Top 5
Tools for Secondary ELA
How-To Guide
Google Docs.................................................................................................................................. 1
Blogger .......................................................................................................................................... 3
Poll Everywhere ............................................................................................................................ 5
Skype............................................................................................................................................. 5
ProProfs: Flashcards ..................................................................................................................... 6
More Web 2.0 ............................................................................................................................... 6
Google is now host to many web-based applications, but Google Docs is
the easiest to use and provides a wealth of opportunities for the ELA
classroom. To get started with Google Docs, follow these steps:
1. Go to www.google.com/accounts
2. Choose “create an account now”
3. Any e-mail address that you and your students have can be used to create your account.
Fill out the form and you are ready to sign in!
4. Note: if you plan to use the collaboration tools associated with Google Docs, you may
choose to have your students set up a Gmail account. This will allow them to create a
contact list so that they can easily share their documents with classmates. Setting up a
Gmail account automatically gives access to Google Docs and all other Google
applications. This can also aid in helping your students create a professional e-mail
address. If you choose to do this, go to www.gmail.com to set up the account.
5. Once you have signed in to your Google account, choose the Documents link at the top
right of the page. You may also go straight to Google Docs by typing
www.google.com/docs.
6. Click “Create New” and choose either “Document” or “Presentation”. You will notice
that the document and presentation programs function much like Microsoft Word and
PowerPoint.
7. Google automatically saves every few seconds, but when finished, click the Save button
at the top right.
8. To share work with classmates or the teacher, click the Share button at the top right. Then
select “Sharing Settings.” Click in the “Add People” box and either enter e-mail
addresses one by one, OR if you set up a Gmail you can access your contact list. Students
can set up their contact lists so that they can quickly and easily share their work without
having to remember everyone’s e-mail addresses.
9. Once work has been shared, all parties will be able to view and edit the document from
their Google Docs home page. The best part is that Google saves every version of the
work so that nothing is ever lost!
10. Students can now collaborate on documents and presentations and then submit their work
to you. Once every student has shared their work with you, you will be able to see it all
on one screen to make grading easy. If you choose, they can also print their work from
Google Docs. Another bonus is that students can create slideshow presentations, share
them with you, and then on presentation day they will all be in one place to make time
between presentations almost nonexistent!
This is an easy-to-use, yet very professional and techno-savvy
looking blog site. The best part is that it uses Google accounts so
your students will already be set up to log in and start blogging. It
takes some time to set up, but after that you can manage your blog with ease. To get started with
Blogger, follow these steps:
1. Go to www.blogger.com and sign in with your Google account
2. Step 1: Sign up for Blogger. Select a Display name. This will be the name that appears
when you make a blog post. Accept terms of service and then continue.
3. Step 2: Name your Blog. Type in a blog title. For example: Junior English Reader
Response Blog. Then, select your blog’s address. You want to keep this very short and
sweet so that your blog website will be easy to access. For example: respond2reading.
Your blog’s address would then be: http://respond2reading.blogspot.com
4. Step 3: Choose Template. Don’t waste too much time here. There are many more designs
available once you get started. Just choose a template, continue and you are ready to start
blogging!
5. To start setting up and designing your blog site, navigate through the four tabs at the top
of your screen.
a. Posting: Here you will create new posts, access and edit all of your posts, create
separate pages and moderate comments your students have posted.
You may want to create separate pages for your different class periods or
courses. See step 6 below.
b. Settings: Here you can change all of the settings of your blog. This may seem
daunting, but for the most part, only certain areas need to be changed.
Basic: Type a description that will display under your blog’s name on
your homepage. Choose “No” beside the questions about listing and
search engines. Choose “Updated editor.” Save settings.
Publishing: Only go here if you want to change your blog’s web address.
Formatting: No changes needed.
Comments: - Who can comment? Users with Google Accounts.
- Comment Moderation: this is a personal decision for you to
make. If you select “Always,” you will have to approve any
comments students post before they appear on your site. If
you select “Never,” students’ posts will automatically
appear once they submit them. Save settings.
The last tabs offer advanced settings. If you would like to experiment with
posting from your cell phone or creating a list of your students so only
they can view your blog, e-mail crysten.caviness@birdvilleschools.net
c. Design: You can control all aspects of your blog’s appearance here.
Choose “Template Designer” to play with the design of your page.
To rearrange or edit other elements of your blog’s design, work on the
Page Elements page. Browse through “Gadgets” to find fun features that
will enhance your blog.
d. Monetize: Ignore this area.
6. Making separate blog pages for different courses, topics, or class periods:
a. Choose “Dashboard” at the top right of the screen.
b. You will now choose “Create a blog” for every separate page you want to operate
as separate areas for students to comment. You will repeat steps 2-5 for all of
these. To avoid this, allow students from different classes to blog with one
another so that you don’t have to manage so many different pages.
c. To link this new blog to your home page, go back to the Dashboard and select
“Design” under your home page.
d. Choose to add a gadget wherever you want your list of links to appear. Scroll
through the basic gadgets and choose the gadget called “Link List.” Type in the
names and addresses of the new pages you just created.
e. Now, too add a link back to your homepage on each new page you created, repeat
the step above. This time, however, type the name and link of your homepage
within the Links List gadget.
This website allows users to create polls to which students can respond
with their cell phones. You can pay to have some extra features, but it is
totally FREE for your use if you are willing to take a few simple steps.
To get started, follow these steps:
1. Go to www.polleverywhere.com
2. Choose “Login” at the top right of the screen, and then sign up for an account. Choose
the K-12 tab and click “Sign Up” under Free. Fill out the form and you are ready to
create your first poll!
3. Choose “Create New Poll” and then select either Multiple Choice or Free Text
4. Type in your questions, and if it’s multiple choice, also type answers. You can add as
many answers as you’d like.
5. Under “Ways People Can Respond,” choose Smartphone so that students with web
browsing on their cell phones can let those students who do not have cell phones vote on
the web.
6. The Free Version only allows 32 people to vote in each poll, so just create new polls for
each class period. You may have an unlimited number of polls.
Skype is an internet-based voice and video calling program.
Secondary ELA teachers will receive new webcams this year, so
will be equipped to use the video calling features. To get started
and to find help with anything Skype related, visit this website:
http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/support/user-guides/
This site allows users to create flashcards with text and
images, organize and store them, study the cards, and share
them with others. To get started, follow these steps:
1. Go to http://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/
2. Register to create your account
3. Create your Flashcards
4. View each flashcard set you create to find options for printing, downloading, sharing and
studying.
1. Wallwisher.com
More 2. Tagxedo.com
3. Bibme.org
4. Toondoo.com
5. Prezi.com
For assistance with any of these or other Web 2.0 tools, please e-mail:
crysten.caviness@birdvilleschools.net