Finding a Balance: Technology 

in the Classroom

Blog, Technology, Freebie and Teaching Ideas

March 31, 2023

Technology has been a game changer for teachers and students in today's classrooms. But most changes that happen in education can be both beneficial and problematic. This blog will take a look at some of the pros and cons of technology use in the classroom and offer some suggestions to find a healthy balance.

Let's start by looking at some of the cons.  I'm sure every teacher has noticed that students can be distracted by technology.  Once or twice this year, I've reminded students that we are reading actual books, instead of grabbing our computers.  Early in the year, we made a rule that independent reading time was for real books form their book boxes.  There are also those students who will always try to get around the assigned computer task and jump on YouTube or Google.  We also know that students can be more savvy then their teacher on how to get around security measures that are in place in our schools.

Another problem is that computers remove students from opportunities to socialize.  This can cause kids to become isolated and disconnected from the teacher and their peers which can affect social, emotional growth.  Continuing to plan opportunities for students to work with partners and small groups is an important skill to encourage face to face interaction and cooperative learning.  We want our kids to become well rounded students as they move into adulthood.

Finally, technology can discourage creativity.  Solving problems in creative ways can be stifled using a computer.  Finding the answers may be faster, but writing things down and actually showing one's work is an aid to learning and memorization.  Brain research has shown that writing by hand allows the brain to form more "hooks" to imprint learning.

Technology has also made lives a lot easier for teacher and students.  For teachers, computers can gather data more efficiently and this data can guide our instruction.  Computer programs can be individualized for our students and  provide differentiation within our classrooms.  Communicating with parents became easier with computers allowing schools and teachers to provide websites and apps that allow timely updates and dissemination of information.

The pros for students using technology in the classroom includes motivation. Computers excite students and improve their participation and engagement.  They can offer advantages to access high quality and the most current information.  Computers encourage students to investigate new topics and can provide supplemental learning with fewer resources.  Technology can provide interactive presentations that engage students in their learning.  It also allows students to create presentations that can dazzle their classmates.  

Weighing the pros and cons reminds us as teachers to provide a healthy balance between activities that use computers and time to engage in non-screen activities in which students can thrive. Below are 5 ideas on how you can offer a balanced approach in your classroom.

5 Ways to Create Balance in your Classroom

1.  STEM Activities - Students love these activities because they encourage problem solving, innovation and collaboration as they apply science, math, engineering and technology concepts to problem solve different challenges. There are som many amazing STEM projects out there.  Here is a great one for Spring!

You can find the Spring STEM Build a Birdnest here.

2.  Logic Game and Puzzles -  Games and puzzles played alone or with a partner increase kids' brain power.  They require problem solving and are challenges to create strategies on how they will solve the puzzle or game.  Pictured below is a fun paper and pencil game to challenge students' thinking.  Click here to download this Estimation Logic Game FREEBIE! 

  3.  Game Breaks - Most kids still love to play board games and there are so many great games that are educational and challenge their thinking.  Games are also played with a partner or a group of 3 or 4 so learning to follow the rules of the game and working cooperatively with others is a bonus! I've listed some great games below to have on hand in your classroom.  Game Day makes a great reward incentive, too!

Strategy Games: Battleship, Connect Four, Tic Tac Toe 

ELA Games:  Bananagrams, Boggle

Math Games:  Yahtzee, Monopoly, Pizza Fraction Fun

4.  Project Based Learning -  It's so important to establish a culture in your classroom of inquiry and creativity. Not to mention, students have so much fun planning their project and incorporating all of their new knowledge. Planning for project based learning may start by first examining the core standards and your curriculum, but the understandings that your students can uncover while doing their projects help them to dig deeper into their understanding of these concepts. This Plant and Animal Structures PBL culminates with a poster that students create to share an animal that they choose to research.

You can find the Plant and Animal Structures PBL here.

5.  End of Year Memory Book - Allow your students to be creative as they create this Marvelous Memory lap book. It will become a favorite keepsake for kids in any grade.  It's also a motivating activity for those last days of school as they reminisce about the year with their teacher and classmates.

You can find the End of Year Memory Book here.

🍀🍀🍀🍀 March Madness🍀🍀🍀🍀

     March Madness has always been filled with anticipation for basketball lovers like me! It's the month of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. That means... time to fill out your brackets and watch some quality college basketball. Hopefully, your team makes it to the Sweet Sixteen, Elite 8 and then the Final Four.  If you're a basketball fan like me, March and early April can be exciting or heart wrenching depending how your team plays, of course! 

