What is your vision for technology integration?

Photo Credit Brad Flickinger creative commons.org

At Spring Hill Elementary, there have been a number of recent changes that lead us to consider, What is your vision for technology integration?

This school year, SHE is fortunate to have a 1:1 student to mobile device ratio in grades K-5. What does this look like in the elementary classroom? There have been a number of studies which claim that providing each child in a school with a computing device will not only increase academic achievement, but has become an absolute necessity due to the nature of an ever-changing technological society (Sutton, 2015). Sutton (2015) shares our understanding that simply providing children with digital devices does not guarantee academic improvement, but it is the way in which teachers themselves embrace and utilize these resources that is the ultimate variable of success.

One argument for 1:1 initiatives in public schools is to foster experiences for students that have an authentic engagement with their learning that could take root through inquiry, be organized through project- or problem-based approaches, and be tailored to their own unique interests and experiences (Office of Educational Technology, 2019).

The Office of Educational Technology (2019) reports that this concept requires teachers to reconsider their role in the classroom to include risk-taking, the biggest of which is stepping back and becoming a facilitator of student learning. At the same time, they must also integrate new tools to empower learners as problem-solvers and risk-takers themselves.

For more information on What Is Successful Technology Integration? Visit www.edutopia.org.

littleBits Pro Library

Photo Credit Ultra-lab www.flickr.com/photos/62141688

Last fall, Spring Hill Elementary was awarded a WVDE SPARK grant to support STEM/ STEAM initiatives in West Virginia schools.  The grant was utilized to purchase the littleBits Pro Library as an integral feature of the reimagined library/ maker space at Spring Hill Elementary.  

John Spencer defines a maker space as "simply a space designed and dedicated to hands-on creativity."  This project helps to establish a space for the students of SHE that will foster the generation of ideas, problem-solving, ingenuity and innovation.  

Included in the maker space are enrichment opportunities for creating digital and physical products which support science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.  Other areas of impact include development of communication skills requiring listening, speaking, writing. and reading, design and creativity, and responsible digital technology citizenship.  

More making opportunities in schools leads to a maker mindset, which is essential to the 21st Century learning experience.  According to John Spencer, a maker mindset develops students skills to revise, pivot, change, and persevere.  By embedding a maker space within the library at Spring Hill Elementary, students will be engaged in creative thinking connected to content, experiencing a greater depth of knowledge, solving complex and real-world problems.

To read more about STEM in education, check out this excellent Forbes article, When STEM Becomes STEAM, We Can Change the Game featuring friend and colleague, Dr. Jenny Nash!

ABCya.com

It has been mentioned in the Instructional Committee Meeting that our primary students need to begin developing keyboarding skills.  ABCya.com is an excellent site with loads of educational computer activities that have been created or approved by certified school teachers. All educational games are free and provide a fun,  interactive way for children to learn.

ABCya.com has several activities that are perfectly suited for our beginning keyboarders.  See the collection at http://www.abcya.com/kids_typing_games.htm.  

Keyboarding Zoo encourages students in Grades K-2 to use their index or pointer fingers to match letters on the screen to their keyboards.  Uppercase letters, numbers and symbols are coming soon!

Cup Stacking- Keyboarding is a fun game for children to practice typing quickly. Stack and un-stack the cups by typing the keyboard characters on them. Children should try to use the home row ASDF JKL; while playing.  Cup Stacking- Keyboarding is recommended for Grades K-5.

Typing Rocket Junior is a fun keyboarding game for early elementary students. Kids have 3 minutes to type the letters on the rockets. The score is calculated by hits minus misses. Keyboarding practice has never been so fun!  Typing Rocket Junior is recommended for Grades K-2.

Typing Race is designed for students Grades 2-5.  The object of Typing Race is to drive as far as you can before running out of gas! Correctly enter the letters, numbers and punctuation marks to pass cars and earn gas. Bumping into cars will cause you to lose gas quickly. Typing Race is highly customizable - players can select from several different levels to focus on certain keys.

Do you remember Space Invaders?  Do you miss DOS?  Keyboard Invasion and Retro Typer are other highly customizable activities designed for Grades 2-5.  The retro looks and sounds may remind you of games that you used to practice keyboarding!

For Halloween, try Ghost Typing!  This engaging activity is designed for children of all ages to practice keyboarding. Players must keyboard the letters that are on the ghosts before they get too close! If the ghosts get too close the game is over! Ghost Typing is recommended for Grades 2-5.

