Teacher Spotlight: Look At What a First Grader Can Do with Andrea Emmer

This month our Teacher Spotlight shines on Andrea Emmer, a first grade teacher at Brush Creek Elementary. When asked how Andrea can get first graders to do so much with technology, she replies, “Remember, first graders are risk-takers and you need to swim with them.”  Andrea has been swimming with first graders using chromebooks in her classroom for 3 years now. The three most powerful areas of technology that have enhanced her teaching are: keeping the learning fresh and new, promoting independence, and encouraging teamwork among her first grade students.

Andrea loves how technology can keep learning fresh.  Just when students have settled in and become familiar with one tool, she introduces another. “This way, students are always kept on their toes.” This keeps students engaged. One of her favorite tools is Quizlet Live.  Andrea says she loves to use Quizlet Live to review skills such as number identification, vowel sounds, and comprehension questions.  Her first graders easily access Quizlet Live by clicking on a hyperlink posted in Schoology.

Andrea delights in how technology has helped students to become more independent. Independence is promoted by using the the ScreenCastify extension. Andrea says she posts videos of herself describing to students how to use the different learning centers she has set up around her classroom.  This eliminates the need for her to reexplain how each center is to be used.

One way collaboration is done is thru Google Keep.  Students recently did a research project on spiders where all of their highlighted content from a website was automatically saved to a Google Keep note.  Once the independent research was finished, Andrea created groups where students shared their Keep notes with other members of their group. They were then able to see what information they had in common and what unique information someone had found to add to their own report.

When asked what is the best piece of advice Andrea can offer to a primary teacher - or any teacher for that matter - who wants to use more tech in their class, she first says it is all about balance.  Andrea still utilizes traditional methods of learning: pencil and paper, cutting and making, talking and moving. But she stresses when using tech with first graders to “breathe deep, know that booboos will happen, and take the time to let the students learn how to use the tools/device.” And just keep swimming…