     Some years you have a few super stars that come in and lead the way or never really become part of the team because they are off to the pros so fast.  Other years, you have players that have been with the team for four years. You've watched them mature and become great players and leaders along the way.  They might not be future pros, but they play with heart and they make a great team. Personally, I love this scenario because you get to know the players and of course, teachers are all about building relationships!  

     Once I started teaching, I still looked forward to the basketball tournament, but in the classroom, "March Madness" took on new meaning. In my teacher life, it meant:  finishing projects, updating data notebooks, getting grades into your grade book, filling out report cards, preparing for conferences, realizing how much curriculum I still have to cover and often state testing dates were thrown in there somewhere...PHEW!!!  There have been years when I thought I would never make it to spring break, but somehow, I always did!

     I can't help but notice the similarities of March Madness for college basketball and my classroom full of fourth graders.

• Both have achieved so much to get to March but there are so many more goals to accomplish before the end of the season/school year.

• The team or classroom dynamics are different every year but they both need to work together to succeed.

• Leadership is important to be successful on a team or in the classroom.  Whether you are a teacher, a basketball player or a student, everyone needs to find the leader within themselves to achieve goals.

• Building positive relationships and community will help you go farther on a team, in school and in life.

     As hectic as March can be, I always like to take time to build community within my classroom.  Taking well deserved breaks or "a breather" from the daily routine, standardized tests, final projects, gathering data and reflecting before conferences is important. Sometimes kids just need to be kids and have some good old-fashioned fun.

     St. Patrick's Day is the perfect time in March to do just that! Set aside a Friday afternoon to do some community building.  It's always a good time to encourage team work and have some fun with each other. 

     STEM activities are always great for encouraging teamwork. leadership and a feeling of accomplishment for everyone involved.  The FREE Leprechaun Trap STEM activity is a fun way to give your kids a much needed break. They can work with a partner or individually to build their trap.  

First, they will learn a little about leprechauns to help with their design.

Next, they will make their leprechaun and build a trap. 

To make a leprechaun, they will have to do a little math.





Finally, they will write about their Three Wishes once they catch their leprechaun!

Click here to grab your freebie! 

If you like this St. Patrick's Day activity, you may want to extend your celebration!

Click to check out the St. Patrick's Day Minute to Win It! Challenge!

Have fun rejuvenating your classroom community at a very busy time of the year! It will be worth it. Everyone will go away smiling!

Visit my blog for more ideas and resources to make your teaching life easier!

                                           www.sparlingsspot.com

The Value of a Well-Planned Curriculum Night

                           Themed Curriculum Night

Dreading Curriculum Night?  The thought of 50 parents sitting in your student desks for an hour, watching you with their arms crossed and never saying a word can be nerve racking to say the least!

Although this event is extremely stressful,  Curriculum Night or Back to School Night,  as some schools refer to it, is essential to a smooth transition into a new school year. Putting together a well thought out night for parents will help you survive the night and actually walk away feeling more confident about the year ahead.

Technology has really helped take away the uncomfortable feeling that all eyes are on you.  Use it to give your audience a place to focus. It will also help you stay on target with your agenda for the night.  I have created a Hollywood-Themed Google Slide presentation to demonstrate what I mean. You can project it onto your white board and give your parents something to look at other than you!

When you plan your presentation, include information that will help your classroom run smoothly. Take advantage of this night because it is the only time you will have parents altogether to explain how things work, how they can support their child and how you can work together to have a successful year.

Some things to consider adding to your presentation:

• Introduce yourself.  Share your credentials and philosophy about teaching.
• Explain your expectations and procedures clearly so parents can help hold their children accountable.
• Share the highlights of your curriculum. 
• Explain grading, assessments and how you hold students accountable for their own learning.
• Discuss the positive behavior support you will use this year.
• Solicit parent support-explain the importance of a strong Home/School Connection.
• Let your parents know that you are here for them and their children.  Share with them ways to communicate with you throughout the year.

Give your Curriculum Night a personal touch.  Send out an invitation. Display student work from the first few weeks. Have students clean their desks and leave their parents a special note. Provide a sheet or survey for parents to fill out on their child. Provide water and a small snack for parents to enjoy as they sit and listen to your presentation.   

Consider making a handout with more detailed information to accompany your presentation that parents can take home as a reference.  

Pictured are a few extras that will make your Curriculum Night run smoothly.

