Google Forms for Data: Helpful Tips for Teachers and Principals

When I began my leadership journey, the part of the Ontario Leadership Framework that scared me the most was data.   I'm not exactly sure why that was. Maybe it was a fear akin to "math anxiety". Or perhaps it was that numbers don't lie and it's hard to hide from cold, hard facts.  Happily, my misgivings appear to be unfounded, and I have begun to realize that data is useful and necessary.

I think part of the issue was that, as a classroom teacher, I didn't realize that I WAS always collecting and using data.  Anecdotals, samples, surveys; all of those things can be used as data.

Since data is necessary to inform and drive instruction, I think that the biggest barrier for educators is the time to collect data.

Google forms to the rescue.  Now, I have forms at my fingertips, and I can easily enter data via my phone, tablet and laptop.

Step 1: Create your google form.

Here is a fantastic tutorial for teachers to create google forms.

Create engaging google forms: Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

Step 2: Create a quick link in Chrome Bookmarks to access from your laptop.

Step 3: Add to home screen on your phone or iPad (or both!).

1. Open up Safari on your iPhone or iPad and go to google.ca

2. Sign into your google account in Safari

3. Once in your google account, go to the apps  and scroll way down, to Even More Apps, to find Google forms

4. Open up google forms, and find your form

:5. At the top of your form, there is a "view live form" button ; press it!

6. You should now see your  form, ready to receive data

7. At the bottom of your screen there is a rectangle with an arrow; press it (this is the send/share button)

8. From the list of options, scroll over to find " Add to home screen" ; press it!

9. There should now be an "app" on your home screen with the title of your form - open it up and test it out!

10. Ta Daaa! All data that you input will be collected in a google sheet in your Drive

11. Show all your teacher and principal friends and be a rock star!

Step 4: Input data, anytime, any place! 

Now you can easily input data wherever you are - no more need to try and play catch up at the end of the day, since you can do it on the fly.

Another 6 awesome things at our school: Part 3

As I've said before, the best days in administration are the ones where I get to spend time in classrooms. Here are some more amazing things that have been happening in our school. Part 1 post is here, and here is Part 2.

Technology twist to traditional book reports

A student hunted me down at the office the other week to show me her summary of a novel read in the class.  It was a book trailer using iMovie. The glow of accomplishment was so evident on her face, and it was a great way to see her understanding of the themes and ideas of the book.

Visible math

I love walking into classrooms and being able to "read" what is going on by looking at the walls and charts. Open number lines on display help students visualize mental math concepts, and student thinking is evident. When these are posted in the classroom, hesitant learners can refer to these strategies to help. Awesome.

Hands-on learning

Students were constructing water treatment models that made the dirtiest water look drinkable. Another class was making models of water and local landforms. Activities like these bring learning to life. No one gets excited over worksheets, but making and doing engages students.

Students as Leaders

Our students led our community Remembrance Day service and it was amazing. They produced videos, artwork, and even greeted and welcomed parents and veterans at the door. A powerful learning opportunity and a meaningful and memorable day. 

Bringing Languages to Life

It is wonderful to see students having mock interviews and conversations in French (complete with costumes and props). A fun way to practice language skills. Our Ojibway students have been utilizing technology to research the past to help them better understand the present of the culture and language. Posted anchor charts even allowed ME to write a sentence in the Ojibway language (with a little help from some students of course).

Stop Motion Animation

This tool has had a major impact on the engagement level of many students in our school. Limited only by their imaginations, students have used Lego, plasticine and even erasers to tell their stories, one frame at a time.

I was originally only planning to do only 3 posts, but I realize that I am constantly seeing new and exciting things happening in our school. There will definitely be more to share.

6 MORE awesome things at our school: Part 2

One of the best parts of being a Vice Principal is the fact that I get to learn from everyone in the school. As I cruise through the hallways and classrooms of our school, I come across amazing teaching and learning practices by our inspiring staff. My first post of ideas that just needed to be shared is here.

