Back to School Night with Google Forms

Hello Google Forms
So as much as I hate to admit it, summer is creeping to an end and before we know it Back to School and Meet the Teacher nights will be upon us {insert screaming/crying/cover my face emojis, summer goes by too quickly!} My motto for this year comes from a dear college professor and advisor who always told me to, "Work Smarter, not Harder", thanks Dr. A! I decided that I need some serious organization in my life and google forms was/is the answer to my teacher prayers and dreams. I saw this idea on Pinterest {we should get PD credit for all of the time we spend researching educational things on there!} and I decided that my Back to School/Meet the Teacher night was going to be as paperless and organized as I could get it! In previous years, I have been left with tons of student information papers, transportation forms, and have always felt a little overwhelmed, especially when I try to organize them and keep up with them ALL year long. So, this post is dedicated to the Why {stated above}, the How & the Technicals of using Google Forms for collecting student information.

How I plan to Do this
 I plan to have several iPad stations set up in my classroom with a QR code or two that links directly to the Google Form. Each station will have two QR codes labeled "Student Information" and "Transportation Information". Parents/Guardians will have access to iPads at each station or they can use their personal device to scan each QR code and complete the simple and quick forms that I have created.


Creating a Google Form
I have to be honest, I thought creating a Google Form would be a lot harder than it actually is. I have access to Google through my school district and the Google Forms App was in my Apps menu. You create a form with a few simple steps and link it to a Google Sheets (just like an excel) and all of your data will be collected and organized there. When you create your form you have to option to change the background picture at the top, as well as the color of the form, which is pretty great for those of us who like things to look cute and match.

Technicals
I found this out by trial and error, when creating a Google Form, make sure you edit who can respond. For example, originally mine was set to only users in my districts network, but I un-checked that option so that my parents would have access without signing into Google.
I also allowed more than one response per user (so parents of twins, siblings, grandma who brings both kids can complete the form more than once). I also gave the option of editing after a response, I mean I am the worlds' worst at making simple mistakes, so I made these forms user friendly.

The Forms 
As I mentioned before, I created two forms. One for student information and the other for transportation information

I hope this has been helpful! If you have any questions about how to create a google form, please feel free to comment below, send an email, or tweet me!

 Now to enjoy the remainder of summer and not spend the rest of my life savings on the darn cute things at Target/Marshall's... #teacherprobs
@wigington2nd -- teachlikeadiva@gmail.com

Syd

2

UTC 2016

We will  be co-presenting this coming week at the Upstate Technology Conference in Greenville, SC.  While we have presented on our own and collaborated on presentations---this will be the first time the divas have presented together.  You are sure to gain some new information and be entertained to say the least.  Putting the two of us together in a room is always a great idea {right, Mr. E?!}

So what can you expect from us at UTC....

Creation Apps for the Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms.  We have really focused on using creation apps in our classroom to boost student learning and participation.  This past year we were challenged to use the SAMR model as we integrated more technology into our lessons.  In this session, we will share ways to use some of our favorite apps with all students....the littles and the bigs. And we promise to include some hands on, play time with the apps.


Joining the Mooovement----Everything you want to know and more about our Purple Cow PLC and how we transformed the technology PD sessions at Palmetto Elementary.  We will share with you how we were inspired to create the PLC, what the deal is with the  Purple Cows, and how we are using Google Classroom as the foundation for our PD "sessions".   We have created a PLC for the participants in our session so that together we can help you and you can help us as continue to inspire purple cows.

We look forward to seeing fellow teacher friends and meeting new ones.

Hope 

follow us on Twitter   @PESPurpleHerd

0

Summer Finds at Target!

Let me just start by saying, Target and I have a small love affair going on. I CANNOT go in there without bringing out "unsaid" amount from the Dollar Spot! We were literally on vacation and had to run in for a pair of swim trunks, I never made it past the Dollar Spot...Needless to say, the hubby witnessed first hand what happens at Target. Can I get a witness? Surely I'm not the only one.

Now to the good stuff, I have snagged some pretty amazing items for my classroom for the upcoming year, and I am super excited! 

{Disclaimer-- I have been more than once, and to different locations--insert cover your face emoji}. 

Felt Money

  Money can be a super hard concept for children to grasp. I found these manipulatives for $3, and was able to grab four packets that I hope to use during guided math or a center. Each pack even had a little wallet inside, so if you found enough for a class set, they would be easy to keep organized. 

Dry Erase Pockets

I have wanted these for quite some time, and was PUMPED to find a class set at a whopping $1 apiece! The possibilities are endless here...

Dry Erase Concept Practice Book  I love things that can be re-used, especially books that students can use to practice concepts in. I found these dry erase books {a class set of the cursive practice books} for $1 apiece. Let the good times roll!

 Chalk Board Clock- $3
I plan on using these in a math center for that lovely practice of telling and writing time!

Books, for $1 {I broke out into my happy dance}

Blank Writing Books

 I found some like these last summer, but they were smaller and had a hardback. These are paperback, but are much larger. I was able to get enough for each child to make two books, something that is always a favorite! 

Lots of other treasures for classroom decor and Centers

I told you I have a love affair with target { I have restricted myself from going until I get my classroom supply money } 

I am moving grade levels this year, so I'm revamping and have small obsession with all things gold, black, coral, and mint.... 

 I am super excited about putting all of my Target Treasures to work this fall, now if I can just get my classroom pulled together, moving grades is tough business... 

Syd

P.S. I went to Panera today and found out that I have a free daily coffee for the entire month of July! #Yes

0