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My school district went 1 to 1 with Chromebooks a few years ago. Now, I don't know what I'd do without them, but at the beginning, it was a little overwhelming. If your district is going 1 to 1 with technology, check out these tips.

Top Tips for Going 1 to 1 with Technology
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I only recommend products that I use and love.
#1 - Go over expectations for using the devices.

Your students are used to using devices at home, but your expectations at school are probably different from the rules at home. Be very clear about what you expect.

These are my rules:

1. Always carry your Chromebook with two hands.

2. Never leave your Chromebook unattended on your desk or on the floor.

3. If you're sitting on the floor with your Chromebook, it needs to stay on your lap.

4. Keep food and drinks away from the Chromebook.

5. Stay on the assigned websites.

If my students break any of these rules, they lose their device for a day. They have to do all the assignments on paper. Losing it once is enough for them to learn their lesson.

#2 - Keep your technology organized.

I wasn't very organized my first year with the Chromebooks. My students' earbuds were a tangled mess in their desks. They constantly lost their password papers, and half the time they forgot to plug the Chromebooks in at the end of the day.

Then, I purchased an earbud organizer from Really Good Stuff, and it's amazing. My students' earbuds don't get tangled anymore. Plus, my students store their password papers in the pockets. They don't get lost nearly as frequently.

To solve the problem of uncharged Chromebooks, I made "Technology Assistant" one of my classroom jobs. At the end of the day, that student makes sure all the devices are plugged in and charging.

#3 - Find ways to integrate technology into your lessons.

There are so many amazing ways to use technology in your classroom! My absolute favorite is Google Classroom. You can create a class for each subject you teach. Then, assign your students website links and documents.

Find out all the amazing things about Google Classroom.

I also use the Chromebooks for math centers and reading intervention. There are some amazing websites to help your students practice important skills.

One of my guided math rotations is a technology center. These are some of my favorite math websites. They are great for fact practice, review of skills you've covered, and practice of the current skills.

For reading, my students use the websites to practice the skills we've learned. While they work on the Chromebooks, I am able to pull strategy groups. These are some of my favorite reading websites.

#4 - Use the devices for collaboration.

One of my students' favorite things to do on the Chromebooks is to collaborate on Google slideshows. They are able to share the slideshows with each other. Then, they all work on the same slides and present them to the class.

We create slideshows for our fairy tales unit, continent research, and animals unit.

#5 - Engage your students with technology.

One of the best things about the Chromebooks is the level of engagement they create for students. My students love using Kahoot to review for tests. You can make up any questions you want, and the students use their devices to answer them. You can have them work in groups or independently to do the Kahoot quiz.

My students also love watching BrainPOP videos. They are available for so many different topics! After they watch the movie, my students love taking the quiz, playing the game, and doing all the other activities. Your school needs a BrainPOP account for a lot of the videos, but it's definitely worth it.

Find out how to use Google to organize your classroom.

Want more tips to make teaching less stressful? Sign up for the Teach Without Tears newsletter below, and join our private Facebook group to ask all your questions.

What Do You Think?

What are your favorite ways to use technology in your classroom?

Let me know in the comments.

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.

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Top Tips for Going 1 to 1 with Technology - Teach Without Tears

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My school district went 1 to 1 with Chromebooks a few years ago. Now, I don't know what I'd do without them, but at the beginning, it was a little overwhelming. If your district is going 1 to 1 with technology, check out these tips.

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The is the second article in a series about digital age classrooms. To get more tips for your 1:1 classroom, check out 9 Ways to Create a Cyber-Safe Classroom.
If you're lucky enough to have a 1:1 classroom, chances are you probably already have a few go-to techniques for helping your students access information digitally. Yet many teachers find that getting the most out of tech tools, and ultimately using them in a productive way, is easier said than done. Here are our best tips and tricks to turn your 1:1 classroom into a well-oiled digital machine.

Get up to speed.

