Mrs. Prichard's Guide to Technology for 2021 - 2022

Greetings CHAT families!

Last year because of the potential restrictions from COVID-19, I put all of my materials and assignments on Google Classroom.  For many students, Google Classroom helped them keep track of assignments, was a repository of any handouts from class that they had lost, and offered an online way to complete homework.  Considering those benefits, I will again be using Google Classroom for my classes at CHAT.  Below are explanations and descriptions of some helpful resources to help you get set up for the year.

Online Option using Zoom.

• If at any point we require distance learning this year, the classes will meet via Zoom

• Students who are sick or out of town can attend my classes via Zoom.

• Follow this link:   Tamera Prichard’s Zoom classroom.  (password:  chat)

• Note:  Google Classroom offers a Google Meet address for the classes, but at this time I will not be using Google Meet

The G-Suite for CHAT Classes

Kim Nelson has assigned an email account with chatclasses.com to all of my students.  (Last year’s students will continue with their emails.)  This is essential for using Google Classroom and the multiple tools that come with the G-Suite for education.  Mrs. Nelson has also made some videos and a teaching sheet for using your CHAT email account and getting into Google Classroom.  She uses an Algebra 1 class as an example, but the steps will be the same for my writing classes.  

• How to Sign in to Gmail and Google Classroom for CHAT students

• How to Forward Your Email and Create a Filter

• Intro to Google Classroom for Students (20 minutes)

• How to scan a multi-page document using Genius Scan (free) and get it into Google Classroom  (Note:  Genius Scan is phone app that scans documents and saves them as PDFs.)

• Student Quick Guide to Google Classroom

• Another Google Classroom Tutorial

Google Drive

• With the G-Suite, students have access to Google Drive, which is a multi-dimensional platform for documents, slides, spreadsheets, etc.  Think of it as a filing system for your digital content.

• To get started, students should create separate folders for each of their classes.  For some classes, they might want folders within a folder.  (e.g. A Writing 2 folder could have subfolders for Essays, Grammar, Literature.)

• A well-organized Google Drive will help students stay better organized with their school work.  

Google Classroom

• All assignments for the semester will be posted in Google Classroom even if we’re face to face.  

• Students will be added to the roster and will get an invitation to join the class.  Follow the links in the email.  Parents will also be added.  If you prefer to not be added, let me know.  

• The assignments will come in one or more of the following formats:

• An attached Google Doc on which students can type

• A quiz or form that students can complete

• A discussion question on which students can type a comment or respond to a classmate

• An assignment where a student can upload a document or some other type of electronic work

• Students will need to remember to “Turn in” their homework via a button on the assignment page.

• Google Classroom has an attached gradebook and should be used for checking for missing work.  This year I will be using it as my online gradebook.  

• Google Classroom also has a calendar that keeps track of due dates for assignments.

Communication

• Email:  My email is tammy.prichard@chatclasses.com.  (Some of you have my older gmail account, so please change it to this one.)

• Blog:  I send weekly notes in an email and post them on the class blog.  I will also use the blog for sharing other information, such as videos, websites, etc.

• Writing 1

• Writing 2

• Writing 3

Finally, the 2 most important questions

• “Where to find worksheets and materials?”

• Attached to Class Notes emails.

• Attached to Google Classroom assignments

• In the shared folder for your class

•  Writing 

• Writing 2

• Writing 3

• Note:  These documents can only be accessed by students with CHAT emails; they are also set to be “View Only.”

• On the gradebook after the assignment has been posted on Classroom.

• “How can students hand in homework?”

• When we’re face to face, all work can be handed in physically in class

• For face to face OR distance learning:  Via the Google Classroom assignment (using the attached document or uploading material)

• If and only if the Rocketbook app is not working or a student is still in the process of figuring out Google Classroom

• Send an electronic version (i.e. pdf, Google docs, or Word document – NO Pages or photos) via email.

• The specific name of the assignment must be in the subject line.

