world of podcasts for professional learning.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your understanding, explore new strategies, or just find some inspiration, this choice board has something for every educator.

With the Shake Up Learning Show Podcast now boasting over two hundred episodes covering a wide array of educational topics, it’s the perfect time to launch Volume 4 of the Podcast PD Choice Board.

This latest choice board is designed to cater to a variety of interests and professional development needs, featuring an even broader selection of topics, including the latest in ai in education, google tools, and much more.

Whether you’re exploring these resources on your own, or you’re involved in providing professional development for others, this choice board is versatile enough to be adapted and utilized in many different contexts.

And for those who love customizing their PD tools, we’ve included a blank template, allowing you to tailor the choice board to fit your specific needs or those of your organization.

Explore, learn, and transform your professional practice with the Podcast PD Choice Board (Vol. 4)!

Did you miss our previous Podcast PD Choice Board releases?

• Volume 1
• Volume 2
• Volume 3

Podcast PD Choice Board Vol. 4 (FREE Template)

If you are new to choice boards (aka learning menus), be sure you get your FREE Guide to Digital Choice Boards and learn all about these wonderful tools for student choice and differentiation.

I love using choice boards in the classroom AND in professional learning experiences.

Below is the Podcast PD Choice Board Vol. 4 (made with Google Drawings) with many episodes from which to choose!

Click Here to Make a Copy | Use the Template

Don’t have Google? Download the PDF: Podcast PD Choice Board for Teachers (Vol. 4)

Podcast PD Choice Board Blank Template

If you’d like to create your own from scratch, I’ve created a blank template that you can use below.

Click Here to Make a Copy | Use the Template (best for mobile)

Want Credit for Listening to Podcasts?

We’ve got an exciting option for educators interested in receiving credit for their professional development hours through podcast listening! Join the ALL ACCESS PD Pass at Shake Up Learning. This exclusive pass offers a structured way to earn credit while you learn, making it perfect for teachers who want to document their PD efforts and apply them toward their professional growth.

The ALL ACCESS PD Pass provides a comprehensive and flexible learning experience, allowing you to choose from a wide range of topics and episodes that fit your interests and needs. By joining, you not only gain access to a wealth of knowledge but also the opportunity to earn recognition for your commitment to ongoing professional development.

Take your PD to the next level and ensure your learning is recognized. Join now and start earning credit for your podcast PD today!

With the ALL-ACCESS PD Pass, participants can access all of the Master Classes, Online Workshops, Podcast PD, and the Members-Only Library! (*excludes Google Certification Academies).

Includes:

• The AI-Powered Choice Boards Mini-Workshop
• The Google Classroom Master Class
• The Google Slides Master Class
• The Google Meet Master Class
• The Zoom Master Class
• The Dynamic Learning Workshop
• The Blended Learning with Google Workshop
• Includes access to ALL future master classes and workshops!
• Members-Only Library of ebooks and cheat sheets!
• Podcast PD (with credit certificates and new content each week!)
• More than 100 hours of PD credit (with more added soon)!
• More content added every year!
• LEARN MORE AND ENROLL!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Podcast PD Choice Board for Teachers Vol. 4 (FREE Download!) appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Grading and student feedback take up most of a teacher’s non-instructional time, and rightfully so: students (and their guardians) rely on teacher feedback to make meaningful improvements over the course of a school term.

Fast, efficient grading benefits both students and teachers alike.

But how can teachers speed up the grading process without sacrificing the quality of feedback for students?

This post is sponsored by Schoolytics.

A Teacher’s Checklist for Fast, Effective Feedback

Let’s break this big goal down into three smaller ones:

Goal #1: Spot blank assignments as the due date approaches

When it comes to missing and late assignments, it pays to be proactive. A friendly nudge before the deadline can get a student back on track and simplify your grading process.

If you’re looking for an easy way to do this, sign up for Schoolytics (it’s free for teachers) and use it to filter assignments by those with zero attachments. Then, return those blank assignments to students along with a note to the student and guardian.

Goal #2: Return on-time work within 1 day of the due date

Easier said than done, right?

This is likely the most challenging of the three goals, but the good news is that there’s (free!) technology that makes it easier to grade quickly and efficiently without adding to your workload.

Use Schoolytics to sort assignments by those that were submitted on time, then filter by the trailing week. This assignment list should be prioritized for grading. With a focused, finite list of assignments to return, grading becomes a bit less daunting!

