Gmail as a tool for schools

At our district we create Google/Gmail for all of our students starting in kindergarten, however we don't begin using the gmail/email portion itself until the students are in 4th grade. It seems that increasingly students need access to Google/Gmail accounts for logging into other useful student or AEA sponsored sites, which is why we start with the accounts that early.

One thing we do with students especially in 4th and 5th grade is teach them how to use email appropriately at school. We tell them that school email is for school communication and business only and teach them how to create appropriate emails depending on who they are communicating with. We consider email to be a 21st Century College and Career ready skill.

Having said that, we also give them tips and ideas for using the Gmail itself. I think in the future I will spend a little more time in settings, (I really like how  you can turn on UNDO SEND for an email) and helping them create contacts.