Technology in the Classroom

So, as I type the post title, I'm thinking to myself:  I really have to get better at remembering to take photos of the kids doing all of our great activities...hmmmm.....I guess I have a ways to go with technology in the classroom!
Our school (until 2 years ago) has been in the dark ages when it comes to technology.  We only had one smartboard in the entire school, no IPads, a computer lab that worked only sometimes and only 1 or 2 computers in each classroom...SAD!!
Now, because of our WONDERFUL, AMAZING parent advisory council, in the past two years we have managed to get a smartboard in every classroom, have purchased a class set of cameras and 5 Ipads....Not bad considering the PAC had to pay for every single piece (and installation) themselves!

So it is all a bit new to me, but this is what we are doing:

Each morning I do learning stations: (basically math and language arts centers)  Sometimes we use the smartboard for one of the stations.  Last week kids had to sort pictures by initial sound.  They LOVED it.  I love when they can work independently and be successful at it!  Gotta love self-correcting activities!

We have also started taking photos with our big buddy class and uploading them onto the site Kidblog.  Do you know about that site...it is fabulous!  Talk about writing for an authentic purpose....real people read their blogs and make comments on it....the kids are amazed!  The big buddies helped my Kindies upload their pictures.  Then the little buddies dictated sentences to the big buddies about their photos.  Everyone was so engaged and both groups were learning.

There were so many great photos taken.

"Our ice castle is very pretty. The  sparkles are so pretty too. The ice castle has so many different colours. I like the colour pink with sparkles the best."

"Elyssa's Masterpiece: A green leafy hill.  There are yellow, orange and red leaves on the trees."

"I like the rock because there is a lot of moss on it and the rock is huge!"

This was our first attempt at it, and I think it went pretty well. Kidblog is free...you should totally check it out!  www.kidblog.org
That is just a couple of  ways we are using technology in the classroom.  What ways are you finding to use it in the classroom?  I would love to hear!
Terra

December is Here!

Can you believe it is already December?  I've had a hard time wrapping my head around that...perhaps because I have only just returned to work from maternity leave and it feels like it should be September! 
Christmas is my favourite time of year and I have so much that I want to do with my little kiddos that I had better get cracking!  Yesterday we did an adorable wreath craftivity with our big buddies. I found it on pinterest and it turned out really great. I forgot my camera at school, so I don't have any action shots, but this is the wreath....so cute and so doable...even for the kindies!

 It was so great to see them all working together and helping each other out.  I have never done big buddies before, but if this first get together was an indication of things to come, I am so glad that I decided to try it this year!

Next week I am going to introduce my new Christmas Initial Sounds Bingo game for the smartboard to the kids.  Such a fun, easy way for the kids to learn and practice their initial sounds.  Students click a tile to reveal a letter.  They then search their board to see if they have a picture that starts with that letter.  If they need a bit of help, they can touch the picture to hear what the word sounds like.  I think it's going to be great for Literacy Stations and Centers time!  Here's what it looks like.  You can click on the cover to head to my teachers store if you want to see more :)

I hope you all have a great weekend!
Terra