Goal #3: Model a growth mindset for students

Keeping students encouraged and engaged is key to their success. Research shows that students who learn that intelligence and ability are malleable – rather than fixed – exhibit higher academic achievement and attempt more challenging tasks.

One of the simplest ways to keep students motivated is to help them set realistic goals.

If those goals follow the SMART framework, they should be achievable and time-bound, which means before long, you’ll be able to celebrate some wins! One way to do this is to use Schoolytics to send students high-fives based on assignment completion criteria that you select.

Grading student work quickly can be an added stressor for already-overworked teachers, but fast feedback is essential for helping students grow their knowledge and achieve their goals.

With goals in place and the right technology supporting you, fast grading gets a bit easier.

If you found these tips helpful, take them with you! Download a PDF version of the guide below.

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post A Teacher’s Checklist for Fast, Effective Feedback appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Let’s have some fun with Winter Magnetic Poetry with Google Slides!

Winter is coming! Well, at least for some of you. Things are still pretty warm here in Texas!

This is the third installment of magnetic poetry templates that I have shared.

Magnetic Poetry

Lynn Kleinmeyer’s Students Using Winter Magnetic Poetry

What is Magnetic Poetry?

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Winter Magnetic Poetry with Google Slides appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Here are the BEST Blog Posts and Podcasts of 2022!

I have compiled a list of the BEST and most popular Shake Up Learning blog posts and podcast episodes from 2022.

These posts are loaded with the BEST teacher tips and lesson ideas of the year.

A special thank you to all the Shake Up Learning readers and listeners. Y’all are the absolute best!

And thank you for all you do!

Pat yourself on the back for surviving another crazy year!

Let’s take some time to reflect on the positive and make 2023 the best year yet!

Reflection is a critical part of the learning process for teachers and students, so I like to take a look back.

I like to take a more in-depth look at what teacher tips, blog posts, and podcast episodes were the most popular and generated the most comments and traffic.

The goal of this blog has always been to provide teachers with digital learning resources, tips, and tricks, and help teachers find ways to integrate technology meaningfully in the classroom.

This list helps me decide what content to create and how to best help teachers in 2023.

What Do YOU Want to See in 2023?

I want to serve my audience! Help me better serve you by completing this short, 60-second survey. (The form is also embedded at the bottom of this post.)

This survey is your chance to let me know more about you and what you need in 2023.

The Top 20 Posts of 2022

Drumroll, please…Here are the most popular blog posts and podcast episodes of the year!

1. 15 Google Classroom Tips for Teachers

Google Classroom has improved vastly over the years, and teachers have learned how to make the most of this flexible assignment manager and communication hub. These are tips are FOR teachers and recommended BY teachers!

2. Time-Saving Gmail Hacks for Teachers – SULS0149

In this episode, Kasey shares her favorite Gmail hacks and features to help teachers save time and make the most of this robust tool. Let’s get organized, save time and frustration, manage annoying emails, and get to what’s important.

3. 30 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do! (FREE eBook and Templates) – SULS0152

In this special episode, Kasey shares 30 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do and a FREE eBook download with templates! A follow-up to one of our most popular blog and podcast series, Kasey is going to give you even more ideas for student-created projects with Google Slides. There is so much you can create with the Swiss Army Knife of Google!

4. 15+ Ways to Use Drop-Down Menus in Google Docs – SULS0161

In this episode, Kasey explores a new feature in Google Docs–the drop-down menu! Kasey shares 15+ ways for teachers and students to make the most of this creative and customizable new feature, including choice boards, PBL, peer reviews, trackers, and more!

5. 8 Cool Tools You Didn’t Know! (FETC Highlights) – SULS0146

In this episode, Kasey chats with Shake Up Learning Team member, Susan Vincentz about her favorite sessions at the FETC conference. Susan shares 8 Cool Tools You Didn’t Know! Come learn with us and get FETC takeaways!

6. 10 Things for Teachers to Try in 2022 – SULS0140

In this episode, Kasey shares 10 Things for Teachers to Try in 2022. We will explore strategies, digital tools, professional learning, and much more! (10 Things to Try in 2023 coming soon!)

