Google Slides to Create Visual Checklists!

Routines are important for all students; however, many of our students with IEP's need an extra layer of support. Visual schedules are a great tool to help students stay on track. Google Slides is a great tool for helping students in remote environments because:

  • Schedules can be shared easily via Google Classroom and customized to meet the needs of individual students
  • Visual cues help students stay on track, focused, and maintain a sense of accomplishment
  • Teachers can embed important links to resources, tools, and even GoNoodle video to take a break! 

Want your own copy? Here is a link.

Step 1: Create a Table in Google Slides

You may want to consider creating a small table of 4 - 6 tasks, based on the student's needs. You can easily do this by visiting the Insert Menu and choosing Table. For this example, I created a table in Google Slides with 6 tasks for students to complete. A simple 2 x 6 table will provide students with the options that they need.


Step 2: Add Content

You may want to consider adding numbers to the bottom of your table if students should complete tasks in order. It may also be helpful to add brief text descriptions and visuals for each task. Did you know that you can visit the Insert Menu and search the web right from Google Slides! All pictures are part of Creative Commons, which puts less stress on you! 


Step 3: Add Scaffolds and Supports

The beauty of using a web tool like Google Slides is that you can easily share links to websites, assignments, and resources from your presentation. My example includes a link to my Google Classroom, Google Meet, and a relaxing GoNoodle video for the break!


Also, keep in mind that you can share a link directly to an assignment in Google Classroom! This makes it more efficient for students to access assignments.

Bonus Tip: 

If you are sharing individual copies of your daily routine visual schedule with students, then you might want to consider adding something for students to mark that they are complete! You can easily add checkmark clip art to your presentation to give it more flair and allow students to have a sense of accomplishment.






Orange Slice Rubric Generator and Google Classroom Hack

Need to create a rubric for students? The Orange Slice Teacher rubric generator is one of my favorite tools for creating rubrics. Although there is a student add-on that allows you to distribute and share with students, I have found it challenging to use in certain situations.

Google Classroom does have it's own rubric generator as well; however, it does not provide pre-made options at this time and does not place results in a Google Doc.

Instead, I want to show you how to create your own rubric, save as a Google Doc, and distribute to students in your favorite learning management system. Here is an easy hack for using Orange Slice and Google Classroom to generate a rubric!


Force a Copy of Your Google Form to Share with Others

Have you ever wanted to share a copy with or receive a copy of a Google Form from others? You can easily do this in Google Forms with a few quick and easy steps!

Check out how to do it below:

Speak Selection Feature on iPad

How can we help students with reading fluency? The Speak Selection feature is a helpful feature that reads aloud text to students. Whether students have a learning disability or are more auditory, all students can benefit.

How does it work? 

The following video will feature:
  • Speak Selection
  • Alex voice
  • Reader View in Safari



There are several different ways you could use this feature to listen to:
  • A webpage that you found while researching on Safari
  • PDF article that you need to read for an assignment
  • Check and listen to your email
  • Open up an iBook and listen to your favorite chapter
  • Read aloud a writing assignment in Google Docs as part of the editing process


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