Natalie Vanderbeck
I had the pleasure of teaching ESOL classes at George Nettels Elementary in Pittsburg, KS, for nine years. Now as the school’s K-5 math teacher, I look forward to finding new ways to help students succeed. I have a bachelor of science in Education and a master’s degree in Science with an ESOL emphasis. I’m an ESOL mentor and practicum supervisor, lecture part time at PSU, and coauthored “The Reality of Teaching Young ELLs in a Pull-Out Program.” My students motivate me every day to share my love of learning with them.
There’s no debate: teaching in the 21st century has been greatly enhanced by the aid of technology. The students in our classrooms are digital natives. They’re eager to utilize various technologies, resources, and devices. Their natural aptitude with devices and their interest is the buy-in you need to enhance and deepen their learning through tech. In short, students thrive when given opportunities to use technology in the classroom. However, there can be challenges, which often hinder the implementation of bringing technology into the classroom. Let’s break them down, tackle them, and get that tech in!
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Topics:
Elementary School,
FUNDING,
IDEAS & INSPIRATION,
ROBOTICS,
Technology,
Resources,
Coding,
Professional Development
Today’s classroom is truly diverse. Teachers are expected to teach students with increasingly varying cultural, socioeconomic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, to name a few. This adds richness to the classroom environment, but it also means teachers are tasked with making material/activities relevant to all learners. Coupled with other forms of diversity are individual learner profiles. And adding another layer still, technology has become more available and necessary in classrooms. Making an educational experience accessible and meaningful for all students can be a struggle.
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Topics:
IN THE CLASSROOM,
Elementary School,
ROBOTICS,
Coding,
Future Ready,
21st Century Skills,
Hands-on Learning
Inquiry-based learning isn’t a new idea in education. While writing my master’s thesis, I studied science classrooms that utilized inquiry-based learning vs traditional teacher-led learning. To be certain we’re all on the same page, let’s define inquiry-based learning: “a student-centered approach where the instructor guides the students through questions posed, methods designed, and data interpreted by the students. Through inquiry, students actively discover information to support their investigations” (Edutopia).
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Topics:
IN THE CLASSROOM,
Elementary School,
ROBOTICS,
Collaborations,
Technology,
Coding,
Social and emotional learning,
Hands-on Learning,
Inquiry-based Learning