Day 52 Susan Astone, Francis Wyman Principal

Our 1:1 First Grade Classroom 

Welcome to our 1:1 first grade classroom ! Within several minutes you can see a number of our  current initiatives and instructional practices occurring.

The students are participating in a Fundations lesson for phonics instruction. They work on their individual iPads to write words and vowels sounds.

The Touch-It interactive white board is used for both teacher directed instruction and for sharing student responses. The teacher's articulation of the phonemic sounds is clearly heard by all thanks to the Light Touch sound system in the classroom. The teacher awards CARES coupons to students who are demonstrating appropriate learning behaviors as she has the coupons conveniently in her coupon pouch.

Students have the opportunity for individual attention from our RtI tutors who assist in the classroom. The students were completely engaged as a result of being able to fully participate throughout  the entire lesson and  get the personal attention and immediate feedback that they need. The lesson focused on research based approaches for reading instruction and learning behaviors. The technology utilized effectively supported the primary educational goals.

Day 40 - Andrew Dexter, Marshall Simonds Middle School Media Specialist

 
On Monday’s Professional Development Day, Marshall Simonds teachers were presented an overview of the 1:1 iPad plan by Assistant Superintendent Patrick Larkin, Director of Technology Integration Dennis Villano and the BPS Ed Tech Team. Beyond logistical details, the teachers were given time to learn about foundation apps and load them onto their iPads. Andy Marcinek and Tim Calvin, who both work at BHS as Educational Technology teachers provided MSMS staff with vital insight on how the 1:1 environment can provide teachers and students with a more engaging learning environment. The staff also had the benefit of learning from BHS Help Desk students Sidd Chhayani and RJ Dalton.

MSMS has had the advantage of being on the cutting-edge of technology for many years, so this transition will be a smoother one compared with many other schools. Dennis Villano mentioned during his presentation,

“Teachers at MSMS have always been willing to try new things.”

The foundational apps mentioned during the PD day were:

EvernoteExplain Everything

DropboxNotability

Drive

The iPad is simply another tool to add to the teacher’s toolbox. It is very exciting to see the potential of the 1:1 environment starting to take shape. I am sure this exciting learning environment will have its growing pains, but I am very excited about what is to come.

-Mr. Dexter, Library Media Specialist