Using Google Classrooms to Facilitate Performance Tasks

After visiting with many teachers who have experienced the new Smarter Balance testing environment, one of the more demanding portions of the test is the performance task, for both math and literacy.

This blog post demonstrates how teachers can use Google Classroom and create a simulated experience for students to complete performance tasks.  You can provide students with practice for online reading and online writing, as these technology skills may hinder success, especially in early grades like 3-6.

For this example "Garden of Learning 6th Grade Performance Task, a student will be provided with resources, two articles and a video.

Then they are to answer a few questions followed by writing an essay or article, may it be argumentative or informative.  When the students are finished, they click "Turn In".

 

Students will be able to toggle between "Assignment Details" and "My assignment" to go between resources and their work, allowing them to re-read articles or re-watch videos as often as they need.

The teacher can set up this entirely digital task and allow students to work independently until they've completed the assignment. 

I've created Performance Task Kits available for teachers to use inside their Google Classroom.  Click open the folder to find the files, make your own copies, and embed them into a Google Classroom online environment.

More kits are coming, as I've started with the three Smarter Balance example performance tasks. 

ViewPure - a Clean YouTube Experience

The title of this post describes this site perfectly.  Yes, watch YouTube videos without the ads, comments, and suggested videos.  Great for the classroom.

Prevent accidental inappropriate suggested videos suddenly appearing when showing YouTube videos with your class.

If you create hyperlinks to YouTube videos inside a lesson, link to ViewPure instead.

If you want to search for a video in front of your class to demonstrate an on the fly quick point, searching ViewPure with Strict Safe Search provides much more comfort and appropriate results.

Try ViewPure, as this is a great tool for your classroom.

K-5 Math Teaching Resources

How often do you find yourself asking, "isn't there another way I can demonstrate a particular math topic to my students because they aren't understanding what I've been doing thus far"?

Try finding a suggestion at K-5 Math Teaching Resources.

This website has loads of ideas to peruse through.  You can filter your search by grade level, strand, Mental Math Concepts, Interactive Whiteboard ideas, or Centers.


When looking into a grade level of activities, ideas are separated by standard, with links to printables if necessary.







The links to Interactive Whiteboard Resources take you directly to the IWB activity that relates to the concept. 

 
There are many activities ready to use in a centers based environment, providing you have or create the manipulative for the activity (note, they do provide links to download these interatives).  For example these are a few of many ten frame and dot card activities you can use in a number sense center.




There are many Mental Math Activities available, including a nice overview of using empty number lines in your classroom.  And don't forget to check out the ideas for your 100th day of school. 

This website has been a golden goto resource for k-5 math ideas and activities for several area teachers.  Aren't we all looking for additional ideas?

Top 5 Safe Search Engines for Kids

Here is a link to an article by Jonathan Wylie recapping his list of the Top 5 Safe Search Engines for Kids. This list includes Safe Search, Fact Monster, Ask Kids, Quintura for Kids, and Go Gooligans.

Quintura for Kids also has an app for you IPod Touch and IPad users.

Loving To Learn

Loving to Learn is a new early Elementary Website full of many resources like "Read me a story", "Reading lessons", "Multiplication", "ABC fun", and so much more.

One categorization of resources is by Ages and Stages beginning from Blossoming Babies up through 3rd grade. Or you can search by Super Subject which includes Reading, Writing, Math, Arts, Fitness, Music, and more. There is a pull down menu for Books which includes resources to read me a story, create your own book, rhymes and songs, and blab about books. Finally there is an Activities area for games, holidays, videos, and crafts.

This site also offers a Goals and Check-Up areas, which tries to align content with age appropriate readiness. They've also done a good job finding online interactives that align with their Goals.

This could be a good resource for parents to use with their children, as well as teachers looking to find a particular activity or idea. Click on Loving to Learn and start exploring.