This summer I have been searching for things that will make it easier for my students and families to communicate, stay organized, and on the same page with me. Since we will be 100% Virtual to start the year, I want an EASY solution. In that search, I stumbled upon Google Sites....and I am in love!
Getting Started
Setting up a Google Site isn't super difficult. You have access to it (for FREE) in your Google Suite. That is the little waffle you see by your name at the top of the Google page. It is one of the options, just like Google Slides or Docs. After you choose a site (make sure you go to the NEW Google Sites), it is pretty much a blank slate with lots of layout options for you. I just started by playing around with what was there. I moved things around. I added things from the LAYOUTS menu. Once you get the hang of it, it is actually rather intuitive. Here is a video that walks you through setting up rather easily and clearly.
It was deciding the direction and focus of the site that had me stumped at first. I couldn't settle upon my desired outcome with the entire thing. Did I want it to service parents? Only a place for the kids? Replace my existing class website? Work hand in hand with Google Classroom? The answer was, in truth, all of those things. I wanted this to be a One Stop Shop if you will -- a classroom hub. Once that was figured out, I was off and running.
Cover Page
My site cover page simply introduces the two PORTALS that I wanted my families to be able to access. They are the STUDENT PORTAL and the PARENT PORTAL. They are not in the navigation bar, as I wanted them to truly be a portal to another place type of thing. You can see that at the top of the picture above. Here is a picture of how I set that up.
You can see I did Pages > Student Portal > Press 3 dots > Hide from Navigation. You can also see a visual of this here in my Instagram Highlights.
Due to the limited font and picture capabilities on Google, the Portal pictures were made in Power Point using a stock photos from Deposit Photos. I have an account there, so they did cost me a nominal fee to access. I am sure there are free stock photo sites that you can use though and achieve a similar look. The fonts are from A Primary Kind of Life.
Once I made the two picture (student and parent portal), I inserted them onto the page using the "Image" button on the Layout menu. I then made them clickable by highlighting them, pushing the link icon, and linking it to the hidden "Student Portal" page on the site.
Student Portal
Once the kids click STUDENT PORTAL, they will be taken to their main page. This is the page I intend for them to check daily. I want them to start here as their morning work so to speak. There are three sections. The first is a Daily Check-in (from Jennifer Findley) that will serve as a way for us to connect AND for attendance purposes.
The Daily Agenda is next. That is where the kids will see specifics on our learning goals and standards for the week. These are Google Files from Ladybug's Teacher Files. Since they are housed in Google when I update them in my Google Drive, they automatically update on my Google Site. My plan is to update them once a week, as all 5 days are there. I used the "Google Drive" button on the Layout section to embed these into the site. If a student needs a more close up look, just clicking on it will make it enlarge.
Finally, there is a link to our Google Classroom. That will take the kids to the actual work section to turn things in. As always, this is password protected, so I will also be keeping the Zoom link there.
At the bottom, there is a link to a secondary page that has extra practice links and above and beyond work for those kids who want "extra credit" or to take their learning further. I plan to update this throughout the year.
OK...that was information overload!! I will stop here for now so you can get this part set up. In Part 2, I will show you what I have on the Parent Portal page, including the links that are there. I will also show you the Amazing Work and Classroom Library sections.
So, with all of that so far, what questions do you have for me? I will try my best to answer them.
This is fabulous! I'm so excited to follow you and find out more!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Glad to have you along here for the Google Sites ride :)
DeleteReally nicely laid out - I think this will really help your students stay focused and be successful virtually.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteOur district is changing from Google Classroom to Canvas. Is this compatible with Canvas? I really like the thought of having a place for parents to go outside of student areas. My kiddos are LIFE Skills, so parents will always be in their section, as well. Is there a way to keep eyes out of other's information and work?
ReplyDeleteI do not know anything at all about Canvas, so I am not sure if it is compatible. Parents will always have access to their students' things, as they do so now (my parents can access Google Classroom, Schoology, etc...) but I teach elementary. I am not sure about older students.
DeleteHow did you make the "Mrs. Moorman's Class" photo???
ReplyDeleteI used a stock photo from Deposit Photos and placed a pic of my own classroom on the computer screen.
DeleteThank you so much! You have inspired me to do something similar. I am curious about what links you are providing in your parent portal! Will you be showing that, too? Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteYou can find info on the Parent Portal here https://www.teachinginroom6.com/2020/07/google-sites-for-virtual-learning-part.html
DeleteQuestion! Do parents/students have to have a Google account or be signed in to be able to access the site? This is so awesome!
ReplyDeleteThey do not have to have a Google account to access this. I have it set so anyone can access it.
DeleteThis is great! Thank you, I've already started on my own class website!
ReplyDeleteLove all this...can you talk more about your above and beyond section? What did you add there??
ReplyDeleteYou can find info about the Mastery Club on Mrs. Renz's website. And you can read about the Reading Olympics here https://www.teachinginroom6.com/2012/07/the-reading-olympics-basics.html
DeleteThe "im done now what page?" Is that a subpage of student portal or is it a link? Im a bit confused on accessing a subpage when it's hidden from navigation.
ReplyDeleteIt is a separate page that they can access through the button on the Student Portal only.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing! I've been working on my site these last two days totally inspired by you!
