Monday, May 17, 2010
Appreciating an opportunity to enhance student's abilities!
Due to the Power to Learn grant in Spring Branch ISD this year...specifically at Spring Woods Middle, my ELL Newcomer students have excelled in their English language learning. They have needed to use and know many words in English just to navigate, search and report on various topics in Social Studies and Language Arts. The motivation of using an IPOD or a Net book is so great that they will research and learn whatever they have to as long as they can use the computers. Blogging has been a wonderful tool for them to comment on the various projects that students have done. By learning just how much English they ALREADY knew simply because of the cognates in English and Spanish, students have moved quickly up the scale of knowledge. The technology that we have been given through the grant has been a God Send! The students love to go to Brain Pop, StoryBird, Tumblebooks and more, as long as they are on their mini's. They will do any thing asked of them on the IPOD Touch and finding sites to practice English spelling, common words, pronunciation has been wonderful for the new language learners. Next year I plan to use the minis more for researching areas in American History and more for creating stories of their own. This was an experimental year and it has been very successful! Thanks to our wonderful leader, Laurie Pickup who wrote and encouraged the grant!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED BY GRANT
Our Power To Learn grant served a total of 242 students all in Spanish 1 through 4.
GRANT IMPACT
The biggest impact of the grant in our classes was that it gave students the opportunity to access technology in a regaular basis. Students really enjoyed using the iTouches and were more engaged and thrilled about learning using technology. It was also a great tool for students who needed to "handle" something and made the learning more pleasant.
WHAT WENT WELL
The Flip Cameras were a hit, they worked on interviews and gave formal presentation. These were a great tool for them to evaluate them selves in how to improve the speaking skills. The I-Pod Touches were a great success with our Spanish learners. They liked using apps to learn Spanish vocabulary and grammar and also gave them the opportunity to practice listening and pronunciation "away" from everybody else. The net books were used with AUDACITY, they created a weather report and students were at all times engaged in practicing not only the vocabulary in the lesson but also their skills.
PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR
Next year, we would like to use a more project-base approach with technology. We also want to use all technology in centers more. We will have an advantage next year since we already know what we are doing :) and we can start earlier in the year. Mary Serrano and Maya Whitten.
Our Power To Learn grant served a total of 242 students all in Spanish 1 through 4.
GRANT IMPACT
The biggest impact of the grant in our classes was that it gave students the opportunity to access technology in a regaular basis. Students really enjoyed using the iTouches and were more engaged and thrilled about learning using technology. It was also a great tool for students who needed to "handle" something and made the learning more pleasant.
WHAT WENT WELL
The Flip Cameras were a hit, they worked on interviews and gave formal presentation. These were a great tool for them to evaluate them selves in how to improve the speaking skills. The I-Pod Touches were a great success with our Spanish learners. They liked using apps to learn Spanish vocabulary and grammar and also gave them the opportunity to practice listening and pronunciation "away" from everybody else. The net books were used with AUDACITY, they created a weather report and students were at all times engaged in practicing not only the vocabulary in the lesson but also their skills.
PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR
Next year, we would like to use a more project-base approach with technology. We also want to use all technology in centers more. We will have an advantage next year since we already know what we are doing :) and we can start earlier in the year. Mary Serrano and Maya Whitten.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Laurie's view of the impact of technology on ESL and Math Lab students.
GRANT IMPACT
I am proud to say that the person that was impacted most by our grant was me. I am of an age that sometimes has trouble accepting change. I was extremely frustrated at times with Word Press at first. It is a difficult program for me.Once everyone was settled it worked out okay. The technology that I was given access to this year changed my teaching methods. I worked hard to have a more green classroom and use less paper. I did that! I worked hard to use technology as a tool in my class and not as a reward. I wanted the students to think of the netbook mini's as they would a book or a pencil or a composition journal. My students do. One big difference. They love the computers and take really good care of them.Not so much with pencils and paper.I have found that even the wildest students can be brought around with a promise of "5 minutes of math choice time when you finish your work."
Student impact: All of my ESL students started and kept up their science blogs this year. They did lots of research about science and in interactive math games throughout the year. They learned and used network etiquette and the reasons for it. Wrote comments to each other in English most of the time and talked a lot about their blogs.
WHAT WENT WELL
The whole year. Our trainings by Karen Justl were phenomonal. She is an inspiring, helpful and can do person. Any time that we had any questions found Karen not on line with us but, at our school, jumping in and helping us get up and started. She was awesome.
