Prototype

Prototype:

I am choosing to use the app SeeSaw as a way to integrate more writing into my classroom. My students are not very excited when it is time for our writing block. With this app I am hoping to use this during my reading rotations. I want my students to share ideas based on a topic presented by the teacher. Maybe even begin to share stories as well. I am collaborating with some other teachers at another school in my district to gain ideas as to how they are using it in their classroom. I decided to go with this app because it is more secure than a class blog. Some of the blogs you have to pay a subscription in order for the students to have privacy. This app allows for that privacy in that the students will use a qr code to enter our class page. They can comment via typed words or using the audio record button. The ideas are limitless.

My plan:
We are a 1:5 iPad classroom, however in order to launch this app I am planning to reserve more iPads from our learning commons (Library). This way during my small group rotations throughout the week I will walk my students through the app. They will then have a 5-10 minute time period to make their first response. I am thinking that this process will take a good two weeks to get everyone familiar to posting before it becomes a self-guided activity.
During the implementations process, I will have students respond to a prompt. This could be various items: a response to an article read on scholastic news, a favorite food they ate over Thanksgiving Holiday, etc... I am possibly thinking of integrating some of our writing research into the prompts- where they might list an interesting fact about their planet they are researching

I will be learning the app as well as my students... Therefore at this point I am choosing to look at the app in a blog perspective. I am hoping that with insight from a fellow teacher who uses it, I can scaffold in more innovative ways to enhance our writing and get my students more comfortable to collaborating as part of those 21st century skills.

Problem of Practice Idea

When thinking of my problem of practice I kept thinking of blended learning since that is what so many of our PDs have been about. However as I was thinking over blended learning I realized that this is a very large topic to unpack all at once. I then started to look at my day and think what is the hardest subject to teach my students. Lightbulb: writing. I am not sure about your students but ours do not like writing. They struggle to get the story on the paper and write just a few sentences to be done. Then I began to think how can I make writing more meaningful for my students. I thought about what technology I have to offer. I am 1:5 with iPads in my classroom. I think I have found my problem of practice but am still unsure. I would like to brainstorm on the ways to utilize my iPads in the classroom during rotational groups that will integrate reading and writing fluency.

My students have not ever used Google Docs so I am very weary of introducing that however I have some ideas that I would love to try. We are using the Lucy Caulkins writing series in case any one else out there is using it. The structure of it does not allow our students to connect with it. I am looking forward to hearing what my classmates can offer to my problem.