Shapes in Kinder with Google

If you have been following my blog, you are aware of my Chromebook Academy that the teachers and I teach every year to kinder and first graders. If not, you can read more about it on this previous post.

Kindergarten had started their math unit over shapes.  I had seen an idea on twitter by @MLTumlty where she used the book TRIANGLE by Mac Barnett and had the students sort shapes in a google slide. I loved the idea, and had to try with my students! 

Barnett, Mac. TRIANGLE. illustraed by Jon Klassen. Candlewick Press, 2017.

After reading the book, students logged onto their Chromebooks and then to Google Classroom. They are getting so good at logging in!!! 

We did a quick review over how to open an assignment and how to click and drag, then they got started. They had tons of fun! 

You can get a copy of this activity here. 

It is always nice to be able to incorporate technology into our lessons, and collaborate with the teachers. As an instructional partner, I was able to bring math to life in the library. Students need to be able to learn many different ways: hands on, written, visual, and technology. Putting our heads together, the teachers and I were able to come up with a lesson that students were engaged in and will remember. 

Kinder Using Google Slides

One of my favorite days of the week is when the kindergarteners and first graders come to learn in the library. Their excitement over learning something new is contagious! Often times, these little learners are limited by expectations of adults around them. I have heard so many times "They won't be able to use Google Drive" or "It's too hard to teach them how to log in." NOT TRUE! Even though a little learner may not be reading yet does not mean that they cannot create, explore, design, and more using technology.

This year, we started Chromebook Academy with our kinders and firsties. We learned how to take care of the Chromebooks, carry the Chromebooks, and log into the Chromebooks. My little learners now know how to get into Google Classroom and get into their Google Drive.

Believe they can, and they will! 

Learners today, for the most part, have had a device in their hand since they were little. However, that does not mean they know how to use technology for learning, designing, and collaborating. Do not assume just because they play games on their parent's iPad that they can use a computer to complete an assignment. But, don't assume they can't benefit from technology!

Look at these faces! They are completely engaged in their learning and having a great time while doing it.

I suggest you start off with allowing them to explore in Google Drawings and Google Slides. They will learn a lot from exploring on their own. Plus, if you let them get the exploration out of the way, they are more likely to listen and follow along with you when you are giving step by step instructions. 

Kindergarten student exploring in Google Slides. 

After giving them time to explore, the teacher and I give them instructions. On this particular day the teacher was reviewing shapes, so we had them add shapes to their slides.

Why wait until 3rd grade to teach them the basics of Google Apps for Education? Prepare them when they are young, then they are more prepared for the older grades. 

A great blog to follow for ideas on using Google with littles is Learning With Christine Pinto.  Also, follow #gafe4littles on Twitter. 

2nd Grade Biography

One of my favorite projects every year is the biography project in 2nd grade. Students get to choose a famous person, an athlete, celebrity, president, author, etc... The final project is to write a report about their person and give a presentation. The presentation is my favorite part!! The students dress up as their person and present their report as if they were that person. It is so cute!!

I collaborate with the 2nd grade teachers on this project in various ways. I pull books appropriate for the reading levels of the students. This year, the teachers asked if I would help with note taking skills and citing sources.

I tried and tried to find a note taking organizer that would help the students, but I could not find one I liked. So, I made my own. 😊 You are welcome to use it however you'd like.

I wanted to model note taking to the students, so we researched Barbara Park together. Junie B. Jones is a very popular series in 2nd grade right now, so they were all excited to learn more about the author. We started with Pebble Go. I had the students read the page, and as a table group, come up with an important fact we could write in our notes. 

We talked about the importance of taking notes:

• writing down the most important information
• putting the information in our own words (don't copy from the page)
• write down the information in a short way. 

On the organizer, students have a space to take notes from each source, and a space to cite their sources. This gets them ready for upper elementary when they have to create a bibliography page with their sources. 

After we took notes from PebbleGo, using bullet points for each fact we found, students filled out their sources. Then we used a book about Barbara Park and followed the same steps. 

After modeling, students then used PebbleGo, their books, and other reliable sources that the teacher and I had looked up before hand, to begin taking their own notes. 

They will continue their research over the next two weeks, then make their presentations in class. I always love to see the students dressed up as their famous person. 

Chromebook Academy

I am so excited that our first graders and kindergarten students will be learning to use the Chromebooks this week. When our school first purchased the Chromebook carts, I had quite a few people tell me that they did not think little ones could use them successfully.

Challenge accepted!!

So, I started researching some things and found Clever badges. I immediately sent the information to my library direction, who in turn talked with our technology department. I was so excited to be chosen as one of the pilot schools for the Clever badges.

Sometimes all you have to do is ask! 

After we got word about the clever badges, and I got them all printed out, laminated, and ready to go, Chromebook Academy was in the works. We started off with simple steps -- how to carry our Chromebook, how to open and close the Chromebook, logging in, using the touchpad, etc... The excitement was contagious! 

Look at these smiles! 

I lay my Chromebook flat on a table to use it. 

Kindergarten students can use Chromebooks, too. 

I hold my Chromebook with two hands.

Chromebook Academy

I got the idea of calling it Chromebook Academy from my kids' kindergarten teacher. We were blessed to be able to have the same teacher for both my son and my daughter, and she was AMAZING!! She had different academies throughout the school year, such as shoe tying academy. The students received certificates once they passed the academy. 

I created the presentation below to guide us through each day and each step. This is still a work in progress, but feel free to use the presentation for your school. 

Don't underestimate young students, they are very capable of learning how to use technology. However, don't assume they know how to use technology just because they can play on a tablet. They must be shown how to effectively use devices. 

I will also add that our second grade students were taught how to use the Chromebooks at the beginning of the school year, and all second grade students can login using their Google Account logins. They can learn, and they can use the devices!