I was thinking the other day about how many teachers I know that are 'old school'. Teachers (like myself) that were never raised with this new generation of technology, but had to navigate uncharted waters as technology became prevalent. People (like me) who bought a computer when they started selling them at Wal-Mart, or bought a Smartphone because there weren't many other options for cool phones.
With that thinking, I wondered how we 'old school' teachers will handle the integration of technology in our classrooms. I'm not just talking high school level where computer tech is common, nor even junior high level where keyboarding is taught. I'm talking primary/elementary level, where students will be using technology to meet Common Core State Standards.
Some teachers have no clue as to WHERE to start, while others wade in knee-deep and wonder if they are starting to drown. So begins the treading of unknown waters for many of us. With that being said, I have a few pointers that have helped me navigate calm waters (without having a meltdown)! Here is just one...
Keep it simple. We are not unlike a classroom of differentiated learners. We all learn at a different pace, have different degrees of background knowledge, and varying skills. Start with the basics and go from there. Chances are, if you are reading this, you opened an email. I found that email is as basic as you can get, but has SO many uses. Every single child will use email at some point in his/her life. Start now!!! Help them learn to use it!
Our students have their own email accounts through the school, and so I use email every day. Create a class 'group' and send emails to your whole class with a click of the button (if you don't know how to create a group, that 'HELP' button really does HELP!) Each day, my students receive an email detailing what we will be doing for the day--an agenda. They know the CCSS we will be working on for the day, as well. Also, email is GREAT for exit slips, reading group questions, and quick assessments.
Do you teach math? Send out an email with a few questions and let your students work and reply the answers! Just last week I sent my class an 'exit email'. They were to tell me what they knew and what they were confused about when learning fractions that day. The thinking was so deep in their responses, and there was a common thread for many. Their responses made me realize what I needed to clarify and which students needed an intervention.
Teach reading and writing? No brainer! Send your writing prompts, whole group questions, or even reading group assignments. Keep in mind, not everything needs a reply. I give directions to my students in the email as to whether they record their work in a journal or reply to my email (and we all know how important reading directions can be). For example, I have three reading groups. In one email I will detail what each group must do, where to record their work, and when to bring it to their assigned group. You can use this for vocabulary lessons, spelling lessons, or even grammar! If you can write it on a Smartboard or dry-erase board, you CAN EMAIL IT!
That REPLY button is wonderful--it is your friend. If you send a question to your class and need them to email the answer back...REPLY, REPLY, REPLY. This way, each student will have their response recorded under the original question and it will compress the replies so that it doesn't fill your inbox.
And let us not forget the FORWARD button. I have found that many students do not know or forget how to forward emails. So, send an email to one person in each group/team and ask that they forward the email to their team partners.
Emailing links and documents can be a life-saver. Seriously. Last week I sent my students the link to an online story (each day) that we would be reading in class. Everyone had the text right in front of them...no paper copies! Create an agenda as a document and send each day. Opening documents will no longer be a foreign concept to them! It is that simple.
Finally, keep in mind that while you may be proficient at email and everything it is, some students will take some time learning aspects of email. Make sure you purposely target other components, such as flagged, read, Compose, Sent, Trash, Folders, etc. After all, if they are going to use it, help them become PROFICIENT users!
