Tips for Managing Your Gmail Inbox

There is always too much email.  When you sit down to read and act on the emails, it can feel like you are drowning and will never get your head above water.  Fortunately, there are some ways to clean up your inbox and get it down to zero.  Or if not zero, something more manageable.

Search
Gmail is created by Google.  In my opinion, Google is the best search tool out there.  And, the best part about Gmail is that it can be fully searched using Google's search engine.  

You can search and find anything in your Gmail account by using the search box at the top of the Gmail page.  And if you click on the little arrow at the right side of the search box, you will be able to do some pretty cool advanced searches, like search for emails that have specific words, have an attachment, or are within a specific date range.  (You can also use search words instead of clicking on the arrow to get to the advanced search.  Check out this PDF Gmail Search Cheat Sheet from Alice Keeler.) So go ahead, and file away those emails using labels or the archive tool, because you can easily search for your emails later.  

Trash vs. Archive
In a G Suite for Education account, you have UNLIMITED free storage.  So there is no need to delete your emails.  And, if you delete an email, it will permanently disappear in 30 days, so you won't be able to find it later.  So instead of deleting your emails, ARCHIVE them.  In Gmail, archive basically means taking your email out of your inbox.  You can place it in a labeled "folder", or just click archive, and it will take it out of your inbox.  You will then be able to find it by searching, looking in your "folders", or in your "All Mail".  You can also archive multiple emails at once by clicking on the little check box at the top of your screen, then clicking on archive.   

Labels
Gmail has "labels" instead of "folders".   A folder system, like in many other email programs, only allows an email to be in one folder at a time.  Gmail uses labels instead.  One email can have multiple labels, and you can find that email by looking in the different "folders" with that label on the left of your screen.  So use those labels to your advantage to organize your mail.  And you can create filters which will automatically label (based on certain criteria) emails when you receive them, saving you some time. 

1. Check the box next to an email (or multiple emails).  
2. Click on the label icon.
3. Check all the boxes of the labels you want for that email (or group of emails).
4. Or, create a new label.

Note:  When you add a label to an email, it does not automatically move the email out of your inbox.  You must archive it.  OR, you can click on the folder next to the label to move it.  (But if you choose the folder, you can only move it to that one folder.)  

Filters
Filters can automate actions for you.  You can mark all emails with certain key words in the subject area, text, or from specific people as read, or have them skip your inbox, or be automatically marked with certain labels.  Here are instructions on how to set this up.  

Conversation View
The default view of emails is that they are grouped together in a conversation.  So all emails and their replies are linked together in a thread.  For example, if you send me an email, then I reply to it, and you send me another reply, all emails will show up as one conversation and take up one line in your inbox.  This will help keep conversations together and you can easily see all communication regarding that topic in one place.  When you are ready to archive a conversation, all emails in that thread will be archived.  (If you had the emails separate, you would need to archive each email individually.)  To make sure your emails are set to conversation view, go to the gear in the top right corner of your gmail.  Choose settings.  Scroll down, and turn Conversation View on.

Add Emails to your Calendar
Many times I keep emails in my inbox because they relate to a meeting or event that is coming up.  Gmail allows you to create an event from a gmail, and the text of that email will be added into the details of the event.  Once I add an email to a calendar event, I can archive the email, and still find all of the relevant information in the details of the calendar event.  To add an email to a calendar event, follow the steps below:

1. Click on "More" at the top of the email.  
2. Choose "Create event".
3. The title of the event will be the subject of the email.  You can edit this.
4. Set the correct date and time of the event.
5. The description will include the text of the email.  If the email was long, it may not include all of the text.  Just go back to the email, and copy and paste the entire email into this box.  
6. The event will automatically include all people who the email was sent to as guests.  When creating an event, you may want to delete the guests so they all don't get email invites.  
7. Press Save.

Create a Task from your Email
Sometimes an email doesn't represent an event that you want to place on your calendar, but it might be something you need to add to your to do list.  You can add emails to your Google Task list, and a link to the email will be added to the task.  Then you can go ahead and archive your email, because you'll be able to see it by clicking on the link in your task.  Below are instructions on how to add an email to a task:

1. Click on "More" above the email.
2. Click "Add to Tasks".
3. It will create a task and your task window will open at the bottom right of your screen.  If you click on the arrow to the right of the task you can edit it and add a due date.
4. You can change the name of the task.  It defaults to the subject of the email.
5. You can pick a due date.
6. Add in notes.
7. The link to the related email allows you to open the email that may contain info, links, etc.
8. You will see the tasks in your Google calendar on the date the task is due.  Make sure you turned on the "Tasks" calendar in your "My Calendar" list.
9. When clicking on the task in your calendar, you will see the notes and can click on the related email link to go back to the email.

Hopefully these tips will help you get your inbox down to zero!  

If you have any other tips or suggestions, please add it to the comments. 

Breakout Edu Tips

I first learned about Breakout Edu at the Ed Tech Team's Google Apps Summit in July 2015.  I was excited to try it out with my own class, but I had just left the classroom.  I felt the idea of using Breakouts is such a great engaging way to provide content to students, as a intro to a unit or as a review, while also allowing students to practice communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills.  I purchased a box, and decided to use it to train teachers in my district.  I set up a few games and tested it out with teachers, but they were always small groups.  Returning to the classroom this year, I finally got to run Breakouts in a real classroom full of high school students, and I learned a lot through trial and error about how to set things up to run with a larger class size.  I will share some of the things that I have found work for me.

