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Need help with ways to engage your students during math time? Grab my 10 tips for engaging students during math time below.
Why is technology in the classroom important
There are so many reasons why technology is so important to incorporate into the classroom. If you are looking for simple ways to engage your students you can read my prior blog post here. Technology resources are so important for student learning.
Students benefit from technology in the classroom. Here are just a few:
- We are preparing students for their future careers. Most careers use technology today and by providing students with positive technology opportunities we are guiding their future careers.
- It improves their digital citizenship. Let’s face it, kids are going to learn about the internet and technology. As educators, we can guide them and show them how to make good decisions online.
- Engagement increases. Students are used to being online and using technology. As educators, we need to leverage this and allow our students to be more creative.
Uses of technology in the classroom
Research
This is like google but for kids to use. They have web searches, facts, and images that can be put into the search engine. This is a perfect starting place for any research project.
This is a web resource that has a wide area of kid-friendly topics. One downside is the fact that there are ads on the pages (free sites tend to do this). In contrast to other websites that are like them, fact monster does a good job at making their games academic focused.
This is another search engine that is similar to google. It was created by kids for kids so it is very user-friendly.
This website is made for students. If students are doing a research project on any sort of geography, have them go here. While other websites give the information that they do, national geographic does it in an engaging way.
This is a great resource for researching space or other science topics. Clearly NASA had a great reputation and its well deserved. They especially do a great job at teaching about space and current projects.
This is a great resource for students to use while completing projects. They have a wide variety of resources and topics for kids.
This website is linked to other great resources for students to check out. It is all listed out by subject and user-friendly. It should be noted though that it does link to other websites and not all of them have been tested by me.
Websites
This is a free website that allows your students to interact with the materials at their level. It starts off with a knowledge-based assessment and then places them in activities at their level. The best part is they have Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science lessons. This is one of my favorite technology resources for my classroom.
This is a website where students can play games while learning math skills. They are fun and interactive for students to be engaged.
This is a great free resource. You can create a login for students and assign them lessons based on what you are teaching in class. There are also great videos for students to watch if they are not understanding math skills.
This is a website for teachers and students. They provide lesson plans and activities for all the science standards. You can also assign lessons to students in google Classroom. The topics are fun and engaging for all students.
More Websites
This is a great resource for your social-emotional lessons. I’m sure you have heard a TED talk before but did you know that students are giving them as well? This website has a list of great talks for you to show your students.
This is a great reading resource for students. Not only do they get to read books that they choose but as the teacher, you can assign them books to read as well. Some books will even be read to them.
This YouTube channel was created by a father and is designed for kids. They have a wide array of drawings to choose from. Undoubtebly students will enjoy drawing any of the images within this art hub.
This website is separated out by grade level and is news stories that are geared toward kids. In addition to this they have current event news stories that students will find interesting and enjoy reading.
This is a website that covers fun topics and explores how different things work.
This is a great resource for kids to explore different topics they are curious about. It especially allows students to spark their curiosity and they get to explore a wide range of topics.
Programs
Do you have ESL students in your room? This is a great resource to help guide them on their learning journey. Unlike other programs that don’t help students learn, duolingo does it in short mini lessons.
This is a program that gives leveled short lessons to students on math topics. You can assign items to students or they can explore topics on their own. Without a doubt Dreambox is a great solution for student learning.
Do you feel like your students are on grade level for every area of Language Arts? I thought most of my students were on grade level but once I had them start using this program it found all of their gaps and started filling them. This program is amazing. They also have a program for ESL students as well.
Elementary classroom technology
Class dojo
Need a classroom management super source? Class Dojo not only is a classroom management website but they provide so much more too. They have social and emotional lessons for you. They allow you to communicate directly with parents and they can also see everything that their child is doing in class. The program is a great resource.
Nearpod
Want to make your lessons more interactive and engaging? Nearpods allows you to create slides and lessons as well as you can search their database of premade lessons.
Plickers
Want to make quizzes and tests more fun? This is a great way to get a sense of whether your students understand the material or not. It polls and you scan their cards with your phone and it gives you instant feedback on their answers.
Technology resources for the classroom
Canva
Tired of the boring google slides or PowerPoint slides you are creating? Canva is a great resource for creating slides, posters, and anything you would need in the classroom. Also they have great images and stock outline to make your slides look neat.
Too Noisy
This is an app that allows you to project onto your whiteboard. It helps students to realize when their noise levels are changing and helps them to correct it quickly. Quickly get your students back on track and back to learning.
Flip
Wanting your students to be sharing their thoughts more often? FlipGrid is a great way for students to work together or alone to create a short video that explains their understanding of any topic. It also allows students to see their work and respond. As a teacher, you can turn this feature off as well.
Technology resources for the teacher
Seating Chart Maker
Do you struggle to find just where to sit each of your students? This tool helps you by mapping out your classroom and helping you find the best seats for your students. Especially during the beginning of the school year when you are trying to know your students, this tool can be helpful.
Classroom Zoom
Do you use Google classroom? This extension helps with monitoring your student’s progress. It keeps track of who may need help and allows you to see student effort at a glance. Additionally, this app allows you to help your students grow academically.
PearDeck
Looking to up your slideshow game? Make a Peardeck. It allows multiple ways of presenting the information. You can be instructing students and they can be following along with you and answering the questions as they pop up on the screen or you can send them loose and they work independently through the slides. You are able to see exactly what each student wrote on their slides and it helps get who understands the topics and who does now.
Did you find any of these resources helpful? Let me know below what you think. Are there more that you use that I should add to my list?
Clearly I couldn’t list all of the great resources out there but I did add an awful lot. Without a doubt you know more, what resources do you use in your room? What technology resources did I miss? Share them with me below.
