I
feel as though this process (or maybe just this class/school year) is already
flying by. So far, my GAME Plan is going
fairly well. There are a few adjustments
I have made, or need to make.
As
far as integrating technology goes, I think I am making progress. In reading, I have used the iPads for
students to complete word work during phonics lessons. Not only is this allowing the students to
practice using specific phonics skills, but it exposing students to the
keyboard and where letters are located.
I have also used the iPads for specific math skills practice at the end
of an intervention lesson. I also use my
projector and document camera daily to complete phonics practice. We are still waiting for our SMARTBoard to be
set up (hopefully this week). Today we received
some software with reading and math lessons to be used with our interactive
whiteboard, which I am very excited to explore.
My teaching partner and I have also found a few websites that have free
math lessons we can use to incorporate technology. Does anyone use or know of any good websites
or blogs where teachers share SMARTBoard lessons?
Progress
on my second goal is not going quite at quickly. I am having a hard time determining when to
meet with colleagues. I have decided it
may be better to create a wiki to share with colleagues. This way everyone who is interested in my
school can read and share their thoughts on their own time. Our technology IF will be out of school for a
couple weeks because of back surgery, so I have not been able to discuss and
workshop options with her at this time.
I
feel confident about the progress I have made so far. Resources and information are fairly simple
to find for each goal so far. I have
learned that I use technology more than I realize on a daily basis, but I feel I
could be more purposeful at times. I am
curious as to how other teachers are using iPads and other types of technology
in their kindergarten-second grade classrooms.
I am especially curious about how other intervention teachers (Special
Education and Title I) teachers use technology to support their instruction.
Tori,
ReplyDeleteYou were asking about different programs to support the SmartBoard. I hope you get it up and running very soon! I use the website SmartExchange. It is a wonderful, FREE, website full of SmartBoard lessons you can download on your SmartBoard. Of course you have to register and create a username and password. One of the many reasons I like it is because you can add slides you think you need and delete slides of things you don't want to use. Instead of wasting hours upon hours of time preparation on creating these lessons, all you have to do is search for whatever lesson you are wanting, download it, and use it immediately. I highly recommend!
Whitney
Whitney,
DeleteThank you so much for your response. As soon as I read your post, I went to sign up for SMARTExchange. After researching for only a few minutes, I could already tell that this website will be extremely useful. I even have a few lessons that I hope to try out next week! I like that you can customize the lessons to your needs as well. Thanks for the tips and I'm sure we will keep in touch if I have questions!
Tori
Tori,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post, and it seems you are integrating technology in very meaningful ways with your reading group. When looking for free interactive SMART board resources, I use SMART Exchange at http://exchange.smarttech.com/ and also don't count out www.teacherspayteachers.com as a resource. Though the second is not free, you can find some really great resources for very little money.
Good luck!
Jenn