Consider ABCya.com's other activities for use on your SMART Board.  Count money, learn to tell time, convert fractions to decimals, or build a bridge!  If you haven't discovered it yet, put this one on your go-to list!

Patriot Games: Measurement

Spring Hill Elementary and Marshall University have partnered to bring Patriot Games to our students! Throughout the 2012-13 school year, students will train for the games by participating in a variety of math activities that focus on the following skills:

• 2nd Six Weeks: Measurement

• 3rd Six Weeks: Geometry

• 4th Six Weeks: Speed (Fast Facts)

• 5th Six Weeks: Data & Statistics

• 6th Six Weeks: WESTEST II Review

At the end of each six weeks, grade levels will compete in the PATRIOT GAMES to determine who will be the World’s Greatest Mathletes!

There are many great resources available online for Measurement.  Below is a list of just a few of these great activities.  Collaborate with your Title I Math Coach, TIS, and other colleagues to organize activites for your classroom!  

Measurement Activities

PBS Kids:  Measurement Games; Interactive    AWESOME!

Measurement Game (Measure cm, in); Interactive Online
 
Can You See the Equator?  (PK-5); Online Media Integrated

Why is lb the Abbreviation for Pound?  (PK-5); Online Media Integrated

Is a Gob More than a Smidgen?  (PK-5); Online Media Integrated

What Does a Barometer Measure?  (PK-5); Online Media Integrated
Look at those Leaves!  (K-2)

Estimation and Measurement (K-2); Lesson Plan

Magnificent Measurement (K-2); Lesson Plan

Math and Measuring:  The Star Spangled Banner (K-2); Lesson Plan

Measuring Weather with Tools (2-5); Online Media Integrated
California Here We Come! (3-5); Lesson Plan, Collaborative Teams

Makeshift Measurements (3-5); Lesson Plan
Math and Measuring:  The Star Spangled Banner (3-5); Story Problems

My Measurements (3-5); Reproducable

iPad Apps FREE

Reading the Ruler– Learn to read inches and Metric rulers.

Measure Length- Tiny Chicken– Fundamentals of length measurement.

Interactive Telling Time Lite– Learn to set the time via interactive clocks.  
Telling Time Free– Input the time by the hour, ten minute, and minute.

Tell Time- Little Matchups Game– Match analog and digital clocks.  

Splash Math– Comprehensive content/ interactive problems for Grades 1-5.  

Add your favorite in the comments below!

Earthquake 2011

You may have felt the aftershock of an East Coast earthquake yesterday afternoon.  The August 23 earthquake was located just outside of Mineral, Virginia and measured 5.9 on the Richter Scale.  There has not been an earthquake this powerful in Virginia since 1897!

Your students may have questions regarding earthquakes and their nature.  BrainPOP provides a quick video titled Earthquakes and includes a great take-home Experiment for students to do with their family.  For the little guys, BrainPOP Jr. hosts Fast Land Changes that may be helpful in explaining Earthquakes to your PK-2 students.

National Geographic is another great resource for discussing Earthquakes with your students.  Earthquakes 101 is especially detailed for students in 4th and 5th grades.  This online resource includes Questions, Fast Facts, and Vocabulary related to Earthquakes.

Additional Resource
The Three Little Pigs in Earthquake Land K-2

Teachable Moment; Includes a 15 slide PowerPoint regarding yesterday's quake, Grade 5+

Back to School!

Welcome Back!

Teachers, keep in mind that our school subscribes to BrainPOP, BrainPOP Jr, and BrainPOP ESL.  This month's BrainPOP Spotlight:  Back to School.  Loads of quick video clips, graphic organizers, lesson plans, and more are available at www.brainpop.com.  If you have trouble logging in, or have forgotten the school password please Email sbarracl@access.k12.wv.us.

Please log on to my calendar at any time by clicking on the link Schedule Your TIS located in the right margin of this blog.  Simply open the calendar, scroll to find the date and time that you would like to schedule, and type your name in the space provided.  You should also indicate the desired amount of time that I will be in your classroom so that no others schedule me in at that time.  Please follow-up with a quick Email to let me know what you have in mind.  I would love to be included in your Team Meetings this year to discuss your needs and brainstorm ideas!  Let's get this party started!

Whole Brain Teaching

I have become inspired by this website. It goes along with what Rhonda and I learned last summer at the APL training but it really shows you how to implement it in your classroom. They have tons of free reading materials, videos, and posters for you to use in your classroom.

http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/

***Hint - go to the site from your iPad. Download a PDF, then open it in (top right) iBooks.