ReplyDeleteOh! I would love to see if when you are done :)
DeleteWhich font group from @primarykindoflife did you use?
ReplyDeleteThank you soo much!! I was looking for a solid way to organize things for parents and students. I would have never been able to do it without all of your detailed explanations. I really appreciate it!!
ReplyDeleteWhen your students check in daily do you have a new check in for each day? How do you update that per day?
ReplyDeleteNo. I have the form set so that the kids can respond multiple times. That eliminates the need to change the form daily.
DeleteHow do you set the form so the kids can respond multiple times?
DeleteThanks for sharing this! i am having trouble with the link to the portal. Do I have to make the page first and then link it or the portal graphic?
ReplyDeleteYes. Make the page on your site first. Then link to the Portal graphic.
DeleteI ❤ this (and all your stuff)! I was wondering if you would still use the daily check in if the students will be logging in for Zoom meetings?
ReplyDeleteYes. They will be doing both as sometimes during the Zoom I just get too busy to take attendance.
DeleteI love this, and I have been following your instructions to create my own classroom site! Thank you for sharing the steps! I have a question about site privacy. Is there a way to make the site viewable to only those who have the link/web address?
ReplyDeleteYes, that is an option.
DeleteThank you for sharing this resource. I have a question about your google classroom. Does your class ever visit your google classroom homepage or do they really only go there to view the assignments, turn them in, etc? Is the google site page your primary way for students to access assignments, content, etc? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat is the plan as of now.
DeleteI absolutely LOVE THIS! I was wondering if you could share where you got the picture of the laptop screen you used on the main page? thanks!
ReplyDeleteI got it on Deposit Photos, then added my own classroom picture and text to it.
DeleteHi Stephanie!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great resource! I have a question about how you use the Daily Checkin... I know there is one for each day. Do you have to go in and change it every day, or is there a way that we can assign one to each day? I'd appreciate your help with this part! <3
Tracy in Windsor CA
You can set the form so that students can respond more than once. That eliminates the need to have to change out the form each day.
DeleteI don't see where you can set the form to respond more than once....
DeleteI am so tech challenged and your tutorial has been a huge blessing - thanks you for walking me through this! I followed your examples and steps and have created the cover page and successfully created the student/parent portals. Would you care to please explain how you created the images/links etc., on the student portal page. Specifically, how did you create the clickable Check-in, Agenda, Today's Work boxes? I would be so grateful for any guidance. Thank you for sharing your talents!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the same boat on this question. I've got everything set up, but can't figure out how to create the clickable links to the things in the Portal. Will they click on the picture to bring them to the Check in/Agenda/Today's work? If so, how do you go about that?
DeleteThank you! A colleague and I have been working, and without an example it's been challenging. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise and making this seem manageable! :)
ReplyDelete-Rae
Hi, our grade level was thinking about using Google classroom to put up resources and assignments, what would you recommend, Google Classroom or Google Sites? Are there grading features on Google Sites too?
ReplyDeleteGoogle Sites is simply a website. It has no grading capability. I personally find it more organized than Classroom, but will be using both in my room next year. They will work in conjunction with each other.
DeleteThis is amazing! Thank you so much for writing these "How To" posts! I have two quick questions: how do you link up to Google Classroom and make it private?
ReplyDeleteGoogle Classroom requires you to sign in in general in order to access it, so it is inherently private.
DeleteThank you so much! This was extremely helpful!
ReplyDeleteIn deposit photos, did you mesh two photos together or was that the stock photo? If it was the stock photo, what is it called?
ReplyDeleteI am looking specifically at the white brick wall with the light bulbs. I know how to place the writing in powerpoint.
DeleteI love your site! I am having trouble getting the "home" button in the top right corner? Can you explain how you did that please :)
ReplyDeleteI love how you set up your Google Site! I am struggling with some of the same questions. My other question is how do you incorporate this with Schoology. Do students go to Schoology and go to the google site/classroom from there or do you insert google docs/slide assignments into Schoology? Thanks! I don't want to have too many places for kids/parents to go to!
ReplyDeleteHi there! This has been so helpful! How did you create the number buttons?
ReplyDeleteHello I have a question? Which program should I create my banner and buttons in?? Google sites or drawing. I just saw that you can change the buttons are link in drawing and it will update in Schoology.
ReplyDeleteHi! How do you link your google classroom to the student portal? I want them to click the link and go straight to their assignments home-page but I can only see a way to link each individual assignment at a time.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all you help. It has been priceless. Btw do you have the silver and gold Brochures available for the reading Olympics I’d greatly appreciate A link to the copy for those thank you good luck on your first day of school.
ReplyDeleteHow do you create the backgrounds you've shown? Bricks, hanging lights, plants, etc.? Thank you so much for sharing - you have made this new teaching world less scary!
ReplyDeleteYour work has been so inspiring and helpful as I begin my first year with Google Classroom. I appreciate you so willingly sharing everything.
ReplyDeleteI have a question about the Agenda page. When your student click on the link for each subject, do they see the whole week and just know to navigate to the correct slide?
I'd love to be able to update the file once on the weekend when I do my plans. Just want to make sure I'm envisioning it the right way.
Thanks!
Sera :)