Google Drive can creatively engage students in Language Arts. Ideas will include print media (magazines, poetry books, cookbooks and more) and non-print media (videos, blogs and programming). Great for literacy stations and anchor activities!

1. Technology... from the
Computer Lab and Beyond...
Lisa Ovial-4th Grade ELA Teacher
Matt Skoczylas-Elementary Computer Teacher
skoczylas.weebly.com
Ellwood City Area School District, Ellwood City, PA

2. Ellwood City Area School District
● Small Community in Western Pennsylvania
● 40 miles north of Pittsburgh
● North Side Primary School (K-2)
● Perry Lower Intermediate School (3-4)
● Hartman Intermediate School (5-6)
● Lincoln Jr./Sr. High School (7-12)

3. Perry Lower Intermediate School
● Title I Building - 300 students
● We are 2:1 with Classroom Chromebooks and
iPads. (Purchased with Title Funds)
● Perry was chosen as a Title I Distinguished
School by the Division of Federal Programs
as one of the top performing Title I schools
in Pennsylvania 2014-2015

4. Although we LOVE Technology...

5. Translation:
Paper has a great future!

6. October 2014 Pew Poll finds that e-books are booming, but
PRINT HOLDS ITS OWN!
Zickuhr, K. and Rainie, L.
E-Reading Rises as Device Ownership Jumps
Zickuhr, Kathryn, and Lee Rainie. 'E-Reading Rises As Device Ownership Jumps'. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. N. p., 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2014.
In 2014, 28% of
Americans who read at
least one book, read
from an e-reader.
In 2014, 69% of Americans who read
at least one book, read a paper book.

7. “Paper doesn't have to be a new browser window”
● “Doing something on paper creates a good obstacle to
distracting yourself from Facebook, email, or some other
non-essential task.”
● “As our students grow up in a hyper-connected world, it
will be increasingly important to take the time to teach
them when being connected might not be the best choice.”
Chris Brogan- http://chrisbrogan.com/
Richard Byrne- http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

8. CC Writing Standards
Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and
focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.
● Informative/Explanatory
● Opinion/Argumentative
● Narrative
● Response to literature
● Production and
distribution of writing
● Technology and
publication
● Conducting research
● Credibility, reliability, and
validity of sources
● Range of writing

9. ECASD “I Can Statements”
● I can write an informative/explanatory text on a topic.
● I can introduce my informational paragraph with a good topic sentence
● I can use facts, definitions, details and quotes to develop my informational
paragraph
● I can group my information to write informational paragraphs and provide a
concluding statement.
● I can use grammar and spelling correctly
● I can use clear and correct terms to explain a topic.
● I can write to explain my opinion on a topic.
● I can state my opinion on a topic in my opening sentence.
● I can support reasons for my opinion with facts and details.

14. Extra
?

16. Classroom Magazine!
● Student choices are endless
● Creates independent thinking
● Builds stamina
● Builds confidence
● Reinforces both writing and computer skills
● Promotes collaboration
● Can be low-tech or high-tech
Think “Makerspace” for writing!

17. Our Classroom Magazine
● Started 9 years ago
● Handwritten
● Then used Microsoft Word
● Now using Google Documents
● Created guide sheets for students to follow
● Students can share, communicate, and
collaborate with the teacher and one another
via Google Docs or Classroom.

18. Classroom Magazine-Possibilities...
● Monthly and special editions are possible
● Anchor activity
● “Daily 5” writing
● Literacy station
● Graded requirement

19. Why do we like magazines?

20. How to Create a Magazine Page
Large Title
Author’s name goes here.
Content that is interesting to you!
Source: National Geographic for Kids
Add a picture.
Everything must fit on one page.

21. Magazine Guide Sheets

22. Help Yourself!

23. ● Figurative Language
o Mary Ledbetter - Smiley face
tricks
● Narrative Elements
o Stories and Plays
Classroom Magazine
Reinforces specific writing skills
● Argument/Opinion
o Support your beliefs
● Mechanics
o Correct Capitalization
o Punctuation
o Spelling
o Grammar

25. Classroom Magazine
● Builds writing stamina
● Use and cite sources
● Develop the concept of
designing a page that is
pleasing for others to
read!

