The article I chose discusses how technology can be helpful in the classroom. Robinson (2022) says that minimizing screen time and maximizing student interactions is worthwhile, but there are still good uses of technology in the elementary grades. This statement is exactly how I feel; this is the first year since Covid that I think we are returning to normalcy. As a person, I'm not very tech-savvy, but teaching virtually really changed all that, especially teaching first grade. "When using technology in the elementary classroom, be judicious and intentional" (Robinson, 2022). Before implementing technology, the younger grades need to address many expectations ( this is what I find to be the hardest). I want to use technology to improve their skills but still have hands-on, engaging activities, because using technology in my teaching allows students to connect with the world.
Technology can be used as an instructional tool, "Teachers can create short audio or video clips to supplement and extend classroom instruction" (Robinson, 2022). I do this using a rotation model for Math and ELA. I appreciate how I can differentiate instruction for my students. Some unique apps I like to use are boom cards and xtraMath. Then my district uses HMH, and I take advantage of Iread and Amira. Both programs share data with me, and then I can create more lessons for them to strengthen the specific skills needed, and because of this, it is easy for me to monitor their progress. Another section of the article I liked was about using technology to provide choice and spark students' creativity. I agree, and I do this every Friday. My first-grade students can pick websites they like, and many chose abcya.com, where they can make something and print it. They love it! When I taught fourth grade about 6 years ago, I used an app where my students made comic strips using vocabulary words, so many students told me how it was their favorite memory from my class.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Robinson, A. (2022) Effective Uses of Technology in Elementary School. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/effective-uses-technology-elementary-school
