Day 9: Using Topics to Keep Your Course Organized – Best Practices for Lesson Structure

30 Days of Google Classroom: A Guide for Future Educators

Day 9: Using Topics to Keep Your Course Organized – Best Practices for Lesson Structure

Introduction

A well-organized Google Classroom helps students easily find assignments, materials, and resources. Using Topics to structure your course ensures clarity and reduces confusion, leading to a smoother learning experience.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to use Topics to organize content effectively and share best practices for lesson structure.

1. What Are Topics in Google Classroom?

Topics allow teachers to categorize assignments, materials, and quizzes into thematic sections. This structure helps students quickly locate what they need without scrolling through an unorganized list.

✔ Acts like a folder system for lessons, assignments, and resources.
✔ Improves navigation by grouping related content together.
✔ Reduces student frustration by keeping coursework structured.
✔ Makes lesson planning easier for educators.

💡 Tip: Think of Topics as digital unit dividers in your online classroom.

2. How to Create and Use Topics in Google Classroom

Creating a Topic

  1. Open Google Classroom and go to the Classwork tab.
  2. Click Create > Topic.
  3. Enter a name (e.g., “Week 1: Introduction” or “Unit 2: Geometry”).
  4. Click Add.

Organizing Assignments Under a Topic

  1. When creating a new assignment, material, or quiz, select the Topic dropdown menu.
  2. Choose an existing Topic or create a new one.
  3. Click Post to place it under the selected Topic.

💡 Tip: Use drag and drop to rearrange Topics in the Classwork tab.

3. Best Practices for Using Topics

📌 Organize by Weeks or Units

  • Example: “Week 1: Introduction”, “Week 2: Research Skills”.
  • Helps students follow a structured timeline.

📌 Group by Subject or Theme

  • Example: “Reading Assignments”, “Science Labs”, “Exam Prep”.
  • Makes it easy to locate specific types of work.

📌 Keep Topic Names Clear & Consistent

  • Use short and recognizable labels like “Unit 3: Fractions” instead of “Lesson 12-15 Math”.
  • Helps students quickly find relevant materials.

📌 Archive Older Topics When Needed

  • Hide outdated topics to keep the Classwork tab uncluttered.
  • Encourage students to use the “View All” button to find past lessons.

💡 Tip: Number topics (e.g., 01, 02, 03) so they appear in chronological order.

4. Using Topics for Different Learning Styles

✔ For visual learners – Use clear Topic labels and color-code resources in Google Drive.
✔ For sequential learners – Organize Topics in a logical progression (Week 1, Week 2, etc.).
✔ For independent learners – Label Topics like “Extra Practice” or “Bonus Activities” for self-paced study.

💡 Tip: Create a “Class Resources” Topic with permanent reference materials (e.g., syllabus, rubrics, tech guides).

5. What’s Next?

Now that you’ve structured your course with Topics, in Day 10, we’ll explore tracking student progress and monitoring submissions efficiently.

How do you organize your Google Classroom Topics? Share your strategies in the comments!

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