Fun While Learning! Can you Imagine?

Project-based learning allows students to learn by exploring topics, obtaining and analyzing data, or participating in simulated problem solving with other students. In the video link  , “Beginning the Journey Five-year-olds Drive Their Own PBL Projects”, Kindergarteners use role-playing and technology to learn.

(Click the title of this post to view for yourself.)



After viewing this video, I see children that are enjoying learning the way they would in their home! I can recall role-playing travel, doctor’s office, and of course school as a child growing up. This has to be an extremely motivating way to learn. It also seems that the teachers work as a team to get this project to be as wonderful as it is! I wonder how much prep time is available aside from the usual routines for these teachers to prepare this exciting unit. Much time is needed to research and find technology based instruments to present in the lessons. The groups sizes are small which left me wondering if the enrollment was small or if the school used a pull out system for each classroom.


I also kept thinking as I watched that maybe this school district does not have a set guideline for instruction that requires strict scheduling and mandated texts and programs. It appears that the learning is very child centered and creates more opportunities for the child to learn the way in which they are most comfortable. I would enjoy teaching in that kind of creative atmosphere.


Technology is a great way to motivate students to become lifelong learners, but I do believe without technology a teacher can inspire a child to continue learning in their lives by using the imagination.

Chapter 5 and 6 Review

After reading chapters 5 and 6 I thought about my 2nd grade classroom and how we use a number of technological devices. We use the DIBELS assessment to monitor student reading progression. This required the use of a Palm pilot. The software in the palm allowed me to use a touch screen to tap the words students missed in a reading passage. Throughout the school year students are assessed online through the NWEA MAP assessment. Our school district purchased a subscription to Compass Learning . This program allows students to work on skills at there own learning levels based on NWEA MAP scores. Students also use StudyIsland.com to practice for standardized tests.


Other technological resources I use include Discovery Education, Notebook 10 software for the Smart board, websites such as Star fall.com and Speakaboos.com. Discovery Education requires a subscription and is well worth it! We can explore many concepts in all subjects from math to character education. When I use the Notebook Software it is usually to introduce a concept, such as fractions. We open this unit with a pizza pie on the Smart board and the kids get to divide it using the touch projection screen to show fractional parts. Speakaboos.com has several styles of genre narrated by celebrity readers.

I love using the Tumblebooks website to read aloud stories and chapter books. This webpage is designed to test the students on comprehension skills. The listening center in my room seems a bit outdated because we use CDs and audiocassettes when compared to the books we hear and read online. But we use them and it creates an extra listening station for learning during literacy time.

We have used Google Earth to locate certain areas in our state when we study historical information and landmarks during our Social Studies unit “Where We Live”. Our school uses an electronic grade book, lessons plan, and attendance tracker through INOW. It is online and allows the school to communicate with parents through the district website.

I can say that we use a number of technological devices, but we could be more enriching in our teaching with more training.

Teaching Digital Natives

I watched two videos on technology provided by Edutopia.org, “Digital Youth Portrait: Sam” and “Schools Use of Games for Learning and Assessment”. After viewing both, I realized that if we don’t tap into the technology in this world with our students, TEACHERS may be left behind! Our students are considered digital natives because they have much more technology at their fingertips in their generation. I remember growing up during a time where if you had one of the first computers, a TRS-80 Tandy (Radio Shack) or a Commodore 64C (Apple), you were gifted! These days children have IPODS, Smartphones, laptops/notebooks, and game systems to hold their interests at home and to use for homework.


So what does a techno- dinosaur or digital immigrant that teaches these digital natives use in a classroom to hold their learning interest? Well, according to Roblyer and Doering in the book, Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching, teachers should use types of instructional software that include five functions: drill and practice, tutorials, simulation, instructional games, and problem solving. This I agree with. I love the idea of turning on technology in the classroom and seeing students eagerly answer questions and work on projects cooperatively.

There are however some pitfalls that I have encountered with technology in the classroom, specifically computers and the SMART board. Some days after a storm the internet server id down, causing me to change my lesson plan in an instant. Often times the SMART board has to be reset and it may pause a lesson when I have the class at attention. Also, when the students that are less likely to work cooperatively has a “mood-swing” they break rules and log on to websites that are not educational or have nothing to do with what the actual activity requires. With this said, I think that technology use in the classroom is beneficial if used properly and with purpose. Many times I use it to introduce activities and to culminate a unit we have studied. I am curious to hear how other educators teach their digital natives?

Ten Ways to Get Smart With SMARTboard, Amber Price

I enjoyed reading this article on how to get more out of my SMART board.

Ten Ways to Get Smart With SMARTboard, Amber Price

Ten Ways to Integrate Technology, Laura Turner

Ten Ways to Integrate Technology, Laura Turner

Meet the Teecha!

Welcome to my teacher blog! I am currently transitioning from teaching 2nd grade to teaching junior high school. I am interested in teaching older students about history. This shaped my decision to teach 7th grade Social Studies this coming fall.