• Send only one assignment per email.  

Writing 2 -- Information about Google Classroom, CHAT emails, and the Rocketbook app

 Greetings,

Our discussion in class about chatclasses emails, Google Classroom, and the Rocketbook app took up a good part of our logistics discussion, so I thought it would be good to address some of the important points in a separate email.   

• Students must use their chatclasses email to join Google Classroom.  Most of the students have done this, but for those who haven't, they can follow this link to the Writing 2 Google Classroom. (One difficulty some students have had is that they are going to Google Classroom via another email account.  To avoid this, try closing your other email accounts so that the chatclasses account is the only one open.)  The class code for the Writing 2 Google Classroom is  *******.
• If a student joined Google Classroom from another account, I've removed that account.
• Some students are forwarding their chatclasses emails to another personal email account.  This is a personal preference issue.  I initially had mine forwarded, but then disabled that function because it was causing way too many emails in my personal account.  (Here is the link to the video that Mrs. Nelson did about forwarding emails.)
• All assignments will be posted on Google Classroom.  Students who are face to face can hand in assignments during class UNLESS I've designated an assignment as "GC" for Google Classroom.  (All Zoom students should hand in all of the assignments via Google Classroom.)  I recognize that this will be confusing until we settle into the flow of the classroom.  Google Classroom is meant to be both a repository of assignments AND a place that makes distance learning an option.  
• Here's a good video about Google Classroom:  Google Classroom for Students and Parents
• All worksheets have been formatted onto a Rocketbook template.  Again, if students are face to face and can hand in work in person, they won't need to think about the Rocketbook app.  However, those students attending via Zoom or who are absent for any reason will need to use  either the Rocketbook app, a flatbed scanner, or another scanning app. 
• Here's an article about Rocketbook and Google Classroom
• The Rocketbook app Instructions video (including IOS)
• A video about setting up destinations.
• One student mentioned the plethora of emails regarding Google Classroom assignments.  If students are careful to check for assignments on the Writing 2 classroom, they can disable the notifications.  To do this, go to the settings page (click the 3 horizontal lines in the upper left corner and scroll to the bottom of the list).   Students can choose to receive all notifications, some notifications, or no notifications.  
• Another helpful mobile app is the Google Classroom app.  
• Here's a video for how to install the app and get started (This video shows the step by step process with a music background, but some of the words on the screen are in Hindi.)
• Make sure you sign in using the chatclasses email
• The class code for Writing 1 is *******.

One of the greatest challenges last spring was getting homework in all shapes, sizes, and formats, so I'm narrowing down those options. As I said, most of the time face to face students will physically hand in homework during class, but some assignments will need to be done on Google Classroom and will be specifically designated.  For the first weeks of the semester, I'll require a number of "GC" assignments so that we can get used to using this format and can troubleshoot any problems.  It might be helpful for both student and parent to explore Google Classroom together so that everyone is familiar with the site.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  At some point all of the technology we use will become "old hat," but when it's new and unfamiliar we often wonder if it's more trouble than it's worth.

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Spring Writing 2 Technology

Greetings!

Welcome to the second semester of Writing 2 at CHAT.  ("Spring Semester" is a little hard to say when we have 2 inches of fresh snow on the ground!)

I had a great first semester with these wonderful students and am looking forward to getting back in the classroom.  I have a fresh pile of books and handouts to fuel our learning.  Students should bring to class a folder to keep track of their work and paper/pens/pencils for in class work.  Students will not need a laptop or other device for this class; if one is needed for any reason, parents should contact me before the class.  Otherwise, all devices should be put away during class.

If you are continuing from the first semester, you already know that I will send out regular emails to help us all stay connected with the classroom contact, assignments, class handouts, and any other information I feel is helpful to the class.  For those who are new to Writing  2, let me introduce you to my online resources:

Class Updates: Following our classes, I will send out an email that explains what we covered and class and what the assignments are.  Occasionally I will include links to interesting or pertinent sites that connect to our class discussions.  Any handouts from the class will be attached to these emails. Double check to make sure these emails are making it to your Inbox and not the Junk/Spam folder.

