Even Technology Needs a Reflection

I wanted to preface this post by saying... I had absolutely no idea what to write! Finding a topic for this week's post took a good portion of the week, and I have erased and restarted my writing countless times and have stared at a white screen for far too long. Just goes to show that the post you think will be the easiest always tends to be the hardest (and the one you're most distracted from)/ Plus, it can quickly turn into something completely different than what you wanted it to be...

Normally, I would use my Learning Journal post to explore into a specific piece from our weekly learning modules, and talk about how it could have an effect on the classroom. This week, however, I decided to take a different approach and reflect on how technology is molding my classroom every day.

Some of the kids working on a class laptop

It would be safe to say that students in today's era are accustomed to learning with technology. In fact, they are the offspring of the technological boom that shook the nation in the past few decades. In my class, I see this on a daily basis... and am just starting to really understand exactly what that means for my kids. As I've said in previous posts, my classroom isn't a stranger to the realm of technology. We use it constantly with laptops and an interactive white board (not to mention the stab at Class Dojo with my phone that I dropped the ball on since I always forget to update points).

But recently, we started to push ourselves even more with what we're doing technologically. Instead of just using the white board as a display board, we play interactive Jepoardy to learn different aspects of science. We use the website Khan Academy to watch lesson videos and practice different math skills. Study Island allows my students to sharpen skills in all subjects, and play games when they get the right answer. A virtual field trip led us to EPCOT so we can learn about where energy comes from with Ellen Degeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy, and then we followed it by going on a first-row-seat ride of a roller coaster to experience potential/kinetic energy. And today, we started with a website called MobyMax to bring extra math practice (geared specifically to that student's level) so we're ready for FCAT.

We even have our own Edmodo group now that is used as a classroom network and a place for extra homework help, as well as study tips.

Sometimes, I actually find myself feeling overwhelmed with the increase of technology we use. But, EME5050 has really had me reach out past just using the curriculum to help my students. Now, they are able to really feel engaged in their learning. They take a sense of ownership, and ask what new things they can do next. Their brains are reaching out for the next challenge, whether it be a review game for the next test or a virtual lab to see how static electricity affects a balloon.

What's next in the education technology department though? All of these resources are being used with students, but how can we make sure it is having the right effect on them that we want? That part, personally, I'm still working on with my class. I want them to get the most out of what I can offer them, but I don't want there to be so many things that they become overwhelmed and it goes over their heads. Especially as we head into FCAT crunch time and these kids need to really buckle down to prepare.

For me, I think it's time I try to calm the technology waters and get them used to certain programs/skills - I don't want to throw anymore in there and make a tech storm that they can't handle.

Any experience in this and how to effectively continue to introduce students to technology without overwhelming them? Or to find the right balance for what works with their learning level?

First Week of the New Year

Whew!

Is it just me, or did this week take FOREVER to go by? I can't believe it was only the first week after break! And yet... every single day seemed to go super quickly, and nothing could get done.

For me, Monday also signified my going back to school, and I am now on track to get my M.Ed in elementary education from University of Central Florida.

I bring that up because this blog is going to play a part in my first semester of grad school! I am taking an online course in technology, and we need to respond to items using our blog. So I thought, hey? Why not use THIS blog for it? So you will see posts filed under "EME5050" and those pertain to my tech class. :) 

But, as for life in 5th grade, our first week back was a roller coaster. I had a sit down to discuss my first formal observation from my principal (which, of course, happened the week before winter break...), had a Charter School's "Quest" Walk Through and an informal observation back to back on the same day, started serving as the Team Lead for my 5th grade team, and participated in a 5 hour long meeting about Science curriculum leading up to the FCAT (so my team only taught reading that day, and then we had a sub the second half of the day) - which, the Science meeting was cancelled on us the morning of it and then reinstated 15 minutes prior to when it was to start. And that was all outside of just teaching my little Lovebugs. 

For 5th grade students this week, they had to turn in their Science Fair projects and present them (which has turned into a fiasco, since they keep trying to bring the experiments in to DO them for their classmates, against what I have told them), but they have also gotten a 95% class average on our latest math quiz/topic (we won't talk about the class average on the science quiz that they took right after I gave them the answers...), and we started a read aloud at the end of the day with There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom.

The book is a personal favorite of mine, and my kids seem to love it too. We will be starting Chapter 18 on Monday afternoon, though we pull it into our Reading lessons during the morning with making predictions and any other reading skill we're working on in the room. 

But, as for now, I need to get to work on creating a schedule for myself this week so I don't get behind and procrastinate on all of this grad school work, and lesson plans, and grading (our quarter ends this Friday!), AND creating things for my wonderful kiddos. So I will leave you with a few classroom photos I managed to take :)

Proud teacher moment - getting that 95% Class Average! Hopefully the next few topics show something similar :) 

This is one of my favorite projects that were done, the student brought in an example of what she did but... she colored a real flower by putting it in ink in a bottle! 

Another Science Fair project that came in. Her robug is adorable in person too, and it's one of my students who has trouble with a lot of material, so I'm super proud.

Our "Progress Tracker" board so far... right now, I only have Benchmarks with the goals for our next one, and our current Math Topic. But I'm going to be working on a way for them to track the Sunshine Standards they master at the bottom area there. I'm thinking of calling it "Target Track" so they know they're on target for FCAT and what they need to focus on more :) 

Until next time!