Using Google Forms to Document During Guided Reading

Below you will find some examples of how I documented information during my guided reading groups this year. Using Google Forms makes it super easy to document quickly so you don't interrupt precious time with your students. It's also helpful for going back and completing all of that lovely paperwork your school or district may require. :)

If you aren't familiar with Google Forms... you need to be. I've used it for assignments, quizzes, parent surveys, parent contact information, and a ton of other stuff! For the guided reading notes, I place a shortcut on my desktop or home screen on my iPad for easy access. You could do the same for any assistants or volunteers working with students as well!



If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment or send me an email!

Prefix & Suffix Collections in Google Slides

Google Classroom has 100% helped me manage my time more wisely this year. Not to mention the weight of the workload I take home at night... which may or may not continue to sit untouched once I get home.

 

This week I took my Prefix and Suffix Collections and decided that I wanted to save paper and put the packet online! I created each graphic organizer in PowerPoint, then saved it as an image. I then put each background in my Slides assignment so students could not alter or move the image on the Slides. I use Google Classroom to assign this work, but there are so many other possibilities as well! And if you aren't using Google Classroom and your students have Google accounts... you need to get on that ASAP.

Students complete the first three sections, then use the link which directs them to Safe Search Images for Kids (by Google). You can save each assignment as a PDF, images, whatever you like!

Below are some examples done by my third graders. (These are the mediocre layouts that I started with... the new Prefix and Suffix Collections are MUCH more appealing to the eye! Find them HERE!)

 

 

A Trip to the Tundra

At the beginning of December, I was so inspired by Hope King and Kim Bearden from RCA (Ron Clark Academy) and a scope they had done from one of their classrooms. They had completely transformed their classroom into the Arctic Tundra and it was INCREDIBLE! I knew that I couldn't go all out (and build the huge igloo they had), but I was determined to create an experience for my kiddos that I have yet to do in my teaching career.

The Friday before the mini-flip, I had a colleague deliver TOP SECRET envelopes with each student's name, as well as Don't Open Until 4:00, which would be when the kiddos were at home. I had never seen any of my students more excited than that moment they were delivered!!! It made me so excited and motivated to get to school on Sunday and work.

It took a few hours to flip my room. I purchased some drop cloths from Lowe's, which was perfect because they were HUGE and didn't break the bank. Everything else I bought from Dollar Tree or had on hand in my classroom!

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I had six stations and tasks set up throughout my room for my morning reading block to accomplish before our activity time (specials). There were only two rules that we came up with together that morning before they got started...

1. Stay on task throughout the morning.

2. If a task area is crowded, take a detour and find another.

Scope from the Arctic Tundra

I made an Arctic Tundra Journal for each of my kiddos, which had response sections for each of the six tasks (see the manila folders in the pictures above). While they were completing the tasks, I was walking around monitoring and assisting those who needed it. After a task was completed, students brought me their journal and I initialed each section after looking over their work. They all did a FABULOUS job and I still am so proud of them!

The Arctic only lasted for a day in our classroom. Like Hope and Kim said, it's an important experience that doesn't happen every week and needs to remain special. However... I am already planning my next mini-flip for mid-spring!

Have you ever flipped your classroom or created an experience for your students similar to this? Please share with me! :)