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Chesterbrook (daycare) Academy
My first teaching job was at a daycare center. One major "technology" memory was using a record player during afternoon exercise time. We'd crank the windows open and play Disney's Mousercise record. I loved dancing to "Let's do the Bug a Boo". -
Brigham Elementary School
When I started teaching in a public school, I taught the morning and afternoon Kindergarten program. The most technology I had was a book listening station, a TV on a stand that I could wheel into my room for a fun video, and a black and white copy machine. Through my years at this school, I taught Kindergarten, then 4th grade, and 1st grade. I spent 5 years at this elementary school and not much changed while I was there from 1999-2003. -
2002
While I was teaching first grade, I happily had collected an entire class set of individual chalk boards. Lucky me. I still have these today, but they are definitely a vintage tool. I have acquired a class set of dry erase boards which are soon to be very vintage as well. -
Northpoint Elementary
When I was hired at Northpoint Elementary school, I was introduced to a whole new level of funding (PTO). The PTO at Northpoint was (is) a force to be envious of. This school is set in a middle/upper class neighborhood and the PTO raises money that is used mostly for technology needs. I have remained here since being hired and through the years I have taught 2nd grade for one year, then went to third grade which is what I am still teaching. -
2003-2009
For many years, my main form of technology was the all impressive, over head projector. We still have a few in our school. I use them to "candle" chicken eggs during our Chick It Out unit in the spring and when the projectors die off, I don't know how I will candle the eggs. -
Risograph machine
I laugh when I think of making riso copies. Wow were these machines a pain in the rear. If you touched the ink too soon, it was all over you. The master ink copy in the drum was always fun to touch as well. If the machine was jammed....forget your copies. You may as well default to chalk slates or wipe boards (which I still have just in case...vintage teaching tools). We still have a riso at our school, but it is a newer model than the first one I used. -
Smartboards
Right around 2009, the Northpoint PTO started buying Smartboards to be installed in each commons area in our building. The commons areas are a shared space for anywhere from 5 to 7 classrooms. We have 5 commons areas in our K-5 school. Within 2 years of this purchase, our district began installing a Smartboard in each classroom. In my opinion, Smartboards are one of the top learning tools for the modern teacher. I don't want to figure out how to teach without mine. -
2012-Present
The PTO started purchasing class sets of ipads for Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade. Through the next couple of years they purchased laptop sets for 3rd-5th. With the help of State Farm refurbished laptops, we've had class sets of these devices for years now. We're not 1:1 yet, but it beats wipe boards. -
Online Report Cards
I kind of miss the days of handwriting letter grades and comments for my students. Online report cards feel very impersonal at the elementary level. As a mom, I also miss the idea that I won't be pulling out some old piece of paper to show my grandchildren how their mommy did in junior high. I have a few report cards from her elementary years, but by 4th grade, she stopped getting a paper copy. -
2017
GoNoodle revolutionized my young learners. I remember the second year I was using it, I found out at a conference that one of my students was diagnosed ADHD. They were so pleased that I used GoNoodle because their child noted that those "brain breaks" helped her manage her energy throughout the day. This student always advocated for herself and would kindly ask for a GoNoodle break. But for those kiddos that don't advocate for themselves, brain breaks are very beneficial in my classroom. -
2019
Everything about teaching has changed during my career. Report cards, scheduling conferences, color copiers, textbooks, plan books, sharing media, student portfolios, evaluations, standardized testing...EVERYTHING. This change is constant and I continue to hope I can keep up with the change.
