#8 Technology Gadgets

I love my document camera. I find that it has been the easiest and quickest way to bring technology in my classroom. My visual learners love it because it lets them see small items, text, and demonstrations in a much a bigger way. My hands – on learners love it because they can be the ones placing objects or items under the document camera and talk about what they are showing. All students love to be the teacher and explain their learning to others. I also am able to use it as a station during my literacy block.

I use my IPad every day. We love BrainPopJr and we also can explore a lot of different subjects. I still want to become more confident in using my IPads in centers. I get a little lost in how to manage 2 IPads with a class of 25 plus. I have spent the first week on my summer vacation studying with Debbie Dillard and her ideas on stations. I am really excited to incorporate these into my centers next year.

One thing new I also want to use them for next year is an app called K-12 Timed Reading Practice. I think it will be a great way to have documentation of my students wpm and this is a way that seems to fit a way for me to accomplish this.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/k12-timed-reading-practice/id374985358?mt=8

My SMART Board is where I feel the less confidence. I do love the interactive advantage and watching my student’s love it makes me continue to learn how to use it. What I have found is that I need a lot of advanced prep to create lessons to use. I still wish that I could have more training on these as well because I don't think that I am using them to their fullest extent. 

I use them to take attendance in the morning.  I use them a lot during math because it provides another thing that my students can move and touch and it helps make the concept more concrete.