Our School Community
Google classroom updates; review
By Molly Ann O’Malley
This school year Google Classroom has updated, but it is main features have stayed the same. Google is continually updating its programming and it surveys teacher users and asks them to provide feedback about the site, and app.
One important update this year is the new class work folder. This is a folder is where class work is assigned. In this folder there are sections. (ex. Problem of the day, Today's assignments etc.) these can help students and teachers with organization. The topics are class specific and teacher designed. This is a pro of the Google Classroom update. Another pro is the ability for teachers to be able to post announcements on the main tab or stream. This allows the announcement to be separated from other content that has been posted.
Google Classroom newest updated makes the look of the website more modern. It still has the classwork tab, but this update adds a calendar for due dates for assignments. If you have not tried this feature you can do so by going to the classwork tab, near the top there is a calendar button and when you click it it’ll bring you to a different tab with the calendar version of Classroom.
Along with the pro’s there are many cons. One of the cons of the new update is the about tab isn't there anymore, and some teachers used that a lot, and it was useful for many things such as weblinks. Some users find the updates to Google Classroom unnecessary and think this update had changed the ease of access. Some of my cluster classmates and teachers said, “What happened to Google Classroom.” Or another said, “It looks so boring now, and they got rid of some of the backgrounds.” One said, “Did Google Classroom update or is my computer glitching,”
This brings us to the last con of the latest Google Classroom update, we didn’t know it was coming! Google did not communicate with users that it was making changes or what those changes would be. It would be better for Google to share planned update timelines and what the new features are in advance, so teachers can plan and students can know what to expect for the future.
In conclusion, Google has updated a lot in 2018/19 and there are lots of pros and cons. Some changes have been helpful and I believe some of the updates are not helpful. What side are you on? Now that we (students and teachers) find ourselves facing the reality that there is little we can do to prevent updates, we can be proactive and tell teachers to give feedback to Google. By contacting Google about specific features included in the update, we can let Google know how they are doing and we can help improve the user experience.
This school year Google Classroom has updated, but it is main features have stayed the same. Google is continually updating its programming and it surveys teacher users and asks them to provide feedback about the site, and app.
One important update this year is the new class work folder. This is a folder is where class work is assigned. In this folder there are sections. (ex. Problem of the day, Today's assignments etc.) these can help students and teachers with organization. The topics are class specific and teacher designed. This is a pro of the Google Classroom update. Another pro is the ability for teachers to be able to post announcements on the main tab or stream. This allows the announcement to be separated from other content that has been posted.
Google Classroom newest updated makes the look of the website more modern. It still has the classwork tab, but this update adds a calendar for due dates for assignments. If you have not tried this feature you can do so by going to the classwork tab, near the top there is a calendar button and when you click it it’ll bring you to a different tab with the calendar version of Classroom.
Along with the pro’s there are many cons. One of the cons of the new update is the about tab isn't there anymore, and some teachers used that a lot, and it was useful for many things such as weblinks. Some users find the updates to Google Classroom unnecessary and think this update had changed the ease of access. Some of my cluster classmates and teachers said, “What happened to Google Classroom.” Or another said, “It looks so boring now, and they got rid of some of the backgrounds.” One said, “Did Google Classroom update or is my computer glitching,”
This brings us to the last con of the latest Google Classroom update, we didn’t know it was coming! Google did not communicate with users that it was making changes or what those changes would be. It would be better for Google to share planned update timelines and what the new features are in advance, so teachers can plan and students can know what to expect for the future.
In conclusion, Google has updated a lot in 2018/19 and there are lots of pros and cons. Some changes have been helpful and I believe some of the updates are not helpful. What side are you on? Now that we (students and teachers) find ourselves facing the reality that there is little we can do to prevent updates, we can be proactive and tell teachers to give feedback to Google. By contacting Google about specific features included in the update, we can let Google know how they are doing and we can help improve the user experience.
Our Mrs. Marlowe, Social Studies
By MollyAnn O’Mailey
This interview is between Mrs. Marlowe and I. During this interview I learned a lot about her and I hope you do too. In this news article I asked her several questions about her job, career, and future. But I also asked questions about her life and activities.
