Inserting Graphics in a Google Slides Presentation



We all know that today's world is filled with images and graphics- the popularity of infographics proves that!  Did you know that you can use graphics that are in your Google that will help you or your students explain a point, or make connections to Higher Order Thinking? 


Here's an example of what you can find.








The details: 
1.  In your Google Slides presentation, click on the "Insert" menu.
2.  Choose "Diagrams" and choose the type of diagram from the categories on the right of your presentation.
3.  Fill in the information that you would like to show.
4.  It automatically saves!

My Monday Motivation! Stories from the Classroom



What motivates Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD teachers?  Read what's getting some teachers fired up for the week!

 What motivates me each Monday?  I take the time on Mondays to find an inspirational/motivational video online, share it with my students, and then we spend time discussing it after watching.  We usually end the class by writing a response to the video or the discussion, or both.  I hope the students get inspired, discover a new way to look at a problem, or just learn to persevere through obstacles in their life.  I really enjoy helping the students!
- Becky Jewkes, COHS English and Yearbook Teacher













I'm really excited about this week's spirit activities and all the spirit the students are showing for Red Ribbon Week, Pink Out, and Senior Night coming up on Friday.  We've got such a great group of students! 
- Marilyn Toney, Dance, Drill Team, and Cheer teacher



















I'm really excited to be here today because we are making final preparations for our UIL Marching Band competition, which is Tuesday! We've been working really hard on our program, and the students are ready.  This year, we are including some of our junior high school students in the marching program, and they are really excited about the opportunity! 
- Suzanne Beavers, Lincoln Junior High 






And then we have Lori McGarvey, library aide at COHS library:

What motivates me is that I love my job!  I look forward to Mondays because I like to talk to teachers and students. I like to keep the library "neat and tidy." I like to encourage students to come and stay at the library.  I especially like to help students work through their problems- how to find a book in the library, what to read next, what to do to bring up a grade, how to study better, how to decide where to go to college, how to prepare for college, etc.  







Tuesday Tech Bits!

Uploading Microsoft Docs and Slides to Your Google Drive:



Many people use Microsoft Office products like Word and Powerpoint to create docs. Then they use their Google Drive as a storage place for those Word and PPT files.  This is understandable, but takes away some of the best reasons for using your Google Drive- to share and enable collaboration with others! 

 So, here is how you can upload your Word document (or Powerpoint presentation), but also enable the features to make it collaborative, so that others could comment or edit, if you choose to allow them to!  It also is great to do this if you want to use the document or presentation in Google Classroom, so you can allow each student can have their own copy of what you have created.

1.  Open your Google Drive.
2.  Click on the "Settings" icon on the far right, and choose "Setttings."


3. Check the box to indicate that you want the format to be Google format and click "Done."

4.  Now, when you want to upload a Word doc or Powerpoint presentation, it will be uploaded as an editable Google Doc or Presentation.  You do this by clicking the blue "New" button and choosing "Upload file."  Your file will convert automatically, sometimes with some minor changes.

Best of all, you can now share this with others and collaborate to get the best doc or presentation, without emailing copies back and forth, or storing everything on a USB stick.

You can also share to Google Classroom using "each student gets a copy." 

My Monday Motivation!- Stories from the Classroom!



Welcome to my new blog feature!  I'll be highlighting teachers across the district that share what their "Monday Motivation" is- something or someone that helps motivate and inspire them.

What's your Monday Motivation this week?




 "My Monday Motivation this week is getting to work with my UIL team.  I am the coach for the Third Grade Spelling team, and we are off to a great start.  I love that so many students have scored really well already!"  

- Mary Berger
3rd Grade ELA Teacher















"My Monday Motivation is getting to spend    time with a student who is working on improving his ability to show self control in class.  It's great to see him work towards a 
goal, and achieve it."

-Laurie Bogner, 
CIS/JSE Math and Science CLL








"My Monday Motivation is being able to      
do labs with my students.  They always 
enjoy the hands-on lessons because they
get to be scientists, observing and measuring.
They get to talk out what they are 
experiencing."
- Lynde Phillips, Biology and AP Biology Teacher