This year’s iPad Launch Project in
Kindergarten North has been a huge success.
When we originally agreed to implement the use of six new iPads in our
classroom, we were hopeful that they would assist with our documentation of
student work (through photos, videos, and note-taking) and help to reinforce
our students’ academic learning (through math and literacy apps). What we did not expect is how well the iPads
would help us in addressing and assessing students’ individual academic
needs. After almost a full school year
with these devices, we have found that the iPads have been an invaluable
addition to our lessons and daily routines.
The benefit of having iPads for
teacher-use was immediately apparent.
From the very first day of school, we were able to take photos and
videos of our students and their work with the ability to see the footage instantly
and on a large screen. Notes,
observations, and dictation of the students’ descriptions of their artwork,
block structures, and more could be taken immediately and easily saved on these
devices. If the children wanted to see
what a certain African animal or building in Boston looked like, it could be
pulled up quickly on the iPad and displayed for the entire class to see. Additionally, we have downloaded a terrific
selection of children’s audiobooks for the students to listen to during
Literacy Stations and Rest Time.
The impact of the iPads on our
students’ academic learning has actually surpassed our expectations. We spent the summer researching various math
and literacy apps on our own and through professional development – searching
for activities that would reinforce the content that we covered throughout the
school year. We found numerous apps that
focused on important Kindergarten skills, such as hearing beginning sounds in
words (Sound Sorting: Beginning Sounds app),
matching letters with their appropriate sounds (Super WHY app), letter and number formation (Letter School app), and how to sequence numbers (Mathlandia app). An unexpected benefit of having the iPads was
how well these devices allowed us to differentiate instruction based on
specific students’ needs. One child could
use a particular app to practice his/her sight words, while another student could
work on identifying teen numbers.
Certain apps, such as Smarty Pants
School, even have built-in assessments that identify areas that an
individual student needs to work on and then provide activities and games that
strengthen those particular skills. We have
had a positive experience using these iPads in the classroom, and we are
excited to discover additional ways to incorporate them next year.
