Search it up... Google style!!!

Last night was a celebration at my house... the end of MAP testing!!!! That is right.  No more block scheduling.  No more missing out on my plan time.  No more limitations on technology!

As I am sure you can tell I am super excited.  I have already reserved my laptops for post tests and reflections using my favorite... Google Forms.  Not only are we going to have the technology back but we received exciting news that next year ALL of our 6th graders will have their own Chromebook.  It is like a sudden flood of techmazingness (a word that I just created for use when something amazing happening with technology).  I just feel like we should all take a moment to celebrate for a moment something amazing that has happened this school year before it is over.  Here is a little video to help us get started.

Now that we are thinking about how amazing we are as teachers lets get into the good stuff!

Google Searches

I know we have talked before about how amazing Google searches can be when used properly and I just want to review some of the advanced search options.  Here is a little video to help you refresh on all the amazing ways to search on Google.  

I love reviewing these easy techniques to help me with my google searches!  Most people forget all of the neat features that are available for google searches.  I know I have wasted several hours searching for classroom ideas or articles and I could have narrowed down things much more quickly if I had only remembered a few of these tips.  

Google Custom Search

This is by far the most exciting tool that I have ever encountered!  I know that with little 6th graders, I do not want them searching for topics and seeing everything that can pop up will pop up.  This little tool is something I will be using next year when my students are working on their research project.  Google will allow you to create a custom search engine using site that only you pre-approve for your students.  I used to make a list of links for them to click and explore to find what they want, but with this tool I can just add in all of my website and share the ONE link to my custom search engine and it will only allow for them to search that area.  Here check out my own search engine on nutrition!

Do you have a favorite tip or trick when doing your own google searches?  Leave it in the comments below! 

Until next time...