Sunday, May 7, 2017

Using Google Classroom in Kindergarten

Let's talk about Google Classroom. Going digital in kindergarten and first grade can be a powerful tool for differentiatng your kid's learning.  
Big myth buster- you don't need to be a 1:1 school to do it.


Most teachers in the upper grades have been using Google classroom for ages, but it's not as popular in the lower grades. Not many of us have taken the leap to digital. I've actually heard people say you can't use Google in kindergarten (Gasp!) They couldn't be more wrong! 
Myth buster #2 Kindergarten students CAN use Google Classroom.
So how do you get started?
A little background. Just recently Google changed it's policy. You used to have to be part of a school district that adopted GAFE (Google Apps for Education). Guess What??? Not any more, you just need to have a gmail account and so do your students, that's bascially it. This opens the doors wide open for homeschoolers. It honestly could not be any easier. 
 All the kids in a GAFE district will have an "email" and password. I put email in quotes because it's not always an actual email. My kids can't send or receive messages. It only works on the school platform.  ( this is not always the case so check with your district). The older kids usually know their account and password, but you'll have to get your kids' info for them. My free driver's license is part of my "Getting Started with Google Guide" you can grab the guide here.


  I work in a large district and I can access my kids info through our district attendance site. Other possible ways include getting the information from a tech teacher, or IT department.  Usually it's the kids name and the school domain. example dlarsen@myschoolK12.org. The password is usually something associated with the student, like their birthday. Your tech person can get you that info. Don't be surprised when they doubt that your young kids can use it. Convincing people that young learners can use Google Classroom is the hardest part. See myth buster #2!


Once you have this information you can get started.

Setting up a classroom. 
Myth buster #3 Setting up a class is too technical.
It's easy, you can do it.  Please watch this video I created on getting started with Google. If you're like me, it's A LOT easier to watch someone do it, rather than read about how they do it. So go ahead and check my video it's part of my Google Guide you can access it here.


Are you ready to give it a try? Grab my Guide and you'll get my video, my driver's license, and shhhh.... a free Google resource to try. You can get the whole guide here.

If you're ready to start, you can access all my Google resources featured in this post here.




14 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Can this easily be used in iPads?

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    1. Hi Sarah, You can only use Google classroom on an Ipad if you download the Google Classroom app from the app store.. I hope that helps.
      Della

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  3. Thank you for this great resource. Your video was extremely helpful.

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  4. Hi! Thank you for this great resource!! I can't wait to purchase your materials. Do you have a math bundle like all of your math resources in one location?!

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    1. Hi Amber, Thank you for your kind words. Yes! the math bundle is coming. I'll have it ready by the middle of July. Plenty of time for back to school. Thanks, Della

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  5. I love your post! I am a 2nd grade teacher who truly believes that primary classrooms should have access to Google Classrooms and all it's amazing benefits! Why wait to bring it into the classroom when most of our "babies" can already operate technology better than we can! I am trying to figure out ways to get it more compatible within my 2nd grade classroom and one day dream of being a TPT seller for all things primary in Google.

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  6. I teach at a small private school. We do not have a tech person. How do you recommend getting students an email address to get started? Thanks for the great resources as well.

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  7. Thank you for the Google Driver's License freeibe! I have your ELA Google bundle, Love it! Can't wait to see the math bundle. I have been making some Google resources to use in the classroom myself. I was wondering if you know how to add audio to a slide in Google. I've searched but haven't really found an easy way to do it.

    Thanks

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  8. Do you have any videos that demonstrate how you create your goole classroom activities? I love the ones you have created! I am wanting to make some that are more geared towards what my students are learning.

    Thanks!

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  9. Hi! I've been using Google Classroom/Google Slides with my first grade students on chromebooks, but they really struggle with using the touchpad to drag items...is there a way to make an object dragable with their finger on the touchscreen of the chromebook?

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  11. Hi Della! I Love your google classroom ideas and materials. A year or more ago I think I watched a video or read something you put out that told how to create these pages for ourselves and I made some. It was great! But now I am doing some more and forgot how to make an object be infinite. Can you please fill me in again or lead me to the tutorial you did that explained it? Thanks!

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