Catching up...

Ok. I know I haven't been posting throughout this semester like I should have or would have liked. Hopefully, in this post I can touch on the many different ways I have been implementing technology in my first grade class and share just how successful it has been. First, I have to say the children are so intrigued by the little things you can do on the promethean board that it’s not hard to grab their attention and hold it. That is the best part, being able to hold their attention. In this generation, children have so many other cool gadgets and gizmos competing for their attention, it's getting harder and harder to impress them. Some of my favorite moments using technology in my classroom this semester were little instances where the children would gasp and “ooh-ahh” because I used the spotlight or reveal tool on a flipchart… again those little things. They’ve also been fascinated by my ability to make things appear and disappear “magically” by using the transparency element and the eraser to reveal answers on flipcharts. It’s hard to really portray just how the children are responding to my promethean board lessons through this blog post, so please feel free to stop by Clemson Elementary any day and check out my classroom. We use the promethean board everyday, some days more than others. My teacher and I don’t have a set schedule because something seems to come up everyday and we’ve found it best to be flexible. If you let me know ahead of time though, we can pencil in some technology for the time when you are able to come visit. I like to do a lot of math using the ProBoard, at least for an intro before messing around with manipulatives. Math is so easy to teach with the ProBoard because of all the resources available through the software like images of coins and interactive thermometers, etc. If you go to my website: http://BNRollings.googlepages.com you can check out some of the flipcharts I’ve been using in the classroom. Also, here are some pictures of other ways we have used the ProBoard.


I’ve used it often to take advantage of internet resources such as an online interactive map of the moon during our Unit: Finding the Moon. This particular activity was at the culmination of our unit, and the children and I were planning a “trip to the moon.” The children went to the board and chose a place he/she would most likely want to visit (a named crater or sea on the moon) and wrote about it in his/her trip itinerary.

In addition to the ProBoard we practice researching on the internet and watch video clips through United Streaming and various websites like the South Carolina Aquarium who offer virtual tours and video clips. Photostory has proven another fun tool for showing self created videos which can be personalized and tweaked to present specifically the information you want your students to receive at a particular time.

As a learning station I have also had the children reviewing their spelling words on the desktop computer in the back of the classroom and then they practice manipulating the font, size, and color of the text.

I plan in the future to hand over digital cameras to the class for a project on geometry (searching for shapes around the school and in our everyday lives). I hope to create an imovie with their snapshots and video interviews with the children about what they learned through the project. I think video (or at least audio) interviews are a great means of assessment and also a great way to capture memories! Anyways… I am sorry I don’t have more photos right now to show, but again if you are interested in coming to visit my 1st grade class please let me know. Our schedule is very flexible and we’d love to work around your schedule. Just email me and we’ll work something out. I’m in Ms. Nodine’s 1st Grade class at Clemson Elementary. Hope your semesters are going well…they’re almost over!

**Bridget