1. Be kind to yourself. If you are new to the 1:1 environment, it can be a big change with a steep learning curve. Set small weekly goals for improvement, and go easy on yourself if things aren't improving as quickly or smoothly as you hoped.

2. Take a cue from your colleagues. Use the advice you get from the teacher in the next classroom and tips from other educators who have found great ways to use tech tools in the classroom. Teacher Stephanie W.S. shares this roundup of her favorite tech tools.

3. Tune in to your students for tips. The digital natives in your classroom may very well be the best teachers when it comes to knowing the capabilities of their devices and the software loaded on them. Don't be shy about asking them to show you a thing or two.

4. Take an online course. What better way to model the benefits of online learning than to take a course yourself? Capella University has a whole suite of free professional development courses for digital age classrooms.

5. Google it! If you use Google Classroom, consider taking the Google for Education training courses to become more efficient and skilled with the tools.

6. Crowdsource. Get tips that meet your specific needs from sites like Pinterest and follow professional thought leaders like @EdTech and @ISTE on Twitter.

Keep your classroom in control.

1. Set some rules. Technology opens a world of possibilities...but it can also open a can of worms. Set some rules to keep your students safe, respectful and on task. Hang one or more of these free posters in your 1:1 classroom as a reminder of some of the basics.

2. Declare a Device Day. Teacher Baily S. says, "We have iPad Fridays. Whatever math they are working on, I find an app that will reinforce the concepts. Students get to play on that app in small groups during class."

3. Charge it! Set up a routine for keeping devices charged and make sure your students follow it. Otherwise, you'll be plagued with dead devices and spend too much time managing who gets to use which device and when.

4. Feed the fast finishers. "I use our iPads after we finish our lesson as reinforcement," says Kelly F. "When we are done with math and I have other students who are still working, I have my fast finishers practice math facts on their iPads with games."

5. Try a behavior app. Tools like ClassDojo connect parents, teachers and students in a community where positive reinforcement reigns. With ClassDojo, you can also let students showcase photos and videos to show their learning or share special classroom moments with parents to keep them connected.

6. Teach students to be Super Digital Citizens. Share and discuss this video with your class to help them stay cyber-safe, respectful digital citizens.

Image credit: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/super-digital-citizen

1. Reorganize your classroom space. Move beyond the traditional classroom setup with rows of desks facing you at the front of the room. Wide-open spaces and small-group configurations foster movement and creativity in the classroom. According to EdTechMagazine.com, "Students are more engaged and perform better when school furniture and technology transform to create a more collaborative environment. Classroom designs have been shown to cultivate deeper and more student-centered learning encounters that are more flexible, active, mobile and fun."

2. Accessorize! Finding the right charging carts, covers, stands, headphones and cases may not be as much fun as shopping for just the right scarf or tie, but having those important accessories will help you keep your classroom technology safe and in good working order. Companies like Troxell even offer custom covers for your Chromebooks or iPads with your school colors and mascot.

3. Think twice before taking out scrap paper. The next time you think about asking your students to take out a piece of paper, consider turning to your devices instead. While some tasks help students learn better using paper and pencil, there are times you might prefer to use technology. Small shifts like that can lead to a major transformation in the way you teach and the way your students learn. Plus, when you skip the paper, you save trees!

4. Unplug every now and then. Turn the idea of 1:1 on its head by having students create a new use for their devices with old-school paper and pencil as their tools. Teacher Gareth C.T. recommends: "Spend a block of lessons where students don't use technology but have to design an educational app on paper, discuss it with friends, parents, etc. I did it with a Dragons' Den-style format (the U.K. version of Shark Tank)."

5. Teach students about copyrights and fair use. Here's another great animated video from Common Sense Media that explains the copyright law and how to use and reuse online work responsibly.

Manage your devices.

1. Know your audience. Even highly rated tech tools and apps may not be a good fit for your students-and only you will know. Before trying them out in class, take a little time to review them with a super-critical eye. Does a math app have problems that are too easy or too hard for most of your students? What is the log-on process like-do you envision yourself needing to walk around to 25+ students to help them get started?