Music and Song

• A song for every occasion. I grew up with the sounds of RAFFI (all of you Canadian educators out there of my age are nodding and smiling right now). I love hearing the teacher and students belting them out in the classroom. Music has the magic to soothe, energize and build classroom community. (and walk in a line..."Sammy Sackett, hold onto my jacket" anyone?)
  

Smartboards AND Coding

• Collaborative coding on the Smartboard.  All too often, Smartboards become a "teacher-only" device, but we need to remember that they are interactive.  Students like to interact with them. It's really neat to see a group of students working collaboratively and problem solving using coding. And what could be better than moving enormous Angry Birds through a Smartboard-sized maze!
  

Print your Name Attendance

• This strategy is so simple but effective. When kindergarten students sign in for morning attendance, they find their laminated name card on the table, and have the opportunity to print it out on the lines underneath before putting it in the "I am here today" basket. The teacher simply wipes them clean at the end of the day, and they are ready for the next day.

Sent to the Office to Celebrate

• We LOVE when students ask the teacher to come to the office to show off something great that they have done. The secretary, principal and myself all have sticker stashes for the students who bring something to share with us. It never fails to bring smiles and always makes our day.

Visible Learning

• Anchor charts, success criteria and student work posted in all of our classrooms immediately give us a sense of what students are learning. Word walls and information posted for student use provide helpful visuals. I love the fact that I can go into the Ojibway language room and find words on the walls to help me converse with students; of course, they often need to jump in and help me out with the pronunciation, which they are happy to do.

Real-World Tie-Ins

• It would be great if all learning in school could be directly linked to the real world, but it's not always possible. Next best is for the chance to emulate circumstances and occasions that students will encounter outside of the classroom. Dressing up as characters and conversing in French is great practice for any future traveling that students might do. And so much fun!

Stay tuned for more awesomeness from our school. I have so much to share about all the great things that staff are doing. 

6 Awesome things at our school. Part 1

When you are a classroom teacher, your world is often reduced to within the walls of your own classroom.

As a new vice principal, I am loving the fact that I get to visit classrooms ALL THE TIME.

Former colleagues are always sharing teaching ideas and strategies, and this year I have the opportunity to share  all of the awesomeness that I get to see.

Here is a tiny glimpse into some of the "awesome" from our primary classrooms:

Brain Breaks

• Our teachers get students up and moving with Go Noodle, bins of printed brain break cards, and constant song, dance and movement.  I just love it when I get the chance to join in!! "Swing around your tables like monkeys eating bananas..."  Right On!

Collaboration

• Making collaboration special. One teacher has group sets of different coloured ball caps that students wear when participating in special collaboration activities with their groups. Each hat is assigned so no head lice worries.  Students get to keep their hats at the end of the year. How fun is that?!

Classroom Greeters

• As an adult visiting a classroom, it is so neat to be greeted and welcomed to the class by a 5 or 6 year old, complete with a handshake and an introduction. I love this real-world skill being taught.

Fun Attention Grabbers

• "Macaroni and cheese..."      Everybody freeze!
• "Class, class..."   Yes, Yes!
• clapping patterns and so many more!

Lunchtime Friend Reward

• Imagine getting to invite anyone you want to come to your classroom to have lunch with you?  What a great way to make a students day.  I'm thinking I may want to try this someday at the office (if I ever get time to actually sit down and eat lunch....   :-)

Camper of the Week

• A classroom with a camping theme (complete with trees and a "campfire" meeting area) has a Camper of the Week. Pictures and info about the student are on display for the week - what a great way to get to know each other and create classroom culture.

This post could continue on and on and on.  Stay tuned for part 2 of the awesomeness that I get to see at our school. 

5 Things I've Learned as a Vice Principal.

This year, I began my latest learning journey.

I became a vice principal: a lead learner.

It is so different from being in the classroom, that I really can't even compare it to being a teacher. I do know that it is challenging. And I do know that I am learning. Every. Single. Day.

