I heart 4th grade: The top 5 reasons I love using Google Classroom

If you have Google Classroom and you haven't tried it out yet- Now is the time! It was this time last year that I decided to take the jump and try something new. My biggest obstacle was where to begin. Everywhere I turned I was looking at another Pin for another app or online program that I needed to try in my classroom.

I am not yet 1:1, so I don't have access to devices everyday for my students. I wanted to make sure the time that was available for my class was spent on something meaningful. A year later, I'm still using Google Classroom with my students.

If you haven't tried Google Classroom with your students, here are the top 5 reasons why I love using Google Classroom with my students.

It's Paperless

Everyone I know has a limit to the number of copies they have for either the year or for the month. I remember the days where I would cut out images, tape them to paper, and then shrink them down even further until there wasn't any white space left on the paper! Not anymore. I can share multiple pages (IN COLOR) with as many images as I want without having to worry about copies.

(Images from Mixed Numbers Digital Task Cards available here )

No More Lost Work!

The work that your students are doing is saved onto their drive. If they don't complete the assignment in class they can complete it at home, or the next day in class by logging into ANY computer. (Can we say, NO MORE LOST PAPERS or RUNNING TO GET ANOTHER COPY!!!) I can quickly find out which students need to complete their work.

No more sifting through papers, asking students to stand or sit as you call out names trying to find that 1 student who hasn't bothered to check their binder. No more frustration about students losing papers in their desk, or leaving it at home. No more accusations that “I” lost their work. Everything is saved to one place, and I always have examples of student work for when I need to show parents or the math coach.

Use over and over again

Regardless of what type of Google App you are using (Google Forms, Google Slides, etc), it can be used over and over again. For instance, I didn't have time to make a study guide for my students for the test they were going to take the next day. I uploaded the test on Google Classroom and called it their "study guide". The students could review it, practice taking it, and share it with their parents. The next morning I cleared all the results (with 3 clicks) and the students were ready to take the test! (I can also re-name the assignment and make it a review homework assignment for later)

(You can find self-grading Google Forms to download directly into your drive here.)

Grade from anywhere- or better yet don't grade at all!

Another great feature for using Google Classroom is that you can monitor assignments from any device anywhere. Download the App to your phone or tablet and you can grade on the go without have to lug around your heavy teacher bag or take out a million papers.

Instead of grading 70+ tests, Google Forms does the work for you. Your time can now be spent doing more important things, such as analyzing student results and creating opportunities for re-teaching or review.

Here are the results from a test I gave to my class

with 10 questions.

Once students turn in their work, Google Forms collects and shares the data with me. As soon as I open the Google Form, I am able to see a snapshot of how the class did as a whole. (see the graph above) This data can also be sent to a spreadsheet for even more analysis (down to the percentage correct for each question!)

It's engaging

Students love using Google Classroom. Look at all the COLOR that can be incorporated without having to print any paper. In this assignment students interact with moveable pieces and type correct responses.

(These Google Slides are a part of this NO PREP Rounding resource for 3rd and 4th grade)

They love logging into their account and finding the assignment on their class feed. They actually cheer out loud when I tell them we will be logging onto Google Classroom. (I can't think of any other time my students cheer when I tell them they are going to do work.)

Ok so maybe their favorite part is turning in their assignment and sending me a private comment about their thoughts on it, but as long as I don' have to chase them for lost papers that's alright with me.