Technology Over Spring Break

So I am currently trying to plan my technology unit, and, man, is it tough. Doing single lessons has proven to be easy and effective for all of my classes, but now, once I am really getting down to the unit planning I did not know how much work it was going to take. Not only that, I don't really know if it's going to be worth all the work. I have the Touches at my disposal, and also the graphing calculators on each of them. This would be easy to incorporate for two to three lessons, but over the course of one week or even two, it is proving to be difficult. I will just keep working, and if it doesn't go to plan than I can hopefully have an effective 3-4 day lesson using the Ipod Touches.

Classroom Response Systems...

Also known as CRS are excellent tools to use with these IPOD touches. I have blogged about poll everywhere in the past, but after seeking out other options I don't know if it is the best. Granted, Poll Everywhere is free software, but it is difficult to patrol and also is has a lengthy process to enter answers. There are some apps in the store that fix both of these problems but run upwards of $100. I just can't find any way to justify spending that money for only 1/3 of the year, and not only that, using them only a couple times per class.

I am still open to new ideas on how to use these things for my pre-algebra class. I need to find some soon. They have found them sitting in my room and ask about them everyday. The pressure they put on me is amazing...and the funny part is that it is coming mainly from the kids who already own IPOD touches.

CSAP is OVER!!!!!

Now it's just time to sit back and relax for the remainder of the year....


Ya right! I'm looking forward to the rest of the year and really trying some methods to keep these 8th graders motivated until the final day. I am looking forward to helping the algebra students prep for their high school final exam, and am looking forward to helping the geometry kids continue on their excelled path in the math curriculum. There isn't a day, an hour, a minute, or a second to take off until that final bell rings on the last day of school. And I love it.

The toughest part is to keep the pre-algebra kids motivated. After CSAP they see little reason to keep learning and have already checked out for the last third of the year (and that only includes the kids who were giving 100% effort for the first part of the year). Granted, they still have NWEA at the end of the year as well as a final, but those can only go so far. My main tool for motivation and engagement with these kids....using the IPOD touches.