• Parent Sign-in
• Notes to leave for parents and students
• Treat for parents
• Coupon book for parent volunteers to fill out, tear off and send back to the teacher

Treat Curriculum Night as a gift to yourself for the purpose of getting your classroom off to a great start.  You won't regret the time you put into its planning and you will walk away feeling confident that you have begun the very important connection between home and school. This is the beginning of building a successful learning environment for each of your students!

Click on the link below to see the Hollywood-Themed Curriculum Night Bundle.
Happy planning!

click here

Personal Narrative-Back To School Writing Assessment

       

Personal Narratives 

with a Twist

     How and when do you assess the skills of your new classroom full of writers? Are you trying to fill that first week of school with activities that assess your learners but also keep your students busy before you really know them?

      The first week of school is an excellent time to begin assessing student writing skills.  In fact, it is the perfect time to write personal narratives using all of those small moments your students have experienced over the summer. 

      

     I love using the mentor text, "How I Spent My Summer Vacation," by Mark Teague to inspire students to write about their summer adventures.  It is funny and engaging for upper elementary and is a perfect example of personal narrative-a student sharing his summer vacation with his class. The twist in this book is the character exaggerates "just a little" about his trip out west to see his grandma. This mentor text is a great example of the author's craft elaboration or exaggeration. Your students will love writing about their summer adventure and making it even better incorporating a little exaggeration.

      After going through the writing process, students can write their final copy in a "Summer Sandwich"- adding illustrations. These can be displayed on a bulletin board or greet parents on their desks at an Open House or Curriculum Night!

Your students will be proud to share their "Summer Sandwich" stories with their peers or parents.  Through the process, you will also be able to observe your students as writers; how well they understand the writing process and the strengths and weaknesses they possess. You will be a great start to your writing instruction!

click here

Here's a link to this personal narrative in my TpT store.  

Click to see all that is included in this back to school resource!

     

      

      

Let's Get Organized!

      

       Ready...Set...Go!

          4 Ways to Organize 
         Your Teaching Life


    Are you beginning to have sleepless nights?  Dreaming about bulletin boards and how everything goes wrong on the first day of school?

    Well...no worries!  Here's your Back To School Checklist to help you get organized for the upcoming school year!

Click here!

   Put your mind at ease! Being proactive is key to getting ready for that new school year. After that, you can simply enjoy getting to know your kiddos on that first day of school!

   Rather than ruining those last few weeks of summer, take small steps to get in the right mindset for a successful new year. 

3 weeks before school-Teacher Prep

    I call this Teacher Prep because what it really does is get the teacher excited and prepared to start thinking about a new school year. It allows you to take small steps to admit to yourself that summer is coming to an end. Here are some suggestions on what you can do.

• Get a copy of your class list
• Begin collecting pertinent information that will impact your planning-upcoming meetings, schedules for special classes, lunch and recess, etc.
• Do something to say "welcome" or meet your new students-send a letter introducing yourself, some teachers like to do home visits or phone calls, plan an Open House, etc.
• Take a motivational trip to your local teacher store to get ideas and supplies to spiff up your classroom
• Definitely take a trip to Target and peruse their dollar section-so many things that you can use to brighten up and organize your classroom

2 weeks before school-Classroom Organization

    Choose a rainy or cool summer morning two weeks before school to go into your classroom and start unpacking boxes, moving furniture around and pulling out things you'll use again this year. It will give you peace of mind and may even get you excited about the year ahead. Save those beautiful days you have left to enjoy your summer. Some suggestions to get a head start.

• Arrange your furniture-desks, cubbies, shelves, etc.  I think finding a new arrangement will spark possibilities for the new year but you may be more comfortable with the status quo.  Do whatever works for you!
• Create center areas in your classroom that will provide seating flexibility and easy transitions in your classroom.  Some areas you may want to incorporate are a place to meet with small groups, a large group meeting area for mini-lessons, and a quiet corner for your reading area.
• Create and hang bulletin boards-consider a theme for your classroom and which boards will stay up all year and boards that you can change periodically. Some suggestions are a "Welcome to Our Class" board, helpers, calendar, birthdays, a board to display student work and subject area boards. So many possibilities!

1-2 weeks before school

     Below is a list of things you can do at home when you are watching a movie and enjoying those last few weeks of summer vacation. All of these tasks can be finished up in the classroom the week before school begins.

