Google Classroom Online: How to Use in Your Homeschool

Hey, just so you know … This post includes affiliate links. That means if you use them to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. You can read my full affiliate disclosure HERE.

As a homeschool mom, you're likely always looking for ways to make your life easier. One way you can do that is by using Google Classroom online to help you plan and manage your homeschool.

With so many options these days for learning online, it can be tricky to juggle organizing all of the digital materials and websites, not to mention sharing daily lesson plans with your kids. If you haven't set up a Google Classroom yet, you'll find that it's pretty straightforward and powerful tool that can help you do these things (and more!).

If you already use a digital curriculum that has built-in assignments, scheduling and grading features, you may not need a system like this. But even then, there are still some great ways you can incorporate Google Classroom online into your child's learning experience.

What exactly is Google Classroom?

Google Classroom online is a free learning management system that allows you to create digital classrooms. You can use it to post assignments, allow your students to submit work back to you, and keep track of your homeschool schedule.

Although it was originally planned for use in public schools, many homeschooling families are now reaping the benefits of the online platform. Homeschool parents are utilizing Google Classroom online both create and assign lessons to their kids, and plan their homeschool activities.

It's very user-friendly, for parents and kids, which means that it is a great tool to use to begin fostering independence with schoolwork. Everything your kids need could potentially be right in your Google Classroom, ready to go when they log in for the day.

How do I set up Google Classroom Online?

If you haven't tried setting up a Google Classroom yet, why not give it a try now and see just how easy it is? Let's go over a step-by-step set up, and some Google Classroom basics, then I'll share some ways you might like to use it in your homeschool.

1. Create or log-in to your Google account.

First, make sure you have a google account (if you don't, head to the Google Account sign in page and click “Create Account”).

2. Sign in to Google Classroom.

Next, go to Google Classroom and sign in with your Google account. On the pop-up box that asks whether or not you are using this in a classroom, make sure you verify you're not.

3. Create your first class.

You're now going to create a class! There are a lot of different ways you can do this. I just created a class with our homeschool name (see below), but you could create a class for each subject in your homeschool, or you could create a class for each of your kids. It's really up to you, and you can create as many classrooms as you want.

You have to add the name of your class, but I left the optional fields blank.

4. Invite your students.

Once you have your class set up, you will need to invite students (a.k.a. your kids) to your classroom. They will need their own Google accounts as well. You can add individual students to your online classroom via their Google account, drop them an invite link, or give them a class code to use to join your class. You'll find the class code once you click into the class you just created.

5. Create your first assignment.

When you're ready to create your first assignment, you'll find it's very intuitive. You can use Google Classroom right away to create assignments, quizzes, and more, and keep everything well-organized.

Click into your classroom, then click on the “Classwork” tab at the top, then the blue “+ Create” button to get started!

5 Ways to Use Google Classroom Online for Homeschooling

If you're a homeschool parent that likes to put together your own curriculum and pull from a variety of digital content, Google Classroom might be a great option for you. You also might really love using it to organize supplemental class materials, videos, and printables.

Here are 5 specific ways to try using Google Classroom to manage your homeschool:

1. Create a digital homeschool schedule.

As a homeschooler, I know that one of the hardest parts of homeschooling is keeping track of everything. There are so many moving parts – classes, field trips, appointments, and extracurricular activities – and it can be difficult to keep everything straight.

With Google Classroom online, you can create a digital learning schedule that your family can access from anywhere. Google automatically creates a calendar for each class, and every time you add a new assignment with due dates, it will automatically show up on the class Google Calendar. When your kids pull up their calendars, they can see exactly what their schedule is for the day.

To find your calendar, click here from the “classwork” tab:

And bonus – the links on the calendar will be click-able, so your kids can jump right into their assignment from their calendar.

2. Post assignments.

Google Classroom online allows you to create and post assignments. This can be helpful if you want to give your kids some independence in their learning. You can post the assignment in the classroom and then your child can complete the assignment and submit it to you. You can then give feedback on the assignment and track their progress.

To get started, click on the blue “Create” button when you're on the “classwork” tab, then choose “Assignment”. From there, you'll add details, select which kids you want to send the assignment to, the due date, and how many points the assignment is worth.

You can add in YouTube links and create files using Google apps such as Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Sheets — anything that will help your child complete the assignment. Having these Google tools integrated is super handy.

I'd recommend using the “Topic” section to organize assignments by subject/course. Simply create a topic for each course in your homeschool. However, everyone has a different way they like to organize, so you might find something that works better for you!

