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!

Show What You Know

Second graders in Mrs. Drake's classroom received their Activotes with amazement! As she passed out the small orange and grey devices, the curiosity began to swell. With great energy students begin using the student response devices, known as Promethean Activotes, to "show what they know". What a great way to engage every student in the room with technology and help them stay excited about learning and sharing!

Activ Learning in Fourth and Fifth Grade

Each student in fourth grade enters a classroom each day which is equipped with "Activ-Learning" tools, including a Promethean ActivBoard, ActivSlate, and the ActivExpression learner response device system. How does this engage them as learners? Students are excited to interact with information in a new way, an active way. New information and opportunities for practice are presented in a visually engaging way, providing students with hands-on learning experiences which makes learning fun! Here's how they are using it:

• We looked at different writing prompts, then decided using voters if the prompts required narrative or expository writing. Immediate feedback let us know if everyone was on the same page; let me know how much additional instruction we needed in that area. The kids were able to go up to the board or use the slate to manipulate the text and point out specific text features.  
• I used them in tutoring this week to play a Jeopardy game for math. 
• We use them frequently to review for science tests by going on the STEMscope website and going through the preassessment/post assessment quizzes.
• I use the Promethean board every day and generally like to search and download content from Promethean Planet depending on the topic we are dealing with. Today we worked fractions on it - mixed and improper fractions!
• We use our ActivBoard for i

  ntroducing materials as well as content 

  reviews. We answer all the Lone-Star Math, Reading and Science questions on it. We also use it in conjunction with the document cameras to read and share books as a whole class.

Triptico Energy Review

Mrs. Smith's third grade students had a great time reviewing what they had learned about energy using the online tool called Triptico! Each bubble had an example of different types of energy including sound, thermal, mechanical, and light and using their Promethean board, students would select an example and determine the energy type. Motion combined with sound energized the students into wanting to do more!

Counting Coins in the 21st Century

Mrs. Tyler's third grade students practice counting coins on their Promethean interactive whiteboard. Both teacher and student can drag any amount from the "virtual piles of money" and use their math skills to total them up! Then, to submit their answer, they use their student response devices, aka voters, to cast their vote. What a fun way to practice math!

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!