For
this badge I interviewed Sarah Duvall, a special education teacher at Bear Creek
Elementary in Euless, Texas. She teaches grade 3-5 math and reading resource as
well as inclusion in the classroom. The elementary school is considered a Title
I school with a diverse group of students. The school gives each student from
grades K through 4 an iPad and grade 5 a mini laptop. Each day, the students
have to check in and out the electronic device. The parents may pay a small yearly
fee if they want their child to be able to take the iPad or laptop home with
them.
In
her classroom, Mrs. Duvall incorporates the iPads with different math and
reading apps. For math she has her students do daily warm-ups as well as
independent math practice. She uses iStation in her classroom with monthly
assessments and weekly practice on the iPads. Through this, she is able to see
each student’s progress and can understand what to work on with each child. For
reading she uses Raz Kids in order to have her student practice independent
reading.
Each teacher receives an iPad and the choice of a Macbook or Dell laptop from the district. They are able to take these to and from school and use them as needed throughout their teaching contract. Each semester, the teachers are required to attend a PLC (Professional Learning Community). During this, the staff is able to collaborate and share ideas as well as train to enhance their knowledge of the technology in the school. Each general education classroom has a Promethean board as well as a projector. The special education classrooms, however, only have an overhead projector. Mrs. Duvall said that she wishes she had a Promethean board because the projector is very difficult to set up and use. Because of this, she rarely uses it. She instead focuses on incorporating the use of the iPads in her curriculum. As a special education teacher, some of her students have ADD/ADHD. As a result of this, her students sometimes get distracted by the iPads and she has to take them away. Each electronic device given to both the students and teachers are subject to monitoring. The students are not allowed on YouTube and interestingly, the teachers are not allowed on Pinterest while on the school Wi-Fi. She uses the iPads on a daily basis and the projector to occasionally show videos.
Mrs. Duvall really enjoys the use of technology in the classroom. She says that it can help enhance learning and make the lessons more relevant. She likes to use it creatively through different projects and daily assignments. The advice she has for me is to take advantage of different technology related classes and resources offered throughout my time in college because technology is constantly changing. “When used properly”, she says, “technology can be a great way to make everyday lessons and assignments fun and engaging for each student.”
Each teacher receives an iPad and the choice of a Macbook or Dell laptop from the district. They are able to take these to and from school and use them as needed throughout their teaching contract. Each semester, the teachers are required to attend a PLC (Professional Learning Community). During this, the staff is able to collaborate and share ideas as well as train to enhance their knowledge of the technology in the school. Each general education classroom has a Promethean board as well as a projector. The special education classrooms, however, only have an overhead projector. Mrs. Duvall said that she wishes she had a Promethean board because the projector is very difficult to set up and use. Because of this, she rarely uses it. She instead focuses on incorporating the use of the iPads in her curriculum. As a special education teacher, some of her students have ADD/ADHD. As a result of this, her students sometimes get distracted by the iPads and she has to take them away. Each electronic device given to both the students and teachers are subject to monitoring. The students are not allowed on YouTube and interestingly, the teachers are not allowed on Pinterest while on the school Wi-Fi. She uses the iPads on a daily basis and the projector to occasionally show videos.
Mrs. Duvall really enjoys the use of technology in the classroom. She says that it can help enhance learning and make the lessons more relevant. She likes to use it creatively through different projects and daily assignments. The advice she has for me is to take advantage of different technology related classes and resources offered throughout my time in college because technology is constantly changing. “When used properly”, she says, “technology can be a great way to make everyday lessons and assignments fun and engaging for each student.”