7. 10 Reasons to Think Before You Share Photos of Children Online – SULS0153

The photo may seem innocent to you. You may have parents’ permission and be sharing something awesome, beautiful, or even funny, but there’s a dark side to the Internet that every teacher, administrator, and parent should know. Please think before sharing ANY photos of ANY child online. Here are 10 Reasons to Think Before You Share Photos of Children Online.

8. 20 New Ways to Use Google Classroom [infographic]

Google Classroom can be used for so much more than just your traditional classroom LMS. This powerful tool can provide a space for teacher-to-teacher collaboration, professional learning and support, parent communication, and even special projects and enrichment classes for students. Consider these 20 New Ways to Use Google Classroom.

9. The FREE Lesson Plans and Resources You Aren’t Using! (but should be) – SULS0148

In this episode, Kasey chats with Rich Dixon, Senior Director of Innovative Learning at Hāpara. Rich shares the power of Open Educational Resources (OER)–what they are, where to find them, and how to get started. The FREE Lesson Plans and Resources You Aren’t Using (but should be)–Find free, standards-aligned lesson plans and teaching resources for your classroom. (This episode sponsored by Hāpara.) Stop buying lesson plans and worksheets and access the wonderful free resources available to you!

10. 7 Reasons You Need to Try Voice Typing in Google Docs

Google Docs is fully-loaded with some features that can save us time in and out of the classroom, and oftentimes can even save us a little heartache when it comes to supporting students. One tiny little feature that packs an amazing punch is Voice Typing in Google Docs.

11. How to Create Stop Motion Animation Activities for Students with Google Slides – SULS0179

In this episode, Kasey gives a full tutorial on creating stop-motion activities for students in Google Slides. This special edition podcast is also available as a full video tutorial on YouTube. Let’s discover how easy stop-motion animation can be and learn how to create some fun fall activities for your students.

12. Google Classroom + BookWidgets = Superpowered Digital Classroom – SULS0145

Combine Google Classroom and BookWidgets to superpower your digital classroom! In this episode, Kasey chats with Educational Technologist and BookWidgets expert, Sheryl Place. Sheryl shares the magic of BookWidgets, and how teachers can create engaging online activities that take worksheets from static to dynamic.

13. Must-Have Tips and Tools for Pandemic Teaching – SULS0141

In this episode, Kasey shares her best Pandemic Teaching tips and tools. Everything you need to survive this school year and thrive beyond. Learn practice strategies, organization techniques, and a whole list of tools to make teaching this year EASIER!

14. 10+ Chrome Tips and Tricks for Teachers and Students – SULS0165

There’s no place like Chrome for teachers and students! In this episode, we are jumping into some Google Chrome updates, features, and tips for teachers and students. Let’s learn how to make the most of the Chrome browser, save time and clicks, and get organized.

15. Emoji Assessments for Any Classroom – SULS0168

In this episode, I’m sharing ideas for using emojis in your informal and formative assessments. This tool can be used for more than emotions and SEL! Use emojis to create a key to check for understanding, reflect, self-assess, peer-assess, or give feedback!

16. Google Keep Tips for a Productive School Year – SULS0171

In this episode, Kasey is sharing her latest Google Keep tips and time-savers to help educators have a productive school year. Let’s talk keyboard shortcuts, google calendar connections, labels and organization, checklists, using Canva to create headers, scanning paper documents, annotation, grading and feedback, and more!

BONUS: Get access to Kasey’s FREE Canva headers to use in Google Keep. If you don’t love Google Keep already, you will after this episode!

17. 6 Steps to Creating Custom Choice Boards – SULS0176

In this episode, I’m sharing my brand new framework for designing meaningful choice boards for the K-12 classroom. I will walk you step-by-step through the process to ensure it aligns with your standards and learning outcomes, how to select the choice board style, and share important tips along the way.

18. Back to School Lesson Planning Tips – SULS0167

In this episode, I’m sharing lesson planning resources, tips and templates to help you prepare for the back-to-school season. Let’s explore where to find lesson ideas, how to use and revise templates, free lesson plans, packaging assignments, and pitfalls to avoid!

19. 20 Ways to Use Screencasting in the Classroom – SULS0162

Kasey has been keeping a secret! She’s had early access to Google’s brand-new Screencast app for Chromebooks. In this episode, Kasey is giving you all the details and her thoughts on this new tool for the classroom. Plus, she’ll be sharing 20 Ways to Use Screencasting in the Classroom!

