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Student Teaching
My full year student teaching program, PDS, through ISU landed me in a school with almost no technology. My 5th grade classroom did not have any newer technology. -
Desktop Life
This is the technology that I had in my classroom during my first and second year. -
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First Year Teaching
During this first year of teaching, my classroom was equipped with a teacher desktop, a SMARTboard, and three student desktop computers. I also brought in my personal iPad for students to use on a rotational basis. -
Donors Choose Project
With having zero technology in my classroom, I recognized the need for a projector and document camera early on. After talking with my cooperating teacher and principal, our principal agreed that I could use one of the ELMO document cameras if I was able to get a projector funded through Donors Choose. So, I did. -
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Second Year Teaching
In my second year, I was in the same classroom with the same technology. We did have laptops to check out, which I did every now and then, but it was a huge headache to having second grades logging on to the computers with their login information. On the computers, my students used Lexia, a district purchased resource, XtraMath, and ScootPad. -
Presenting at ISU's T21Con
After working with them in my classroom, I presented on using QR codes in the classroom at ISU's annual educational technology conference. I love QR codes as they allow students to work and learn independently by checking their work. Students can also easily create their own QR codes! -
Third Year Technology
My new room also had a SMARTboard. I was also able to "store" the cart that had the ELMO and it's own projector, which was a little bit of a hassle, but I didn't complain! -
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Third Year Teaching
In my third year, I switched grade levels and moved up to third grade. My new classroom did not have desktops, which the district was phasing out. My grade level instead had technology to share with a few carts of laptops. We also had our computer lab available to check out when there was open lab time so students could get continued practice. In my room, I also had a document camera. -
Enter Seesaw
I big shift in my technology usage with students occurred when I discovered Seesaw. This turned into an amazing tool for my students to not only share their learning with me, but with their classmates and families as well. -
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Fourth Year Teaching
My big shift in technology usage occurred during my fourth year of teaching. We now had an iPad cart to share that I was able to get my technology teacher to "house" in my classroom. We primarily used these for math and ELA centers during Daily 3 and Daily 5 time. Students used apps such as Freckle (formerly Front Row) and Lexia. We occasionally worked on projects where students created something using a variety of apps such as Seesaw and Chatterpix. -
iEngage Berwyn
I was one of several people from my district who attended the annual iEngage Berwyn conference. This allowed us to visit a district that was 1:1, which my district was moving towards, and observe schools and classrooms using the technology. I was absolutely blown away by what students were doing and creating with iPads and laptops. -
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ISU Master's Program
In wanting to further my knowledge and experience as a teacher, I enrolled in the master's program, especially as it had a focus on educational technology. Through this program, I have reflected on many parts of my instruction and how I incorporate technology to support and improve learning. -
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Fifth Year Teaching
In my fifth year teaching, I continued to build on my work and learning during the previous year. I had an iPad cart to keep in my room as the rest of the third grade teachers each had a laptop cart to use. We were even more with Seesaw and using that as a digital learning journal. -
Seesaw Ambassador
After using the app with my students, I knew I wanted to be more involved with this application. In becoming an ambassador, I shared Seesaw with my building as well as in sessions at our district institute day. -
Inquiry-Based Learning Webinar
Having been an ambassador for the site and working with some of their staff members, I was asked to lead a webinar on inquiry-based learning and how I used their inquiry-based math lessons in my classroom. I loved these lessons and was excited to share my experiences with other teachers! -
Freckle Certified Teacher Trainer
I increased my technology understanding and began to train teachers in how to use the platform successfully with their students. -
Robotics
In the spring of 2017, I applied for a STEM grant through the IRTA. In October, I was awarded the money for the grant to purchase six classroom packs of Ozobots. I was ready to start exploring coding with my students and felt that Ozobots were the perfect elementary-friendly technology to do that. -
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Sixth Year Teaching
Going 1:1 with iPads, this had been my big year of exploring new technologies that are perfect for students and their learning. The big ones this year have been Google Classroom, Nearpod, Green Screen and Flipgrid, while still utilizing Freckle and Seesaw. -
New iPad Cart
We received a brand new cart of iPads out of the blue (the district was phasing out the old ones)! This rejuvenated my students and I in our use of this technology. -
More Robotics
Being on the Science Curriculum Council for my district, I knew that we had purchased Lego WeDo 2.0 kits with our remaining money for the year. My technology teacher wanted to try them out so we did so with my class. We were amazed at how quickly the students worked with the projects! They were guided with the app, but they were completely engaged and independent with it! -
Teach with Tech Conference
I attended this week-long online conference and learned so much from other teachers about how to best utilize technology with my students that would align with my beliefs about teaching. One of the concepts that stood out most to me from here was green screens. -
Weather Forecasts
I put my summer learning into action when my students were learning about weather. We were able to watch examples of weather forecasts to allow students to determine why they are a part of the news on a daily basis. Students then wrote their own forecasts, recorded with the green screen, and assembled their video forecast in the app. -
Flipgrid Fever
After using it in my grad class over the summer, I was very excited to empower my students to have their voices heard with Flipgrid in my classroom. Flipgrid fever hit, which inspired my Halloween costume! Having just gone 1:1 this year, my whole team had costumes based on apps we use!
