Elementary TIC Members

Why do you use technology in your classroom?

I teach my students that technology has an important purpose in our daily journey to be lifelong learners. We talk about how we can use it to learn new things and to teach others what we have learned. With my students understanding this, the sky’s the limit! I love how technology can allow them to collaborate, be creative, and share their learning journey with myself and others.

Assume you have sufficient wifi and access to devices for your students. What are the top three apps/sites/resources you consider to be "must haves" for your students and why?

Seesaw has been my number one tool for about three years now. It is a digital portfolio that not only stores their artifacts, but also allows them to share with me, family, and even the community and beyond through the blog feature. I also love Epic! and PebbleGo for digital fiction and non-fiction reading for my lessons or for self-exploration to learn about what interests them. Epic! has many features where I can create a list of specific books and then send them to the kids to see. They love receiving “mail” from me!

What message would you like to share with teachers about technology integration?

It is important for technology use to be purposeful. We need to think, “Is this tool going to allow them to learn, collaborate, or teach others in a way that isn’t possible without it?”

Why do you use technology in your classroom?

I use technology in my classroom to engage my students in their own learning. I also use technology as a tool to promote learning and extend learning. Technology gives students the opportunity to grow their brains in several different ways. Having technology in my classroom gives myself, my students, and my student's parents the opportunity to communicate daily, assess, and provide feedback.

Assume you have sufficient wifi and access to devices for your students. What are the top three apps/sites/resources you consider to be "must haves" for your students and why?

SeeSaw-Daily communication, feedback and assessment

RazKids-Reinforcement of reading skills

Math Apps-Reinforcement and challenge for student math skills

What message would you like to share with teachers about technology integration?

Technology integration gives educators the opportunity to have multiple avenues for student learning, assessment, and instruction across all levels of curriculum. By integrating technology in our classrooms, we are preparing our students for their digital future.

Why do you use technology in your classroom?

I use technology in my classroom as a learning tool to engage/motivate the students, to help meet their diverse needs, and to allow them endless learning possibilities.

Assume you have sufficient wifi and access to devices for your students. What are the top three apps/sites/resources you consider to be "must haves" for your students and why?

Seesaw- This is a student driven digital portfolio that my class uses in all subjects. Students post their published written pieces and give feedback on each other's work. They draw digital pictures to explain topics in science and math, and respond to reading assignments. They post videos and demonstrate their learning. I can assess students and keep private notes on each child within Seesaw. It's a great communication tool as well. I can message parents individually or send whole class messages. Students and parents enjoy seeing how much they've grown! And I LOVE that it's all in one place!

XtraMath.org- My students hop on XtraMath each morning and drill their basic facts. It helps students build their speed and accuracy and is tailored to their individual needs. They only drill the problems they haven't mastered. When students pass addition, it automatically e-mails a student certificate with the student's name on it and advances the student to subtraction, multiplication, and/or division. Teachers can change programs and level difficulty easily and can track students' growth. Students may log-on at home using the FREE internet site or the $5 app.

DoInk- This green screen app has taken my students' published pieces to a whole new level. Students can choose a background picture (ie: any photo or drawing) and they can insert themselves into the background. Their finished videos are informational and entertaining and can be uploaded to Seesaw.

What message would you like to share with teachers about technology integration?

Technology integration doesn't need to be stressful. You might be surprised how much is already part of our ELA and Math learning plans. If you are using technology in your classroom, share your ideas with colleagues. If you are not using technology, start small, ask questions, and give one or two new things a try.

Why do you use technology in your classroom?

I like to use technology to help engage students into learning through 21st Century Skills. With minimal instruction, students can learn to locate information from many resources around the world and demonstrate their knowledge by producing amazing presentations.

Assume you have sufficient wifi and access to devices for your students. What are the top three apps/sites/resources you consider to be "must haves" for your students and why?

Seesaw, DoInk, and DKFindout

What message would you like to share with teachers about technology integration?

