Googling Onward....

Alrighty!  It's time to share our new gmail addresses with one another.  My gmail address is Lightsey20@gmail.com.  Please type your name and gmail in the comments section below so that we can all receive the lesson plan template that Lindsey has uploaded for everyone.  I think we probably need to sit down together for just a few minutes to make sure everyone is comfortable accessing the document once it gets sent out.  Let's plan to meet Friday at 2:05.  If this is a problem for anyone, just let me know.

So, now that we all have Google accounts it's time to move to using Google Drive.  Google Drive is the page where all of the apps can be found and documents are stored and shared. Take a minute and read the information underneath the image below.  Once you click on the link provided below, you'll be asked to sign into your gmail account and you'll get a page that looks like this:

 


You can see that the first document listed on my page is 4th Grade Lesson Plans.  This is where Lindsey has shared her document with me.  Once she gets your email addresses, she'll share it with you as well.  Then we'll be ready to begin collaborating on lesson plans each week without having to use any attachments, copy and pasting, etc....

Here's Google's Overview of Drive:

Google Drive lets you store and access your files anywhere -- on the web, on your hard drive, or on the go. Here’s how it works:

1. Go to Google Drive on the web at drive.google.com.
2. Install Google Drive on your computer or mobile device.
3. Throw your files in Google Drive. It’s right there on your device.

Now your files go everywhere you do. Change a file on the web, on your computer, or on your mobile device and it updates on every device where you’ve installed Google Drive. Share, collaborate, or work alone: your files, your choice.

Store the first 15 GB of your stuff for free across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google+ Photos.

Access everything in your Google Drive from all your devices.

Your files are always waiting for you at drive.google.com, but you can also get them straight from your computer, smartphone, and tablet. Install Google Drive on multiple devices and Google Drive makes sure they’re all the same. You can even get to your files after you go offline.

Keep files synced. Just connect to the web – it's pretty much automatic.

Any time your device has Internet access, it checks in with Google Drive. That ensures your files and folders are always up to date. Change something on one device and it changes everywhere.

Stop emailing attachments. Start sharing.

Google Drive lets you choose exactly who – friends, family, colleagues – gets your files. You don’t need email attachments anymore. Just share your file, folder, or Google Doc from any device.

Keep collaborating!

Do you collaborate with others in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides? Google Drive lets you continue to create, access, and collaborate in a version-free world.

Get a Google Account

In order to create collaborative lesson plans through Google, each person needs a Google email account.  This is an easy, painless process that can be completed in about 5-10 minutes.  Please follow this link:
https://accounts.google.com/SignUp and let me know when you have an account.

Once all fourth grade teachers have an account opened, we will begin getting familiar with the Google Docs app that will allow for easy collaboration.  

So, your assignment is to simply create a Google email account using the above link.  Email me when you're done.

Does GP stand for Guinea Pigs or Great People?

Alrighty then!  You've signed up for a wonderful adventure to learn a new approach to collaboratively create and edit weekly lesson plans.  Just to clarify the title of this post, I believe GP stands for great people who are willing to be guinea pigs in order to learn something new.  So either way you view it, it's a positive!

This post is to share how this little adventure will work and how you'll be asked to play a part in trying something new here at MES.  Just follow the steps listed below to begin:

1.  I'll need everyone to become a blog follower upon receiving the link to this blog.  The previous posts were a result of meeting class requirements in a course that I have taken, so don't bother with reading anything older than this post.  Just save the link to the blog by clicking "Bookmarks" on the above toolbar and then clicking "Bookmark This Page." 
2.  This page will be used as a step by step tutorial that will lead you all through the process of creating a collaborative Google Doc that will make lessons plans easier to access and maintain on the Google server.  
3. As you know, this project is the completion on a course I've taken that will require that we have this process completed within a few weeks.  Please use this blog to communicate with one another and me while you are becoming familiar with the Google Docs app.  Post your frustrations, amazing discoveries and anything else that you feel like sharing.  So, let's begin by simply becoming a follower of this blog and completing this simple questionnaire:  Click Here

Cards Are Amazing

The various ways that cards can be used to teach math are endless!  There's also something about cards that kids love.  Actually, I love to play with cards myself.  As we know, highly engaged students retain a great deal more information than someone who is less attentive.  So, for these simple reasons, I'm sharing a great blog with many uses for cards:

http://letsplaymath.net/2006/12/29/the-game-that-is-worth-1000-worksheets/