• I bought four kits, so I could break up my classes into groups of around 8-9 students.  I found that to keep the most students engaged, I need them to work in smaller groups.  I researched the ticket system, and it seemed a little to complicated for me.  
• I color code EVERYTHING.  One kit and all of it's handouts and materials are all the same color.  Green, Red, Yellow, or Blue.  I bought reams of the four colors of cardstock.  
• I laminate everything.  I could not live with out my laminator, card stock, and paper cutter.  Laminating protects it from students, and also allows me to easily reuse things in the future.
  
• I give each group a set of wet erase markers, so they can write on the laminated papers.  They have to clean and dry them at the end of each period.  This saves me the time of having to replace papers each period if they just used pen/pencil.
• All materials for a group are placed on a colored tray which goes on their table, inside of an envelope, with a label that includes their color and a list all the materials that should be returned to the envelope.  Sticker Dots make great labels for items too.
• I create an envelope with all things that go into the locked boxes, and that envelope has a list of materials and other things I may need to set up.  There is another envelope with the answers to puzzles.  All of these envelopes for a game are kept together so I can reuse them in the future.
• I create a new Lock Parking Lot for each game, displaying the locks used in each game.  It's color coded, laminated, and in the same color box.  When students open a lock, I have them put the lock on the tracker, still open, still on the combo.  They can turn the lock upside down, so other's can't peek.  This makes it way easier for me to put everything back together during the quick passing period between classes.  It also prevents some types of locks to being accidentally reset to an unknown combination.
• I create a Lock Tracker Sheet (one of each color) that goes on a clipboard (matching color) for each team.  I make a new one for each game, that shows the locks that they will have to solve.  When they think they have solved a clue, they need to write the combo and reason for the combo on the tracker.  Then, they can go to the locks.  I had a problem of students just hanging out and trying random combinations.  The lock tracker helped.
• I came up with a Locksmith role, with a name tag, on a lanyard (color coded, of
  
  course).  Each team chooses a locksmith, and they are the only student that can go to the lock and try to open it.  They must take the clipboard with them, and can only try that code.  I had too many students at the locks, trying random codes, and this has helped, in addition to using the lock tracker sheet.
• When a team finishes, I reset all their materials and locks.  Resetting four boxes at once is hard, so I need to work quickly and take advantage of a team finishing early.
• I like to mix students up, so I use little table cards at the center of each table.  I have
  
  
  four at a desk, and they each have a color or shape.  I split up those teams by color, and students go to the assigned color's box work area.  I can use it for other groupings or to assign roles using the color or shapes during other activities.  I made them using bamboo coasters, printed cardstock, mod podge and modpodge sealer,
  
  and velcro.
• I create a "cheat sheet" for the lab using Google Drawings.  It shows all the boxes, where the locks are, and the clues/combos.  It helps me set up, and remember what everything is for when students ask for clues. It also helps me as I am making my own breakouts, or using and modifying ones I find online.   
• I space out the four boxes at one side of my room, using a variety of things - Chromebook cart, rolling cart, teacher demo station, etc.  I want to easily monitor the locks, but space them out far enough so their aren't any wandering eyes.  This also helps me reset things between classes, because everything is on one side of the room.  
  
• I need to have games where the clues aren't directly linear.  I need a bunch of "active clues" so groups can break up and tackle things in small sub groups.  If all 8 or 9 students were working on one clue at once, students can get bored or restless.  I have found some linear games that I modified so that my students had access to multiple puzzles at once.
• Reset all of your locks after each game to a generic code.  Write it down somewhere safe.

My students have really enjoyed the Breakout activities we have done this school year.  It's so amazing to see so much creativity and critical thinking.  I am doing my last one for this school year tomorrow, and have so many ideas for how to incorporate more into my classes next year.  

My Classroom Vision and Mission Statements

At today’s welcome back staff meeting, my administrators asked the staff to think of our own personal vision and mission statement for our classroom.  After being out of the classroom for the past two years, and returning to teaching biology this year, I’ve really been thinking about my role in education and my goals for this year.  I’ve thought about what changes I want to make since I was last in the classroom and this was a great opportunity to really start formulating a plan.   

This is what I’ve come up with so far.  It is a work in progress.  I think the 21st Century Learner idea is getting a little old and overused, but these are skills I really want my students to leave my class with.

My Vision Statement: My students will be 21st Century learners.  They will be able to think critically about the curriculum and how it relates to their lives outside of the classroom. They will be able to communicate effectively with their peers, their teachers, the community, and the world.  They will be able to collaborate and work well with others.  And they will be creative in sharing what they have learned and their passions.

My Mission Statement:The mission of Ms. Hero’s classroom is to provide a learning environment where all students will succeed, are a valued part of the community, are prepared for their futures, and become lifelong learners.

You may have noticed that I didn’t specifically mention technology in my vision or mission. While I am a huge fan of integrating technology in my classroom, and have spent the last two years as an Instructional Technology Specialist, tech isn’t my main focus.  My focus in the classroom is and has always been the students and their learning and growth. Technology will be a big part of my classroom, but technology is just a tool that when used at the right time, can help students become 21st century learners.