Taking your first steps on your Google Classroom Journey! 

Google Classroom BASICS
Click the image to the right, or the link above to take the literal first steps to create a Google Classroom. If you already have a classroom, you needn't bother yourself with this tool.
Creating Google Classroom Assignments
The Slides presentation linked above, and to the right will show you how to create Google Classroom assignments. While there are a few "pro tips" mixed in, this Slides presentation is intended for beginner Google Classroom users.

Taking the next steps along the Google Classroom Path

Grades and Feedback
Let's not pretend that students will actually look at your feedback, let's assume that this is a CYA before an STE meeting kinda practice.
Catering Google Tools to Classroom Assignments
The best Google tools make the best assignments. I sincerely endeavor to use a few, high-quality tools repeatedly throughout the year
Purposeful Practice
This is the stage that most professional developers ignore. They show teachers how to do something once, like create a Google assignment, and then they assess their work by having them create a bumper sticker slogan or an interpretive dance. Purposeful practice is the only way to develop expertise.
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My dad, climbing the Harney peak trail. We totally lied to my wife about how far the trail was, but I did carry all her food and water.

It's graduation time! Wear your medal with pride. You're officially "Googly"

I think our colleague said it best...

"I've been utilizing Nearpod with Google slides...anything else that helps create successful within Nearpod/Google Slides. In all honesty, I signed up for this hoping to just have an hour of uninterrupted practice time with others that could help brainstorm potential barriers..."
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A few of my race medals. Marathons give them out like candy. The rest were won by finishing in the top three.

Student Self Evaluation Through Google, and Snapshot CFUs:

Add a Likert scale to the end of any standard form asking students to assess their confidence or the quality of their own response. Or, you can use a Likert scale form as a TOD for students to rate their own knowledge (in my class, doing this never reveals self evaluation farther than 5.8% off...)
Form ending in Likert Scale
Likert Assessment before assessment.
Why it's Valuable
After accruing data, evidence, answers, etc. in a Google Form, add a column in a Google sheet in which students would add a rating, and an explanation.
Equality Evidence Accrual, 2018
**This is one of the few times you would ever allow all students to "edit" document directly, hence the need for color coding.
After work is turned in, it's very easy to print out, translate, and use student work as exemplars. We like to use a gallery-walk protocol and a highlighting activity to help students assess each other's work.
Exemplar Student Exemplars

On the Importance of permanent, year-long tools:

Don't think: "I need a document for Tuesday." Think "I'm so annoyed that students still don't get...even though we've been working on it ALL YEAR LONG!" Below are examples of year-long tools I use perennially, and are therefore worth improving and refining.

"Connection Tools" Unit-Level Graphic Organizers

Universal Refugee Experience Tool
Inequality Connections Tool
The two tools linked above are graphic organizers that help students connect their learning throughout a unit. They were met with enthusiasm by students because they made learning predictable, and made final essay writing so easy. While my ELA tools are incredibly writing-based, it would not be difficult to apply the same concepts to more content-based classes.

Using other Software in Conjunction with Google to Drive Instruction
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