Mrs. Pikas' classes are using their Next Generation Classroom iPads to turn in class work. Google Classroom helps teachers and students stay organized in Google Drive. Students can turn in homework, and teachers can easily grade and give meaningful feedback on assignments. Everything is contained in one very organized folder. What the teachers say, "I love Google Classroom, I don't have to take papers home anymore!" What the students say, "Google Classroom keeps me organized and helps me keep up with my work!" Teachers can easily insert videos, files, presentations, and announcements. Students can comment, turn in supplemental assignments.
Mrs. Margulies' classes worked on a poetry unit where students had to collaborate on a Google Website about poetry. Students had to analyze poems, create an anti bullying poem, upload a "Who I Am and Who I Want to Be Poem", and collaborate on a Poetry Slam. Using their student Google accounts, multiple students were able to edit and work on their website at the same time. Students utilized YouTube to share their videos and embed them on their websites.
Students in Mrs. Ruiz de Chavez's classes had to create monologue try out videos for an upcoming theatrical production. Students had to find a piece to perform and video record themselves performing it. Students used an online program called WeVideo to create their monologues. They could choose from various themes that would automatically enhance their video by adding film effects and music. Once completed, the students saved their video in Google Drive and shared their piece with their teacher. Mrs. RDC could view the monologue try outs in the comfort of her own home reserving more class time for instruction.
WeVideo is a wonderful online tool where students can create videos in a cloud environment, put themes and music to their videos, and record themselves using a webcam feature in the software. Students at DMS use this application with their RRISD Google accounts to make sharing easy with teachers.
Students in Ms. Ruiz De Chavez's classes worked on a Shakespearean research project and presentation using Google Presentations. Students collaborated in pairs and worked together on one presentation using their Google Accounts.
Mr. Garcia's classes had to create persuasive presentations using Google Presentations. As students worked on their assignment, Mr. Gracia was able to give feedback through comments on each slide. Some comments might encourage the group of students that their work is moving in the right direction, while other comments could give them a different word choice, or clarify the assignment. Because this presentation was done in a Google Presentation, groups of students were able to simultaneously collaborate on the presentation. They could work on it at home since it was stored in the cloud.
During excursion time, a new program encouraging female students to participate in robotics has emerged. By the time middle school comes around, many female students can be moved away from robotics and engineering because they are unaware of the creativity and innovation that is involved. Often times, when we speak about engineering we talk in terms of math and science, but we forget about the other aspects, creativity, innovation. To give girls a safe place to be themselves and utilize their math, science, creativity and innovation skills, a girls robotics class was created for excursion days. Female students are working on creating a robot that emulates the characteristics of an animal. Some students are using directions, while others are building from their knowledge of what an animal looks like. On the February early release day, the girls will be programming their robots to perform a task, and in March, they will be showing off their robots and programs to a female engineer. This program was funded by grant money provided by the A+ teacher grant for 2013-2014.
Mrs. Pikas' classes are using their Next Generation Classroom iPads to turn in class work. Google Classroom helps teachers and students stay organized in Google Drive. Students can turn in homework, and teachers can easily grade and give meaningful feedback on assignments. Everything is contained in one very organized folder. 
What the students say, "Google Classroom keeps me organized and helps me keep up with my work!" 
