Google Forms

The "Tweaking Your Teaching with Technology" strand continued with Google Forms.  Teachers explored a variety of ways Google forms can be used in the classroom.  While some would use it for formative assessment, others might use it to collect information from parents at Open House.  Google forms are a great way for students to give feedback after a lesson or check comprehension skills.  After taking a look at the three faces of a Google form, teachers learned how to create their own.  Teachers were encouraged to create a Google form to use in the classroom with their students.  This session will flow into the next strand  as we take a look at the Chrome extension Flubaroo.

Here are a few examples of how some are using Google forms...

Blendspace...Interactive Learning in the Classroom

In the third session of "Tweaking Your Teaching with Technology", teachers were introduced to Blendspace.  Blendspace is a free web tool for teachers to collect resources in one place to form a bundled interactive lesson for students or colleagues.  When you create a Blendspace lesson, you can pull in videos from YouTube, website links, pictures, EduCreation lessons, Flickr images, or links and images from Google.  You can even import files in from Dropbox or Google Drive and upload your own files, like PowerPoint presentations, housed on your own computer.  Blendspace is so user friendly and makes it easy to create an interactive lesson in less than 10 minutes.  Blendspace also offers an extensive gallery of lessons created by other teachers that can be copied and edited to fit your lesson.  This tool could be used with your SMARTboard to guide an interactive whole group lesson, in centers/stations to extend learning, as an independent lesson in the computer lab when you have a substitute teacher, or as a teacher filing cabinet to store unit resources from year to year.  Blendspace is a fabulous tool for students of all ages to enhance learning and increase student engagement.

Check out Mrs. Lawler's lesson on Making Ten

Making Ten Center







Adding Three Numbers
Mrs. Lawler's - Adding Three Numbers


Coach Green is using Blendspace to house resources for the Alabama Physical Fitness Test.

Alabama Physical Fitness Test




















Mrs. Smother's is using her Blendspace for a Discovery Kids Animals project.  She was able to incorporate student directions, the link to the website, and further teacher directions all in one spot.  

Discovery Kids - Animal Project







Mrs. Wallace compiled a teaching video, links to practice sites, and a downloadable center activity in her Blendspace.

Mrs. Wallace's Positional Term Center Activity













Other great Blendspace projects our teachers found....

Halloween Crafts

Fact Families

Mrs. Tyler's Doubles

Symbaloo in the Classroom

In the second session of the "Tweaking Your Teaching with Technology" strand, teachers learned about Symbaloo. Symbaloo is a visual bookmarking site that can be the lifeline of your classroom. It is a starting point for your students that can be easily linked to a QR code for easy access. It can be used as a classroom website with links that extend learning of lessons you have taught. Parents love it because it can be accessed at home too. It can be used as a guided station activity with teacher chosen resources, so center time can basically run itself. Symbaloo is the perfect "teacher filing cabinet" for unit links, videos, and resources. Symbaloo is even perfect for housing professional development for teachers. Teachers love Symbaloo because it can also serve as a one-stop shop for digital portfolios and be embedded as a live link on a classroom blog. The possibilities are endless!


Mrs. McConnell is using a Symbaloo page to help her students with research.

2nd Grade Animal Research Page







Coach Green created this Symbaloo page for P.E.

Click here to see Coach Green's Symbaloo Page






Mrs. Tyler found this great site with lots of COUNTING practice.

Counting Practice with Symbaloo







Check out this great page for 1st and 2nd Grade Math practice.

Primary Math Practice







Mrs. Wallace is working on this one to reinforce Kindergarten skills.

Kindergarten Resources








This Symbaloo has links for Halloween fun.

Halloween Fun








Mrs. O'Steen created this Symbaloo page for her GT students.

SAGC Symbaloo Page







Mrs. Lawler and her first graders are going to find this page very helpful!

Lawler - Highland Park Page

Starting the Strand...with ThingLink

The "Tweaking Your Teaching with Technology" professional development strand is off and running!  In the first session, teachers learned about ThingLink.  We took a look at samples of how other teachers are using it in the classroom and learned how easy it is to make your own. ThingLink can be used as a focal point during a teacher directed lesson, as a center during station time, as a "filing cabinet" to organize unit materials, or for individual student projects.  Teachers simply choose a picture and add "tags" to it.  The "tags" are buttons that contain informational text, website links, questions, or embedded videos.  Below you will find samples of how our own teachers are using ThingLink in their classrooms.