1. Share 2 ideas on how you could use Google Docs for differentiation of instruction. Think about students, parents and collaborating with other teachers.
2. Choose a classmate post and comment about their writing. Commenting about someone else's writing make sure to add their name. For example: If I am commenting on Rosemary's post I will start by stating her name. "Rosemary, I thought your idea about teacher collaboration was interesting. When collaborating with another teacher, you really need to choose someone who can give you good and practical feedback ..."
Thanks for great posts. I truly enjoy reading your ideas, insight and thoughts. Dorit
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1. I think one effective way of using Google Docs with parents (if all parents had internet access), would be to set up a real-time newsletter for the week's events and what the students would be learning. If the newsletter was online, then it would save on copy costs as well as allow parents to communicate with the teacher right way about any comments/concerns, that they may have about their students or ways in which they could help their students at home. By setting up this real-time newsletter, it could differentiate for those parents who might now be able to communicate with the teacher or the school during normal school days.
ReplyDeleteAnother effective way of using Google Docs could be to create a powerpoint presentation that links to books online that students are already familiar with. This could help struggling readers who need to be read aloud to for fluency and who might need the visual cues of a story being read aloud and the words being highlighted on the page as the story is bejng read aloud.
Google apps are great for differentiation because as the administrator, you can edit and control what students see, receive and work on. It would make differentiating homework a lot easier- separating students into specific groups for all content areas and sending the specific skills the groups need to work on. Then parents could access this information and help their child. This would be especially handy for any computer generated data we might use.
ReplyDeleteI can also imagine this being really helpful for first year teachers. If veteran teachers had a website and allowed other teachers to access what they were doing, it would give them strategies and guidance they might not get otherwise.
Finally, I think parents would really appreciate a site that's dedicated to the students that's easy to use. I tried to set up a scholastic page this year, and it just wasn't practical or nice to use...so I stopped after Nov. Instead of sending notes home, teachers could contact parents directly on the site.
Naeri, I think the idea of making powerpoint books is great! If children have access to the technology at home, it would really be empowering for them to be able to show their parents how they can read a "book" they've been practicing in school. It's also a nice way to make literature more accessible for our struggling learners by using familiar, fun characters (Arthur) but with teacher created text. It would also be wonderful if parents who aren't literate in English could use the technology- maybe at a workshop- and they too could practice with their children.
ReplyDeleteNaeri, using Google docs to create real-time newsletters to keep parents informed is a great idea. Parents often have said that they are not sure what their children are learning, what is expected of them or even if or how much homework they have on a daily basis. Newsletters would benefit in so many ways. Are you going to do the news letter yourself or would the children be helping? If you have lower grade then maybe they can help less, but if you have upper grade then they can play a big part in design and thought. They can even be given a day to post or even rotate the responsiblities.
ReplyDeleteSabriya, I totally like the idea of veteran teachers updating a google doc with strategies, suggestions, etc. for first year teachers. I just finished my first year and while I got tons and tons of help from my colleagues, sometimes the time to sit down together and talk about strategies was just not there. If a veteran teacher would take their time to create a document like you suggested, it would be invaluable information. Lots of work, but extremely helpful.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
ReplyDeleteGoogle docs can be used as differenciation by grouping children together for book clubs. Various groups can discuss ideas and questions about the specific book their group is reading. This can be grouped by reading level or book preference.
Differenciation can also be used with parents for homework. The homework can be posted and then an open document can be used amongst the students, parents, and teachers if there should be any questions or confusion with the assignments. Maybe a time could be set up after school where the teacher would be available and the other families could have access.
Brenda
ReplyDeleteN.yoon made a great point about the parent newsletter. So many times newsletters and notices go home and they just get thrown in the garbage. Its important now to consider how much paper is wasted and how we can avoid it. Technology is the way to go! As N.Yoon said; it would save on copy costs as well as save some trees.
Sabriya I agree with your point about differentiating homework with the usage of Google Apps. This could work nicely if all the students were equipped with a computer and internet service.
ReplyDeleteGoogle docs can be a great tool for our Data Inquiry Team to collaborate with the classroom teacher concerning the students. On a daily basis they pull out students from the class assessing and teaching them. Meanwhile our teacher input is vital as well. Using google docs can bring cohesion when assessing and teaching the student both in and out of the classroom allowing both to keep track of the strentghs and needs of the children we share. Also, spreadsheets can be used to keep track of periodic assessment driven data results such as
ReplyDeleteAcuity, Aris, ITA and class assessments that are shared among the grade during meetings,with our staff developers and administrators.
