updated 1/23
Have you considered google classroom for speech therapy?
Yes, google classroom has benefits for SLPs, especially for assigning homework. I recently set classrooms up for my older students as a place to assign homework for teletherapy. (At this time there is no limit on the number of classrooms you can set up). It’s a work in progress but I wish I’d done it when I was in a brick and mortar setting too! In the past, I would find myself spending way too much time getting homework assignments together for my students. If you are a teletherapist, you know the drill: find the activity, locate the email addresses, explain in an email or a note which sections of the document the students should complete, add a link if needed….it can be as much work as planning for the actual therapy session! This was a similar scenario when I was a brick and mortar SLP!
The term “google classroom” can be confusing to some. I do my actual therapy sessions on a HIPAA compliant platform-Zoom. I only use google classroom to give assignments. In other words, google “classroom” is not a live, online classroom. Here are some benefits I have found to having a google classroom for homework.
1. Google Classroom can be one stop for your assignments!
As a teletherapist, when I am done with a session, I can go to the google classroom classroom for my student and assign the student homework, (“announce something to your class”) even adding a due date to it. Most of my students are already familiar with google classroom so it makes it easy for them too. If I don’t have time at the end of our session, I can tell them to check google classroom later for the assignment! I only use google classroom for a handful of students so I have an individual classroom set up for each student. I then check back with students during my individual sessions to discuss the assignment.
2. Google Classroom helps us get organized!
In the classwork section, you can organize your assignments by topics, making them easier for you to find. For example, I’ve organized mine by Speech, Language and Social Skills.
3. You can create assignments in google drive too!
Google classroom is great for SLPs that love to make their own assignments. You can create assignments for your speech therapy students. You can upload files from your computer or google drive. You can also make up a quick assignment with a youtube video or simply include a link to another web site and specify your specific homework instructions. There is also the option to create a quiz. This works great for making speech and language assignments or actual quizzes to measure progress on language goals.
4. Rules and Procedures:
You can upload classroom rules, teletherapy procedures, notifications and any other information from your drive that might be helpful for speech therapy students to access. If a student or parent requests clarification on a procedure, you can direct them back to their google classroom for speech!
6. One-stop for learning tools:
Upload graphic organizers, study skills tips, and other tools that might be helpful to your individual students. Refer students back to them when they are having issues revolving around study skills.
7. Summer Homework or Home Programs:
You can have a section of summer homework for your students to complete over breaks. I am working on having a variety of summer articulation programs uploaded to my google drive so it will be easy for me to assign them in the spring!
8. Boom Cards Integration:
Don’t forget-you can integrate boom cards into your google classroom too. You might also find this past post on google apps or boom cards helpful!
9. Setting up a google classroom is easy! Check out my instructional video!
Does setting up a google classroom for speech homework sound like a good idea to you? I promise-it’s so easy! I’ve even made a video that explains how to set up a google classroom and how to include homework in it! If you find it helpful, please leave some feedback on the TPT website!
10. Create assignments in google classroom!
Once you have your google classroom set up, you will be ready to create assignments! Check out my free 8 minute tutorial on how to create assignments for your google classroom!
This blog post on using Kami (free chrome app) to assign homework that can be completed online might be helpful too!
Need Help? Here is the link to the help page for google classroom!
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Do you do this for groups or do you have a classroom for each individual
Indiividual.
How do you do this? To my understanding/research, there is no way to hide the students’ names. So if I made a classroom, all my students would be able to see who is on my caseload – which isn’t allowed. HELP! Thanks!
Marissa, Each student is in an individual classroom. I only use it for a few students.
Donna,
How do you set up Google Classroom so that your students cannot see the names of all the other students in speech therapy (protect confidentiality). I’m thinking the only way is to put each individual student in his/her own class (with only that student as a member of the class), thus having dozens of classes total.
I want to use Google Classroom as a way to communicate with and provide assignments to my Speech students who are home during the Covid-19 school closure weeks, but it would be a confidentiality breach if they could see the identities of my other students. Please comment and/or clarify my understanding of this.
Hello Kari, I only use google classroom for a handful of students in individual classrooms. It is my understanding that that is the only way to protect confidentiality. Also, this might be helpful to you: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1_YKhZg-BuMpLzgljStgNx76eK0fdwe92nTWyTYzXdxMhFiQwd7-gi0j4 Donna
I’m the speech teacher and I would love to set up google classroom for my students. However, in order to be HIPPA compliant, I don’t know want them to be visible to each other.
I know there are ways to restrict students from posting and commenting. What about hiding them from each other all together?
Any chance you know about this?
Hi Diana, I put each student in their own classroom. I only use it for my older students at this time.
I’m the speech teacher and I would love to set up google classroom for my students. However, in order to be HIPAA compliant, I don’t know want them to be visible to each other.