The team I worked with was excellent. Everyone tried really hard to take a part in implementing the grant and boosting each other persons morale as we made misteps or mistakes or simply became FRUSTRATED! with something new that we had trouble grasping. Estelle is the queen of aps., Christa and Mary the goddessess of Flip Cameras and Maya and I are the Dames of the Dell Minis. We all found equipment that became our favorite tools. I love those mini's-- Just try and get me to give them up.
PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR
Next year I would like to seamlessly integrate technology into my classroom so that I do not feel so awkward about it. I plan to become more versatile with the ipods and minis this summer. I want to use them so that I can fully appreciate and understand their capabilities. Academically, I want to set up a program for ESL kids much like Library2Play that our district has. I have a few more things that I would like to put into it. I want to have a student directed wiki or website that will walk the students through netiquette. I want to be that teacher that knows and runs a 2.0 classroom.
STUDENT COMMENTS
The following are comments that I have recieved from my students regarding the use of our new technology this year. Remember they are learning English.
M.Noyola "I like the computers because I learned how to make a blog of science. I learned how to use a Flip camera to film things."
A.Escobeda "I like everything computer, camara, I pod touch and I like all of them. I learned more words in English, I learned to type faster, I learned how to google information, and I learned how to use the blog and Jiji."
H.Rodriguez "I like everything; the computer, ipod touch, and the camera. It is good for learning English. I write and speak many words and use the computer more. I go to google, Jiji, blogs and I comment to my friends."
J.Castro "I lke the computer programs, the blog of the science, the ipod touches don't have the other programs. It is very ugly. I like the mini computer better. I learned to write and speak English on camara and on blog."
C.Edwards "What I like most about the computers are the wonderful math games I play so far. I like everything about the computers."
K.Mejia "I like the blog the best on the computer.The ipod touch helps me to learn English. The animal names ap is my favorite. I like the Flip camera because I take it to my house and I have an interview of my family."
S.Guzman "I like that I can use the computers in all of my classes. I like that the netbook mini does not have a mouse.I don't like the mouse. the Ipod touch I can't see very good and I need to move the screen and I don't like it. I really like the Jiji math program."
J.Sarmiento "I love the ecology unit on the computer. I wish all the school has ecology. I love to have the small computers to blog about the ecology. I love the ipod to play games and I can do the aps. I like the flash cards. In the Ipod I learn Spanish to write in Spanish class. I like my blog because I put the things that I learn."
Here is my blog and it will link to my student blogs. thank you.
I do not think you will be able to comment but, you can try.
I am proud to say that the person that was impacted most by our grant was me. I am of an age that sometimes has trouble accepting change. I was extremely frustrated at times with Word Press at first. It is a difficult program for me.Once everyone was settled it worked out okay. The technology that I was given access to this year changed my teaching methods. I worked hard to have a more green classroom and use less paper. I did that! I worked hard to use technology as a tool in my class and not as a reward. I wanted the students to think of the netbook mini's as they would a book or a pencil or a composition journal. My students do. One big difference. They love the computers and take really good care of them.Not so much with pencils and paper.I have found that even the wildest students can be brought around with a promise of "5 minutes of math choice time when you finish your work."
Student impact: All of my ESL students started and kept up their science blogs this year. They did lots of research about science and in interactive math games throughout the year. They learned and used network etiquette and the reasons for it. Wrote comments to each other in English most of the time and talked a lot about their blogs.
WHAT WENT WELL
The whole year. Our trainings by Karen Justl were phenomonal. She is an inspiring, helpful and can do person. Any time that we had any questions found Karen not on line with us but, at our school, jumping in and helping us get up and started. She was awesome.
The team I worked with was excellent. Everyone tried really hard to take a part in implementing the grant and boosting each other persons morale as we made misteps or mistakes or simply became FRUSTRATED! with something new that we had trouble grasping. Estelle is the queen of aps., Christa and Mary the goddessess of Flip Cameras and Maya and I are the Dames of the Dell Minis. We all found equipment that became our favorite tools. I love those mini's-- Just try and get me to give them up.
PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR
Next year I would like to seamlessly integrate technology into my classroom so that I do not feel so awkward about it. I plan to become more versatile with the ipods and minis this summer. I want to use them so that I can fully appreciate and understand their capabilities. Academically, I want to set up a program for ESL kids much like Library2Play that our district has. I have a few more things that I would like to put into it. I want to have a student directed wiki or website that will walk the students through netiquette. I want to be that teacher that knows and runs a 2.0 classroom.
