August and September: Trial and Error

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Andres and Kenlee are excited about flexible seating and technology! 



When my family and friends ask me how the school year is going my short answer is always this: It has been a whirlwind and I am learning so much! I say that because my classroom this year has an abundance of trial and error with the technology and it is full of excitement, resilience and possibilities.
Resilience
As Fall Break comes to an end, I have been reflecting on the first 2 months of the year.
The first thing that pops in my head is “trial and error”.
This new adventure with 1:1 chromebooks has been a learning experience for both
teachers and students. We have all been learning patience because as we explore and
learn new technology tools we are having to try things one way and then improve the
next time. I truly think that my students are becoming more
resilient because we are learning how to navigate a 1:1 classroom together.
They are able to be okay with me saying “Let’s try again!”.
My silliest mistake so far is thinking I posted a math test online and realizing later that I accidentally
posted the version in which the kids could check their answers as they went and get multiple tries.
Even my students, who normally would get anxious when something doesn’t go as planned,
are beginning to appreciate the struggles of learning as we go. It makes me excited to think about
all the new things we will continue to try and all the things we will improve on before the end of this year.

Excitement

My favorite part of this ignite journey so far is to see the excitement and pride that the students
have for the technology and for their work. They are learning awesome responsibility skills
because they want to truly take care of their chromebook. When the students complete a google
slide, flipgrid, google form, or other assignment using a technology tool, they are excited to
share it with teachers and other students. Every time I introduce a new skill or tool, the kids
eyes light up and they love to help those around them once they become proficient with it!
My favorite exciting thing so far is when the students worked on a character cage match
hyperdoc that Mrs. Berryman made and they loved learning about characters in this fun way!

Possibilities

Personally, this 1:1 classroom has allowed me to enjoy learning again. I think as a busy teacher
I had forgotten the wonder and excitement of learning new things. This journey with the 3rd
graders has allowed me to be excited about new things and to embrace the multitude of
possibilities that we have in front of us. The ease of access to information is so empowering
for my students. The availability of student choices for learning and showing understanding
of new knowledge is a huge deal!

3rd grade is so fun! It is unreal how much I am learning in my first year teaching 3rd grade. I can’t wait to tell you more about the resilient students, technology and inquiry excitement, and endless possibilities in our classroom! Thanks for reading!
Natalie, Jacobi, Sophia and Justise each work on an activity from the digital choice board for Social Studies and Science. 

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