Here are my thoughts on 5 of the things, in no particular order,  that I have learned in the two short months I have been in an administrative role.

1. It's all about perspective. There are challenges with the job, for sure. But, there are challenges with every job. Rather than looking at someone as a "difficult student", it is a "student in difficulty". And as frustrating as it can be at times, as admin,  to figure out how to best meet the needs of some students, I need to remember that there is a classroom teacher who has been struggling for more hours than I have to help that student out. We are all a team, and we have one goal in mind: What's best for kids!

2. Don't be afraid to look silly or have fun.  I think I have had more positive comments and feedback on my YMCA dance moves in the gym with students than anything else. And my somewhat sad attempts at drawing with the 8th grade art class. Thankfully, I'm not afraid to laugh at myself. It seems to help students and staff feel more at ease and I think that it somewhat levels the playing field. Vice principals are people too!

3. Build relationships. This was the first thing that my principal said to me when I first visited the school, and it is so true. One of the biggest tasks I undertook was to create handmade thank you notes for all the staff for making me feel so welcome at the school. It took me a week to make thirty of them, but it was time well-spent. Many people took the time to let me know that receiving my note made their day. Well worth it.

I also take the time to get to know something about each student that I chat with, so that I can connect with them on a personal level. I reciprocate by sharing about my interests, my own children, and even my dog. I love getting to know what makes interests them, and finding common ground; it is incredible currency. It's like money in the bank for a rainy day when you need to have some of those tough conversations with kids, and they are able to open up because they can relate to you. And it totally makes my day when a student asks how my sick dog is doing or if my kid liked the present I bought for him. Awesome!

4. "Turn it off and on" sometimes IS the answer! 

I have tech issues brought to my attention so many times each day that I quickly lose count. I am known for my  love of all things technology, but I don't pretend to always have the answer. Turn it off and on often fixes the issue when other attempts have failed. It never hurts to try. It even works for the photocopier!

5. Focus on the positive each day. No matter how small, I find the "wins" in each day, and I try to share them with others. Playing Lego with a student, showing a class the voice typing feature in Google docs, and supporting staff when they are in challenging situations; they may seem insignificant at the time, but I try to remind myself that they are what is important. No matter how tired I am at the end of the day, it has been worth it.

10 Ways to Welcome Back Staff and Students: Tips for Principals/Lead Learners

I love being a classroom teacher. I work hard at it, and I know that I am competent and do my best on a daily basis. I feel at home in a classroom.

Now, I am stepping outside of my comfort zone. I am going to be stepping into a role of Acting Vice-Principal in the fall. Call it a test-run if you will.

It will be all new to me, and I am really not sure where to start.

So I turned to Twitter.

The #IAedchat caught my eye, as the evening's topic was "Ways to Welcome Back Staff and Students".  I figured that tips from experts would be a great way to get myself started.

In order to consolidate my learning from the chat, I have selected 10 of the many tips that I learned, and reflected on them.

And so, in no particular order, here they are:

1.   K @Teach4SpclNeeds shared her plan to make a welcome back video for the whole school with photos of staff and positive messages.  Ok, how fun is that. Here is an amazing example with a staff All-Star Draft and Press Conference video. And what a great way to practice using a green screen, video apps and software, and special effects.

2.   Tara @TaraNotz is going to have student-led announcements for the school and parents through Google Hangouts.  What a fantastic idea. This will go beyond the faceless voice for announcements; props, costumes, student artifacts, these can all be included in announcements.

3.   Joel @joelped33 suggested making sure that parents hear good news before they hear bad.  Choose some of your students who struggle most and call their parents with positive news before anything negative has happened. All teachers should be encouraged to do this.  It really is incredible currency, and builds relationships with families.

4.   Josh @JoshNGriffith is going to use Vine videos to show snapshots of learning throughout the school. I can't wait to try out this idea.  Last year I racked my brain to try and figure out a way to incorporate vine into my classroom. I guess I had better start practicing my "vine-ing" before back-to-school.

