Reading Logs

Beth Swinning, Librarian at the Martha Jones, recently shared this great article and resource on reading logs.  The premise of the article and checklist is to embrace reading in all area of life.  Words surround us!  Let's encourage our students to enjoy a good book, passage, poem or quote at all different times - not just to fulfill reading log requirements.  

Sample items on Checklist:

 

Happy readers become lifelong readers!

Google Drive Shortcuts

Considering our long list of to-dos it is always helpful to have some time-saving shortcuts in your toolbox.  Google shortcuts can make creating lessons, graphic organizers and writing an IEP or report much more efficient.  Google Drive features many shortcuts which can make you more efficient and productive.

From Google Drive try some of these shortcuts:

To create new Items:

• New Document: Shift + t 
• New Presentation: Shift + p 
• New Spreadsheet: Shift + s 
• New Drawing: Shift + d 
• New Folder: Shift + f 
• New Form: Shift + o 

To view the shortcuts list while in Drive, select:  Ctrl + / (Chrome OS, Windows) or ⌘ + / (Mac).  Or click here to view a more comprehensive list of Google Drive shortcuts.

Try to learn and practice at least one shortcut!

Grade 3 Quizzes

We have begun the work of transitioning the paper unit quizzes into online tools using Google forms. This provides the opportunity for math practice and review as well as online assessment skills practice that teachers have been requesting. This allows students to have some practice with online assessments for the online MCAS assessments.  We have made a complete set of grade 3. These quizzes will provide you with immediate feedback to help inform math instruction.

Screenshot of Sample Google Form:

When you select each quiz you will be prompted to make a copy. This step will ensure the Google Form is now yours and in your Google Drive.

Gmail Tips

In true Google form, everything changes (and hopefully, improves)!  Gmail no longer allows you to revert back to the old version.  But there are some great new features on the updated version that can help us stay organized and productive.  You can now quickly open Gmail attachments with one click!

Or if you prefer a more compact view, select the gear (top right corner) and then select 'Display Density'.  When you switch to 'Comfortable' or 'Compact' attachments are less visible and more compact.  

          

Hover over the right side of each email for even more options!  Delete, archive, mark as unread or snooze until a later date....

The first option when I hover over my emails in Gmail is Boomerang.  Boomerang is a Chrome Extension that allows you to write an email now but set it to send at a later date.  For more information on Boomerang click here.

You can also separate your inbox into multiple tabs:  Primary, Social, Promotions, and more.  Check out settings for even more options, including a canned response, stars, and labels.  Nudges is a new feature which will remind you if you have not responded to an email.  These features can be enabled or disabled within Settings (gear).

Smart Compose and Smart Reply are also available in Gmail.  Smart Compose will predict your text and auto-compose your email.  Smart Reply predicts how you may want to replay to an email.  Multiple options for possible replies will appear at the bottom of the email.  Click and a new reply email will open with the text you selected.  This is handy for those brief responses with our colleagues and can be a starting point for some emails.  Both Smart Compose and Smart Reply can be enabled or disabled within Gmail Settings. (gear)

Explore your Gmail settings for features that can help you stay organized! 

Seesaw Tips

Create your own activities in Seesaw with this great Seesaw Icon Shortcut cheat sheet!  

Also, to push out an activity to select students:  Add symbol/ Create or Share Activity/My Library/Share/Choose the class or click on "Edit Students and Folders" then select individuals students.  Video of steps

Google's '.new' Domain

With our busy schedules, we are always looking for shortcuts and time-saving tips.  Google has now introduced shortcuts to opening new documents, slides, sites and more.  Instead of opening Google Drive and selecting "New", simply type doc.new, slides.new, sheets.new, form.new or sites.new in the URL/address bar of a Chrome window to initiate a new document (slide, spreadsheet, form or site).  Quick and easy access to activate new Google Suite resources.  This ".new" Google domain will also recognize similar names doc.new or documents.new - either will work!  If you attempt to do this trick in Safari or Incognito Chrome Window, you will be prompted to sign into your Google Account.

One caveat, this option will create a document within your drive but not within a specific folder.  Once you add the title to your  '.new' document, a folder icon will appear.  Click on the folder to move this document to the desired folder.

Brief screencast of steps