February 2024 - Celeste Garcia
What Do You Teach?
First
Grade GT
Where Do you Teach?
Jessie Lee Pumphrey Elementary
How Long Have You Been Teaching?
17 years
How Does Educational Technology Play a Role in Your Classroom?
Technology plays a vital role in our classroom. During our animal research project, technology allows students a plethora of resources to help them in their research. During this research, students learn lessons on how to evaluate sources and become critical thinkers to determine if it is a useful source of information. One of my favorite things that technology allows for is showcasing the creativity of my students. Students enjoy getting to draw their animal in Keynote and do some app smashing with Minecraft and ChatterPix (habitat) to bring the work to life. Technology also allows me to evaluate student learning through various apps such as Kahoot and Blooklet. This allows for student feedback. Students also enjoy learning coding skills in apps such as Code-a-pillar that are interactive and can be incorporated with content areas in many ways. It encourages experimentation and inspires curiosity and play while developing coding, sequencing and critical thinking skills in students.
How Do You Find Technology in the Classroom Helpful?
Technology in the classroom is helpful for connecting with students on a platform that they respond well to and that keeps them engaged. Technology is ever growing, so much so that students sometimes know more than me. The use of technology allows for me to assist them in their digital learning and help them be responsible digital citizens and use it for their education and to learn more about the word. Who knows? I may have a future app developer in my classroom right now!
What Is Your Favorite Piece of Classroom Technology? Why?
I think the most used and favorite one for me is the Promethean boards (along with Apple TV). I create Google Slides that allow students to interact with the lesson and this helps keep them engaged. Through the use of slides and our Promethean Board, students are provided with visuals for their learning, and this helps expand their vocabulary. For example, if students do not know what something is, I can immediately pull up pictures and show them to help them make a connection to their learning immediately. In the past, I would have to print a picture and bring it the next day. Students love doing brain breaks with GoNoodle and moving around and the Promethean allows for this! It is a much treasured piece of technology in our classroom.
What Is On Your Technology Wish List For Your Classroom? Why?
My classroom technology wish list would include any coding devices such as Codeapillar or more Spheros. I feel like these are interactive and can be incorporated with content areas in many ways. It encourages experimentation and inspires curiosity and play while developing coding, sequencing and critical thinking skills in students. The best reason - they are fun and engaging.
What Do You Love Most About Teaching?
I truly believe teaching is a calling and I am so blessed to be a teacher. There are so many things I love about teaching. I love building a school family and spending time with them each day. I get to see the growth they are making, not only on an academic level, but on a social level as well. I also believe we are lifelong learners and my Firsties help me grow and learn as well. Anyone that knows me knows that my heart is teaching students how to read and using that to learn more about the world around them.
What is one thing you would like to add to your tech wish list?
Apple pencil for me ?? (thought I would start for the biggest wish.)Code-a-pillar
Sphero
Nominated by:
Brianna Lee: "Mrs. Garcia is never afraid to try something new for the sake of her students. She pulls in technology at every turn through Keynote Knufflebunnies to ChatterPix Turkeys, PebbleGo research to Britannica facts, and whatever other creative opportunities she can offer her students through their iPads. Mrs. Garcia is a giant in the district through technology and teaching!”