Problem of Practice: How can we increase the retention of student vocabulary from year to year through the use of mobile devices?
District: Glen Cove
School: Gribbin Elementary
Facilitator: Maria Esposito
Principal: Francine Santoro
Teachers: Antoinette Hatzopoulos, Nicole Henn, Kaitlyn Hutter, Jessica McKenna, Kristin Wolf
Using Google Slides, participating teachers created a “Teacher Vocabulary Toolkit.” The toolkit includes varied technological tools that promote the definition, academic, and real life connection to the word of the month. The toolkit has been designed to offer opportunities for engagement, instruction, skill building, and assessment. In reviewing Star Data, students can benefit from vocabulary reinforcement/enrichment in a fun and interactive way. Other technology tools reviewed were Boom Cards for classes, and video integration. The action research plan involves piloting the toolkit with a teacher for one month. This includes incorporating the activities associated with the word of the month into the teacher's lessons. The vocabulary word activities can be incorporated into academic subject areas and can also be used as an interdisciplinary approach. The toolkit is a virtual classroom with one word selected for each month. There are 10 google slides representing one slide for each vocabulary chosen. Development of the words and activities will be an ongoing task that will be assigned to a committee on site. All teachers in the school are encouraged to participate in the toolkit. Teacher support and training will be administered from the Smart Grant teachers before the end of the school year 2021/22.
