Enhance Your Teaching with Google Slides

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Importance of Google Slides for Teachers 2.1. Creating Daily Teaching Slides 2.2. Saving Time with Custom Templates
3. Understanding the Custom Theme Builder 3.1. Accessing Google Slides 3.2. Exploring the Default Template 3.3. Editing the Theme 3.3.1. Updating Fonts and Colors 3.3.2. Modifying Backgrounds 3.3.3. Adding Text Boxes and Titles
4. Creating a Personalized Daily Slide Template 4.1. Choosing Fonts and Layouts 4.2. Adding Subject-Specific Slides 4.3. Inserting Word Art and Images 4.4. Including Text Boxes for Easy Editing
5. Tips and Tricks for Using Google Slides 5.1. Adding Videos and Images 5.2. Customizing Slides for Different Days 5.3. Renaming and Importing Themes
6. Conclusion

The Importance of Google Slides for Teachers 👩‍🏫📚

Google Slides is a versatile tool that has become indispensable for teachers, offering numerous ways to enhance instruction and engage students. One particularly effective way of utilizing Google Slides is by creating daily teaching slides. These personalized slides allow teachers to follow along with their lessons throughout the day, providing structure and visual aids for effective teaching. However, creating these slides from scratch can be time-consuming. Thankfully, there's a shortcut that can save teachers valuable time—the custom theme builder in Google Slides.

Understanding the Custom Theme Builder

Accessing Google Slides

To begin using the custom theme builder, open Google Slides by clicking on the Google app launcher in the upper right corner of your home screen or by typing "slides.new" into your address bar. Upon opening a new Google Slide, you will see the default template on the right-hand side.

Exploring the Default Template

The default template provided by Google Slides may not align with your preferred style or content area. The fonts, colors, and layout may not be suitable for your needs. Instead of manually adjusting each slide, you can edit the theme itself using the custom theme builder.

Editing the Theme

By editing the theme using the custom theme builder, any changes made to the first theme slide will automatically update across all slide layouts. Begin by navigating to the "View" tab and selecting "Theme Builder." This will allow you to customize various elements, such as fonts and colors, to match your personal style and teaching requirements.

Updating Fonts and Colors

When editing the theme, you can select your desired fonts for titles and body text. Choose fonts that are visually appealing and easy to read. Additionally, you can customize text colors to make your slides more engaging. Consider using different colors and fonts for various sections or subjects to add variety and visual interest.

Modifying Backgrounds

To further personalize your daily slides, you can change the background color of each slide within the theme. This allows you to create a cohesive and visually pleasing theme for different subjects or time slots. Get creative with your choices and experiment with color combinations to find the perfect look for your teaching style.

Adding Text Boxes and Titles

To ensure your slides are ready for easy editing during lesson planning, incorporate text boxes into the layout. These clickable placeholders make it convenient for teachers to add and edit content, such as titles and body text, without modifying the overall theme. By planning ahead and adding these placeholders, you can save considerable time when preparing your lessons.

Creating a Personalized Daily Slide Template

With the custom theme builder, you can create a personalized daily slide template that is tailored to your style and content areas. Start by choosing the fonts, layout, and colors that best align with your teaching preferences. Consider resizing and positioning text boxes and placeholders according to your desired layout. For instance, you may want to allocate space for images or videos alongside text boxes for a more interactive learning experience. As you plan your slides, add titles for each subject area or time of day to facilitate efficient organization.

Tips and Tricks for Using Google Slides

Once you have created your personalized daily slide template, you can further enhance your teaching with these tips and tricks:

• Adding Videos and Images: Utilize the functionality of Google Slides to incorporate videos and images into your daily slides. This can be especially effective for brain break slides or subject-specific slides that require visual aids.
• Customizing Slides for Different Days: Leave some slides blank, such as the morning meeting and brain break slides, as these may require different styles or formats depending on the day. This allows flexibility in adapting your slides to various teaching scenarios.
• Renaming and Importing Themes: After finalizing your daily slide template, rename it to something memorable and easily distinguishable. This will make it convenient for you to locate and use the template whenever you plan your lessons. Additionally, you can import themes into new Google Slides by selecting the "Import Theme" option, ensuring consistent use of your personalized template.

Conclusion

Google Slides offers teachers an efficient and customizable platform for creating daily teaching slides. By utilizing the custom theme builder, teachers can save time by creating personalized templates that align with their teaching style and content areas. Incorporating various features, such as fonts, colors, text boxes, and placeholders, enhances the organization and visual appeal of the slides. With the ability to add videos, images, and customize slides for different days, teachers can deliver engaging and effective lessons using Google Slides.