20. Google Productivity Tips to Rock the School Year! (Keep, Tasks, & Calendar!) – SULS0170

I am sharing valuable productivity tips using Google Tasks, Google Calendar, and even a bonus Google Keep tip! Are you making the most of all that Google has to offer? Learn shortcuts, hidden features, and awesome tips to help you save time, get things done, and rock the school year!

Did you catch the Top 10 Google Tips of the Year?

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post The Best Teacher Tips and Lesson Ideas of 2022 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

I just discovered a fantastic resource for teachers: the Adobe Creative Education Challenges.

Each month Adobe offers a new challenge for teachers.

Think of these as ready-made activities for your students, complete with free templates, instructions, and great ideas to help teachers deliver powerful learning moments. 

Oh, and did I mention that they are also giving away prizes for teachers?!!! (Details are below.)

This blog post is sponsored by Adobe.

The Perfect Mid-Year Reflection Activity for Students

The December challenge is PERFECT for Shake Up Learning readers! Adobe has partnered with Khan Academy to create a challenge to help teachers conduct a quick check-in and semester review with students. Through this challenge, teachers will ask students to reflect on their first-semester learning, activate their growth mindset, and set goals for the next semester. (Khan Academy is rich with so many resources for students and teachers, including some awesome growth mindset activities that you can access here.)

3rd-5th Grade Adobe Express Template

In this activity, students use the ready-made Adobe Express templates to personalize and customize a graphic that represents their reflections, goals, and learning. There are two templates, one designed for 3rd-5th graders and another for 6th-12th graders.

6th-12th Adobe Express Template

This goal-setting challenge continues the  “New You in ‘22” Back-to-School Challenge from Adobe for Education.

Reflection and helping students build a growth mindset are something I have discussed a lot over the past few years. In fact, this particular challenge aligns with my Dynamic Learning Framework and will help students go “Beyond the Bell” through reflection and reviewing goals.  

One of the most popular blog posts EVER on Shake Up Learning has been student-created vision boards. The Adobe challenge is also the perfect follow-up to this goal-setting strategy.

Remember, reflection is a critical part of the learning process. Students must reflect and think metacognitively about their learning–what they’ve learned, what went well, what didn’t, and most importantly, recognize and celebrate success! This activity is super easy, creative, and will not take much class time. (That’s the beauty of ready-made templates!)

How to Get Started with the Challenge

To get started, go to https://adobe.ly/shakeuplearning to access all the details. Here you will find the two Adobe Express templates (one for 3rd-5th graders and one for 6th-12th graders) and downloadable PDF instruction cards to guide you through this activity with your students.

Win Prizes from Adobe!

We know teachers love prizes! Enter to win some cool Adobe swag by sharing samples of students’ work on social media using the hashtags #AdobeEduCreative and #KhanAcademy and TAG @AdobeForEdu and @KhanAcademy or submit online here. (10 lucky winners will receive a class set of Adobe stickers, a special Adobe picnic blanket with a mug set.)

We can’t wait to see what your students create! Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts on the December challenge.

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post The Perfect Mid-Year Reflection Activity for Students appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Who’s ready for a little Halloween fun? Try Halloween Magnetic Poetry with Google Drawings!

I’ve created a Halloween-themed magnetic poetry template with Google Drawings for you and your students.

There are nearly 100 words in this one, so adapt the words that are appropriate for your grade levels. You can use this as an independent activity, or take it a step further and make it a collaborative activity and see how the poetry evolves. You can use the “magnets” included, or even add your own text boxes to extend the activity.

(Note: The words I created are actually images and cannot be edited, but you can delete them. The images give you more of the “magnet” effect. You can add your own by creating a new text box and filling it with a white background, or right-click on the name box and copy it to use.)

To learn how to create your own, enroll in my free mini-course!

Get the Halloween Template

Click here to use the template | Click here to make a copy

Please make a copy of the template BEFORE assigning this to your students! 

I repeat! Please make a copy of the template BEFORE assigning this to your students!

How to Assign Templates in Google Classroom

Please share your student creations with other teachers!

I also love to see pics of this in action on Twitter. Use the hashtag #ShakeUpLearning!

Or, share in the comments below this post!

