Let Google Take Over Your Writing Classroom, Here’s How…

If your students have access to Gmail your writing instruction should be completely transforming because of Google!

If you don’t have access to the teacher online heaven of Google Apps don’t worry, many, many districts are changing the way they do things and I’m sure may even be working on it as you read right this very moment! While you are waiting…You could use these ideas as a station during your literacy centers if you have a few i-Pads handy:)

So, how can Google Apps transform your writing classroom? I will go through five apps within Google Drive and explain how below!

When your students type using Google Docs they can share with their teacher, other students or their parents and this audience can leave comments, students can reply back and so on!

It’s as simple as clicking share, making sure students choose view only and knowing the email of the recipient!

I also use Google Docs to type up and organize all my writing charts. No more sharpie stains, expensive chart paper and paper tubes to store!

If you aren’t using E-Journals yet and your students have full access to Google Slides then you should be! Your students can create their own E-Journal by going to Google Slides and changing the size of the page to 8.5×11 (see directions below) and typing away. Students can personalize their journal with pictures, borders, colors and different fonts. What kid isn’t going to love writing after you let them do all that in their journal!

Click the link below for even more info on this!

Google Sheets is like Excel! But how can you use something like Excel in writing class? How about to track time spent writing outside of class, goal tracking or types of genres written tracking?

I love Google Forms! Students can write their own surveys when researching information about a specific topic, write their own vocabulary/spelling/grammar test, write polls about opinions the class has for a persuasive essay. Forms is really fun for students too because of the many themes and backgrounds available!

Drawing has nothing to do with writing, you’re thinking, I know it! Yes it does! Students will love drawing the settings and characters of their stories! Students can search for pictures of a topic they are researching and write captions. Or they can make a map of their neighborhood or favorite place to get ideas to write about. Writing teachers are very fond of heart maps, these can be done in Google Drawing too! Students can take their drawings, save them, and then upload them into their Docs or Slides!