Differntiation of instruction can be achieved by using Smartboards whereby children can engage in visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning when media is interactive and children are allowed to engage in manipulation of the activities of the board. Children can also benefit from differntiating of instruction by engaging in the writing process. Students can write in a document to be shared with the teacher. Teacher can check the students' work at any time and respond or comment about the features and understand better each students' strengths.
Sabiya great way to get parents involved. Parent would have the assissgnments at their finger tips. They cannot use the excuse "I didn't know my child had this assissgnment due".
ReplyDeleteBrenda your point is well made. The application is excellent for reading/literature circles. students definately would be able to work in groups and complete several choice topics such as author studies and post comments or author reviews allowing for the opportunity for higher order thinking. The access to computers in the home would help students and parents work with their child on individual strengths and weakness. Tracy
ReplyDeleteI would like to incorporate the calendar for parents on google apps. It not only could be a newsletter but a monthly miniture lesson plan guide for families to follow like a monthly pacing chart. Differentiated instruction in reading on the calendar could consist of students working from home still in a group of 3 or 4 same as in class yet online they are taking a specific text from a novel and creating dialouge to the story that normally had not been present. Once the strategy has been taught a self tutorial could be developed for parents to facilitate bat home. Parents could assist with making changes, talking with their child about story ideas and adjusting the paragraph with grammer or punctuation with the child from home. The students would all be working on a new version of the selection to share with the whole class. If parents had access to the site they could help implement continuous tutoring and reinforcement at home. Assignments on the parent teacher calendar could be targeted towards each groups individual needs.
ReplyDeleteI also think student reading conferences could be collaborated between parent, student and teacher using the google apps. The students records would need to be only accessed by the individual families however, the parents could collaborate with the teacher about reading strategies they notice the child using or struggling with at home. The child could also blog their concerns privately and teacher and parent could co-develop strategies and tutorials for home access to strengthen the students needs.
ReplyDeleteThis may seem time consuming but if done weekly or twice a week it could provide a window of fun interactive activities.
That are catered to each childs needs. (Tracy)
ReplyDeleteGoogle Doc can be used to differentiate reading activities. One group of students can read, make prediction, share opinions, and ask questions by blogging about their text. Another group may answer specific questions. Another way I might use Google Doc to differentiate would be to instruct two groups to create a power point. Group A will research, write information, post images, and add hyperlink to power point. Group B will research, make a list of findings, and post images to power point. Each group will then present their parts of the power point.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Doc is a great tool for communicating with parents. I think all teachers should use this tool to express daily/weekly activities of what's happening in the classroom. Teachers should post what is currently being taught. Even though, parents might not read daily/weekly, it is reassuring for a parents to know that the information is available when needed.
Teachers should also use this tool to communicate with each other. Teachers should share lessons and suggestions of things that work nicely for them, so their colleagues can benefit.
Naeri, looks like everyone as well as me is in love with both of your ideas for the real time newsletter and books on powerpoint. I think that it could be extremely beneficial to both students and parents.
ReplyDeleteEven if students do not have internet access at home, the books on power point can be reinforced during class time as well. It could be a center activity or a follow up activity after a mini-lesson.
Another great way that google docs could be used for differentiation is for homework assignments. Often time parents state that they have trouble understanding the homework and how to help their children. The directions could be given through docs as well as give parents the opportunity to help each other out with directions. It would also benefit the teacher as an evaluation, if several students and parents are having difficulty with the same subject/material then that would be priceless feedback.
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting thing I learned from yesterdays session was how to make a power point presentation usin google doc. I was very impressed in the way we were able to share our documents. sorry for the late entry i was extremely tired last night
ReplyDeleteOne way google docs can be used for differentiation of instruction is to use the power point presentation.For all my groups this can be useful. My lower groups can use less slides and more images to support their information. My higher groups can take it as far as they can by incliding more slides, more information and even add in links.
ReplyDeleteGoole dos is also a good tool to use with other teachers. There are times when my collegues and I stay after work and even on the phone to plan. This can be a way for us to be home and still be able to work with each other in real time and on the same document.