At Bethel Adventist School in Texarkana, Texas, I engage my students in technology in the following areas:
At Bethel Adventist School our grades include: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th grade. Those students who are in grades 5–7 are taught by Mr. Clemons how to put together PowerPoint slides to bring Bible lessons from the Encounter Curriculum such as “Ruth” to life with all types of motion and movement. As we go through the lesson together, students create their thoughts and put them into slides. At the end of the lesson during the Celebration Phase “Life Learning and Kaizen Learning” the students share their PowerPoint with the entire class.
During math the students engage in technology using Go Math! When students go to www.thinkcentral.com, there is “Go Math! Animated Math, where the students have the opportunity to work their problems electronically. Go Math! Animated Math (Learn the Math), (Do the Math), (Independent Practice) and (Quiz) is for grades K-2. For grades 3–6 there is Animated Math with the same idea (Learn the Math), (Do the Math) , (Independent Practice) and (Quiz). Animated Math can be used from the Smartboard or from the individual Chromebooks. The Upper grade students, grades 5 & 6 especially, love using Go Math Carmen Sandiego, who is a detective and the students have the opportunity to create and design their characters and then they proceed with problem solving.
During language arts the students are using Pathways 2.0 and students are using Spelling City and Writing City in conjunction with the Pathways Program. Word Study is a part of Appendix A which lists the spelling words. I place the words into Spelling City and students complete activities such as: Spelling Test Me, Spelling Teach Me, Audio Word Match, Missing Letter, Word Search, Hang Mouse, Read a Word, and Writing Sentences. Instead of having to cut out words, the words are electronically separated and the students can play match the word. Even though it looks like they are only playing games, they are actually becoming familiar with both spelling words and definitions. Before the students are completely finished with this portion of their Pathways 2.0, they have spelling words that they type in sentences adding the commas and periods. I grade their work and send them a message. The sentences can be printed out and the students receive a copy. As for the Kindergarten students in the classroom, we use Starfall along with Stepping Stones, which helps with the sounds and has activities which aid with the pronunciation from A-Z. Starfall also has beginner books which aid in helping young children to read.
Our Social Studies and Science books are electronic, therefore, during the pandemic students used BrainPOP Jr. and BrainPOP in conjunction with their textbooks. The students were engaged in using ClassDojo where the assignments were matched with their actual electronic assignments and they were taught how to upload their assignments through Google Docs and ClassDojo. Each assignment was added to the portfolio of each child.
Physical education was captured and submitted through ClassDojo and added to a student’s portfolio.
Mrs. Sandra Clemons is the Head Teacher at Bethel Adventist School in Texarkana, Texas.