5.   Dr. Greg Goins @wfsuper remarked that Smore is a great tool for e-newsletters, with video-embed options.  I had no idea what Smore was (other than something we have been eating way too many of this summer around the campfire!) so of course, I googled it. Turns out it creates beautiful graphic newsletters. I used Piktochart last year, which is more of an infographic tool that I adapted. I will definitely play around with Smore to compare it.

6.   Mandy @mandyeellis has the Port-a-Principal. Click to check out her rolling, portable workstation. No more being stuck in the office. Principals can be visible throughout the school and still get to work on what they need to do.  What a fantastic idea.

7.   Nick @Nick_Proud goes to every staff member after the first day of school and asks how their day went.  He also brings candy.  I hate to admit it, but I am definitely a teacher who appreciated candy. And chocolate. I plan to stock up at Costco when I am back-to-school shopping to keep a stash in my new office.  At the end of a long day in the classroom, I have had principals show up at my doorway with candy, and it definitely brings a smile. I want to be able to pay that forward this year.

8. Ann @AnnBuckley19 will often reply to emails and include a GIF or a Vine at the end that will bring a smile.  It's so cliche, but sometimes it really is the smallest gestures that can make someones day.  Anyone have some to share?

9. Another one from Josh @JoshNGriffith. He stays that you can show teachers support by getting into their classrooms and helping with the heavy lifting during classroom set up before school begins.  This is so true. I once has a principal offer to put up my bulletin board backgrounds for me, a job that I truly hate.  I was so appreciative. This is a way that I can get to know staff, something about their teaching style by the way they set up their room, and show my willingness to help out. I know that as a teacher I was always so grateful to have help.

10. Brad @seamberb hopes to get his entire staff on Voxer to communicate.  I have just started playing with Voxer this summer, and I see a lot of value in it.  The walkie-talkie app would be great for yard supervision emergencies, getting a quick message (or a cry for help) to admin as they are moving throughout the school, cutting down on the need to send a student to find supplies by voxing a teacher nearby (Do you have any more glue sticks we can borrow? Pencils? Notebooks?). I would love to have this tool in school. Does anyone have other uses for it? Tips?


There are many more takeaways that I had from the chat. I think I learned more by lurking for that hour than I could have by reading half a dozen professional texts. It's all about building relationships, and acts of kindness can go a very long way to showing people that you truly care.

If you want to view the rest of the chat content, here is the #IAedchat Storify that was created of the chat.

My Top 5 Summer Reads for Educators #summerreading

For those who think that teachers have two months of "vacation" in the summer, they would be wrong.  Many of us of compiling lists and plans of professional development "to-do's over the summer months.

Here are my top 5 suggestions for those who are looking for a starting point.

50 Things You Can do With Google Classroom by Alice Keeler @alicekeeler

This one I haven't read yet.  But I want to. Actually, I haven't gotten it ordered yet.  Perhaps someone will get if for my for my upcoming birthday?  Hint, hint?


Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess @burgessdave

Amazing insight into classroom practices. How to use your personal creativity to engage and inspire your students.

Learn Like a Pirate by Paul Solarz @PaulSolarz

I am in the middle of this book currently.  The Twitter chats are amazing at #LearnLap.  Follow the hashtag and check it out.  

What Connected Educators do Differently by Todd Whitaker (Author), Jeffrey Zoul (Author), Jimmy Casas (Author)

This book it a "how to" to get started with Personal/Professional Learning Networks.  Wanting to get started with Twitter and not sure how?  This is definitely the book for you. Hands on and practical; terrific for new Tweeps.

Comprehension Collaboration: Inquiry Circles in Action  by Harvey, Daniels

This is my go-to bible for inquiry learning and collaboration.  My copy is completely covered in stickies and notes.




For more summer reading ideas, Fractus Learning has compiled a great list here.

The Top 50 Best Books for Teachers 2015