Writing 2 Blog:  The Weekly Class Updates and any other email messages will be posted on this site.  If you need to see a number of the updates at once, this is an efficient way to do it.  Copies of handouts, including links to pdfs on Google Drive, will also be posted.  Photos, images, videos, and links to other related websites will appear on this site.  If you're curious, you can peruse the blog for past posts in order to get a feeling for what to expect this year.  (Follow this link for this message!)

Google Drive:  This is an online storage site, and I have folders with all of the documents that I use in a larger folder labeled 2020 CHAT Writing 1 Spring Student.  If a student loses something handed out in class, this is another place to find it.  Most of the documents are as pdfs, but there are a few Word documents and Google docs mixed in. (Note:  This is a new folder and not the same one that I used for Writing 1 Fall.)

My GradeBook:  This is the online grade book that I will be using this year.  I've used it for a couple of years now, and it is pretty straightforward.  I also use an old-fashioned paper grade book that is up to date with every assignment, but it may take a week or so to get the grades onto this site.  That said, it should be a pretty accurate picture of what homework is missing and of ongoing scores for work handed in.  (Note:  You will be getting another email with specific instructions about signing in to the class.)

These resources have helped solve some of these problems:

If a student isn't sure of an assignment, he/sh can check

-- the syllabus that was handed out

-- the Class Update

-- the Writing 2 blog

-- the list of assignments on My GradeBook

If a student is missing something that I handed out, he/she can find it

-- as an attachment to a Class Update

-- on the Writing 2 blog

-- in the appropriate folder on Google Drive

-- follow the link in My GradeBook to the Google folder with the assignment

If you have questions about grades or missing homework, you can

-- check My GradeBook

-- send me a personal e-mail.

Thank you for entrusting your children to my teaching.  I'll do my best to communicate with you, and feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Tammy Prichard

Writing 2 Fall Technology Resources

Greetings Parents of Writing 1 Students!

Below are the four primary sources that I will be using with your students this year.  One is an online grade book, and the other three are duplicates of information that students will be getting in class.  You can use them to stay connected with our work in class or to remind a student of an impending assignment or to get a copy of a worksheet that the dog has eaten.

Below are explanations of the resources:

Class Updates: Following our classes, I will send out an email that explains what we covered and class and what the assignments are.  Occasionally I will include links to interesting or pertinent sites that connect to our class discussions.  Any handouts from the class will be attached to these emails. Double check to make sure these emails are making it to your Inbox and not the Junk/Spam folder.

Writing 2 Blog:  The Weekly Class Updates and any other email messages will be posted on this site.  If you need to see a number of the updates at once, this is an efficient way to do it.  Copies of handouts, including links to pdfs on Google Drive, will also be posted.  Photos, images, videos, and links to other related websites will appear on this site.  If you're curious, you can peruse the blog for past posts in order to get a feeling for what to expect this year.  (Follow this link for this message!)

Google Drive:  This is an online storage site, and I have folders with all of the documents that I use in a larger folder labeled 2019 CHAT Writing 1 Fall Student.  If a student loses something handed out in class, this is another place to find it.  Most of the documents are as pdfs, but there are a few Word documents and Google docs mixed in.  (Note:  I am still in the process of loading up the folders, so you might not see much until the start of school.)

My GradeBook:  This is the online grade book that I will be using this year.  I've used it for a couple of years now, and it is pretty straightforward.  I also use an old-fashioned paper grade book that is up to date with every assignment, but it may take a week or so to get the grades onto this site.  That said, it should be a pretty accurate picture of what homework is missing and of ongoing scores for work handed in.  (Note:  You will be getting another email with specific instructions about signing in to the class.)

