Last Observation at the Elementary School

On the last day of my observation I first observed the students making a picture graph on the iPad for a math assignment. This was the first time that the students had done this, so they were exploring the app and all it had to offer. The teacher was so excited about discovering this new app because it allowed them to upload graph paper and then label it with both pictures and text. This proved to be a great tool, because the teacher could give them a word problem and then they could create a graph that showed the correct answers. If they messed up the graph they could easily erase what was wrong and then correct it. The students really enjoyed this assignment, so the teacher said they would definitely do it again. This day proved to be an unusual day, because after the math exercise the students helped the teacher create props for their upcoming music performance. The students have been learning about Native Americans and were putting on a performance displaying traditional Native American music and dances. The entire class seemed to really enjoy helping the teacher make the props, and they did such a great job that the teacher rewarded them with candy. Overall, my experience at the school was wonderful. The students were extremely well behaved and friendly, and the teachers were very welcoming and helpful. This school was completely different from the middle school, and I only wish I could have spent more time there. I am thankful that I was able to observe iPads being used in the classroom, because it completely changed my opinion for the positive. I hope that other schools will take note and realize what an asset they are. Hopefully, when I am a teacher I will be able to work with new technology and be able to expose my students to technology that they might not have been exposed to otherwise.