Dot & Line Issue 3

Issue 3
Jan. 2022

Winter
Edition

The Magic of Google Drawing

#OneWord2022

2022 Planners

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

They have a video explaining the purpose and benefit of choosing one word.

You see many people posting their One Word for the new year. But where did the One Word Challenge come from?

In 1999, Jon Gordon (The Energy Bus) co-wrote with Dan Britton & Jimmy Page One Word That Will Change Your Life.

The authors provide some templates you can use to commit to your One Word.

They encourage you to choose one word to focus on instead of a list of resolutions. Quoting the authors: "One Word creates clarity, power, passion and life-change. The simple power of One Word is that it impacts all six dimensions of your life – mental, physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, and financial."

Just select you template, type in your word, and download your poster.

also has some templates you can use to create your one word.

And for those who are struggling to find your One Word, BuzzFeed offers a quiz that will predict your One Word.

has a One Word grid you can use with your classes.

You may be thinking to yourself, what is her One Word. Well, I have a laundry list of things I still want to accomplish. All of them will require persistence, stepping out of my comfort zone, and not giving up. The word that embodies this for me is...

ENDURANCE

I LOVE the smell of books and one of my favorite "smell" memories is picking out a new planner for a new year. I kept a paper planner for many years and even after I transitioned to a digital planner, I still kept a bullet journal or paper planner. It became too much for me to have both so I eventually switched to Google Calendar and a digital planner and gave up my paper. I do miss the smell of that fresh from the bookstore planner though.

I am a huge fan of Notability. Not only do I write notes for class and personal notes to students, I also keep my digital planner there. Using a PDF with navigation, you can click on tabs and move from page to page. Notability is now free and you can load a pre-existing PDF planner to use. I offer a free planner when you sign up for my newsletter.

Free PDF Planner

Notability

The paid version of Notability also has a planner option with stickers. They have a sale going on right now if you want to subscribe for a year.

Paula at Slides Mania also offers Weekly and Annual Planner templates. You can download these as a PDF and use them in Notability as well. You can also just use them in Google Slides or PowerPoint.

Another fun option, if you like doodling is a bullet journal. I kept one for a number of years and enjoyed it. Things got busy for me and it became more of a chore than enjoyment, so it was time to give it up. Check out the hashtag from Instagram to see some amazing bullet journal examples.

Now if a paper planner is your thing, there are some super cool options. Two of my favorites (and these are not paid advertisements, just my favorites) are from Rad & Happy or Ditch That Textbook.

I recently participated in a Virtual Paint Night through Global GEG, presented by Emma Cottier. I love Google Drawing and use it to create all the time and creating a portrait was something on my Google Drawing bucket list. It was so much fun! Mel A. put together a video of some of the submissions. I have also linked the YouTube video from Global GEG is you want to try a digital portrait.

Here is my creation. My adult children told me I looked like Sid the Sloth or Chunk from the Goonies (LOL), but I thought it turned out ok.

Virtual Paint Night Creations

Emma shared some amazing portraits and landscapes in her presentation (link in video). You can also create your own custom images to use in a variety of ways. I have a whole presentation on things you can do with Google Drawing but here are a few blog posts if you would like to explore.

You can also make some really cool custom Bitmojis for use a digital stickers, correspondence, or activities.

And this image was created 100% in Google Drawing combined with a custom Bitmoji.

Google Drawing allows you to create some amazing things. I can't wait to see what you dream up.

Do you like Yahtzee? Alice Keeler has a Yahtzee game board on Google Sheets that you need to check out.

Getting Googley

Yahtzee Game Link

Google has some Applied Digital Skills lessons that are fun and applicable while at the same time teaching some useful digital skills. Here are a few they highlighted in December.

Google Tip

Have you ever closed a tab and immediately smacked your head because you didn't mean to close it? How about when you pass by a student who closes a tab as you approach? This little key combo will quickly restore tabs.

Command + Shift + T

Google Freebies