• Label and hang locker tags.
• Label and attach desk tags.
• Organize student supplies-sharpen pencils, make supply boxes for your groups with necessary supplies for sharing keeping in mind the students who don't have their own personal supplies.
• Label student folders, composition books, workbooks, etc. for easy distribution the first week

1 week before school

    Get ready for that first day! It seems like I'm always doing this last minute! Help is on the way if you're like me and you need some activities to get your year off to a great start!

• Organize lesson plan book.
• Make 1st Day of School gifts for desks-See free gift below!
• Make student planners
• Get weekly folders ready for taking home important notes and daily work
• Plan and prepare activities for that first week-see below for some suggestions!

Click here!

Click here!

Click here!

Click here!

    
Visit my store:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Sparlings-Spot
Visit my blog:

www.sparlingsspot.com

     Enjoy your first day of school and have a great 2018-19 school year!

Conferencing: 3 Ways to Let Kids Lead

Conferencing:

3 Ways to Let Kids Lead

Conference time is right around the corner.  Are you looking for some fresh ideas that will get your students involved in their own conference?  

If your focus is...

• Students taking responsibility for their own learning through Student-Led Conferencing
• Utilizing data for student reflection and showing proof or evidence of growth
• Goal Setting and action plans...here are some ideas to consider!

Every school district has different parent-teacher conference requirements.  As a teacher and a parent, I have always felt meeting with parents two or more times per year is not too much to ask, whether students are struggling or performing at or above grade level.  Luckily, I have always been in district that have at least two conferences per year.

There are a variety of ways to conference with parents and students. I have always valued conferences where students lead and take responsibility for their own learning.  These three ways to encourage kids to LEAD have been successful conference models for my classroom.

1. Student-Led Conferences can be held anytime of the year. They are especially     beneficial  at the beginning of the year when students are reflecting on their growth and setting goals for the remainder of the year. Your students can take the lead in their conference using the GOOGLE SLIDE PORTFOLIO. Click here  I have also created a variety of activities/worksheets that will help students fill out their own individual portfolios. These worksheets can be found as a freebie on TpT called Student-Led Conference Sheets. Check them out in my store, Sparling's Spot.  Click here
2. Not interested or equipped to use Google Slides? Student-Led Conferences can also be achieved using the activities in the Conference Sheets Packet and a script that will guide them through their conference. The worksheets in the packet also allow students to utilize data, reflect on their growth and learning, brainstorm goals and develop action plans for the next semester.  Students can use their Data Notebooks or simply work collected by the teacher to share with parents.  The Student-Led Conference Sheet packet includes an Effort Scale, student reflections and goal-setting sheets and a script students can use to lead their conference.
3. The third option is an Open House to share student growth and learning. This option has been used more often in the spring when teachers are given less time for conferencing. Some students who are struggling may need a one-on-one conference with their parent and teacher. Students who are performing at or above grade level may enjoy sharing their learning at an Open House where 3 or 4 students can be scheduled during the same time slot.  

Here is how an Open House works. 

Five or six centers are set up in the classroom to highlight student learning.

These centers should represent different content areas and core standards that students are working on in each curricular area.  As students arrive at their scheduled time,

 they will be directed to begin at different center activities around the classroom. 

The teacher is available to assist or answer questions as needed. 

Below are some center examples made on trifold boards.

Each of these three conferencing methods require students to take responsibility for their own learning.  Students will utilize data or evidence to show growth, reflect on their learning and set goals for the future. They will walk away from any one of these conferences feeling  empowered and proud of themselves as they LEAD their own way to becoming a responsible learner.

You will walk away feeling proud too!  Have fun implementing student-led conferences in your classroom using one or two of these methods throughout the school year!

10 Ways to Build a Learning Community

Building a Community of Learners 

As I watch the Presidential election coverage this year on television and read posts about teachers wondering what to do those first few weeks, I am reminded of the importance of building community within my classroom during that first few weeks of school.  Developing responsible students, teaching procedures and expectations and the importance of mutual respect are all part of having a successful year with your new class.

This is one reason I start my year with a theme-to give my students a feeling of belonging to something bigger than themselves-our classroom community.

The past few years, I have used a Camp theme.  But any theme can be used and over the years I have used many!  Let me show you ways you can incorporate a theme into your classroom to build a positive learning environment for your students.

You will reap the benefits with your students later in the year if you spend time developing a positive learning environment that develops life skills and leadership skills in your students early on.

Students will value each other's differences, be more empathetic, understanding and show compassion toward others if you take the time to build community within your classroom beginning those first few weeks of school.

