ActivExpressions to Check for Understanding

As part of our interactive, technology-rich classrooms, students in fourth grade are using Promethean ActivExpressions to answer questions and give feedback, allowing the teacher to check for understanding in a new and compelling way. Students in Mrs. Young's classroom are using the ActivExpressions as they learn new material and are even experimenting with taking assessments directly on their handheld devices!

Weather Bug App Gives Sneak Peek at the Weather All Around the World

What can we observe and describe about weather changes from day to day? What can we observe and describe about weather changes from season to season? How can weather vary and change? What tools can we use to observe, measure, record, and compare day-to-day weather changes?

Students and teachers in Kindergarten and 3rd grade discovered a new tool to help them observe the weather conditions here in Round Rock, as well as all over the world as part of their science curriculum. The WeatherBug app in Chrome provides a virtual window to the world! Students can enter the zip code of any city or the name of any country to view the current weather conditions, including temperature, wind patterns, humidity, etc. They also have access to the live weathercams mounted on building throughout the city for a birdseye view. As the weather changes, the picture in the window changes as well to reflect those changes.

Cast Your Vote

Students in the first and second grade classrooms of Mrs. Felix, Ms. Duffy, Ms. Platt, and Mrs. Granger began using their Acitvotes allowing students to contribute to a classroom discussion or lesson by responding to questions from their voting device. Students continue to learn about numbers and patterns, drawing conclusions from bar-type graphs, and taking classroom polls.

Kinder Writing with Slates

Mrs. Young is using a new technology tool to teach writing in Kindergarten! Equipped with her AcivSlate and ActivInspire software, she is able to teach writing in a visual, interactive way. Whether it's the entire class or smaller groups of two or three, students can interact with technology to get their ideas on paper. We can't wait to see what these young authors have in store for us!

We've Landed on Promethean Planet

As many of our teachers walked into their classroom this year, they were met by a technology new to them---Promethean ActivBoards, ActivSlates, Activotes, and ActivExpressions. Each classroom grades K-5 are equipped with one of Promethean's interactive devices. Classrooms are transformed into interactive learning environments, engaging students and capturing their attention. Teachers participated in a half day training along with their campus ITS to fully investigate the software and integration ideas. In addition to learning how to use their ActivBoard or ActivSlate, they also received their student response devices, a small handheld voting device that allows teachers to poll students at any time during class to gauge their understanding. Teachers were energized and excited to implement their new technology tools into their classrooms! Check back to see what the kids thought!

Daily Routines Not So Routine

Second grade teacher Mrs. Carroll changes up the way she does some of her classroom routines by utilizing the technology in her room. Every morning students have to decide which lunch choice they prefer for that day. Utilizing the Promethean board in her room, students visualize the lunch options and once they've decided, they drag their name into that area of the flipchart. This creates an independent environment for the kids and makes the routine not so routine!