I know there are ways to restrict students from posting and commenting. What about hiding them from each other all together?
Any chance you know about this?
Diana, I have my students in individual classrooms so confidentiality is not an issue. Related to your question about posting/sharing: have you checked the settings? This might be helpful too: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1_YKhZg-BuMpLzgljStgNx76eK0fdwe92nTWyTYzXdxMhFiQwd7-gi0j4 Donna
I was just added as a co-teacher to each classroom and then I can communicate privately with my speech students individually and privately, while keeping the teacher in the loop and keeping the communication between staff open!
Thanks for sharing this helpful tip Jamie. If anyone else has tips, please share them in the comments.
Jamie. How do you send things privately to students? By the email feature or clicking and sending to just one student?
Tess, you can either email it directly to them (email feature) or email them the link. Donna
I know you said that you set one up individually for a student? How many students do you use this for? What age level are these students? What type of skills do you focus on within a classroom ( ie attic, social, etc.)?
Hi Kelly,
I wrote this blog post before COVID-19 hit the US. I currently use it for 4 students, MS and HS ages that I also see on a teletherapy platrom, Zoom. I use it for artic, language and social skills. Donna
I work in early childhood and was thinking of setting up a classroom for my parents to access to print worksheets and see videos I direct them to of me modeling the skills. Kind of a one stop shop. Do the parents need to have a Gmail account to access? I thought about making them the student since my students are only 3 and 4? Also if I set it up under my school account it appears since they are not “ students” then they can’t access since it’s under my school email address. Do you know of anyone who has used it in this way?
HI Jamie,
FYI: Our school google classroom will not let us add any outside email accounts. I tried it with my personal gmail account and it will not let me add it as a student. So this will not work for parents from my school. I was hoping you had found a way to give parents access for the little ones. oh well 🙂
Ronda
Thank you for your comment, Ronda!
our school district was able to change the district settings so that we can accept emails other than gmail…..
Try seesaw for the little ones. It also translates into parent home languages.
Hi Jamie,
What a great idea! As long as you don’t share any child-specific information, I think it would be great! Parents would need a gmail account. I have not heard of anyone using it this way but I love the idea! Good luck!
Donna
Many of the teletherapy regulations have been relaxed due to COVID-19. Therefore, you probably don’t need to worry too too much about the platforms, at least for now if you are showing a good faith effort to be as confidential as you can. You can read more here:
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1_YKhZg-BuMpLzgljStgNx76eK0fdwe92nTWyTYzXdxMhFiQwd7-gi0j4
Yes!
Hi Donna,
I’m a speech-language pathologist at a rural high school. I’ve been using Google Classroom for over 2 years now. I set up a “classroom” for each one of my students on my caseload. I invite their case manager, ed techs, parents and anyone else involved in their IEP. I use it as a “speech folder” and it’s a great place to store graphic organizers, cue cards, visual schedules, etc. so they can access them at any time and others working with them can see and use the items as well. I find it’s great for generalizing strategies and getting teachers/ ed techs more involved.
I also use the stream to email the students and this way I have a running record of all my contact with them. I no longer have an email account with thousands of emails to search through if I need to review one or revisit it.
It’s also a great way to communicate with the case manager of the the IEP and have the goals handy, along with accommodations and modifications on a separate document for each teacher to have for quick access. I find most teachers struggle to know each student’s modifications and therefore don’t always use them.
Another thing you can use it for is data collection if you need an ed tech or teacher to track a goal for you. It keeps all your records handy in one place. Since you only have one student for a “classroom”, everything is confidential!
I’ve uploaded so many pdf’s since we’ve gone to distance learning recently. I’ve added each kids speech schedule via Zoom or whatever platform you are using to the classroom cover through settings too! I’ve created assignments through Google Docs and you can have a live chat on the side of the document if you’re not on video with them. The possibilities are endless! Thanks for sharing. I feel we SLP’s don’t take advantage of the most obvious tech tools some times.
Lisa,
Such great ideas, thank you for sharing. I especially like the one about using the email stream to maintain contact records! Donna
Lisa, this sounds amazing! How many students are you servicing at this time in this manner? I would love to be able to do this.
You can add 30 classrooms per day so to make one for my caseload of 45 it took 2 days to set them up. It is more work to do it this way, when assigning a slide set. I have to put it in multiple classrooms.
While in a Google Meet with a student, can I screen share materials that are already saved in their Google Classroom for additional home practice, so that we both see the materials, and both see each other?
Sue,
I don’t use google meet but if it has the screen sharing feature, you should be able to pull up the documents and screenshare them. Donna
Hi Donna,
Does one need to have a school account to use Google Classroom?
Fran
SLP in private practice
Hi Fran, You need to be affiliated with a primary, secondary or higher education institution. Donna