Spotlight

November 19, 2019

By Rose Irungu

Jaclyn Santili is an ELA teacher at Mid Level Learning center (MLLC). Ms. Santili is deeply passionate about creating a positive experience and learning environment for students placed at MLLC. She works alongside the rest of the staff, led by Principal Aundra Bohanon, to create meaningful learning for her students.

As she prepares for changes in her own life, Ms. Santili seeks to create processes to maintain continuity and progress while she is away. By creating these processes, she is helping students to walk their individual learning paths and providing leadership to other educators attempting to do the same.

When asked to share a little about her goals, Jaclyn expressed the following:

I want to flip my classroom to prepare for maternity leave and keep up with the changing enrollment of students. I want to structure the class so that no matter when students join the class, they will be on track with our goals.

One of my goals is for each student to have twelve quality grades, no matter how long he or she has been here. Google Classroom gives me the flexibility to create a self-paced environment. Students can work on their own assignments when they get here. In many settings, a student cannot go back to a project after the due date, but I have streamlined the classroom so that they can go back and work on a project at any time.

The data provided in Google Classroom is the proof in the pudding. That data allows the home campus teacher to see the student’s progress while at MLLC. It takes a little time to set up communication or collaboration with the home campus teacher, but the student can also show their progress to their teacher when they return to their campus.

Another goal I have is for them to learn about themselves and what triggers their behavior and put that in writing. We are currently learning about love languages. Students can click the link in their Google Classroom and complete the love language quizzes privately. The students can be honest and open, knowing that I am the only one that will see their results. I hope that the students recognize that when some needs are not met, it can trigger some behaviors, and once they are aware, they can control those behaviors.

Students leaving MLLC usually write a letter to their home campus advocating for themselves. These letters are housed in my Google Classroom. They ask that their teachers and fellow classmates not judge them; they are changing and have grown during their time at MLLC. They are asking to be loved. If you would like to see a letter from one of your students, contact me at Jaclyn.Santili@fwisd.org.

Tamar Hyatt is a first grade teacher at West Handley Elementary School. She is passionate about integrating technology into her instruction with her first graders. Ms. Hyatt recently applied for, and won, the Fort Worth ISD Tech Idol. Here’s what Ms. Hyatt had to say about the Tech Idol journey:

1. What is the importance of technology in the classroom?

Technology is very important in the classroom. Some days, I feel like I have an additional teacher in the room, especially through video instruction and adaptive software. I can reach more students at the same time and track their progress so much faster than with traditional methods. It allows me to monitor and adjust my teaching in real time and to provide differentiated instruction to ensure that I am meeting the needs of every student. My students are engaged and motivated to learn. At the present time, children are born into the world of technology. It is so natural to them to click and tap on things. They will also need these skills to perform and compete in the real world at some point. As educators, I feel that it is very important that we help students to further improve their skills and knowledge by using technology effectively in the classroom.

2. How do you use technology in the classroom?

My students are still very young, so I spend time teaching them the appropriate terminology and how to use different tools and software. I also teach explicit digital citizenship lessons so that they understand how to be safe when using technology. Beyond that, I regularly use the station rotation model of blended learning to give students a variety of ways to use technology. For example, I may deliver a whole group lesson via Nearpod, an interactive slideshow presentation, or flipchart. Then, students break into groups according to their needs. Some of those stations may include working on the computer using adaptive software, reading eBooks and responding online through Flipgrid, learning a new concept or reviewing a concept online through video created by the teacher, or creating a product/completing an online assignment to demonstrate understanding. There is always a teacher station where I am working directly with students. Sometimes, we are using technology at the teacher station, like using a magnetic letters app on the iPad to make words or review sight words. Everyone knows that when they are working on technology tasks, they can still get help directly from me, if necessary, or go to Google Classroom and use our help and resources links to see helpful videos and documents to keep them on track.

3. What made you want to compete for Tech Idol?

Initially, I was unaware that I had been nominated by a colleague, so I was really surprised when I received the message. I decided that participating in the contest would be a worthwhile venture because it would challenge me as an educator to stick to my goal of seeking meaningful ways to integrate technology in the content areas. Another reason is that I was so proud of how well my students had progressed since the beginning of the school year, as far as being able to use technology effectively. I felt that it would be a great opportunity to grow as a professional and for my students to showcase their abilities.

4. Now that you have won Tech Idol, what is next for you?

I'm always looking for opportunities to learn something new or improve. I am still actively searching for new tips and tricks to help me continue to grow and use technology effectively across the content areas. I'm currently enrolled in several online courses offered by the Educational Technology Department so that I can gain more knowledge and earn more great classroom incentives. Some of my goals include using BreakoutEDU games, finding more time for makerspace activities, and increasing opportunities for students to create using technology.