Genius Hour in Grade One and Two

I have really enjoyed hearing about Genius Hour and was thinking about how to implement it in a primary classroom when I realized, with the help of Lora Sarchet, that we already do our own version of Genius Hour every time that we have Centres. The only thing that is missing is the students presenting their creations/learning to their classmates. After discussing this with my teaching partner, Lora, we decided to start making time for the students to share their work.

Centres is a great time for students to explore, create, plan, problem solve, and collaborate.

Bring Your Own Device

Blogging with his personal device.

Should students be able to bring their own devices to school or should they be left at home?  It is a question that is always coming up.

I like having my students bring their own devices.  I see the benefits to watching them complete their assigned tasks on their own devices.  They take ownership of the device as well as show engagement in the activity.  It is very powerful for them to be able to express their thinking and learning on their own tool of choice.

I know that there is a fear with opening the classroom up to students bringing their own devices.  Many questions come up and procedures need to be in place.  Some of these questions are:

Are they allowed to play games?
Will their device distract them from paying attention and finishing work?
How do you keep their device safe?
How do you protect them from seeing inappropriate material?
Will they spend their day texting their friends?
How will their device help them in their school work?
Who will be responsible for their device?
Will they stop doing paper and pencil work?

Before we allowed devices to be brought to school we came up with a Personal Device Protocol.  We sent home this protocol for parents and students to read and sign.  Then we allowed personal devices to come to school.  It was a learning experience as the devices started arriving.  I had to figure out what grade ones and twos could do with their own devices.  Did they have the same apps as I had on our iPads? Would they be able to use their own device to show their learning?  Would their device be a distraction?  Would they just want to play games during class time?  In the beginning, the first devices that came to school, spent quite a bit of time in the cupboard while we learned how to use the iPads and figured out classroom expectations and rules.  As I got more used to the devices coming they started to stay out more and more and soon became part of the students classroom tools.

Some of the devices that come to school have the favourite apps Draw and Tell, Scribble Press, QR Reader and KidBlog on them.  That makes it easier when they are working on their blogs.  My students, who bring their own devices can read books on them, take pictures, make blog posts, participate in TodaysMeet, and do research.  Yes, I noticed that some do text during class time.  But they are texting their classmates about school work.  The first time I saw the texting I was about to stop it when I realized that they are writing.  Why stop them from writing.  They are practising their writing skills and they don't even know it so I didn't put an end to it.  My students take good care of their own devices.  We have a laptop cart in our room that also holds the classroom iPads.  The students can also put their devices in the cart.  Their devices are locked up at lunch and recess.

Using the personal device to look at flowers and draw them.

How do you feel about students bringing their own devices to school?

IPads and Literacy

This year I have been on a mission to use technology in my classroom. I am making efforts to use technology, not as a seperate subject, but rather as a part of our daily teaching and learning. I am also trying to make an effort to not use the iPads as expensive pencils.
Throughout this journey I have discovered that the iPad is a tool that helps to engage the students in their own learning. I have seen their creativity, imagination, writing skills, problem solving skills, and oral language skills increase with the use of iPads.

Reading
My class does a lot of listening to stories and reading on the iPads.  They are often reading stories, TodaysMeet discussions, or blogs. We read stories together (projected on the SMARTBoard), in small groups, with partners and sometimes by themselves.  We have favourite stories on the iPads, such as The Monster at the End of the Book and Cinderella.  We also like reading TumbleBooks.

Blogging

My students can easily access their blogs through the KidBlog app. They are able to create stories and pictures and embed them on their blogs. They are able to comment on other students' blogs both from our classroom and from other classes. Many of my students are showing more and more interest in blogging. Some even blog from home.


Spelling
There are several apps to help them practise their spelling words. I like to use the ones that encourage the students to create rather than drill and practise. Some that are often used are Touch and Write, Word Wizard, Doodle Buddy, and Draw and Tell. My students create their own spelling word lists, practise them and save their word work to their blogs.

Story Making

Story Buddy 2

Felt Board

During writing times, I always give my students choice on whether they write on paper, journals, laptops, or iPads. A favourite tool for story telling is the iPad. There are many great apps for them to use, such as Book Creator, Story Buddy, Scribble Press, Felt Board (then import the picture into Draw and Tell or Explain Everything). They often upload their work onto their blog once they are finished. My students enjoy using their blogs as portfolios.

Writing
Technology has increased my students' ability and interest in writing.  Whether it is on their blog, commenting on other blogs, writing stories, or using TodaysMeet.  TodaysMeet is a web tool that allows people to share their ideas.  My students love using TodaysMeet during discussions.

TodaysMeet

Oral Language Skills
I believe that the iPads also encourage the development of oral language skills.  Draw and Tell is a great app for explaining learning.  The students often write, draw, plan etc.. and then explain their learning on the iPad.  They also communicate with each other while they are working.  My classroom is not a quiet place but rather it is a place full of active learning. Students are working together, sharing ideas, and helping each other.  Quiet students can record their ideas on the iPad and then upload it to their blog.

Google Hangouts and Skype are also ways to encourage the students to talk to each other.  This year we have hung out with other classrooms in Canada.  Some of them we even got to meet face to face.  My students were so excited when they met the students in person.  This year, we have also skyped with an author, Kate Messner.  We took turns asking her questions and listening to her answers.


Technology has become part of our classroom and I can't imagine not using it in our daily learning and teaching.

Teaching Math using iPads

A student using the app Draw and Tell to make an equation.

Using cuisenaire rods and the app Popplet to make equations for 12

This year I have been on a journey to include more technology in my teaching.  I have learned along the way that it is not about the iPad but rather it is about the learning.  It is not about using technology for the sake of using iPads but it is about making it a part of the daily learning.  Technology is another tool just like paper and pencils.  It is another way for students to consolidate and explain their learning.  Technology gives students choice in how they show their learning.  For this reason, we should focus less on fancy drill and practise apps and more on creation based apps.  I look for apps where students can show their creativity as well as explain their thinking.

This year, I have 5 iPads in my classroom.  I have been working on using the apps during math as a way to enhance my students' learning and to give them choice on how to explain their learning.  My favourite apps to use during math are Draw and Tell, Popplet, Explain Everything, iMovie, and Kidblog.  Next I would like to introduce the students to Educreations.  After we work on a math concept my students choose how to show their learning.  Some choose to create using manipulatives, some use paper and pencil, some use manipulatives and iPads, and some just use iPads.
My students often put their work on their individual blogs.  Here is one of the students using her blog to show her learning.


This is a student using cuisenaire rods and the app Draw and Tell to make an addition equation.  She then uploaded it onto her blog.

 Technology is a great tool for teaching but we have to remember that it is only one of the tools and that what is really important is the teaching and learning.  Technology gives students more choice on how they learn and gives them opportunities to explain their learning to a wider audience.  It also helps them to make more connections with their learning and with people.  At the end of the day it is not about the fancy apps but rather how the students can use the apps to help them with their learning.

How do you use iPads in your classroom?