Check out the other Magnetic Poetry posts:

• Collaborative Magnetic Poetry with Google Drawings
• Winter Magnetic Poetry with Google Slides

How to Create Magnetic Poetry Mini-Course

Want to learn how to make your own magnetic poetry and other types of interactive lessons?

Jump into my FREE mini-course, How to Create Magnetic Poetry with Google Slides and Drawings.

In this course, are two, quick, video-based lessons to show you how to create the background and create your own word images. All self-paced! Learn when and where you want! Easy peasy!

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Halloween Magnetic Poetry with Google Drawings! appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

In part 2 of this 2-part episode series, Kasey shares Google Classroom grading and assessment tips, how to create and upload a banner image, the many types of comments you should know about, and amazing mobile features.

Whether you are new to Google Classroom or a seasoned user, you will geek out over all the tips, tools, and strategies shared in this 2-part series. Geeks unite!

Did you miss part 1?

Be sure to check out all the Google Classroom resources here.

Listen to this article.

Google Classroom Advanced Tips (Part 2)

Grading & Assessment Tools

You can give your students personalized feedback with the Classroom grading tool. You can review assignments of any file type, and switch seamlessly between student work. You can also add margin comments and feedback, and grade and return work.

Create Self-Grading Google Forms Quiz

You can begin creating a self-grading Google Forms Quiz in Google Classroom.

When creating a new assignment, select “quiz assignment.” This will create a blank quiz and attach it to the assignment.

(Alternatively, you can use a quiz that has already been created with Forms and attach it to a new assignment.)

Click on the blank quick to create your new quiz from scratch, determine point values, and set the correct answers to Google can auto-grade.

You can also toggle the switch to import the grades automatically into the Classroom grade book.

Create a Banner with Canva or Google Drawings

Customize the look and feel of the stream by adding a custom banner for each class. This is super easy to do with Canva or Google Drawings. (Canva has templates!)

Tip: Use a different header for each class to help you and your students visually distinguish multiple classes in Google Classroom.

Google Classroom Comments

There are many different types of comments in Google Classroom and it can get confusing.

For a detailed comparison, please visit this page with a full blog post and podcast episode dedicated to comments in Google Classroom.

4 Ways to Comment in Google Classroom

1. Class Comments
2. Private Comments
3. Document Comments in the Grading Tool
4. Comment Bank in the Grading Tool

Class Comments

Class comments are comments that every student and teacher in the class can view. Teachers can leave class comments to clarify instructions or leave a note on an assignment or announcement. But there is also a lot of power in allowing students to leave class comments. (Must be enabled in the class settings)

Add a Class Comment

In the stream, add the class comment in the space provided below the assignment, announcement, or discussion. Class comments look almost identical from the teacher and student views.

Private Comments

Use private comments for individual student feedback and conversations.

I have seen a lot of teachers and students confused by the differences in class comments versus private comments. Private comments DO NOT appear in the stream. Private comments are just between the teacher and students.

Private comments are a powerful feature!

Add a Private Comment (Student View)

To leave a private comment, the student must “open” the assignment. Only the teacher can view the private comments left by students.

Get the Google Classroom Cheat Sheet for Students

View a Private Comment (Teacher View)

Finding private comments can be a little tricky for the teacher.

To view private comments,

1. Open the assignment.
2. Go to the “Student Work” tab.
3. From here you can see thumbnails of your students’ work. To the left, you will see your roster, and a snippet of the private comment if there is one.
4. Click on the student’s name to view the private comment.

Add Clickable Resource Links in Private Comments

When you leave feedback in private comments for students, don’t just tell students what to revise or edit; give them a resource link so they can review the skill!

A Note About Discussion Questions in Google Classroom

Discussion questions are an excellent way to engage students in online conversation, debate, and collaboration. I also love the way Google Classroom allows students to see and respond to each other, but first requires that they submit their own answers before they are allowed to view the rest of the students’ answers. This encourages original answers and deters cheating.

Comments are NOT Answers to Discussion Questions

This is a common misunderstanding that I have seen in using Google Classroom. My students don’t understand where to respond to a discussion question when class comments are enabled. I end up with answers in two different places: class comments and responses to the question. Be sure you instruct your students to open the assignment and respond where indicated below.

Document Comments in the Grading Tool

Comments can also be added to other Google file types, like Docs, Sheets, Slides, and even non-Google file types that are uploaded into Google Drive.

