I am a second grade teacher and we implement the Daily 5 structure to our guided reading groups. This means that there are 5 rotations during the guided reading block. Listen to Reading, Work with Teacher, Read to Self, Work on Writing and Word Word are my rotations. Last year was the first year that my classroom was 1:1 with iPads, except the students are not allowed to take them home.
My concern is, how much screen time should I allow the students? During Listen to Reading I would let them get on Storyline Online to watch a video of a real person reading a story to them, or they could get on Epic! and read an ebook. Epic! also had some audio books on it. Work on Writing started as them writing entries in their writer's notebook, but as the year progressed, they started writing letters to me on a Google Doc. which saved so much time in responding to them. During Work with Teacher, we usually had a paper article that we could annotate. By the end of the year I scanned the articles instead of making copies and we used digital annotations. During Read to Self time, I made them read an actual book from the classroom library.
I'm not sure if I am letting students on the iPads for too much time or if it is fine. Scanning articles instead of making copies saves the school a lot of paper and ink, but then they can't take the article home and read it again for homework. What do you think?
I think 1:1 iPads is amazing. I personally think that with it being the 21st century and schools moving more towards papers free, I think that you are doing it just fine. I absolutely love the daily 5. There are so many wonderful things that you could do with that with each student have their own iPad. You could even set up a class blog for them to comment about what they did during daily 5 time everyday. It could be as simple as that to hold them accountable. There are also great apps out there that all relate to areas from the daily 5.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think a blog would be great for work on writing time. They could even blog with the first and third graders!
DeleteAmy, You have a great plan and are implementing it creatively. I think the fact that it evolved over time shows the growth that both you and your students have experienced.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the YouTube video: A magazine is a iPad that does not work with a baby reading?
Here's the link: https://youtu.be/aXV-yaFmQNk
The iPad/screen time world is theirs. We cannot stop it. We can help students learn to use resources wisely, rather than simply to escape.
Your program sounds great (love the Daily 5 too)!
Judy
Thanks for the link!
DeleteI agree with Judy - these are digital natives and they have so much screen time, but it's just the way they are growing up. Your program design sounds great.
ReplyDeleteI have asked myself this same question. However, I only have 8 devices in my classroom. Last year I tracked their Daily 5 stations throughout the week and would only allow students on devices 2-3 times a week for Daily 5. I recently listened to this episode of Note to Self called There's Just Something About Paper. I was a fascinating listen. They suggest that reading on a screen is different from reading a book and that your brain can tell the difference. There were a lot of things said in the podcast that made me think about how I am using technology in the classroom especially as it relates to literacy instruction.
ReplyDeleteHere is the link: http://www.wnyc.org/story/reading-screens-its-actually-different/
Thanks for the link Erika! I agree that reading on a screen is different. I think that it's still important for students to read a real book. At the same time, so many books can be stored on an iPad. I think I just need to keep a balance.
DeleteOne thing I'm also worried about is students' eyes. I know that being on a computer all day is bad for your eyes. This could be coincidence, but in May I had to get glasses after almost a full semester of online classes. I was constantly on the computer or reading on my iPad. In just a couple of months everything started getting blurry and now I have glasses.
ReplyDeleteAmy, without getting into the medical side of things - as I don't know that literature/research - I think the key with deciding whether to use technology or not is asking yourself what does the technology afford or allow that not using technology wouldn't get me? If there are clear advantages to using technology, then you should use it.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I teach third grade, and like you, have a 1:1 iPad environment. For me, the advantages to using technology are endless so my students would be on the iPads, and the other technology we have access to, all day long if I'd let them, including recess and lunch breaks! I try to allow for breaks in the day for them to readjust their eyes. I have to comment on the medical side of things, just for a moment, only because last year 12 of my students had glasses! The numbers are going up each year, so I struggle with my part in all of that.
ReplyDelete