2. Choose well. There's so much out there-evaluating the choices can seem daunting. The Guide to Choosing Digital Content and Curriculum from the Center for Digital Education has some great advice.

3. Don't be afraid to swipe left. If you have an app (or two or 10) loaded on your classroom devices that sounded like a good idea at the time but didn't turn out to be all that useful, swipe left/delete/clear it away. We promise you won't hurt anyone's feelings!

1. Publish to a learning management system (LMS). Thankfully, the days of handing out photocopied worksheets, pages of reading material and a paper-based syllabus (that students invariably lose) are waning. Once you publish a unit to an LMS, your students have 24/7 access to the resources. The initial setup of a topic (e.g., photosynthesis or Shakespeare's Hamlet), with background reading, links to additional resources, supporting videos, etc., can take a bit of time, but then it is available for years to come and can easily be updated. No more waiting endlessly for your turn at the copier.

2. Get your head in the cloud! Storing lessons and materials in the cloud gives students access to information beyond the boundaries of your classroom. It also makes it easy to collaborate with classrooms (and educational peers) in other cities, states and countries. Check out OER Commons for a dynamic digital library of Open Educational Resources.

Image credit: http://bookcreator.com/
Create classroom activities.

Build a book. Teacher Ursula V. says, "iPads are a great visual-learning tool-for mind mapping, quick research and representing students' thinking visually, especially during discussions or note-taking. I use Book Creator throughout a unit for reflections-especially in science, humanities and literature with my 10- to 12-year-old group."

Check out PhET sims. Math teacher Susan M. likes to use interactive simulations designed by science, math and education researchers at the University of Colorado. She says, "They are geared toward both math and science and are designed to support construction of knowledge, not just review of skills. They are free (forever!). As a math educator and researcher, my favorites are Function Builder, Area Builder and Fractions!!"

Image credit: Capella University

Image credit: phet.colorado.edu

1. Gamify! You can turn just about anything into a game, and your students will thank you for it. Here are some games we like from MIT's Education Arcade. Older kids can even create their own games and learn a thing or two about programming with Gameblox, while Classcraft turns your entire classroom into a game where collaboration, helping one another out and asking for help earn students extra points that move the game forward.

2. Be content creators-not just consumers! Find out what kinds of content your students enjoy consuming the most and then propose that the class (or small groups) come up with their own original creation in the same format, whether it's a video, series of captioned photos, a game or an audio recording of an original story.

3. Collaborate! Teacher David W. has a 1:1 classroom and recommends, "Try a collaborative writing task where all students write on one document, editing and supporting one another."

4. Start a blog. A classroom blog is a great way to engage students in a collaborative and creative endeavor that makes good use of the technology you have. Kidblog.org is a safe, simple and free way to get started.

5. Fun with calculators. Take a look at GeoGebra for math apps, materials and downloads that offer an updated, visual way to teach and learn the concepts of geometry and algebra.

Image credit: Capella University
Build lessons.

Come up with learning objectives. Use the six levels of Digital Bloom's Taxonomy-Create, Evaluate, Analyze, Apply, Understand and Remember-to come up with learning goals for your students. Need a refresher on what that means and how to go about doing it? Capella University has a free online professional development course, The 1:1 Environment in Action, which shows how you can easily connect the Digital Bloom's verbs to the digital tools you have available in your classroom.

Start with your essential questions. What are you trying to teach? By first clarifying the learning objective, you can then hone in on the best tool for imparting that knowledge. Here are some additional resources for understanding essential questions.

Source: Capella University

It's OK to get it all backwards. When it comes to your 1:1 classroom, beginning with the end in mind is actually a really great way to clarify your learning objectives. Backwards design encourages you to figure out the desired results and then decide how to assess and construct the lesson. This approach is one of the tenets of Understanding by Design (UbD).

Check understanding.