When you assess student work through Google Classroom, you can leave document comments and private comments in the Google Classroom grading tool.

The Google Classroom Grading Tool gives teachers a workflow for evaluating student work, leaving feedback, grading, and returning student work.

To access the grading tool:

1. From the Classwork page, select the assignment and click on “View Assignment.“
2. Click on the student’s name in the left-hand roster.
3. Click on the file a student submitted and you should see the grading tool similar to what you see in the image below.

Here you can toggle through multiple student’s work, leave frequently used comments from your comment bank, as well as leave private comments.

The Comment Bank

If you enter the same comment for many students, you can save the comment to use later.

It’s super easy to save your comments, feedback, and even resource links that can save you valuable time when assessing student work.

The comment bank is tied to your Google Account, so you can access it from any computer. To edit and delete comments in the comment bank, go to classroom.google.com/g/cm.

1. From the grading tool, click on the comment bank icon.
2. Click Add to comment bank and enter your
3. Comment.
4. Click Add.

TIP: You can also add a resource link as I did with the common splice comment. Remember to include the “http://” portion, so it is clickable.

How do you use comments in Google Classroom to leave feedback for students? Please feel free to add your favorite tips in the comments below.

Google Classroom on iOS and Android

Annotate and Draw on Documents Using the Mobile App

Our first two Google Classroom tips on this list are specific to the mobile app. Did you know there are some features in Google Classroom that are ONLY available on mobile (iOS and Android)?

One of my favorite mobile features is the ability to annotate and draw on documents. These can be PDF documents, Google Docs, Microsoft Word Docs, JPEG, or GIF files.

This feature is great for many types of assignments and learners, as well as teachers.

Students can use this to draw a response, annotate on text, label an image, and more.

Teachers can use this give meaningful feedback to students.

Give it a try! Here are the step-by-step directions on iOS and Android.

Randomly Select Students Using the Mobile App

Another great feature of the Google Classroom mobile app is the student selector. Again, this is ONLY available in the mobile app.

The student selector allows you to randomly select a student from your class roster. This is a great way to fairly call upon students during class.

Go to the “People” section then click on the icon near the top-right.

Learn more about the Student Selector here.

Snap a Photo and Turn In

Join the Google Classroom Master Class Online Course

Learn all about the new updates to Google Classroom and take your skills to the next level. This course will give you everything you need to get started using Google Classroom and best practices to help you make the most of this tool.

Perfect for beginner to intermediate skill levels! Consider this your video guide to Google Classroom!

Click here to learn more and to ENROLL TODAY!

Learn All About the Course

Who Should Join the Google Classroom Master Class?

Beginners can learn everything they need to get started.

Intermediate level users can focus on learning more advanced features, tips and tricks, and best practices.

Go at your own pace.

Let’s dig in! This class is for all skill levels!

What’s Included in the Google Classroom Master Class?

• Self-paced
• Video-based lessons
• 5 BONUS Lessons
• PDF Downloads
• Supporting Resources
• Best Practices and Tips
• 6 hours of professional learning credit
• Purchase orders are accepted (Just email Kasey[at]ShakeUpLearning.com (replace [at] with @.)
• Bulk license discounts
• Get your whole team, campus, or district on board

Click here to learn more and to ENROLL TODAY!

Check out all of my Google Classroom Resources here!

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post Google Classroom Advanced Tips (Part 2) – SULS0173 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

Who needs a Google Classroom Cheat Sheet? How about a set of cheat sheets for teachers AND students!

I know teachers are seeking lots of extra resources to help with hybrid teaching and Google Classroom.

I created two cheat sheets to help specifically with Google Classroom.

In this download, you will get two Google Classroom Cheat Sheets, one for teachers, and one for students.

This is a great reference guide for experienced users, and a fabulous tutorial to help new users learn the basics of Google Classroom.

Oh, and guess what? This fantastic guide is FREE for Shake Up Learning subscribers!

The Google Classroom Cheat Sheets for Teachers and Students!

What’s Included in the Google Classroom Cheat Sheets? In this free download, you will get two PDF cheat sheets:

1. The Google Classroom Cheat Sheet for Teachers, a 40-page guide to help teachers make the most of this robust online learning tool.
2. The Google Classroom Cheat Sheet for Students, a 14-page reference guide to help students understand the platform. (Please review this cheat sheet before distributing to your students to make sure it is appropriate for their skill level.)

