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 The listening center in my room seems a bit outdated because we use CDs and audiocassettes when compared to the books we hear and read online.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.
Looks like you do a lot with technology in your school. You can expand the google earth project by having students conduct digital storytelling projects...have students take photos around the community and provide a narrative with some oral history regarding the subject of the photos (see page 353). Also, see page 351 in the textbook for additional ideas..
ReplyDeletecool idea! I will definitely try that this year!
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