Tips & Tricks for Using Technology in the Elementary Classroom
By Kerri Lambert, Teacher Specialist
They can’t log in.
It takes too much time.
They don’t do the assignment; they just play around on the Chromebooks.
They need to write and draw and cut and paste!
They spend enough time on screens.
These are just a few of the reasons we hear on a regular basis as to why teachers don’t incorporate technology into their instruction, especially at the elementary school level. We get it; it can be a frustrating experience that teachers don’t want to deal with, especially during a time when there are so many other stressors and things on teachers' plates.
However, technology is a tool that brings much to the table in terms of student choice, accessibility, and engagement that it’s well worth incorporating into your lessons. And did I mention that even at the youngest grades, Common Core standards explicitly include technology? It’s all about balancing traditional activities with technology, and making sure the activities that are being done are worthwhile and creative. Here are a few tips and tricks to make the process go smoothly in your classroom.
- Making the “@” symbol is tricky. Use small, different colored dot stickers to mark the shift key and 2 key on keyboards. Students can then be taught to “hold red (shift key), and press yellow (2 key)” to type it.
- Emphasize to students that when entering passwords, to type each key once, and not to hold it down. (1 vs 11111111111111111111111). Demonstrate what happens if they type their password wrong and how to try again.
- Practice with old keyboards or printable keyboards.
- Use during guided reading for identifying letters, sounds, and words in context during a lesson. Have students “log in to group” using their username and password before starting the day’s lesson.
- Laminate and use as a center. Students can use a dry erase marker to identify the letters in their name, vocabulary words, spelling words, etc.
- Use Wixie, virtual manipulatives, Jamboard, and other applications on the SmartBoard during whole group instruction so students become familiar with the program even before they access it independently.
- Have students practice their mouse and typing skills with Typing Club (available K-12!) or with these skill roadmaps from Wixie (Kindergarten, First Grade).
- Model! Just like anything else, students need step by step modeling with visual and audio cues to learn how to do something on the Chromebook.
- There’s more than one way to respond! Choose applications that make it easy for students to draw, or record audio and video answers. This will prevent students from getting bogged down with typing. Wixie in particular supports all of these options without having to leave the program. Another option is to use voice typing with Read&Write. (Shameless self promotion moment- Want to learn more on this option? Join us for our virtual webinar on Nov 10th or Nov 15.)
- Mix things up so it’s not always Slides, iReady, and First in Math. The more engaging and different the activity, the more likely students are to stay on task.
- Use Google Earth to explore a location you’re talking about.
- Doing artful thinking? Don’t just show the static image on the screen; zoom into the painting, all the way down to the brush strokes with Google Arts & Culture’s Art Camera.
- Embed questions in videos using DE or Nearpod.
- Toss a collaborative game or graphic organizer their way using Lumio.
- Embrace their love of the selfie and have students record a book trailer using WeVideo.
- Have a student who can’t handle the technology appropriately? Have an alternative paper and pencil activity ready to go. It won’t take long for them to learn they get the boring assignment if they don’t stay on task.
