Integrating Technology in an Elementary Classroom

Subject: Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Math
Grade: 4
Technology tools: Computer, Projector, Interactive Whiteboard
Tools used: PowerPoint, Interactive website
Activity type: Lesson, assessment, project, research

This week in reading I will be using Spelling City in Literacy First stations for Words Their Way word sort practice.

I also use my classroom computers for student research on NC history, geography, etc. The students Google search and compare researched information to other sites as well as what their teammates found.

I use a listening station in Literacy First stations and this week they are listening to Roald Dahl read Fantastic Mr. Fox.

In whole group, I will use the SMART Board for viewing videos of JFK to go along with our Weekly Reader. We will Google search and project Google images of Oswald, Ruby, and Maria Shriver.

Other websites I will visit to connect with the Weekly Reader are http://www.dinosaurfact.net/ and http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/index.jsp.

Also, I will use it in math to project our textbook and homework practice book as well as real world math problems in the beginning of each lesson (these are interactive PowerPoint presentations generally used to introduce the lesson). I will use “Mall Math” from Lakeshore which reviews decimals, fractions and percents on the SMART Board using an interactive game and real world flyers. 

Lastly, and most cool of all, I will be using the Zoomy this week for Science. We are studying systems of the body and I will use the handheld digital microscope to project examples of striated, smooth and cardiac muscle from their text book. We will also take a close look at our skin using the Zoomy!



Danielle Jackson,  Longview Elementary

Using technology tools to reach all students - every day!

Subject: Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies
Grade: 3
Technology tools: Computer, Projector, Interactive Whiteboard
Tools used: PowerPoint, Interactive website
Activity type: Lesson, assessment, project, research

I use technology each morning by having rotations to use IXL for math review as part of morning work.

 
I use a SMART Board lesson every day in math rotations.



Kids use PowerPoint presentations, SMART Board Notebook lesson, game templates like Candy Land for prefixes and suffixes, etc.

Students have used Wordles this year for each vocabulary unit or chapter book they are reading.



Students make the character scrapbook from Scholastic for each book we have read with a prominent character.




Students use the Internet to research for non fiction projects.

They have made a Word document for each other to highlight positive character traits in a musical chair activity.

I use Google Images for inferencing ideas.



I use Pinterest to organize all of the things I find ☺




I also use my iPhone to download Apps for my non-reader EC child.



I use Storyline Online and the monthly free read-alouds on Barnes and Noble site for the monthly book available.





YouTube also features several Scholastic books read aloud with video clips.



I use blogs for ideas, lesson downloads, and games.

I could go on and on and on!!!

Lora Snider,  Longview Elementary

Jeopardy Review

Subject: Science, Math
Grade: 6
Technology tools: Computer
Tools used: PowerPoint
Activity type: Assessment



I am reviewing this week with my students for a chapter test next week by playing Jeopardy. My Jeopardy review questions will all be on the test and the students love playing this “game” and studying at the same time.

Arnold Knight, Grandview Middle

Digital Day

Subject(s):  Math, Language Arts

Grade(s):  2

Technology tools:  Computer(s), LCD Projector, Document Camera

Tools used:  Video, Word processing

Activity type:  Lesson, Teacher presentation, Assessment

I used the computer, projector and document camera as my teaching assistant all day today. NO BOARD and NO MARKER! :)

From this:


to THIS:

Today, I used the computer and a simple PowerPoint presentation instead of the board and marker system that I have so been accustomed to using.  I changed everything over. The student's agenda and schedule, directions, work were on a PowerPoint presentation that helped guide clear and direct instruction today. The technology seemed to hold the student's attention because they remained engaged and could stay focused on the task at hand.

Assessment: I could allow students to self check work they answered questions, comments on target, etc.

GREAT day with technology!. Having what we have makes me want more! :) It opened the doors for my teaching and the learning and exploration for my students!

Susan Winkler,  Viewmont

Math at Grandview

Subject:  Math

Grade:  7

Technology tools:  Computer(s), Laptop(s), LCD Projector, digital cameras

Tools used:  Simulation, Digital manipulative, Digital text / ebook, Word processing, Communication tool, Collaboration tool

Activity type:  Lesson, Unit, Project, Teacher presentation, Assessment, Research, Tutorial

Unit Topic: Math at Grandview

Learning Target: Create and present a presentation with peers showing math shapes and concepts  found at Grandview

Curriculum standards and objectives:

·         All 7th grade math standards and objectives were covered:  Goal 1...Number and Operations, Goal 2...Measurement, Goal 3...Geometry, Goal 4...Data Analysis, Goal 5...Algebra

·         Info and tech standards: Assimilate and evaluate information

 

Students were to create a PowerPoint presentation using shapes and measurements found at Grandview.

