Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Artifacts of Technology Integration


Within this Technology Integration Plan, I am providing supporting evidence that demonstrates my ability to use technology in a variety of ways and engage students in using technology. Below, you will find such evidence.

  • Word Document- Grading Rubric for Science

Student Name:___________________________________________________________________

Taking a Look at a Leaf- Harvest Grading Rubric

I circled the size of my leaf.  ____/1            
                  
I drew a picture of my leaf. ____/1

I circled the color words that describe my leaf. ____/1

I answered both yes/no questions. ____/2     

I wrote at least one sentence about my leaf. ____/1

When writing about my leaf, I used capital and lowercase letters appropriately. ____/1

When writing about my leaf, I used (finger) spaces between words. ____/1

When writing about my leaf, I used punctuation at the end of my sentence(s). ____/1

When writing about my leaf, I started each sentence with a capital letter. ____/1



_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _




Student Name:___________________________________________________________________

Taking a Look at a Leaf- Harvest Grading Rubric

I circled the size of my leaf.  ____/1            
                  
I drew a picture of my leaf. ____/1

I circled the color words that describe my leaf. ____/1

I answered both yes/no questions. ____/2     

I wrote at least one sentence about my leaf. ____/1

When writing about my leaf, I used capital and lowercase letters appropriately. ____/1

When writing about my leaf, I used (finger) spaces between words. ____/1

When writing about my leaf, I used punctuation at the end of my sentence(s). ____/1

When writing about my leaf, I started each sentence with a capital letter. ____/1






  • Word Document- Copies of Song for Student Folders

"I'm Full of Bones"

From my fingers to my toes, I´m full of bones.
From my fingers to my toes, I´m full of bones.
If you count them all as one, they make a skeleton.
From my fingers to my toes, I´m full of bones.

My smallest bone is found inside my ear.
My smallest bone is found inside my ear.
The stirrup helps me hear many sounds both far and near.
My smallest bone is found inside my ear.

My longest bone is found inside my leg.
My longest bone is found inside my leg.
My femur´s really great ´cause it helps me stand up straight.
My longest bone is found inside my leg.

My joints help my bones to move around.
My joints help my bones to move around.
My hips, elbows, and knees: Oh, it´s all so plain to see
that my joints help my bones to move around.







  • Student Technology Time- Math Games on ABCya: Jet Ski Addition Game




  • Student Technology Time - Math Games on iPad: Greater Gator Application







  • Human Body Student Project: Word to create labeling stickers* 

*We watched many videos during this unit; a unit plan (with lesson plans that integrated technology) can be found at the following link:











  • Class Schedule: Posted on class website, wall outside classroom, in the classroom (on whiteboard), and on the teacher's filing cabinet. 

Our Class Schedule
7:55-8:05      Tardy Bell/Announcements
8:05-8:15      Question of the Day
8:15-9:45       Reading Block & Writing Essentials
9:45-10:40     Intervention/D.E.A.R./Tier II
10:45-11:20    Math
11:25-11:50     Lunch
11:50-12:10     Recess
12:10-12:20     Restroom Break
12:20-1:10       P.E.
1:15-1:25          Snack
1:25-1:55          Math (continued)
1:55-2:25          Science/Social Studies
2:25-2:40         Pack Up/Read Aloud
2:45                Afternoon Announcements/Dismissal Begins
Specials
Art – Thursdays (8:05-8:55)
Library- 2nd Thursday of the Month (9:20-9:50)
Counseling – 1st Thursday of the Month (9:20-9:50)



Monday, November 17, 2014

Utilizing Technology


During my internship, I used technology resources to support instruction and enhance student learning. The information below describes a variety of ways in which I effectively utilized technology. This semester, I have integrated technology with regard to the following:

Preparing instructional materials

  • There were many occasions that I would come home from school and use my laptop to browse the internet and research information on instruction, strategies, lesson ideas, etc. The internet was a great source for finding out information, getting new ideas, answers to questions and  valuable resources. 
  • Microsoft Word was a regular resource I used when creating my lesson plans, student work, assessment/documentation forms, etc. 
  • Edmodo was another powerful resource I have started using this semester to store documents/links/videos and share with a group (the whole 1st grade team is in a group). This is truly beneficial because all information and content is found in one source and easily accessible. 



