Technology in the Classroom

During my time student teaching and substitute teaching, I have seen so many engaging ways to use technology in the classroom. In the last two years, I have taught in kindergarten through sixth grade at fifteen different elementary schools! It's been a great opportunity to speak with many teachers and see all the ways technology can help meet individual students' needs. Below are a few of my favorite ways to use technology! 

1. Seesaw 

Seesaw is an app that creates a digital portfolio of student work. Students can share their work through photos, videos, text, and drawings. It's a great way for students to share their learning with teachers and families! 

Ways to Use Seesaw

• Practice Fluency - Students can record themselves reading and listen to their reading to practice fluency. It's a great way for students to reflect on their fluency and for teachers to assess their fluency. 

• Spotlight Student Work -Students can take a picture or record a video of work they want to share with their teacher and family. This is a wonderful way for students to reflect on work they are proud of. 

• Reflect on Learning -Students can post pictures or videos to share new information they learned, challenges they came across or new questions they have about the topic. For example, I might ask students to reflect on the math lesson and share how they solved a problem. It's a great "exit ticket" tool that students enjoy.

• Writer's Workshop -Students can take a picture of their writing and record themselves reading their writing. 

• Share Projects -Students can take pictures of a math project or record themselves explaining a drawing. This is a fantastic tool that allows students to privately record their work and later share with the class.

2. Book Creator

Book Creator is an interactive app that allows students to create a book. Students can use their creatively to create a project by adding text, pictures and videos. 

Ways to Use Book Creator

• Publish a Book or Poem - Students can publish their final copy of a writing assignment. Students love adding pictures and videos to share with their story!
• Book Report - Students have a new, engaging and fun way to share story elements.
• Collaborative Books - Students can work with partners or in small groups to complete a collaborative project on Book Creator.
• Learning Journal - Students can create a journal of their learning throughout the unit. 
• Science/Social Studies Project - Students can share what they have researched using Book Creator. It's a great way to demonstrate the new information they have learned. 

3. QR Codes

A QR Code is a great tool to use to engage students in their learning. To use a QR Code, teachers use a website to create a QR Code and then prints out the code. Students use iPads to scan the code which takes them to a website. 

Ways to Use QR Codes

• Easy Access to Resources - Students are directed to cites for research projects, such as PebbleGo, World Book Online, and Kidtopia. 
• Sharing Work - Students are directed to a picture, project, or recording of another student's work. 
• Problems Around the Room *Scavenger Hunt* - Students are given a movement opportunity as they walk around the room and scan the QR Code to a math or reading question. This is a great center during differentiated small group instruction! 

More Helpful Tech Tools

There are many more exciting tech tools to explore. I also enjoy using Padlet, Kahoot, and Quizlet in the classroom.