These resources have helped solve some of these problems:

If a student isn't sure of an assignment, he/sh can check

-- the syllabus that was handed out

-- the Class Update

-- the Writing 1 blog

If a student is missing something that I handed out, he/she can find it

-- as an attachment to a Class Update

-- on the Writing 1 blog

-- in the appropriate folder on Google Drive

If you have questions about grades or missing homework, you can

-- check My GradeBook

-- send me a personal e-mail.

Thank you for entrusting your children to my teaching.  I'll do my best to communicate with you, and feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Tammy Prichard

My GradeBook Information

Greetings Students and Parents!

Below are instructions for signing up for the online grade book that I will be using this year.  In past years, I've used Engrade, but that site is no longer available to individual teachers.  After lots of research and trials, I've settled on My Gradebook.  As we progress through the year, I'd appreciate any feedback.

First, a quick note about your use of this resource.  I'm using this online resource to help me compute grades and to divide the grades into categories.  Parents and students can use it to see scores and to check for missing assignments.  But a word of warning -- some weeks the homework scores will make it to my 3-ring binder but not immediately to My Gradebook.  I will send out mid-term reports and a "grades update" a few weeks before the end of the term.

Directions for Signing Up:

1.  Go to www.mygradebook.com

2.  In the username box, give the class code:  

          writing2spring17

3.  Your password is the student's first name and the first letter of the last name, all lower case.  For example,  Bobby Smith's password would be "bobbys."

4.  Click on "My Account," and on that page click on Create Primary Login.

5.  Set the Primary Login (username) and Primary Login Password that you want to use for this class.  (Note:  This username and password will be the same for the student's account, so parents and students should communicate the choices with one another.)

6.  If any of the e-mail information needs updating, click on "update email."

7.  When all information is updated, click on "save."

When you have finished these steps, you can go to the assignments page, the calendar page, etc. for the class.  I'm hoping this website will not be difficult for all of us to navigate.

Blessings,
Tammy Prichard

Writing 2 -- Spring Technology Reminder

Greetings!

CHAT classes started again this week, and I'm excited to start the spring semester of writing classes.  We're going to have a great semester!

Below are explanations of my online sources that I provide as a resource for families.  

Class Updates:  Weekly, following our class, I will send out an e-mail that explains what we covered in class and what the assignments are. Occasionally I will include links to interesting or pertinent sites that pertain to our class discussion.  Any handouts from the class will be attached to these e-mails.  Double check to make sure these e-mails are making it to your Inbox and not the Junk/Spam folder.

Writing 2 Blog:  The weekly updates and copies of most messages are also posted on this site.  If you need to see a number of the updates at once, this is an efficient way to do it. Copies of the handouts (with the exception of those that are pdfs) will be posted on this blog.  Also, photos, images, videos, and links to other websites will appear on this site.  If you're curious, you can peruse the blog for past posts in order to get a feeling for what to expect this year. (That's where you will find this post!)

Dropbox:  This is an online storage site, and I have folders with all of the documents that I use in a folder for this class.  If a student is missing a worksheet or a handout, he/she can find it there.  You should have gotten an invitation to join the folder for Writing 2.

My GradeBook:  This is the online grade book that I will be using this year.  It is new to me, but since it is similar to the one I had previously used, I don't anticipate any problems.  My paper grade book is up to date with every assignment, but it may take a week or so to get the grades onto this site.  That said, it should be a pretty accurate picture of what homework is missing and ongoing scores for the work.  

Long story short:

-- If a student isn't sure of an assignment, he/she can check

     -- the syllabus that was handed out

     -- the Class Update

     -- the blog

-- If a student is missing something that I handed out, he/she can find it 

     -- as an attachment to a Class Update

     -- on the blog

     -- in the Dropbox folder.

-- If you have questions about grades or missing homework, you can

     -- check My GradeBook

     -- send me a personal e-mail.

If you have any questions, let me know.  

I'm looking forward to teaching this great group of students!

Mrs. Prichard