Text to Table Notetaking

Why not take advantage of all Google has to offer to enhance the note taking experience. There are many ways to to take advantage of Google's versatility  when it comes to note taking. First, you have to find text. NewsELA, Tween Tribune, and Britannica are a few of my favorite "go tos" for nonfiction text. Once you have found your text, copy the text (ctrl c) and paste it (ctrl v) in a Google Doc. Now the sky is the limit on annotation techniques. 

The technique I am going to focus on for this blog is putting your text in a table. You can add your text in one column and then have a space for student notes in the other. You can even add a box under each section for summaries. Check it out. 

Implementing Genius Hour

One of Google's most famous management strategies is something called "20% time". This is where employees get to spend 20% of their working day on a project of their choice. It has to be on a project that will benefit Google, but employees are encouraged to follow their own passions when it comes to this sacred time. Recently, the education world has harnessed this same concept for the classroom. Many classrooms nationwide are integrating something called "Genius Hour". Much like Google's 20% time, Genius Hour is one hour during the school day dedicated to supporting students in researching and developing a project around a topic of their choice. It is an opportunity for students to explore their passions and drive their own personalized instruction. Sound interesting? Use the linked resources below to learn more about Genius Hour and be sure to watch "How I Integrated Genius 1/2 Hour in my Classroom " video to hear from one of our very own District 86 teachers on how she incorporates this concept into her day. 

        

       

How I Integrated Genius 1/2 Hour in my Classroom (video)

Genius Hour 

6 Tips for Getting Started with Genius Hour

Your Top 10 Genius Hour Questions Answered