Technology resources should be seamlessly integrated as engaging tools to learn, explain thinking, and present knowledge, not just as a special treat to use once in a while.

Why do you use technology in your classroom?

I use technology in the classroom because it engages students and empowers them to do their own research. It also provides ways to share, collaborate, and create that would not be possible otherwise.

Assume you have sufficient wifi and access to devices for your students. What are the top three apps/sites/resources you consider to be "must haves" for your students and why?

Seesaw is a very versatile site, allowing for creating videos, posting writing, collaborating, whiteboard demonstration, etc.. It is the most used app in my classroom. Our second must have app is Quizlet because it really helps kids master vocabulary. The third must have app for us is Front Row. While i-Ready has taken the place of Front Row for us in Math, we still find the ELA offerings very useful. You can assign articles for different purposes and assess understanding.

What message would you like to share with teachers about technology integration?

You are probably already doing more technology integration than you think! Also, students are becoming more savvy every day and usually catch on to new technology very quickly!

Why do you use technology in your classroom?

The world IS technology! It is another facet to our learning environment. The use of technology in education, or anywhere for that matter, isn't a choice; it's a must. There are so many awesome apps, sites, and resources out there that are not only fun, but very useful in many ways.

Assume you have sufficient wifi and access to devices for your students. What are the top three apps/sites/resources you consider to be "must haves" for your students and why?

Google Apps, Code.org, and MathAntics.com are three that I use almost daily. Our 5th graders are so used to using anything Google that all of its features are easily incorporated into the classroom. Google Classroom is a favorite, especially when combined with Google Forms for daily formative assessments that are easily exported into a spreadsheet. All of this technology wouldn't be possible without coding. Code.org is a great introduction into coding and can inspire and excite ANY child! And for math class, Math Antics is an awesome way to preview and review pretty much any math concept. I used to make my own videos, but now I don't have to!

What message would you like to share with teachers about technology integration?

I'm a huge advocate for purposefully using technology; not just to use it. Looking through our standards and learning goals is the place to start. Integrating technology is like anything else, you just have to jump in and start. If you're having problems picking something, ask a colleague or the TIC member in your building.

Why do you use technology in your classroom?

I use technology because it's a way to engage and challenge students while simultaneously supporting learning goals. I love watching students come to life as they are using a particular piece of technology; often they will learn it more quickly than I do.

Assume you have sufficient wifi and access to devices for your students. What are the top three apps/sites/resources you consider to be "must haves" for your students and why?

Google Apps--there is just so much that it has to offer. Students as young as 3rd grade are able to access and navigate it without much difficulty.

Code.org--great self-paced coding curriculum that teaches students the basics of computer programming. More importantly, it forces them to solve problems and persevere through new learning environments.

QR code generator/reader--great way to quickly share whatever information you like in an accessible manner. Anyone with the app can quickly pull it up at a later time. Perfect for stations, displays, etc..

What message would you like to share with teachers about technology integration?

Don't be afraid to jump in and give something new a try, even if you aren't 100% convinced that it will work perfectly. Letting students watch us adapt a situation to overcome an initial failure, or change plans mid-stream can be just as valuable for them as if our original plan goes off without a hitch.

As always, let your friendly librarian know if you are interested in trying a new piece of tech--we love to help out!

Why do you use technology in your classroom?

Our students are surrounded by technology. It is our responsibility as educators to embrace technology and teach students to use it effectively for learning, not just entertainment. Our students will need technology skills throughout their education and beyond.

Assume you have sufficient wifi and access to devices for your students. What are the top three apps/sites/resources you consider to be "must haves" for your students and why?

1. Databases (Grolier, World Book, Pebble Go, etc.)- extensive, accurate, age-appropriate research resources

2. DoInk- create engaging green screen projects

3. Seesaw- connect with families easily, enable students to reflect on their own learning in an engaging way

What message would you like to share with teachers about technology integration?

Start small and build from there. Use your librarians, TIC members, and Anne to help. Be fearless. Things might not go exactly as planned and that is okay!