Week Thirteen: More Observations!

This week is a bit sad, it's my last week here at Trunnell Elementary student teaching.  I have learned a great deal and will forever be grateful.  For my final lesson I used iPads and tangrams to teach 4th and 5th graders about shapes and mathematics.  The lesson plan and pictures from the lesson can be viewed from the following links.


Putting Shapes Together Part 1

Putting Shapes Together Part 2

iPads lessons

iPads lesson 2

iPads lesson 3


Overall I think the lesson went really well.  The students enjoyed hands on time with the iPads and if anything I wish I had more iPads so each student would get longer.  Originally I was to come every day that week and teach all 4th and 5th graders so that everyone would get some great time working with the iPads.  However, the week came and suddenly classes would be missing Monday for a field trip and Wednesday for a class assembly.  Luckily Tuesday and Thursday, the days I needed to record and be observed, where not disrupted. 

I had never heard of


before and I was really thrilled with how well the students listened.  I asked them to think of the shapes they se in their everyday life.  For example a bed is a rectangle, a plate is a circle, etc.  Then I talked about how tangrams are used as a way to tell stories in China.  I then read the story aloud.  After that I passed out iPads and Osmo's and half of the class checked out books while the other half used the iPads to create tangram shapes.  They drew the shapes they made on the iPads on their papers. 


Good things about the lesson: 
-Students LOVED using the technology. 


Bad things about the lesson:
-Not having enough technology for everyone to use at one made for difficult transitions.
-Some student's had a difficult time sharing and thus other students got very little time with the iPads
-Passing out all of the technology after reading the story was very difficult and made for a lot going on at one time
- The first time I tried teaching it I brought in foam shapes so half the class could be working with those while the other half worked with the iPads and then switch, then after everyone had completed everything it would be time for check out.  This was too much for the class period, taking up way too much time.  It also added to the amount of little pieces we had to keep track of.  The second time this was taught we scrapped the foam tangrams and just had half the class check out then work with the iPads.  This process seemed to go more smoothly. 


Overall:
I think if you had a way of setting the technology up before hand and the students in another area listening to the story it would have flowed better.  Leaving the technology at the desks prior to using means lack of focus and ability to not begin the iPads portion before it was time.  I liked that the students seemed very engaged and interested.  If attempted again I'd like to try and find a way to make the whole thing go more smoothly


CEBS Dispositions:

Values collaboration. Actively seeks out and incorporates ideas of others. Takes leadership in working with others to improve the overall environment. Regularly share information and ideas.

EPSB Code of Ethics:

Values professionalism: Professional development and involvement. References and makes use of professional organizations or publications. Willingly participates in professional activities or events that promote professional development.