Before you go, looking for more great resources check out these other blogs:
- 10 ways to integrate technology into ILA Projects
- Eleven Simple and Effective Steps for Teaching Students How to Research
- Benefits and examples of how to use technology in the classroom
Check out my last blog post all about What STEM is and how to integrate it into your own classroom.
The post Fun technology tools and resources for every elementary teacher to implement today appeared first on Andrea Cananua.
]]>The post Benefits and examples of how to use technology in the classroom appeared first on Andrea Cananua.
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Let’s face it: kids gravitate towards technology. When I was a kid I would run and play outside until the streetlight came on or it was dinner time. Today kids would rather be inside on their devices. They love to play video games and be on social media rather than run outside and play. As teachers, we need to leverage our student’s interests and invest in incorporating technology into the classroom. Let me show you how…
Technology in the classroom
Many teachers feel technology is daunting and too hard to incorporate. Let me tell you that YOU can do it! I have taught many teachers in my school how to incorporate technology into their lessons and I am here to help you too.
Technology in elementary classroom
John Dewey said, ” If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow.” As teachers, we are lifelong learners and our aim should always be what is best for our students. US News ran an article on the 100 best jobs. Within the top 50 jobs, 20 of them were directly working within the tech field. The other 30 all used tech on a daily basis but were not directly involved in technology. That’s 40% of the top jobs in the US. We are doing our students a disservice if we are not training them to take over the jobs that are out there today.
Integrating technology into an elementary classroom
So how do you integrate technology into your classroom? Just starting somewhere is the key. David Warlick said, “ we need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of the world.”
So how much technology does your school offer? Do you have a smart tv? Do you have devices for every student? If not, do you have to check them out? All of these questions help lead you to how much technology is doable for you.
If you have devices for every student in your room, start incorporating a technology station in your ELA and math centers. There are websites that are free to use and very user-friendly. I will list a few below for you. Just like your students need to practice their handwriting, they need to practice their typing skills as well. Typing Club is a great resource that students can practice for FREE!
Free websites for every elementary teacher
Class Dojo
Are you looking for a great classroom management system? Class Dojo allows schools and teachers to communicate more effectively with families through photos, videos, and messages that can all be sent to parents. They also offer a reward system for you to reward your students. One thing I love about class dojo is the lesson plans. They have fantastic social-emotional lessons for you to incorporate all year long.
Plickers
Are you looking for a formative assessment that will keep your students engaged and love learning? Plicker is the tool for you. They are a free card activity that you can integrate into any lesson.
Freckle
Freckle is a platform that differentiates lessons for every student. Students love it because it’s engaging. You will love it because it’s effective. They have both math and ELA lessons. On the free platform, you get a few lessons a week and this is enough. You can push out specific standards or let students explore whatever topic they choose.
Teaching technology in an elementary classroom
So whether you are looking for a website that you want your students to navigate or a tool that you can use to support student learning there is technology out there to help you. “ Education is the most powerful weapon that we can use to change the world,” according to Nelson Mandela. As teachers we need to keep up with best practices and technology is where our world is turning. These are the jobs of the future and we are training the future in our classrooms.
Technology in the classroom pros and cons
Pros of technology in the classroom
- It keeps your students engaged
Students love to play games and be on any device. By leveraging this you will keep them engaged in the learning process. When students are engaged they are more likely to retain the information we are giving them and in turn, they will be able to use the skills we are teaching them. If we avoid technology because we are afraid of it we are missing out on the lessons we cant teach our students.
- Our world is turning into a technology-driven workforce
Jobs that were once great middle-class jobs are now either being outsourced or made into a technology shortcut. Jobs like manufacturing are now using machines to help build and no longer need a person to operate. This means that jobs are changing and we need to look at what they are changing to. Right behind healthcare jobs (which still rains #1) are information security analysts or tech fields. By giving our students training in tech younger, we are preparing them for where they are going as adults.
- Makes teaching easier
Technology makes teaching so much easier. I no longer grade countless worksheets or assessments. The technology platforms I use in my classroom do it for me. Think about how much time you would save on grading and planning if you just incorporated a little bit of technology into your classroom.
Cons of technology in the classroom
- Too much technology is not beneficial
If you are just putting technology in front of your students and they are just being entertained by it then you need to rethink how you are using your tech. Classrooms still need to have time away from technology.
- Students don’t get the basic skills
If we spend too much time on the computer and not enough time writing or in conversation with one another we lose out on important skills. It is important to learn how to type but it is also important to have nice handwriting, do mental math, communicate well with others, and be able to read a real book. Students need time to get the basic skills as well as have the technology.
- High learning curve
Let’s face it: learning a new skill can take time. Learning new ways to teach your students can take time. This may take away from other areas of your classroom that you neglect. That’s why I suggest starting small and working your way upward. Incorporating technology into any classroom is going to be a learning curve and I want you to be successful so take it slow. Add more when you are ready.
More ideas to answer your question, “ How do I incorporate technology into my classroom?”
- Start small. Use only one platform and when you get comfortable add another.
- Teach your students to respect technology
- Allow yourself to make mistakes and give yourself grace
Need more ideas? Head to these great resources:
- 8 engaging ways to use technology in the classroom to create lessons that aren’t boring
- Amber Calderon’s technology blog
- Reasons why using more routines and having a schedule are important for elementary students
- 5 easy and proven ideas for every math center rotation
Don’t forget to download my article, 10 tips for engaging students during your math block. I give ideas on how to keep your students working and interested in the learning process.
Remember: You have the ability to add technology to your classroom. Start small and just get started. You got this! If you found this article helpful let me know below. I would love to connect and hear how you will be using these tools in your own classroom. Until we connect again…
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