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I enjoy maintaining social media accounts in both Instagram and Twitter, both as a classroom teacher and as an Instructional Technology Specialist. Check it out: Instagram | Twitter.
Technology Integration
In my first teaching positions from 2008-2011, student devices were quite limited in my Title I districts. In spite of this, I integrated technology in the following ways for my secondary English and communication classes:
In my time teaching Science Lab from 2012-2015, student device use was limited until February 2015 when I received 12 iPad minis via a grant I wrote to CEF the previous fall titled "Paperless Innovation." Here are ways I integrated technology without student devices:
After February 2015 (when my students received 12 iPad minis), here are ways I integrated technology with students:
- reserved computer lab and library space for students to work inside of Microsoft Office, research online, and create own websites
- created class website as a central hub for students and parents to view/download classwork from [their personal] devices when outside of class
- maintained class Twitter account with homework deadlines, help chats, event reminders, inspiring quotes, and random acts of kindness challenges (students without a smartphone but with unlimited text messages signed up for text alerts and replied to tweets this way)
- posted [password protected] podcasts of myself reading chapters from our class novels -- not only for students to access after missing class, but also for SpEd students with reading disabilities to utilize their auditory learning preference
- blogged twice a month on class website and allowed students time in the library and/or on my computer so that they could respond to the post and to a fellow classmate's comment
- recorded myself reading major exams and burned audio onto CD; SpEd students could listen to test questions and multiple choice answers as many times as needed
In my time teaching Science Lab from 2012-2015, student device use was limited until February 2015 when I received 12 iPad minis via a grant I wrote to CEF the previous fall titled "Paperless Innovation." Here are ways I integrated technology without student devices:
- shared Symbaloo webmixes to communicate a variety of links to my students and their parents | Examples: science game webmix, instructional video webmix
- embedded videos, games, and an online stopwatch into ActivInspire flipcharts to make the teaching piece more seamless and maximize instructional time
- utilized SafeShare.tv to filter and crop YouTube videos
- created an online substitute binder through LiveBinders
- shared information with other teachers (including my PLC groups) via Pinterest, LiveBinders, and Symbaloo
- created seating charts and randomized groups with Instant Classroom
- managed behavior with Class Dojo's point system
After February 2015 (when my students received 12 iPad minis), here are ways I integrated technology with students:
- used ThingLink to provide step-by-step guides for lessons that students could use to investigate concepts independently | Examples: light lesson, foam flyer lesson
- used creation tools within the Seesaw dashboard to showcase learning with images, videos, and whiteboard drawings | Examples: 1st grade leaf part labeling and explanation, 3rd grade light energy, 4th grade circuits
- app-smashed with Seesaw + Pic Collage, Shadow Puppet Edu, Drawing Desk, and more | Examples: 3rd grade owl food chain, 4th grade soil erosion
- conducted research using online tools and displayed information on Tackk | Examples: sea otter research, Honolulu weather report
- created unique animal with various types of adaptation and displayed final project on Tackk
- used Padlet for discussions and "parking lot" questions | Example: ocean IMAX parking lot
Grants & Awards
- 5th Grade ELA GT grant (provided various classroom tools and resources), funded by Southlake Association for Gifted and Talented | Southlake, TX | Fall 2020
- "iLearn, iCreate, iGrow" grant (provided 17 iPad minis with Apply Care and protective cases), funded by Carroll Education Foundation | Southlake, TX | Fall 2015
- "Paperless Innovation" grant (provided 12 iPad minis to my K-4 Science Lab), funded by Carroll Education Foundation | Southlake, Texas | Fall 2014
- "Under the Sea" grant (provided seashells, ocean books, sand, and more for an extensive ocean unit in 2nd grade Science Lab), funded by Carroll Education Foundation | Southlake, Texas | Fall 2013
- Class set of various YA literature to create a classroom library suitable for freshmen students, funded by Donor's Choose | Frederick, Oklahoma | Spring 2011
- Class set of Fahrenheit 451, funded by Donor's Choose | Frederick, Oklahoma | Spring 2011
- "Teacher of Today" award, awarded by the Frederick Masonic Lodge | Frederick, Oklahoma | Spring 2011
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Science Week
During my time as a Science Lab teacher, I introduced Old Union to "Science Week," which included a Super Science Sale, Science Fair, and Family Science Night. Lots of technology is implemented during this time to make everyone's life easier!
Super Science Sale: Volunteers signed up for time slots via Sign Up Genius, utilized my Google Voice number to contact me about pricing and inventory questions as needed, and were sent a digital thank you card with Punchbowl afterward.
Family Science Night: Volunteers were cultivated via Sign Up Genius. Instructions for each station were distributed in a read-only Google Doc. Volunteers could text or call me with questions throughout the night (since I was roaming the school in an effort to manage all activities at once) on my Google Voice number.
Science Fair: Participants registered with a Google Form. Afterwards, I contacted each student's parent individually to give him/her an entry number (I had a goal for next time to master the mail merge process to make that task go much more quickly!). Parents and students were provided with the LiveBinder to review all the information they could want or need about participating in the fair. Judges' invitations were sent digitally through Punchbowl, and judges were asked to submit their decisions in a Google Form.
Super Science Sale: Volunteers signed up for time slots via Sign Up Genius, utilized my Google Voice number to contact me about pricing and inventory questions as needed, and were sent a digital thank you card with Punchbowl afterward.
Family Science Night: Volunteers were cultivated via Sign Up Genius. Instructions for each station were distributed in a read-only Google Doc. Volunteers could text or call me with questions throughout the night (since I was roaming the school in an effort to manage all activities at once) on my Google Voice number.
Science Fair: Participants registered with a Google Form. Afterwards, I contacted each student's parent individually to give him/her an entry number (I had a goal for next time to master the mail merge process to make that task go much more quickly!). Parents and students were provided with the LiveBinder to review all the information they could want or need about participating in the fair. Judges' invitations were sent digitally through Punchbowl, and judges were asked to submit their decisions in a Google Form.