Sample Google Classroom Cheat Sheet Pages

Here’s a sample page to give you an idea of the quality and content. Keep in mind, each cheat sheet contains several pages!

Rights and Permissions

To help more schools and teachers during this crisis, I have licensed this under Creative Commons, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

YOU ARE FREE TO:

Share: copy and redistribute the material, but you must give appropriate credit.

Yes, you can share with teachers on your campus, post on a website, and make copies.

You may not use the material for commercial purposes.

NoDerivatives: If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.

No additional restrictions: You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Fill Out the Form Below to Get Your FREE Cheat Sheets!

Ready to Learn More About Google Classroom?

Learn all about the new updates to Google Classroom and take your skills to the next level. This course will give you everything you need to get started using Google Classroom and best practices to help you make the most of this tool.

Perfect for beginner to intermediate skill levels! Consider this your video guide to Google Classroom!

Click here to learn more and to ENROLL TODAY!

More Google Classroom Resources

• Google Classroom Quick Tip Video Library
• 70+ Apps That Integrate with Google Classroom
• 10 Google Classroom Tips You Didn’t Know
• 6 Tips for Getting Started with Google Classroom
• How to Organize Assignments in Google Classroom
• 4 Ways to Give Meaningful Feedback with Google Classroom

Looking for other Google Classroom tips, ideas, and resources? Be sure to check out the Google Classroom Resource page for all the latest posts, podcasts, and resources.

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post The Google Classroom Cheat Sheets for Teachers and Students! appeared first on Shake Up Learning.

In this special episode, Kasey shares 30 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do and a FREE eBook download with templates!

A follow-up to one of our most popular blog and podcast series, Kasey is going to give you even more ideas for student-created projects with Google Slides.

There is so much you can create with the Swiss Army Knife of Google!

FREE eBook and Google Slides Templates!

Grab a copy of the FREE eBook to get access to all the tips, lesson ideas, and 9 FREE Templates for your classroom!

30 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do!

Listen to this article to get the full details!

This episode is sponsored by Hāpara We provide teachers with tools to build flexible, personalized digital learning environments so they can power awesome learning. 

Learn more about Hāpara.

This is a refresh on one our most popular podcast series: 25 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do. (Listen to part 1 and part 2 of this series below.)

This is NOT just adding five more things to the list. This is a complete refresh of the ideas originally shared with an even bigger emphasis on student creation activities and free templates.

Y’all know I love me some Google Slides. It is such a flexible tool, and can do so much more than just traditional presentations.

In the podcast, I will share the newest ideas that were added to the series.

To get ALL 30 ideas and access all the FREE Google Slides templates, you MUST fill out the form on this page and download the eBook. I promise you will not be disappointed!

eBook Table of Contents

Below is a quick glimpse at the table of contents of the ebook and a few screenshots. There’s a lot of ground to cover–more than we can cover in one blog post or podcast episode.

1. Internal Linking

2. Create an Interactive Table of Contents

3. Student Table of Contents (FREE Template)

4. Interactive Dictionary or Glossary (FREE Template)

5. Interactive Choice Boards (FREE Template)

6. Choose Your Own Adventure Slides

7. Create “Apps” (FREE Template)

8. Self-Checking Review

9. Games

10. Customize the Size of Your Slides

11. Convert Google Slides

12. Create eBooks

13. Add a Drop Shadow & Format Options

14. Integrate with Google Keep

15. Auto-Play a Video When Presenting

16. Play a Clip from a Video

17. Insert Audio

18. Insert Charts

19. Link Sheets Data to Slides

20. Insert Diagrams

21. Interactive Timelines

22. Create Background Images

23. Create Graphic Organizers

24. Drag-and-Drop Activities

25. Magnetic Poetry (FREE Templates)

26. Use Slides Mania Templates

27. Import Canva Templates

28. Build a Collage or Vision Board

29. Create a Newsletter

30. Create a Comic Strip (FREE Template)

25 Things Original Podcast Series

Did you miss the original series? Listen below.

25 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do! (Part 1 e77)

25 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do! (Part 2 e78)

© Shake Up Learning 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

The post 30 Things You Didn’t Know Google Slides Could Do! (FREE eBook and Templates) – SULS0152 appeared first on Shake Up Learning.