The first question I asked was, “What job did you have before coming to Washington?” Mrs. Marlowe answered with, “Before Washington I taught at Israel Putnam for 8 years, but before that I worked at Casimir Pulaski for 4 years.” Her previous answer was intriguing and I wanted to learn more. I asked, “Why did you leave that job?” and she answered with, I had been teaching elementary school for a long time and still enjoyed working with that age group. I wanted a change and wanted to work with older students, I also love social studies and the fact that all day, I get to help students all day about something so interesting is exciting for me.”
This next question has been one that I try to ask in all my interviews, that question is, “What is one of your strengths? And one of your weaknesses?” Her answer sure did impress me, “One of my strengths is being able to talk to almost anyone of any age and be able to have great conversations. And my weakness is procrastination, so I try to help my students not be procrastinators and I want school to be easier for them than it was for me growing up.”
The last job related question I asked was, “Where do you see yourself in 3 years?” Her answer was, “I would hope that I would still be teaching here, plus perhaps having a second child at home, and being settled in my family’s new home, since we are selling our condo and moving to a new home.” Her answer to the previous questions was very cool and interesting to learn about, but these were only the questions about her career.
Mrs. Marlowe's home life is interesting too, I asked, “What do you like to do over your summers?” This answer surprised me the most out of all her answers, her answer was, “ I love to garden, I love to hike and take photographs of things in nature, like bugs, flowers, and sunsets. I don't like going to the beach because I get sunburned very easily. This summer, I am looking forward to spending time with my son because he will be more active than last summer.” To be honest, I was not expecting for her to tell me that she didn’t like the beach, but that was really interesting.
The next question that I asked her was, “How would your friends describe you?” and I was really curious about this one. Her answer was, “talkative, disorganized, but driven and very nurturing, I am especially known for my love of animals.” I thought that her friends are right, I think she is very driven too. I asked, “What is one interesting fact about yourself?” And this extremely surprised me, “I never ate an egg until I was in college.” when I heard this I initially thought that she was joking, but it turns out she wasn’t.
My final question for Mrs. Marlowe was, “Is there anything else you would like to tell us that you haven't already?” she answered with, “I hope that my students read this and I want them to know that they have someone in there corner, as in me and I want them to know that I am always trying to help. I want to help my students become the best version of themselves they can be.”
During this interview I learned a lot about Mrs.Marlowe. I learned that she is very driven and cares about every single one of her students and her previous students. Mrs. Marlowe was a teacher at my elementary school and we have known each other for a long time and yet I still learned a lot more about her from this interview and I hope you did as well.
This interview is between Mrs. Marlowe and I. During this interview I learned a lot about her and I hope you do too. In this news article I asked her several questions about her job, career, and future. But I also asked questions about her life and activities.
The first question I asked was, “What job did you have before coming to Washington?” Mrs. Marlowe answered with, “Before Washington I taught at Israel Putnam for 8 years, but before that I worked at Casimir Pulaski for 4 years.” Her previous answer was intriguing and I wanted to learn more. I asked, “Why did you leave that job?” and she answered with, I had been teaching elementary school for a long time and still enjoyed working with that age group. I wanted a change and wanted to work with older students, I also love social studies and the fact that all day, I get to help students all day about something so interesting is exciting for me.”
This next question has been one that I try to ask in all my interviews, that question is, “What is one of your strengths? And one of your weaknesses?” Her answer sure did impress me, “One of my strengths is being able to talk to almost anyone of any age and be able to have great conversations. And my weakness is procrastination, so I try to help my students not be procrastinators and I want school to be easier for them than it was for me growing up.”
The last job related question I asked was, “Where do you see yourself in 3 years?” Her answer was, “I would hope that I would still be teaching here, plus perhaps having a second child at home, and being settled in my family’s new home, since we are selling our condo and moving to a new home.” Her answer to the previous questions was very cool and interesting to learn about, but these were only the questions about her career.
