Tech Tales: Using Google Workspace to Improve Efficiency with Administrative Tasks

I have been able to learn ways to improve my proficiency in GSuite, for example, ways to save time while sharing information with colleagues about students, their needs, and their progress. I also recently saw the Blackout Poem link. This is something I have been doing with students for years, and I love this digital version!

-Dawn-Marie Fernandes

Franklin High School Teacher

Tech Tales: Teachers Infuse Technology to Transform Instruction

Last year before the pandemic, if I needed to be on a google meet I would quickly run to my colleagues room to join as a team. Once I had to, I quickly I need to learn. I hosted the first cluster meet in April of last year. I had to learn to bounce several kids from the other cluster! I was proud of my teaching last spring, I learned how to use the document camera, as teaching math is hard if you cannot show! I teach very visually.

Fast forward to the spring, the gift of time and the choice of presentations opened up more variety. In the spring, I made google slides for my geometry class in the fall I added pear deck. I also have transitioned from peardeck to more go formative. It allows ease in seeing what kids are doing. I feel as though I keep growing. I recently added whiteboard.fi so I could see my remote kids thoughts.

I also have always used Desmos, but now we have more choice. I have also learned how to pace, create snapshots of student work to highlight.

-Beth Ackley
Horace Mann Middle School Teacher

My newest toy is GoFormative. I am loving all the versatility it provides in the World Language classroom. I have transferred paper worksheet questions onto Go Formative. Instead of the previous rush through the worksheet, I can see my students (CP and Honors) go back and try a question over and over again until they get it right. I love being able to give a listening assessment and they can listen at their own pace and draw or write their answers- while I can grade quickly. I would definitely use GoFormative again next year! My old toy, which I still love, is PearDeck. I love how I can break down skills into tiny parts and have my students practice before going on to the next skill. I love that I can provide them with verbal feedback while they are working, so they can correct their answers and figure out the concept. I love that I can show "Good mistakes" to the class without showing a student's name and we can figure out how to fix them together. I love that I can allow students to work at their own pace so all students needs are met. Again, this is a tool I would definitely use this 4th quarter and next year.

-Leah Wahrhaftig-Jeri
Franklin High School Teacher

I use emojis to help label my topics in Google Classroom. I try to use emojis that correspond with seasons, holidays, or curriculum. In Google Slides, I create a teacher copy and then have my students
update their slides as needed. I especially like this for Book Clubs or slides that carry over from one week to the next.

-Sarah Wilmarth

Kennedy Elementary School Teacher

Tech Tales: Integrating Technology Across the Curriculum in the Primary Grades

 Franklin teachers have faced a lot of change during this school year.  From remote teaching to hybrid to in-person teaching, they have embraced new technology and teaching practices to better meet the needs of their students. We highlight their successes in this series of "Tech Tales" posts.

In this post, we celebrate two Franklin teachers who share how they integrated technology across the curriculum in the primary grades.