Every morning, I have the students to write in a Morning Journal. I provide the students with a writing prompt and they are to respond. This allows the class to be calm in the morning, while you get ready for the Morning Announcements.
Journal Entries are numbered. At the end of the week is "Free Writing Day" where the students can write about whatever they like as long as its appropriate. Occasionally, I would read and respond to their responses.
On the front of the book, the students have to write their name and "Morning Journal".
Traditional Classroom or Hybrid Classroom
When I taught in a traditional classroom. I wanted to add more technology to eventually go paperless; therefore, becoming a Hybrid Classroom. A Hybrid class is where you provide instruction and assign work the traditional way and using technology.
I had the students to use a Composition Book to record their morning journal response. I would write the Morning Journal Prompt on the board. The students would respond to the prompt in at least 10 lines.
If the students come to school late, they are still responsible to complete the entry. If they are absent, they just write "Absent" or have a "Free Writing Day".
1-to-1 Classroom
Instead of a Composition Book, the prompt is provided via Google Classroom (Ask a Question). The students are to respond in at least 5 sentences. If the students come to school late, they are still responsible to complete the entry. If they are absent, they are still responsible to complete the entry because the Prompt doesn't go away. It remains in Google Classroom.
I hope you find this useful.
Kahoot is a free web-based platform for classrooms. Teachers and students can create an account to create, host, and share learning games. There are millions of games already created. Students can play individually or in teams. The host will decide. The teacher runs/hosts the game from a device and LCD Projector.
You can set time limits and add images. Each student will need a device that connect to the internet (i.e. Chromebook, desktop, tablet, or cell phone, etc.).
There is also an app available on iOS and Android.
For more information, go here for the Starter Kit: Video Tutorials.
Nearpod adds a lot to your class. It is a web-based program that allows you to control the presentation. For instance, when you provide the students with access to your PowerPoint Presentation, they tend to move ahead of you or they fall behind. Nearpod lets you control what "slide" the students are on. You can insert questions, images, virtual field trips, etc. into the presentation that the students can view. It's web-based or you can use that App.
- There is a free version and a paid version.
- There are thousands of free and paid customizable lessons already created by expert educators and their educational partners.
- Teachers share a live lesson, students enter a code, and the lesson is synced to all devices.
- Teachers can view students responses individually or as a class.
- Teachers can print reports.
- Teachers can share students' responses with the class.
- Teachers can import from Google Slides and PowerPoint.
- Follow the guidelines to become Nearpod Certified.