·        Step 1: Students were divided into groups and given the rubrics necessary for the project.

·        Step 2: The groups were  given a stop watch and digital camera. Following the rubric they were to take up to 15 pictures to use on their slides.

·        Step 3: Following the rubric they created a PowerPoint presentation to present to their class and parents at PTA night.

Students were assessed using a rubric that included  a group grade for content and presentation. The participation grade was for each individual (each group member graded the members of their group according to a rubric and I averaged these together to get the individual's participation grade).

This activity was extremely successful. The discussions that were generated when the projects were presented were amazing. Students asked each other probing questions and pointed out things that were in the slides that the presenters did not notice.  Students were also able to point out mistakes in a nonthreatening manner.

Changes for the future: The one change that I would make would be to I sign up for the computer lab for an extra day. (The students became so involved that they wanted to do the same project again but take different pictures.)

Ellie Wilson,  Grandview

Using Technology in a Kindergarten Classroom

Subjects:  Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Information Literacy

Grade:  K

Technology tools:  Computer(s), LCD Projector, Student Response Devices, Cd/tape player

Tools used:  Interactive website, Video, Audio

Activity type:  Lesson, Unit

Topics/Objectives:

• Social Studies: we were studying symbols.

• Math: No matter what we are studying, the LCD projector is always used. The students' attention is kept because they are more involved. I will use counters, and overhead pieces for the lessons. For Kindergarten, this is very interesting to them.
   
• Literacy: We have a listening and computer center that we use in our classroom every day. Both of these are tied into literacy and what we are studying that week. 

In Social studies we were learning about symbols. We watched a video on United Streaming about different symbols. The students loved it.

In literacy centers every week we have a listening center. Students listen to a story on tape and follow along in their books.

In math and in literacy we use the overhead projector. We use this for many things in math including counting numbers 1-20, addition, shapes, etc...

In literacy centers we also use the computer every week. It depends on what we are currently studying that week as to what the game/activity may be. We have done short vowel games/long vowel game, consonant digraph practice, abcya.com and starfall.com.

All of these activities have been very successful. The students love when technology is involved.

Using the Elmo Document Camera

Subjects:  Math, Language Arts

Grades:  K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Technology tools:  Document camera

Activity type:  Lesson, Project

I use Elmo as a group instruction tool during math, reading, and written language.  All IEP objectives are generated from standard curriculum per grade level.

Teacher uses materials for instruction, then students are expected to "direct" the teacher to follow up with examples, i.e., talking students through the process.

After instruction and examples, students work independently to determine whether the skill is understood and retained.

This method is both successful and is enjoyed by the students.

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Here is short Elmo tutorial video by Donna Murray.

Civil War Presentations using PowerPoint and Prezi

Subjects:  Math, Language Arts, Social Studies

Grades:  3, 4, 5

Technology tools:  Laptop(s), LCD Projector

Tools used:  Video, Word processing, Social media tool, Communication tool

Activity type:  Lesson, Unit, Project, Research

Students researched famous people of the Civil War and created PowerPoint presentations and Prezis to present along with their costumes and tri-folds for the Civil War Wax Museum.  Students viewed videos, researched their people, printed pictures, made PowerPoint presentations, and created Prezis.  Student learned how to save their information to their individual student share folders, and send their info to themselves through email, as well as save their info on flash drive.  On the day of the Wax Museum, students used the netbooks in the mall area of our school as part of their presentations.

Students were given a full rubric for the project that included use of technology.

The activity was very successful and I would like to link the Prezis together in a movie for next year's students to view.

Janet Hambrick,

Monkey Math

Subject:  Math

Grade:  K

Technology tools:  iPad

Tools used:  Interactive website, Video, Audio

Activity type:  Lesson

Objectives:

• completes simple patterns
• uses ordinal numbers 1st through 10th
• develops number sense for numbers 1- 30

Using the iPad, the app Monkey Math was utilized in a whole group setting to review the skills stated in the objectives.  Students viewed the activities and took turns participating in the various skills.

Assessment:  Informally assessed by observing their ability to successfully complete each skill and activity

The students love this app.  The skill review is perfect for kindergarten!  We have used it many times this year.

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Looking for resources for using iPads in the classroom?  Check out this collection of related links:

http://www.delicious.com/murraygirl/ipad

iPads in the Elementary Classroom presentation:  http://navigatepd.blogspot.com/2012/02/ipads-in-education-elementary.html

Ipads in education (elementary presentation)