1.  Introducing yourself to your class and their families

A perfect start to the new year is to send a letter to your students just before school starts. This is a great way to introduce yourself to your students and their families.  Including a picture of yourself or you and your family over the summer is a nice addition to the letter. Learning a little about you before that first day alleviates a lot of apprehension coming into your classroom on that first day.

Creating a letter that is theme-related will welcome them into the classroom community that you will be working hard to create over the next few weeks.  This is an example of the card I made last year.

2.  Setting up your theme-related classroom environment

Creating your physical space around a theme is a lot of fun.  There are so many things you can do-allow yourself to be creative!  Providing a quiet corner that provides flexible seating for students to work in partners or independently has always been part of my classroom. 

3.  Flexible seating options

Other spots around the classroom where students can work include special chairs (Papasan chairs, stools, bean bags, pillows, a bench) tables and their desks, of course!  Be creative...you can always find fun ways to provide flexible seating.  In my classroom, these spots alternate each week or two so that all students have a chance to sit in different seating provided around the room. Making a chart with your seating that can be changed every week or two works well to manage this task.

4.  Jobs and motivating students to work together

My class was extremely large last year.  Instead of bringing in four more chairs, I took two trapezoid tables and put them together.  Four students were chosen every other week to sit at this table and be my Camp Counselors. I found four clipboards (fancier ones that clicked open for them to keep at their seat).  I used a label maker to write Counselor 1, Counselor 2, 3 and 4 on the cover.   These clipboards stayed on their table with a homework checklist on top and inside were special supplies including  Camp Cash, post-its, pens, and a  highlighter.  Each counselor was assigned to one of the other four groups of students. During their week as a counselor they had jobs like checking homework for the their group each morning, lining up with their group and monitoring their hallway behavior. Camp Cash was our classroom currency that could be earned throughout the year to purchase classroom incentives.   

Interested in Camp Cash?  Click here.

5.  "Camper of the Week" sharing

Two other ways to create a community of learners using a theme are pictured here.  The first photo is my "Camper of the Week" sharing board.

Each week a student is chosen to be the Camper of the Week.  During their week, the student brings in pictures of themselves, their family, awards, drawings, etc. to display for the week on the magnetic board. The Camper of the Week is also given a chance to share about themselves with their peers in our meeting place around the campfire.

6.  Setting up a meeting place

At the beginning of the year while we are learning procedures, rules and building a community of learners, I set up a campfire in the middle of my meeting place.  It's difficult to see in this picture but I used rocks to border the edge, large twigs in the middle, intermixed with a small string of orange twinkle lights and some tissue paper flames.

Your class will enjoy sharing Camper of the Week, listening to your read aloud and gathering for many other activities in this space throughout the year. Your meeting place is a perfect place to do community building activities as well as mini-lessons for Reading, Writing or Math Workshops!

Here are the last few bulletin boards that I added to my classroom to promote my Camp theme and building community: Leader In Me, Bug Birthdays and Hiking Helpers.

7.  Leader In Me

Our school is implementing the Leader In Me program.  This board was used to promote the Habit of the Week.  Students also hung their Leadership Lanyards on this board.  They would take them off the board to wear them each Friday and earn tags or beads for various accomplishments.







8.  Helpful Hikers was a board I bought on TpT a few
years ago.  Giving students jobs within their own
classroom helps them take pride and ownership
of their learning environment. The hikers tied in well to my camp theme.

 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Melissa-Smith

9.  Bug Birthdays

I also bought these bug jars and bugs on TpT.
You can find this product if you type in Birthday Bug Bulletin Board by Aubri Pennington.

10.  Last, but not least, are my boards to display student work - Spotlight on Great Work! 

This board was easily interchangeable. I put card stock squares on the board first and attached a clip on each to allow papers to change often.  That way all students celebrated their work throughout the year!

Tracking Good Behavior was where we kept track of daily table points.  Groups could earn PAWS for demonstrating their mastery of procedures, expectations and rules in our classroom.  Tables earned Camp Cash if their table won for that day! Part of building a community of learners is encouraging them to work together...this board promotes teamwork or that working together is better!

Building a positive learning environment is ongoing throughout the school year.  Setting up your learning environment is just the beginning.  There are a multitude of ways that your students can become more responsible for their own learning, develop respect for others and learn to work together in your classroom.  I believe it starts here! 

Happy Community Building!  

 ~anne