1. Use immediate feedback as a motivator. Include an interactive quiz or game that gives students immediate feedback. The Geddit app lets students make multiple-choice or short-answer responses on their devices. Use it to gain feedback during class or as an exit ticket. It's a great way to engage students in the curriculum and keep them motivated.

2. Poll your students. Use an app like to Poll Everywhere to sneak survey-type questions about the technology you're using in class midway into a lesson and again at the end to solicit feedback from students. Their input will help you reach them even more effectively next time.

3. Consider nontraditional approaches to grading. Excerpts from a recent #edchat on Twitter reveal some of the problems with traditional grading. A few alternatives that work well in a 1:1 classroom include digital portfolios, self-assessment, standards-based grading, rubrics and progress monitoring.

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41 Tips, Tricks and Techniques for Your 1:1 Classroom - WeAreTeachers

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The is the second article in a series about digital age classrooms. To get more tips for your 1:1 classroom, check out 9 Ways to Create a Cyber-Safe Classroom. If you're lucky enough to have a 1:1 classroom, chances are you probably already have a few go-to techniques for helping your students access information digitally.

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Teaching at a 1:1 school or one that's headed that way? Learn about ways to prepare, best practices, curriculum, and management in one-device-per-student learning environments.

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Whether you have 1:1 devices or a few to share, are just going digital this year or have had access to devices in the classroom for years - here are some questions for you to ask yourself as you set up your digital classroom this year for smooth technology integrating!

So cut down on wasted time by developing a clear plan for your digital devices and how and when they will be stored and used with these technology management tips.

1. How Will You Store Devices in the Classroom?

Some of you will have this provided by your district. If not, consider storage that is secure, student-friendly, easy to access and has room for charging devices. A plus if you can move the storage unit around. We used a cart similar to this one shared by Chalk It Up Two Teachers on their Instagram:
Grab the technology rules shown above here.
Carts on wheels or have handles that allow for quick access and small group sharing are awesome!

2. How to Keep Devices Clean?

Yeah...kid fingers are dirty. Fingers, in general, are dirty - and you can't take a Clorox Wipe to a device screen. I use microfiber wipes for day to day smudge removal that I purchase in bulk on Amazon. Get them here with my affiliate link:

Socks will work in a pinch too! When it's flu season, mix equal parts distilled water and isopropyl alcohol to create a gentle disinfectant spray!

3. What Will the Device Charging Procedures Be?

How and where will students charge devices? Most will charge overnight if you are storing devices at school and will hold the charge all day. But if you have students bringing devices or you plan to do a lot of battery-sucking activities like streaming, then you need to work out a procedure for unexpected dead batteries!

4. What Kinds of Cases Work Best for Student Use?

You will want cases that are durable but also student-friendly. Can students easily press and activate the buttons? If the case closes, can students open it? If using tablets and you have the budget for it, a case that doubles as a stand and/or has an attached keyboard is very useful! I love the iPad cases by Rug-Ed shared by Julie the Techie Teacher below:

5. How Will You Assign Devices to Students?

If you are 1:1, how are devices assigned and tracked? If not, will students share the same device each day or will they borrow devices willy-nilly (I don't recommend this!). I love numbering the home screens of iPads and Chromebooks to stay organized and help me and students remember!

6. What Accessories Will You Need When Using Devices in the Classroom?

In addition to the storage, cleaning supplies, and cases already mentioned, will you want microphones? Headphones? A recording booth or box? A stand? Greenscreen?

Where are accessories stored? Who uses them? Be sure to factor this into your room arrangement and organization! Here are some of the accessories I recommend when using iPads in the classroom.

7. How Will You Keep Track of Student Log In Info?

I have some tips for creating logins that are easy to remember and I also created nametags and binder sheets that students can use.

These are editable so I can include the user name and a password hint too if needed.

But you will also want a secure master list. Many sites will provide you with a downloadable CSV file. I suggest organizing these into Google Sheets into a Google Drive Folder for paperless access.

8. How Will You Teach Troubleshooting Procedures?

Make sure you have some sort of plan for when things go *wrong* with devices...because it will happen! Who will students turn to when they need help? Ideally, they will try to fix things themselves first!

