Google for Educators

Google has many new applications for educators (as well as parents) teaching to all ages. The technologies available can serve diverse needs and interests for teachers, students and parents. I am excited about the possibilities of applying these applications to expand the array of available teaching methods to my students.

As a kindergarten teacher I would often use Google Book Search. Reading level K-2nd grade would be easy to download and use as tools to increase reading level and literacy. This would also provide reading materials for those who can read at more advanced levels without having to purchase additional books for the classroom. For story-telling time, these virtual books would be great to use in conjunction with smart board-type applications. All the students could easily see the letters, words and pictures - creating group involvement.

I would also love to utilize Google Earth with it's applications for Earth, Sky, Oceans, etc. Whether all together as a class, or in individual stations, exploration of the world and sky would expand their understanding of the natural world. It would also be fun to follow different blogs such as the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee blog - finding out the "latest" on favorite animals by checking in weekly.

The Picasa application would be a good one to use for creating classroom scrapbooks, including photos, artwork and activities that all the children could see and enjoy. Individual programs could also be put together that could be burned on to a CD or sent via email to each child's home so they would have a personal journal of their "Kindergarten Year".

Using Google Docs would be a great way to monitor the computer centers when the children are on the Internet, thus making sure that appropriate material is being viewed. Even with kindergartners, group projects could be worked on in collaboration with each other, with monitoring by the teacher. Homework could be done with immediate teacher feedback and helps. With the teacher involved, whether at school, or at home, the level of interest and motivation would lead to accelerated achievment.