Google is everywhere! Really, it's everywhere. It's very commonly used as a verb now. "Just Google it." "Let me Google that." It's a popular tool in our every day life now.
Google has even found AMAZING ways to work their way into our everyday academic life in schools as well.
When I first started teaching 10 years ago I never would have imagined the type of technology I would have access to as a teacher, let alone a librarian. In my first classroom, the only form of technology I had was one computer that was shared with another class. I had a chalkboard to write on and no overhead projector. I also had to share the room with another class. We divided the class with cabinets.
I was only in that classroom for a semester because I graduated mid year from college. After that first semester I got the position at the school I am still currently teaching at. The first classroom I had here was a huge step up. Not only was it MY room, and only my room, but I had a dry erase board to start. I even had my own computer and a Promethean Board. It was great!
Over the years things have developed more and more. Now, our school is 1 to 1 with Chromebooks. I'm no longer just a classroom teacher, but I'm the librarian.
With our 1 to 1 initiative came Google.
We all learned how to use Google Drive, Docs, Forms, etc within our first year and slowly started infusing them into our lesson plans. Then came Google Classroom.
Google Classroom is a fantastic LMS (Learning Management System) and by far one of the easiest to use. There are others out there, but Google Classroom seems to be the one on everyone's mind.
As a teacher/librarian Google Classroom has been very beneficial for me to reach my students at anytime of the day in or out of the library.
I've set up a Google Classroom for each grade level on my campus (6-8) and at the beginning of the year I give them the code they need to join the class. I usually post a welcome activity and/or message on Classroom so the first thing they see is something fun and positive. I also post important information about the library and how it functions on a daily basis.
Since my schedule is so hectic I don't get to see classes for library time much this year. So, Google Classroom has become the outlet I need to communicate with our students when I can't see them in the library. Here are some other ways I use Google Classroom as a librarian...
1. Post a document about new books that have just been added to circulation in the library. On that document is the title, author, lexile level, reading counts quiz information (Scholastic version of AR), and any other information about the book such as a quick snip or summary.
2. Poll questions about new books to order. I like getting input from students as I'm creating a new order of books. I want to know what they want to read. I'm continuously trying to draw interest and to keep students coming back.
3. Reviews on books that I have read or other students have read. This is a great tool to get students interested, get them excited about a book.
4. Quick little book related activities for the students to work on (Use Google Drawing to design their own bookmark; Use Google Slides or Drawings to create an advertisement for their favorite book)
5. Reminders about checked out books, deadlines, etc.
There are so many ways for Google Classroom to be beneficial to a librarian. I know there are more ways out there and I'm still discovering them. Utilize Google Classroom almost as if it was your website for your students to use. It's a great communication tool for you as a librarian to reach your number one stake holders, your students.
If you use Google Classroom as a librarian, how else have you used it? Please share in the comments below.