I have this set of troubleshooting posters that you will find incredibly helpful in guiding students to troubleshoot independently.

If they still can't fix it, I also recommend having a diverse tech-team of in-class experts. Be sure to be mindful when selecting your "tech-pert" team. Make sure your team is diverse and has equal girls and boys. A real bias exists in the tech world against both women and minorities. You do not want to reinforce the damaging stereotype of what a "techie" looks like.

You can also turn a glitch into a learning experience with these tips!

9. What Kind of Access Procedures Will You Put into Place for Students to Get Devices?

How will students get their devices from the storage system and when? If BYOD, where are students placing devices when not in use? In my classroom, the cart was towards the back of the room, so I usually called small groups to grab devices to avoid a gridlock! I also had 2 members of the tech team assist with getting the iPads out and in.

If you don't have much choice in where the cart is located, make sure there is a clear path to get the devices and move around the classroom. You don't want students bumping and dropping the equipment!

Color coding the cases and plugs with washi tape may help cut down on time when students are finding their devices and putting them away too.

Some teachers have designated students to distribute devices so most students are seated while devices are being handed out. You will have to weigh both safety and time when setting up access procedures and you may end up tweaking as the year progresses.

Any additional considerations I should add? Anything you are still struggling with or want to get some recommendations about? Pop over to my Facebook post here to join the conversation!

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THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN USING DEVICES IN THE CLASSROOM -

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Whether you have 1:1 devices or a few to share, are just going digital this year or have had access to devices in the classroom for years - here are some questions for you to ask yourself as you set up your digital classroom this year for smooth technology integrating!

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Teaching in a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) or one-to-one classroom is a fantastic experience. Every student has their own device and you can customize learning activities for whole-class, small-group, and independent learning activities. Earlier this year I shared NetRef. It is a tool that lets teachers personalize the Internet access for each student or entire classroom.

This means they can pick and choose which websites they'd like students to stay on. They can also pick which they'd like to students to stop accessing at a certain point in the day. There are times in the school day where you'd like students to have more control of their Internet exploration and other times when you'll want to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Classroom Management Tips

Establish policies and practices that cultivate a unified and collaborative culture. Invite students into the process of establishing norms in your classroom.

Choose EdTech tools that integrate seamlessly, are simple to use and enhance learning. I use the phrase tasks before apps to encourage teachers to think first of their learning objective when picking new tools for their classroom.

Regularly communicate clear expectations for appropriate Internet use. Take advantage of teachable moments to have conversations with students.

Positively reinforce appropriate online behavior by finding moments to praise students.

Use software solutions that allow teachers to view student Internet activity in real time.

Customize websites based on student activity as well as curricula.

NetRef can also monitor website and app usage and report individual, class or school data. This is great information to demonstrate how technology tools integrate into the school day whether you're 1:1 or BYOD since NetRef will work on any device. This means school-owned and student-owned devices can be managed and monitored from one location

Learn more bout NetRef by visiting their website!

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New to BYOD or 1:1? 6 Classroom Management Tips for Teachers - Class Tech Tips

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Teaching in a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) or one-to-one classroom is a fantastic experience. Every student has their own device and you can customize learning activities for whole-class, small-group, and independent learning activities. Earlier this year I shared NetRef. It is a tool that lets teachers personalize the Internet access for each student or entire classroom.

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Helpful Ideas for 1:1 Chromebook Classrooms

Has your classroom turned into a 1:1 Chromebook Classroom and you are unsure of how to utilize these devices each day? Well, you have come to the right place! I am hearing of more and more districts going 1:1 yet teachers are having a hard time figuring out how to integrate them into their daily instruction. Here are a few helpful ideas that can get your started.😀

Google Drive™

You have to become familiar with Google Drive. Period. Chromebooks run Google Chrome's OS, which is a powerful internet browser. They were designed to use web based applications and cloud storage. Therefore, Google Drive needs to be your bff if you want to establish a work flow. Google has an excellent online training center that you can access HERE. Become familiar with the Google apps and how they can help increase your productivity.

