Using Google Sites in the classroom is super easy, and helps give meaning to many of the things you do in the classroom. It also allows the opportunity for students to share with the community at large, giving their work and writing a greater purpose. Luckily Google Sites are incredibly easy to set up and manage.
At Valley View School we have used Google Sites with students in Grades k through 4 in different ways. Our Kindergarten students use a Google sites set up by me, the technology teacher to easily find links to important websites. Through using sites in this way, students are able to practice key navigation skills which will help them in the future. This use of Google sites also works for older grades. During the Lenape Unit in grade 3, teachers created a Google site to house all of the information and work the students would need in order to complete the unit. Using sites in this organizational manner makes it easy, not only for the students, but for the teachers, as well.
Our first grade students have begun using Google Sites a little more in depth. By the request of Mrs. Bollette, I was able to set up a site for students to share their thoughts and ideas about the different books they are reading in their buddy reading station in the classroom. Though the site was originally set up by me, the students are adding to and maintaining the site by adding new pages for each new book they read, and adding posts about their personal thoughts after reading the books. This did a take a little bit of practice, but with the use of a direction sheet, students are able to work independently in doing this. The link to our site is here...Check it out!
Our second graders are using sites in a similar manner to share their book reviews. In second grade, we begin to talk about proper etiquette when posting and sharing things on the web, After this site is created and students have had a chance to add their book review, they will have the opportunity to read and comment on the work of their classmates. This take a bit of modeling and practice, but students soon begin to see the value of sharing thoughts and ideas with others in meaningful and purposeful ways.
By third and fourth grade, students are ready to begin designing their own google sites from scratch. We have used sites to establish portfolios or to share work from a specific unit like "Fire." In both of these cases, students created a site from scratch and set the pages and content to fit their designed purpose.
However you choose to use Google Sites, I am sure your students will not only find it fun, but meaningful, as well.
At Valley View School we have used Google Sites with students in Grades k through 4 in different ways. Our Kindergarten students use a Google sites set up by me, the technology teacher to easily find links to important websites. Through using sites in this way, students are able to practice key navigation skills which will help them in the future. This use of Google sites also works for older grades. During the Lenape Unit in grade 3, teachers created a Google site to house all of the information and work the students would need in order to complete the unit. Using sites in this organizational manner makes it easy, not only for the students, but for the teachers, as well.
Our first grade students have begun using Google Sites a little more in depth. By the request of Mrs. Bollette, I was able to set up a site for students to share their thoughts and ideas about the different books they are reading in their buddy reading station in the classroom. Though the site was originally set up by me, the students are adding to and maintaining the site by adding new pages for each new book they read, and adding posts about their personal thoughts after reading the books. This did a take a little bit of practice, but with the use of a direction sheet, students are able to work independently in doing this. The link to our site is here...Check it out!
Our second graders are using sites in a similar manner to share their book reviews. In second grade, we begin to talk about proper etiquette when posting and sharing things on the web, After this site is created and students have had a chance to add their book review, they will have the opportunity to read and comment on the work of their classmates. This take a bit of modeling and practice, but students soon begin to see the value of sharing thoughts and ideas with others in meaningful and purposeful ways.
By third and fourth grade, students are ready to begin designing their own google sites from scratch. We have used sites to establish portfolios or to share work from a specific unit like "Fire." In both of these cases, students created a site from scratch and set the pages and content to fit their designed purpose.
However you choose to use Google Sites, I am sure your students will not only find it fun, but meaningful, as well.