30 Days of Google Classroom: A Guide for Future Educators

Day 21: Organizing Course Deadlines with Google Calendar – Keeping Students on Track

Introduction

Meeting deadlines is essential for student success, and Google Classroom integrates seamlessly with Google Calendar to help educators and students stay organized. By using Google Calendar, teachers can schedule assignments, set reminders, and ensure that students are aware of due dates.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to use Google Calendar with Google Classroom to keep your course structured and students on track.

How Google Classroom and Google Calendar Work Together

When you create a class in Google Classroom, a Google Calendar is automatically generated for that class. This calendar displays: ✔ Assignment due dates – Any assignment created in Classroom automatically appears.
✔ Class events – Schedule exams, presentations, or meetings.
✔ Google Meet links – Live sessions from Classroom are linked to Calendar events.
✔ Reminders for students – Students see deadlines and class events in their Google Calendar.

💡 Tip: Encourage students to check their Google Calendar regularly or enable notifications for upcoming deadlines.

How to Access and Use Google Calendar in Google Classroom

1. Viewing the Classroom Calendar

Open Google Classroom.
Click the Classwork tab.
In the upper right, click Google Calendar.
The class-specific calendar will open, showing all scheduled assignments.

💡 Tip: Students can access their calendar the same way or through the Google Calendar app.

2. Creating a Custom Event in Google Calendar

If you want to add extra events like study sessions or deadlines:

Open Google Calendar.
Click Create and select Event.
Enter the event title, date, and time.
Click Add guests and enter your students' emails (or share the link in Classroom).
(Optional) Add a Google Meet link for virtual meetings.
Click Save.

💡 Tip: Label events with categories like Homework, Exam, or Group Work for better organization.

Helping Students Use Google Calendar for Time Management

To keep students organized, encourage them to: ✔ Enable Calendar notifications – Receive email or phone reminders before deadlines.
✔ Use color-coding – Differentiate between assignments, exams, and personal events.
✔ Sync with mobile devices – Ensure they can check their schedule on the go.
✔ Set personal reminders – Add study blocks to prepare for upcoming assignments.

💡 Tip: Show students how to set weekly planning routines using their Google Calendar.

Best Practices for Teachers

✔ Schedule assignments early – Give students ample time to prepare.
✔ Use recurring events – Set weekly office hours or discussion sessions.
✔ Monitor student engagement – Check if students are consistently submitting work on time.
✔ Send reminders – Post announcements about important deadlines.
✔ Integrate with Google Tasks – Track your own to-dos alongside class deadlines.

What’s Next?

Now that your class is organized with Google Calendar, in Day 22, we’ll explore using Jamboard for interactive learning to boost student engagement.

How do you use Google Calendar to manage your class? Share your strategies in the comments!