Bloomingdale School District 13 has a Technology Scope and Sequence that is based off of the ELA Common Core State Standards. These standards explicitly include certain technology skills. One of the second grade standards involves the utilizing of Spreadsheets! Second graders using Spreadsheets? YES, you heard correctly! We introduce Spreadsheets as easy ways to organize words and numbers. In fact, many parents in the district have asked if the kids are exposed to spreadsheets, as working with data is such a key skill in many professional careers in different industries. Here's a peek into the project we've started: First, students chose a unique survey question. We then created and designed Google forms while embedding discussion about advertising. After taking all of their peers' surveys, we explored the data in Google Sheets. We reviewed vocabulary such as rows and columns and sorted data. Based on the responses, different kinds of charts and graphs were then generated. Students were able to compare data and used mathematical operations to answer questions based on the visual representations of their data. Here are some example artifacts from the project: Google Forms Example 1 Example 2
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The video below highlights the incredible learning experience provided by Padlet and silent student led discussion. Prior to the activity, Miss Fenn set up six different Padlet walls. If you're not familiar with Padlet, it's worth looking into :) Each of her reading groups was engaged in their own student led discussion. They answered text dependent questions created by the teacher and then responded to each other using "Academic Conversation" stems. The results = AWESOME! Watch the video blog reflection above to hear about what the students and teacher thought about STUDENT LED DISCUSSIONS that took place! This is my first-ever blog, so here goes!
Technology is Amazing Guest Blogger: First Grade DuJardin School Teacher, Nicole Koszuta This is what is on my mind right now---I love technology. Right now I have four technological devices around me as I type this blog--my iPhone, my Chromebook, my iPad, and my personal laptop. It fascinates me that in this day and age, we are able to talk to someone else wirelessly from anywhere, communicate through texts, create movies from our phone, video chat with people, and the list goes on and on. This is definitely the digital age and it shows no sign of stopping. Technology is everywhere. Because of this, children are now using technology. If I have four devices in front of me, then kids also have them all around their homes, too. Young kids have cell phones. Toddlers are able to operate ipads and tablets. I just recently saw a meme on the internet in which there was a picture of a child with a toy Fisher Price phone (representing the time in which I grew up) and then a child with a cell phone (obviously representing the present)-this is how far we have come in my lifetime. When children get to school, they will be expected to learn on these devices as this technology is taking over the world. Our job as teachers is to prepare them for the future. Technology is the future and there is no stopping it! It's an amazing time in which to be both a teacher and a student. You have to be a continuous learner and can not get stagnant in the job of teaching. Personally, I get excited when Miss Eirinberg (our wonderful Instructional Technology Coach) shows me a new app or website to help me teach others. Imagine how exciting this must be for the children when they discover what "cool" things their devices can do. I actually get to see this enthusiasm on a daily basis in the classroom as the students use their 1:1 devices (Chromebooks) to enhance learning. It's amazing (not to mention so cute) to see students on devices. No one can ever say again that a First Grader is too young to operate a computer. In fact, they are behind the times if they have not been on a computer by the time they reach me in First Grade. At this point in the school year, students can log on to their Chromebooks with ease, access the web, complete and turn in assignments wirelessly, create podcasts/screencasts, operate functions on the Chromebook, create documents, and the list goes on and on. And this is in December! Again, it is truly amazing. If you think First Graders can't do it, think again...they probably can! I was one of those people not too long ago that used to think that First Graders were too young to use technology. However, my thinking has definitely evolved over my 21 years in education. Now students are using 21st Century Technological Skills! Roles are reversed and I've had the students become the teachers, especially for an "older teacher" like myself. I have honestly learned from my students and continue to be amazed by their growing technological skills. Again, it's only December! What will they be able to do in June? I can't wait to to see for myself as I challenge them with skills I never thought they could do only a short time ago. The next time you need assistance with technology, go ask a First Grader. They will amaze you, too! |
Author(s)Jennifer Eggert Archives
August 2019
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