Well, I just updated our class website! Ahh! Don't you love that feeling of making something better and more organized!? It makes me so happy when I see things improving!! This got me thinking though... How do you use technology in your classroom? A couple coworkers and myself were able to go to the MACUL (technology) conference. I have had so many ideas since then and I'm slowly starting to integrate more and more technology into my classroom. I already use lots of videos/songs for learning, as well as SMART board activities. Right now my students are using the computers during their centers. I'm always trying to think of new things to do that will help my class to run smoother as well as integrate technology! QR codes are the BEST! I have many books recoded with QR codes ready to be scanned. I learned at the MACUL conference an "extension" that you can have if you use google chrome as your web browser where you can make any page you are on into a QR code! Super helpful. I have attached all of our notes from the conference at the bottom of this blog! Make sure to take a look and find some new ideas! Just this week I have recorded my first video lesson for our STEM (STEAM) center. I decided to start small. If you look at the home page of my website you will see the words "this week" where I will be trying to record some lessons each week for students to follow along with lessons, repeat lessons as needed or listen to lessons when absent. This is my attempt at an in-class "flipped" class. To do this I used the explaineverything app (which I am NO expert at ... yet!) but I at least have my first video behind me!! :) Last year I also used plickers which I really like but I am trying to stay away from multiple choice questions for the kinders. I also really liked to create and use Kahoots! This is my current goal (after finishing more work on our class website). I would love to create Kahoots for some of our end of year assessments but I know they again will be multiple choice - not my favorite assessments. My tech goals for this week -Prep the class set of computers (ALL charged!) for a Kahoot for next week. -Create at least 3 Kahoots. -Video record 1 writing lesson. -Finish updating website Later goals/to do -Video record a lesson for teachers for our upcoming PLT Any other suggestions for use of technology in the classroom!?
Video of students working on STEM lesson. This is both my first time creating a video lesson and the first time my students have completed a video recorded lesson. Still looking for ways to make this better!
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Every year at the beginning of the year I ask my students what they would like to be when they grow up. Yes! In Kindergarten I'm already asking!! I always love to hear their answers; some don't know yet, some say something their parents or siblings do like "work at a bank" or "work at a store" and some have cute answers like "I want to be pretty" or "I want to be a mom/dad". I always learn so much about them & try to bring the things they are interested in, into our classroom setting.
This year, to my surprise, I had a handful of students that said that they would like to be a scientist when they grow up! This does not seem to be a very common career choice in a Kindergartners eyes so to hear this from 4 of my students got me, a science major, so excited to bring more science into my classroom this school year. After school one day I came home to my usual Ellen show where she had a guest on named Steve Spangler. In all honesty, the kids did not come to mind at first. The first thing I thought when I saw his science experiments (being the science nerd I am) was WOW! THAT WAS COOL! I was totally engaged! Then I quickly turned my brain back to my students (being the teacher nerd I am) and thought, how can I do this in my classroom? Ellen closed the segment by saying that Steve makes science kits for kids to do at home! I needed this for my little scientists in my classroom!! I asked my principal if we could get a kit for our class and he said yes! The students were SO excited! I cant wait to get the kits into our room & get my students asking questions, working together and really getting into their learning by experimenting! Check out these videos that got my students so ENGAGED & EXCITED about Science!!! |
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