Mrs. Marlowe's home life is interesting too, I asked, “What do you like to do over your summers?” This answer surprised me the most out of all her answers, her answer was, “ I love to garden, I love to hike and take photographs of things in nature, like bugs, flowers, and sunsets. I don't like going to the beach because I get sunburned very easily. This summer, I am looking forward to spending time with my son because he will be more active than last summer.” To be honest, I was not expecting for her to tell me that she didn’t like the beach, but that was really interesting.
The next question that I asked her was, “How would your friends describe you?” and I was really curious about this one. Her answer was, “talkative, disorganized, but driven and very nurturing, I am especially known for my love of animals.” I thought that her friends are right, I think she is very driven too. I asked, “What is one interesting fact about yourself?” And this extremely surprised me, “I never ate an egg until I was in college.” when I heard this I initially thought that she was joking, but it turns out she wasn’t.
My final question for Mrs. Marlowe was, “Is there anything else you would like to tell us that you haven't already?” she answered with, “I hope that my students read this and I want them to know that they have someone in there corner, as in me and I want them to know that I am always trying to help. I want to help my students become the best version of themselves they can be.”
During this interview I learned a lot about Mrs.Marlowe. I learned that she is very driven and cares about every single one of her students and her previous students. Mrs. Marlowe was a teacher at my elementary school and we have known each other for a long time and yet I still learned a lot more about her from this interview and I hope you did as well.
Getting to know Mrs. Kennedy
By Max Caplan
Recently, I was given the opportunity to interview Cluster 7’s newest addition, math teacher Mrs. Kennedy. During our interview, Mrs. Kennedy said she had never been interviewed before and as a side note this made me happy as a reporter!
Q: Why did you come to Washington Middle school to teach?
A: I heard that Washington was a fun place to teach.
Q: What elementary school did you come from?
A: I taught at Hanover Elementary School as a reading specialist for 20 years. I also attended Hanover Elementary as a student.
Q: Do you enjoy teaching math?
A: Because when I was a little girl, I was good at math.
Q: Why did you choose to teach middle school math?
A: My reading position at the elementary school was eliminated. It made me sad and concerned for the students who needed my help in reading.
Q: Do you have a favorite type of math to teach?
A: I like to teach about equations and expressions; algebra
Q: How do you encourage kids?
A: I tell them it’s okay to make mistakes and we learn from them.
Q: Is there any advice you would give to another teacher?
A: As long as they let the children know that they care about them everything will work out.
Q: In your opinion, what is the best way to teach?
A: The best way to teach is to let the children be a part in solving the problem.
Q: What do you think would have been different if you were still a reading teacher?
A: I think I would still have been able to help teachers and students be better at reading and teaching reading.
Q: What do you think of learning/teaching through the Chromebooks?
A: I think that using Chromebooks is a good thing because we need to stay with the time.
Q:What is your favorite color?
A: My favorite colors are red and purple.
Recently, I was given the opportunity to interview Cluster 7’s newest addition, math teacher Mrs. Kennedy. During our interview, Mrs. Kennedy said she had never been interviewed before and as a side note this made me happy as a reporter!
Q: Why did you come to Washington Middle school to teach?
A: I heard that Washington was a fun place to teach.
Q: What elementary school did you come from?
A: I taught at Hanover Elementary School as a reading specialist for 20 years. I also attended Hanover Elementary as a student.
Q: Do you enjoy teaching math?
A: Because when I was a little girl, I was good at math.
Q: Why did you choose to teach middle school math?
A: My reading position at the elementary school was eliminated. It made me sad and concerned for the students who needed my help in reading.
Q: Do you have a favorite type of math to teach?
A: I like to teach about equations and expressions; algebra
Q: How do you encourage kids?
A: I tell them it’s okay to make mistakes and we learn from them.
Q: Is there any advice you would give to another teacher?
A: As long as they let the children know that they care about them everything will work out.
Q: In your opinion, what is the best way to teach?
A: The best way to teach is to let the children be a part in solving the problem.
Q: What do you think would have been different if you were still a reading teacher?
A: I think I would still have been able to help teachers and students be better at reading and teaching reading.
Q: What do you think of learning/teaching through the Chromebooks?
A: I think that using Chromebooks is a good thing because we need to stay with the time.
Q:What is your favorite color?
A: My favorite colors are red and purple.