January 2021 - Nicole Bright
Name
Nicole Bright
What Do You Teach?
6th Grade Math
Where Do you Teach?
Highlands Junior School
How Long Have You Been Teaching?
16 years
How Does Educational Technology Play a Role in Your Classroom?
I have always enjoyed adding technology to my classroom instruction. In the past, I used it mostly for presenting lessons and gathering data. Junior High Math teachers did not have a lot of access to student devices, so we were limited to whole class activities or sharing a class cart a few days out of the year. Now that every student has access to a device, I am excited to be creating lessons that are totally interactive. This year, we are creating all our lessons in Google Slides. The students get a chance to practice math skills, build models, play games individually and in groups. We have had a lot of fun making Connect Four games, Bingo Games, Sorry Games, Trouble Games, coloring pages, drawing pictures, and many more fun activities that practice our math topics. It has been quite refreshing to hear so many kids say that Math is their favorite class.
How Do You Find Technology in the Classroom Helpful?
Technology has helped me gather data on daily topics. We use the data to adjust instruction and target weaknesses in students and instruction. Also, Technology has allowed me to make Math FUN! By creating interactive lessons, I can keep my students engaged. Also, it allows my team and me to create and present lessons that can be used over and over. Each year, we evaluate the success of each lesson and add to or edit it to improve our students’ success.
What Is Your Favorite Piece of Classroom Technology? Why?
I believe I would have to say my favorite piece of classroom technology would be my Promethean because it can be used in so many ways. I like that I can present the lessons to my class and switch between different instructional tools. I like that the class can see the lesson clear and in color compared to using a black and white projector. Since getting the Promethean, we started developing full lessons that we can share, reuse and improve yearly. That wasn’t possible back in the days of chalk boards.
What Is On Your Technology Wish List For Your Classroom? Why?
My technology wish list includes an Apple TV & Pencil. The iPads are great and I would love to be able to use it as my main tool. I like using the Promethean slate to move around the room to teach. I would like to be able to use my iPad more in the same way. Also, I have heard a lot of usefulness for Rocket book. I would like to try one of those out as well.
What Do You Love Most About Teaching?
I love the Ah Ha! Moments. I love to see the light bulb turn on for the kids when they finally catch on to a concept. I love when a kid that thinks they are bad in math realizes math isn’t so bad. I love the kids. I love getting to know them and building relationships that last for years.
Nominated by:
Regina Rogers, Educational Technology Specialist - Junior Schools
"Ms. Bright is a true teacher at heart! She is always trying to find ways to engage her students to help them learn. With our 1:1 iPad program, she has found ways to use Google Slides interactively, by making games to teach and reinforce math skills. Some of the games she has made are Connect 4, Sorry, and a matching memory game. Students can't help but learn when having fun! Thanks Ms. Bright!!"