Uplands Elementary has come a long way in technology over the past year. Every classroom is now set up and equipped with a cart, projector and dongles. Every teacher has his or her own iPad and laptop. The school shares a cart of 35 iPads and a cart of 30 COWS. We seem to work well with our schedule and everyone shares nicely. We also have 3 carts with Apple TVs and those are shared around as needed to work wirelessly. From the feedback I am getting, most teachers are using their technology on a daily basis. Any troubleshooting problems come to me as needed and if I can’t help them out, we find someone who can. We all share technology ideas out on Drop Box and during staff meetings and there are some excellent programs being used across the school. I want to focus this blog specifically on programs that we are using to teach students and support them in Self-Regulation and for Social Emotional Education. The inquiry goal that Uplands has taken on as a whole staff this year is to focus on the Social Emotional piece to minimize behaviors. Although there are several programs being used across the school to address this goal, the use of technology is playing a big role too. | |
| This is one of my students using the rebounder that is kept out in the hallway. I videoed him using it and he gave step-by-step directions for the appropriate way to use it. This video was then shared with the class. If I find a child is having a difficult time focusing or sitting still, I will ask them to go and use the rebounder. I also send students out if they need to be up regulated. Sharing these step-by-step videos is a great way to get the kids teaching and it brings technology into the classroom. |
This is a video of a student doing stretches and down regulation with Maximo on GO NOODLE. Maximo is a funny little animated character that the kids enjoy following along with. | |
| VIDEO-We have been learning to use the SLO-MO and TIME-LAPSE options in camera. The students enjoy filming each other in different learning activities and then watching themselves on the projector. |
This is a photo of my students using SMILING MIND. It is an audio-based program that teaches the students to breathe and focus on calming techniques to down regulate.
We also use an app called RESPIRELAX to help us regulate our breathing and calm our bodies. Individual students use it when they need help calming and we also use it as a whole class on the projector. This is a great calming activity right before transitions. Settings allow you to change the speed and duration of breaths and the students simply breathe in and out at the same speed as the bubble on the screen. This is a French language program, but I think that we all breathe in the same language. HAHA! Here is a video of what the app looks like. | |