The header on my Google Classroom has always been super blah. I usually have a generic "school" picture that Google assigns, or even a plain color, on mine. Occasionally, I will add a picture of my classroom to really spice things up. But during Distance Learning, I wanted to use that real estate for something a bit more meaningful.
I was watching Molly of Lessons with Laughter do an Instagram story about customizing the header to be more personalized than the ones that are available on Google Classroom itself. I loved the idea, and ran with it! I thought I could use the space to be my #bookaday record for our distance learning venture.
Using the dimensions that Molly mentioned (1600 pixels by 400 pixels), I changed the page size of a Google slide. Then, I imported a picture of some polaroids hanging on a clothesline and added a whole bunch of them on the google slide. It ended up looking like this.
If you would like this header for yourself, you can get it here.
Then, just as I would do at school, I took screenshots of all of the books we have read so far during our time online. I inserted those books in one by one into the little black squares, resizing them to fit the space.
After all of the books we have read so far were input, I saved the google slide as a png. Using the "file" tab, I hovered until I got to "download". A secondary menu came up and I clicked "png". This saved the file as a picture. 
Now that it was a picture, I could insert it into my header. Once it is inserted, Google Classroom makes it tinted and darker. I don't know why, but it does. So it doesn't look as clear and crisp, but it still looks awesome! Every few days, I will go back in and add the new books as I am reading them. I LOVE how this all came out.
What are you doing with your Google Classroom header? Anything special you can share?
Love this idea! I teach math and can put pictures of shapes or whatever we are currently working on!
ReplyDeleteOh! That's a great idea!
DeleteThis is such a fantastic idea! I just added pictures and posted it! Woohoo! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove it! I used pictures of what my kinder students have drawn about community helpers and friends. I'm hoping that will entice them to check out the Google Classroom more often!
ReplyDeleteThat is Awesome! I really love it. I was thinking of putting my students photos...but need to rethink due to privacy issues, but I love what you did. I just started using Google Classroom and that was on my To Do list. Thanks for Sharing!! I have a question, is there a way to change or add font to Classroom Stream, such as larger size, Bold, or Underline?
ReplyDeleteHi, the link isn't working? I'd love this but can't access it
ReplyDeleteMake sure you are signed on to your Google account. Then it will ask you to make a copy.
DeleteThis is the coolest, cutest, most AWESOME idea ever!! I love it! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words! I hope it finds a happy home on your Google Classroom :)
DeleteThanks for sharing this! I'm going to put my students' first day photos in this. I hope they love it.
ReplyDeleteI adore this idea!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I personalized ours with scaled down photos from throughout the year prior to our closure. It really helped warm up our distance learning space. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHello, I love your idea, Thank you
ReplyDeleteIt is not allowing me to download it though - is there another way?
I just asked how to upload the photo but I got it to work. Must have been doing something wrong the first time so disregard that question. I love the way it looks! I'm excited to have my kids see it on Monday.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie!
ReplyDeleteQuick question, I love the idea of keeping track of the books for students. My only question is, and you may not be able to answer it because Google can't so far but... how did you get your Google Theme to stay purple once you uploaded the photo? Mine keeps changing to orange or black and won't stay the blue I love so much! Thank you so much!