26. ● Keyboarding
● Word Processing
● Charts and Tables
● Internet Searching
From the Computer Lab to the Magazine
Reinforces specific computer skills
● Map Skills
● Collaboration/Sharing
● Blogging
o Good digital citizens
And the opportunity to ask questions tailored to
their own writing/word processing needs!

27. Fourth Magazine!
● The cover makes it real!
o Digital Image Pro
o Photoshop
o Pixlr.com
o Gimp.org
o Publisher
o Google Docs

28. Beg for color covers!

29. Fourth Magazine
● Samples of Student
work:
o Survey
o Word Search
o All About Me
o Story
o Play
o Facts

30. Research Editions
● Topic
● Questions
● Create Subtopics
● Student groups begin research
● EVENT!
● Further Questions
● Notes
● More research on topic
● Use notes to formulate an idea for a magazine page or
slide

31. Madagascar
● Research

32. Stocking Stuffer Edition
(Consumer Reports)
● Students donate toys from
dollar store to the “toy table”
● Students select toys (pairs)
● Follow a guide sheet
● Take notes while and testing
the toy

33. Stocking Stuffer Edition
● Topic
● Questions
● Create Subtopics
● Student groups begin research
● EVENT!
● Further Questions
● Notes
● More research on topic
● Use notes to formulate an idea for a magazine page or
slide

34. ● Teacher models every step!
● Organize writing into paragraphs
● Write rough draft and edit in
journal
● Take picture of toy (iPad) and
Upload to Docs
● Type using template and then insert
picture
● Submit in Google Classroom
Student Sample
Stocking Stuffer Edition

35. Exchange Students are a great
resource!

36. More Special Editions
● Cookbooks
● Country
● Current Events
● Gardening
● Historical Places
● Travel
● Animals
● Interviews

37. E-pals
Indonesia Friends
● Have contact with a
teacher in Bandung,
Indonesia
● Started an Online Journal
in Google Docs
● Created Comparison Charts
● Shared Photos
● Shared Maps
● Created “All About Me”
pages of e-pals with the info
shared
● Personal email addresses
not needed!

38. Poetry Book
● Bare Books
(Treehouse
Publishing)
● Use pencil
● OR type in Docs,
share and print
● Illustrate with colored
pencilsGreat for Mother’s Day!

39. Reviews
I really like Fourth Magazine. For example,
I like writing stories, plays, and other pages for it.
I enjoy writing different pages and exploring
what you can do in computer class.
Also, I think that it is interesting to read
what my friends wrote and get other ideas for me
to write.
Lastly, I like working with my friends at
school. I think it is fun to see how they write and
see if they write like me.
You can see that Fourth Magazine is really
fun and exciting to me.

40. Reviews
Here is what I like about Fourth Magazine.
1. Doing the word searches.
2. Reading the stories.
3. Participating in the plays.
4. Making my series in the Fourth Magazine.
5. Writing in the magazine.

41. Reviews
I like reading about other
people’s pets.

42. Non-Print Media

43. Classroom Magazine Online
*Lucidpress
*Simplebooklet
Google Docs/Slides
SlideShare
*Google Apps

44. Blogger
● Online personal journal
o Write about daily experiences
o Thoughts and comments
o Reply to others
talesfromthecomputerlab.blogspot.com/

45. Blogger
● “Help Desk”
o Students can ask Mr. Skoczylas
for help
Can I help you
with something
you are trying to
do for the
magazine?
Log into my website
Fourth Grade Links
Tales from the Computer Lab
Write your question
Click Publish
Check back to see if I have responded to your question.

48. WeVideo
● Creating and Editing Videos
in WeVideo
● Stop motion videos
Fall at Perry Typical
Morning at School
Ian
Jelly Cam
Maddie
Morgan

49. Google myMaps
● Created a Map of Ellwood
City, PA
● Pinned our school, houses,
parks etc...
● Shared with friends in
Indonesia.
Student Sample 1
Student Sample 2

50. Storyboard That
● Create a panel cartoon
● Can be downloaded and printed

51. Google Story Builder
● Developing basic writing
skills
● Create mini-movies or
video stories with the feel
of Google Docs.
3rd grade questions to 4th graders
The ABC’s of Fourth Grade

52. Questions?