Have you checked out Jamboard? It’s a Google App that can be very helpful as you teach small groups. Each child can be on their own slide working independently and you can toggle back and forth to see how each child is doing. You don’t even need to share your screen!
In this video, you will see me using Jamboard to teach a small group Making Words lesson over Zoom. (If you don’t know Making Words by Patricia Cunningham, you should definitely check it out! It’s a multi-level, hands on, interactive spelling activity that reenforces phonics skills and strategies.)
Things to Keep in Mind:
- You open up Jamboard by clicking on the Google apps waffle in any of the Google apps. (You can see mine above at the top of my email screen. It’s the grid of 9 squares in the far right hand corner. Scroll down until you see a funky looking J that’s labeled Jamboard.)
- Create a slide for each child in the group. Label the slide with the child’s name.
- Add anything you would like for the kids to manipulate. In the first part of my lesson, I used the sticky note feature to create letter tiles. In the second part of my lesson, I used the sticky note feature to create word cards.
- Share the Jamboard with the group by putting the link in your Zoom chat.
- Instruct your students to find the slide with their name on it.
- Begin instruction!
The best part about this is that children can work independently AND you can see what they’re doing in real time. The boards are simple to make and the kids love it!
Don’t forget to check out my video to see how it works!