Using technology in instruction in all curricular areas

  • Technology integration came natural in every day instruction. We used a document camera and overhead projector on a daily basis. At the beginning of my internship, we had a desktop hooked up to the projector, but we switched to a Mac computer so that the students would have access to the desktop. I learned that the way you project the two types of computers, onto the overhead, is a little different. Technology is not always user-friendly and cooperative, so having a backup plan is always important!
  • For math, and through ThinkCentral, an interactive whiteboard was available. This really helped the visual learners with understanding the math. When students were paired up with partners and there was an odd number of students, the student without a partner had the option to play math games through ThinkCentral or ABCya on the desktop computer.
  • For science and social studies content, technology was a valuable resource and tool to enhance student learning. Students watched videos through YouTube, BrainPop, and through various internet sites. Students also engaged with games through Scholastic News, Studies Weekly, and various applications. 


Engaging students in using technology in at least 2 curricular areas

  • The students I worked with this semester had technology twice a month for 35 minutes. Also available to classroom teachers were mobile device carts and LeapPads. I had the opportunity to check out 2 LeapPads through Christmas with the students. These are very useful learning tools and very open-ended and child-driven. 
  • In reading/writing workshop, student have the opportunity to go to the computer or one of the two iPads for "Listening to Reading"station. During reading and math, students follow a rotation and one student has the opportunity to choose an activity on ABCya.com or "ThinkCentral." On my personal iPad, I put Guided Access on and choose the application "Epic." This app has many books and a lot of books that have the option to "Read to Me." I do pay $4.99 a month for this application, but I personally believe it is worth every penny.
  • We regularly watch videos from YouTube  for multiple curricular areas. In reading, we watch "Phonics Dance- Hunks and Chunks." We also listen to read-alouds at times. In math, we use videos to learn math songs. We were just learning the "Double Fact Swag" and "Doubles, Doubles, I Can Add Doubles."


Assessing student learning

  • One way I used technology to assess student learning is for an application that is a grader, "Groovy Grader." It comes in handy when grading on-the-go or if you haven't purchased a grader. This will also be there if/when you lose your grader. 
  • The school I am currently at uses STAR testing to assess student learning in reading. The students are taking the test, a second time this year, the 3rd week in November. The students also take STAR math.  
  • I have also used Microsoft Excel to do test analysis and to make various checklists.  Microsoft Word has been helpful for creating the spelling words and also to help with creating rubrics for grading. At various times, student work will be submitted through a web-base ( Student Loop, Google Drive, Edmodo, My Big Campus, email, etc.)

Maintaining student records 


  • I had the opportunity to experience iNow grading/attendance site. Knowing that one day I will use such, or something similar, it was beneficial to practice entering grades and learning how to "post" attendance. My co-operating teacher also used iNow to upload lesson plans electronically. 
  • For students on intervention, their records were copied and put in folder to given to the PST team. When providing my one-on-one tutoring sessions and while teaching,  I  kept a lot of my student records on my iPad. Therefore, I was using the iPad as an assessment tool/device. 
  • Class DoJo keeps track of student/class progress and has data available on an ongoing basis. The records that come with DoJo provide an insight at student/classroom needs and achievements. 

Communicating with parents (Also explain how you communicated the exact
same information to families without internet access)

  • A way this school facilitates a school-wide behavior system is through DoJo. All but 4 of 19 parents are signed up for DoJo notifications. The parents  who are not on Dojo are on the list for the communication though Remind101. Anything that is sent through DoJo is also send through Remind101. 
  • Another form of communication that was regularly used is newsletters. These are available weekly on the class website. At the beginning of the year, the teacher asked parents to indicate if they wanted a copy each week or if they wanted to access it through the website. One parents requested a hard copy each week, and a copy is printed out and put in the child's folder. 
  • Parents can send messages to the teacher on DoJo. Parents can also use email for communication.  The parents from this class evenly used both email and messaging through DoJo for communicating. When parents are not responding to email, or if necessary, we would pick up the phone and attempt to make contact with them that way. If situations/information CAN go through a note in a child's folder, that is also another method to communicate to parents without internet access.