Why you should number everything in Google Classroom

I attended TCEA in Austin this year, and I’m still trying to unpack all of the learning that took place! Luckily I was able to hear Alice Keeler speak TWICE! If you’ve never read Alice Keeler on her blog or Twitter, start NOW! After attending two of her sessions, I feel a renewed enthusiasm for learning! Her posts are technological gold. The most earth-shattering thing I learned from her is also one of the simplest: number all assignments and assets in Google Classroom.

Numbering your assignments in Google Classroom leads to better communication with students and is a step toward a more student-centered classroom.

1. Better communication with students
1. It’s much easier to tell a student to get started on assignment #075 rather than the assignment that says to reflect on our Minecraft experience from yesterday. Use CTRL F to quickly search for an assignment number in Chrome.
2. Absences
1. By putting all of your class materials on Google Classroom and numbering them, students returning from an absence can easily see them in Calendar view. And the assignments are live links!
2. To access Calendar View in GCR, go to ABOUT, and select Calendar “View in Classroom”.

3. When students look up their assignments in our online gradebook, seeing the number, helps students quickly and easily identify which assignment is which.

2. More student-centered classroom
1. As students enter the classroom, their assignments are already displayed on the board. I can greet at the door while the students begin their first assignment of the day.