STUDENT COMMENTS
The following are comments that I have recieved from my students regarding the use of our new technology this year. Remember they are learning English.
M.Noyola "I like the computers because I learned how to make a blog of science. I learned how to use a Flip camera to film things."
A.Escobeda "I like everything computer, camara, I pod touch and I like all of them. I learned more words in English, I learned to type faster, I learned how to google information, and I learned how to use the blog and Jiji."
H.Rodriguez "I like everything; the computer, ipod touch, and the camera. It is good for learning English. I write and speak many words and use the computer more. I go to google, Jiji, blogs and I comment to my friends."
J.Castro "I lke the computer programs, the blog of the science, the ipod touches don't have the other programs. It is very ugly. I like the mini computer better. I learned to write and speak English on camara and on blog."
C.Edwards "What I like most about the computers are the wonderful math games I play so far. I like everything about the computers."
K.Mejia "I like the blog the best on the computer.The ipod touch helps me to learn English. The animal names ap is my favorite. I like the Flip camera because I take it to my house and I have an interview of my family."
S.Guzman "I like that I can use the computers in all of my classes. I like that the netbook mini does not have a mouse.I don't like the mouse. the Ipod touch I can't see very good and I need to move the screen and I don't like it. I really like the Jiji math program."
J.Sarmiento "I love the ecology unit on the computer. I wish all the school has ecology. I love to have the small computers to blog about the ecology. I love the ipod to play games and I can do the aps. I like the flash cards. In the Ipod I learn Spanish to write in Spanish class. I like my blog because I put the things that I learn."
Here is my blog and it will link to my student blogs. thank you.
I do not think you will be able to comment but, you can try.
Reflections on a year of technology from a French Point of View....
NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED BY GRANT
Our Power To Learn grant served a total of 393 students (125 of which were in French 7, French 8 & in ESL Support classes)
GRANT IMPACT
One of the biggest impact of the grant in my classes is that it familiarized students with technology that many otherwise would not have access to. Students really enjoyed learning using the iTouches and were more engaged and thrilled about learning using technology. It was also a great tool for students who were more kinetic and needed a tactile environment to flourish.
This technology grant also was a great opportunity to teach students how to find answers on their own by surfing the Internet and becoming savvy in determining the importance and validity of information found online. It helped them learn to become learners for life.
WHAT WENT WELL
The iPod Touches were a great success with my ELL Support and French students. They liked using apps to learn English & French, particularly creating their own flashcards and then challenging themselves to get higher scores each time. For French class, I mostly used the iTouchwa as a listening and recording tools so that students could hear proper pronunciation and then record themselves for self-evaluation of their pronunciation.
PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR
Next year, I would like to use a more project-base approach with technology. I am also looking forward to using the iPod touches and computers in centers versus whole class. The additional hardware that the Board so kindly approved will make it really more feasible. I plan on using this summer to experiment and play with the plethora of apps that Karen Justl so kindly researched and posted on the technology website for us. In 2010-2011, I would like to create the ning that I didn’t get to do this year and maybe dabble with Skype or e-pals for French class and thus pursue our grant’s vision of using technology to enhance communication. [efm]
Our Power To Learn grant served a total of 393 students (125 of which were in French 7, French 8 & in ESL Support classes)
GRANT IMPACT
One of the biggest impact of the grant in my classes is that it familiarized students with technology that many otherwise would not have access to. Students really enjoyed learning using the iTouches and were more engaged and thrilled about learning using technology. It was also a great tool for students who were more kinetic and needed a tactile environment to flourish.
This technology grant also was a great opportunity to teach students how to find answers on their own by surfing the Internet and becoming savvy in determining the importance and validity of information found online. It helped them learn to become learners for life.
WHAT WENT WELL
The iPod Touches were a great success with my ELL Support and French students. They liked using apps to learn English & French, particularly creating their own flashcards and then challenging themselves to get higher scores each time. For French class, I mostly used the iTouchwa as a listening and recording tools so that students could hear proper pronunciation and then record themselves for self-evaluation of their pronunciation.
PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR
Next year, I would like to use a more project-base approach with technology. I am also looking forward to using the iPod touches and computers in centers versus whole class. The additional hardware that the Board so kindly approved will make it really more feasible. I plan on using this summer to experiment and play with the plethora of apps that Karen Justl so kindly researched and posted on the technology website for us. In 2010-2011, I would like to create the ning that I didn’t get to do this year and maybe dabble with Skype or e-pals for French class and thus pursue our grant’s vision of using technology to enhance communication. [efm]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
