Google+ Communities in the Classroom...
To start off, I wanted to try and find a good solid quote for what Google+ Communities are. I searched the website, and there was nothing of great length. (This is probably because it is really just self explanatory...you'll see why in a moment.) However, what I did find is this: Google explains these communities to us by saying that, "You can connect with others that share the same interests as you do in Google+ Communities." I'm not mad about this mainly because it is so true. I'm going to shorten "Google+ Communities" to GC's. GC's are seriously as easy as Pinterest in the world of educators and parents, and I'm going to explain to you why.
GC's are similar to those Buy, Sell, and Trade groups on Facebook in a way. Some you can just join right off the bat. Others, you have to request. I like this because some of the groups are smaller (which can be an advantage) and they probably want to be selective in who they add. These are as easy as Pinterest because you can search exactly what you are wanting-- elementary teacher communities, educational app communities, parenting communities, the possibilities are endless. You can add easily to the community, and you can save whatever you would like to revisit. As a teacher, I looked at three really solid communities and actually joined them myself.
GC's are similar to those Buy, Sell, and Trade groups on Facebook in a way. Some you can just join right off the bat. Others, you have to request. I like this because some of the groups are smaller (which can be an advantage) and they probably want to be selective in who they add. These are as easy as Pinterest because you can search exactly what you are wanting-- elementary teacher communities, educational app communities, parenting communities, the possibilities are endless. You can add easily to the community, and you can save whatever you would like to revisit. As a teacher, I looked at three really solid communities and actually joined them myself.
Community: Teaching Resources...
When I first opened the Teaching Resources community, this is what I saw:
This community of almost 150,000 people is literally all about helping teachers. What I love so much about this GC is that it is seriously so diverse and is perfect for really any age group. I saw some posts for secondary education, along with preK. From this GC, one interesting find for me was a blog about classroom management. This is not just a community about lesson plans, but also all things classroom.
Community: Best Educational Apps for Kids...
This community is probably my favorite one. Like the title says, it is about educational apps for kids. The word "kids" in this GC really is honing in on younger children- the tiny humans rather than the older ones. For me, this is wonderful. Because I teach 3-5 year olds currently, and plan on teaching kindergarten in the future, this awesome GC just works.
On this page, I started looking around for other features of GC's. I found out how I could filter through some of the posts I did not want or need.
On this page, I started looking around for other features of GC's. I found out how I could filter through some of the posts I did not want or need.
Here, I filtered it for just iOS Ed Games. Because technology is because more and more accessible in education, my thoughts are, when I am in a public school, we will probably have some kind of access to iPads. Here, I can find games for those iPads that work with exactly what I am teaching in the classroom at that specific time.
After doing this, I found tons and tons of awesome apps. One of which is called "Math. Flowers for Mom." This app is seriously just a fun exercise for children who are working on what??? You guessed it. MATH! You can find the link to download this in the iTunes store HERE. |
Overall......
I really really really think I love Google+ Communities. It is SO easy to use, and there is so much information just waiting for me to find it.
I give this site 5/5
I would definitely use it again, and will.
I give this site 5/5
I would definitely use it again, and will.