GoogleDocs

I LOVED the youtube video on "Going Google"... I had no idea that I could access Google Docs from my Google Drive with my PC at home! I do not have a Mac at home so I am excited to know the my gmail account gives me options. My partner and I typed back and forth on a blank page using the Google Docs and it was super fun! I love how I can type at the same time my partner is typing and she can see what I am typing and I can see what she is typing. I also love how what we are typing is labeled with our name AND color coordinated....super cool!

I looked at the Lesson Plan: Book Buddies

I liked how the teacher used first grade sketching as a writing prompt while adding a digital arts program to produce digital sketches AND using Google Presentation created digital books!!!

My daughter just finished kindergarten and her teacher assembled pictures that each student in her class had created and made a hardback book using the photos and as a parent it was a great keepsake. So, as a parent and an educator I connected to this lesson plan in that the children will draw and use digital technology and a book to represent their artwork is very special.

In this particular lesson plan, the teacher uses the sketches for the setting of a story. The students write stories about their sketches. Then the teacher introduces Tux Paint and has each student practice the drawing with different brushes, styles, sizes, and colors. This teacher used google docs to assemble the book and print the book. I think Google Docs is a wonderful resource to use technology in the classroom and create innovative materials for the students.

The next lesson plan I looked at is Reader's Workshop Online Activities. This lesson plan enables students to create online documents and engage in groups to express their literary comments. These students used Madlibs, Wordsearch and discussion questions to interact with one another. I like this lesson plan because it utilizes Google Docs in a literary way and opens up the possibility of distant relationships with other readers/students.