3. Track progress.

After you've created an assignment, you can click on it to view the completion status. In order for your kids to complete an assignment, they will have to click to turn it in. You can also email or make notes on student work all in one place, and send the assignment back to them (with notes and/or a grade).

If you like to assign points or grades in your homeschool, you can do it all digitally through Google Classroom with the customizable grading system. Clicking on the gear icon in the top right corner will bring you to your settings, and you can adjust the grade settings here.

4. Manage communication if you have older kids.

The ‘Stream' tab is the first thing that you and your students will see after logging on. This is essentially a bulletin board, where you can post messages or share links and documents. When you post a new assignment, it will also show up here. You can set the visibility on your posts to be seen by the whole class, or just selected students.

Google Classroom allows you to manage communication between you and your kids about assignments, quizzes, what to do next, how they did in the previous assignment, etc. This can be helpful if you want to keep the lines of communication open between you and your older kids, like your preteens or teens.

5. Go paperless.

The ability to add links to your assignments means you can easily manage all of that “printable” educational content you have.

Hopefully, you are organizing those suckers into Google Drive when you purchase or download them; this makes it really easy to upload your printables into your Google Classroom. And if you aren't already keeping track of your printables with Airtable, you might want to start – pick up my free template here.

Your kids will be able to easily access the Google Drive files when they get their assignments for the day, and they can use their preferred app to work on any worksheets on the computer without having to print them out.

And if you're ever away from home, you can still access Google Classroom online from any internet-connected mobile devices, without having to lug around worksheets or books. You'll surely be impressed by how convenient and easy it is to use!

These are just a few ways that you can use Google Classroom online to manage your homeschool. Try out these tips and see how they can help you in your homeschool journey!

What else can I do with Google Classroom Online?

In addition to creating assignments and organizing learning resources, there are a few other ways you might like to use Google Classroom for homeschooling.

Create Quiz Assignments

If you would like to create a quiz for your kids to evaluate their learning, it's easy to do! This feature will create a quiz through Google Forms, and you input your own questions and answers. You have the option to make it a graded quiz or not.

Create a Question

You can choose this option if you have quick check-in questions you'd like your kids to answer. They can be short answer or multiple choice questions.

Assign Material

You might not use this one as much if you are adding all of the information to your individual assignments, but you could use this to assign reading material, videos, or something of that nature to your kids.

Create Your Own Unit Studies

With the ability to add links, YouTube videos, and more with just a click, using Google Classroom can be a great tool if you like to create your own unit studies in your homeschool. Simply create a Topic (your unit), and add assignments and resources as you go! It's a great way to plan and organize your resources.

If you are just getting started with online learning and this is your first time using online tools in your homeschool, Google Classroom can be a great intro to navigating digital resources. Just start slow with one class, one lesson at a time – and have fun!

Frequently Asked Questions about Google Classroom for Homeschooling

How much is it?

A Google Classroom account is free! Anyone can use it, all you'll need is a personal account through Google, which is also a free service. Your kids will need Google accounts as well.

Which curricula work best with Google Classroom?

Many curriculum publishers now include digital elements (ebooks, audio files, etc.), which make them very easy to integrate with Google Classroom.

Online curricula and classes work well because you can easily copy, paste, and insert links and assignments for your kids into Google Classroom to keep them organized. However, not every curriculum will be a good fit, and you may find you might not teach an entire course through Google Classroom, but rather use it to manage your homeschool and extra resources.

If you're looking for new online curriculum options, make sure you check out my Online Homeschool Curriculum Directory.

Can I add my spouse to Google Classroom to help manage?

Yep! Click on “people”, then “add teachers”.

Use Google Classroom Online to Manage Your Homeschool

Are you looking for new ways to manage your homeschool this school year? Google Classroom can definitely help! From creating and sharing assignments to monitoring student progress, Google Classroom has a lot to offer.

Have you tried using this digital classroom to manage your homeschool? What tips do you have for other parents? Let me know in the comments below!

Need a way to keep track of all your digital homeschool files, curriculum, and online courses?

Create a Digital Homeschool Inventory List.

Sign up to receive your Digital Homeschool Inventory Template

Related Posts

• How to Make a Timeline Online {Easy Tools to Use}
• How to Homeschool Online for Free
• 20 Best Online Homeschool Programs Families Love

Want some techie homeschooling tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for weekly-ish emails from me.

Techie Homeschool Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can read my full affiliate disclosure HERE.