Google Classroom/LMS

Establish a management system. This means, figure out how you will share things with students and how they will interact with each other in a digital environment. I highly recommend using Google Classroom to make grading, distributing and interacting with assignments a breeze. If your district has adopted a learning management system (LMS) such as Schoology, Canvas, Moodle, etc. consider using that!

Web Applications

There are so many different kinds of web applications available. Some of my favorites for Chromebook users include:

This year I am going to experiment with Buncee which is a content creation tool for teachers and students. I have heard so many wonderful things from other educators so I can't wait to give it a try!

Establishing Expectations

Before students even touch a device, I think it is so important to establish classroom expectations. In my blog post about The Chromebook Contract, I talk about how students can make a commitment to follow the expectations you set by signing a contract with their thumbprint. I do have the Chromebook Contract pictured below available in my TpT Store HERE.

Daily Educational Use(all resources mentioned below are available in my
TpT Store. Just click on the images.)

There are so many things students can do within Google Suite. They can make ebooks, stop motion videos & presentations in Google Slides, collect data and create graphs in Google Sheets, create quizzes and surveys in Google Forms, design infographics, diagrams, and comics in Google Drawing, type papers and conduct collaborative research in Google Docs. The possibilities are endless.

Think of things that you use on a daily basis and figure out if they would be more beneficial to students if you made them digital. For instance, I turned my notebooks into DIGITAL NOTEBOOKS. I didn't do this just so I could be "paperless". Instead, I knew students could add different types of media and embed various kinds of projects into their digital notebooks to really enhance and document their learning experience.

I did the same thing with my vocabulary dictionary. Instead of students jamming a dictionary into their desks or leaving them at home, I transferred it to a Google Slides presentation and now they can access it from anywhere! They can work independently or collaboratively. Check it out !

Free Digital Word Wall in Google Sheets

Click HERE to download this word wall! You can learn more about how to use this in THIS blog post.

Digital Writing Journals

Free Roll a Story Activity

Similar to digital writing journals but with a different spin to help students generate ideas, I have THIS Digital Roll a Story blog post that explains this activity & provides a free download to the resource!

Digital Choice Boards

Digital Directed Drawings

Creation & Collaborative Projects

If you are looking for creative project ideas you can use throughout the year then you might be interested in my all time favorite resource, Digital Creative Projects for Google Drive. TEN different projects are included that will get your students creating and collaborating.

You could also have students create a brochure about ANY topic, multiple times a year! I have a brochure template in Google Slides:

Bookmark THIS post for the end of the year that contains a free end of the year brochure template that students make for the rising class.

Another fun activity from my post 15 Digital Book Report Ideas Your Students Will Love is having students create a digital cereal box book report using template for Google Drawing. Read more about this project .

A lot of the activities mentioned above can be found in my Reading & Language Arts Bundle for Google Drive™. In addition, you can find all sorts of other activities like graphic organizers, making words challenges, book report templates and so much more! Use them over and over again without having to print a single thing.

Those are just a few ideas. Choose one or two to try out. Once you and your students have mastered it, slowly introduce new ways to utilize Chromebooks in your classroom. Technology should never be an afterthought. It should be used seamlessly to turn students into thoughtful creators, collaborators and critical thinkers.

If you are looking for even more digital activities and templates to use with Chromebooks, click HERE.

If you are an email subscriber, you can find these Chromebook Keyboard Practice sheets in my free resource library. You can also find them in my TpT Store HERE.

Chromebook Pinterest Board:

Follow me on Pinterest to get more techie ideas:

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Helpful Ideas for 1:1 Chromebook Classrooms

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Has your classroom turned into a 1:1 Chromebook Classroom and you are unsure of how to utilize these devices each day? Well, you have come to the right place! I am hearing of more and more districts going 1:1 yet teachers are having a hard time figuring out how to integrate them into their daily instruction.