Literacy and Technology Fall 2022

  Kids are on the move! Or at least need to be! We’ve all seen the fidgeting students who have been sitting in their seats all class, or we hear the students who are calling out or chatting with their friends, or been faced with the bored stares of kids slouched in their chairs. We’ve all been there.  Students (and adults) have a hard time staying focused for long periods of time. And that period of time seems to be getting shorter and shorter. Especially now in the age where everything seems to be a distraction. Giving students the opportunity to move can support them to “maintain concentration and attention, regulate energy levels, and expand their toolkit of self-regulation strategies” ( NCSE ). Physical activity increases the amount of oxygen getting to the brain. This in turn, helps with stimulating the hippocampus (the center of learning and memory in the brain), which then leads to “improved attention and memory, increased brain activity and cognitive function, and enha...

  A Step Back In Time…How have our classrooms changed over the years? October 24, 2022 Teachers are professionals but we are always learning Andrew Ryczek Looking back to when I was in school to now teaching in a classroom (soon to be anyway) it’s crazy to see how much our educational technology and the tools available for us and our students within the classroom has changed in the last twenty years.  As a student I disliked chalk boards and to this day I dislike seeing them in classrooms. I always picture the moving JAWS when the captain takes his nails and makes the scratchy noise to gather the audience's attention.  It wasn’t until high school when my teachers started using smart boards and the gadgets that we now have in our own classrooms today. I still remember my 7th grade science class using the old overhead projects that would be wheeled around.  On average, “ About two-thirds of teachers (65%) say they use digital learning tools to teach every day; 22% use ...

 Test Anxiety: What Are the Effects? What Is Test Anxiety? "Test anxiety is actually a type of  performance anxiety  — a feeling someone might have in a situation where performance really counts or when the pressure's on to do well.  "   -Kathryn Hoffses Test anxiety, a lot of the time, is that nervous feeling people may get before a test. But more often than not that nervous feeling can escalate to the point where it interferes with performance. This typically happens because our bodies are releasing adrenaline . Read more about what test anxiety is here . Test anxiety is becoming more and more common in schools and a lot of time can have a lot of physical or emotional effects. This video from We Are Teachers   explains the facts of testing anxiety. What Are the Effects of Testing Anxiety? Emotional Effects: Stress Fear Helplessness Disappointment Mind going blank Racing thoughts Difficulty concentrating Fidgeting Physical Effects: Headaches Nausea Ra...

 Sensory Paths Throughout the day, do you notice your students getting antsy or anxious? Do they get off the bus seeming tired or unexcited? Many schools are now incorporating sensory paths into their hallways and playgrounds to allow students a brain break that also incorporates movement.  What is a sensory path? Sensory paths are floor and wall stickers that create a fun movement course for students. Similar to an obstacle course, students are challenged to jump, skip, crawl, or hop from one sticker to the next. Sensory paths are very colorful, engaging, and typically revolve around a theme. Commonly found in hallways or on playgrounds, these sensory paths allow students to take a brain break while also getting some exercise in! See one in action: What are the benefits of a sensory path? In this HuffPost article , they explore the many benefits of sensory paths. It says, " Studies show  movement stimulates cognitive activity , which means kids may learn better when...

                    What is a Makerspace? Makerspaces are rooms or open spaces where students are provided opportunities to use a wide variety of materials to explore and experiment. Teachers can teach STEAM lessons and projects that challenge students' thinking. Projects in a makerspace can be as simple as students using cardboard to build, but what's important is it encourages students to be creative, inventive, and think critically about their designs.   What are the benefits?  Growth Mindsets! Makerspaces are great for cultivating growth mindsets where students understand that failure is just part of the process of learning and growing. One school in D.C discusses how implementing makerspaces has brought "Joyful Learning" to their classrooms. It has also helped their student's social and emotional well-being as students are given the space to explore in a free and open-ended way with things they are curious about....