I am the general education teacher within a 5th grade ICT classroom. After having taught third grade for 7 years, this is my second year as a fifth grade teacher. Using technology with third-graders involved teaching a lot of basic skills. Fifth graders are typically more proficient with basic functions of navigating computers and the internet and using Microsoft word, so it allows me to explore new websites with them and I appreciate that.

I love using technology because it enhances my instruction while also allowing students to reinforce their learning and express their knowledge and ideas in creative ways that excite them. Students in my classroom have used technology mostly for presentation of their independent research, but as I grow as a teacher of technology, I am looking forward to teaching students how to use technology in more collaborative activities that allow them to organize, share, and give feedback to each other.

I am really excited about learning new websites that I can use for instruction and that my students can use to reinforce and extend their learning. I am looking forward to utilizing Graphite to it’s fullest extent and sharing this great resource with others.