Daily Differentiation in the Classroom with Google Forms

Using Google Forms for Daily Differentiation in the Classroom

Differentiation in the classroom is one of the best ways to meet students where they are, and move them forward. But how do you find which students need re-teaching, or just a bit of extra practice, or are ready for something more?

Daily monitoring of student progress is so important – but it does not have to be hard, or take a long time!  This simple and fast method lets Google Forms do all the work!

 

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How to Make Digital Lessons with Google Forms

Teach Digital Lessons using Google Forms

Here is a fast, simple way to make digital lessons using Google Forms! Google Forms provides an easy, organized way to present information and guide students through a lesson.

Digital lessons are great for differentiation for your students, making Distance Learning work, or when you turn over your class to a sub! BONUS: Free Google Forms digital lesson template available at the bottom of the post! Fully editable for use in your own classroom!

 

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Best Way to do Test Corrections: Simple & Engaging

Best Way to do Test Corrections

We all want our students to learn from their mistakes. Tests are not just a grade, but a measure of where a student’s understanding is. We want to help fill in the gaps. This usually includes going over the test, or some form of test corrections. 

But what is the best way to do test corrections? I was searching for a way that truly helped students learn from their mistakes, but did not take up a lot of time. I needed a test correction method that was meaningful, and motivated even hard-to-motivate students.

And I found it! It even works for Distance Learning!

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Classroom Management and the 21st Century Skills

21st Century Skills: Teaching and Tracking GrowthThe Classroom Management Miracle and  21st Century Skills.

This post is the second in a series that began with a desperate need to adjust my classroom management approach.

I was losing control of my classroom.

After five years of teaching with little or no classroom issues, I was now facing the toughest group of students I have ever had the challenge of teaching.

My struggle led to a system that,

  • holds students accountable
  • tracks growth for those hard-to-measure 21st Century Skills (collaboration, communication, and conduct)
  • completely changed the behavior of this group of students  and saved my sanity!

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Points for Classroom Management in High School?

Points and classroom managementThis year I had a particularity  challenging class.  After just the first week of school I was desperate for a solution.  

The class was at the end of the day, they were tired from being at school for eight hours and just wanted out. Students consisted of mostly boys who were best of friends and loved to goof around, with no regard for me or the other students in the room.

All of my usual classroom management methods and relationship building was just not working and I could clearly see this class was slipping out of control.

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Five Step Game Plan for Teaching the First Day of School: Middle and High School

Five step game plan for teaching the first day of school.The first day of school is the single best opportunity to lay a foundation for the rest of the year. For new teachers it may feel overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be!

My first year, I was so nervous on my first day of school! To be honest, I still get nervous on the first day. But I have learned a lot, after making a lot of mistakes!

It is time to conquer the first day of school with these five bell-to-bell steps!

  • Set expectations before students enter the room – start in the hall
  • Use a seating chart
  • Assign something to do as soon as students come in
  • Give an Open Note Quiz on what they learn
  • Do a fun group activity!!

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Blended Learning – Teach Your Students More in Less Time

Blended Learning is the answer to so many common challenges and frustrations for teachers. Blended Learning will transform the way you teach, and the way your students learn.  It will…

  • Increase student engagement
  • Help you differentiate like never before
  • Give you more class time
  • Allow ‘you’ to be with every student at one time – they can even take you home

And the best part? It is easy!

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Plan the Beginning of Class on Purpose

In a typical high school or middle school room, the beginning of class often looks something like this:

Beginning class on PurposeStudents wander in from the hall. There may or may not be an opener assignment (bell ringer) but no one seems to be working on it. The teacher is at her desk, working on something of her own. Students are chatting, standing with friends, playing with their phones.

The late bell rings and Mrs Teacher jumps into action – but a battle ensues to get her students to quiet down and focus.

Have you been into a classroom like this? Does this look like your own classroom? And you are frustrated, feeling like you are wasting time (and gaining gray hairs!) at the beginning of class every day?

Do not be discouraged! With just a few tweaks, your first ten minutes of class can become your favorite ten ten minutes of the day!

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