March 2022 - Kayla Browder
Name
Kayla Browder
What Do You Teach?
2nd Grade Reading
Where Do you Teach?
Crockett Elementary
How Long Have You Been Teaching?
3 years
How Does Educational Technology Play a Role in Your Classroom?
Educational Technology helps with assessments, student engagement, and critical thinking skills. Being able to interact during lessons on Pear Deck holds the students accountable. Students also have various learnings styles. Technology assists students with various learning styles to show their knowledge and understanding.
How Do You Find Technology in the Classroom Helpful?
Technology has become a huge help with student engagement. We are in competition with video games, TV shows, and movies. Technology is a language of its own that our students need to be exposed to and educated in since they are immersed in it.
What Is Your Favorite Piece of Classroom Technology? Why?
My favorite piece of classroom technology is the Sphero Bolts. There are so many ways they can be used in the class. We use them to assess phonics patterns and grammar skills. Students are using critical thinking skills to code the Sphero as well as being assessed for the skills they need from phonics and grammar. I love it because there is no paper, 100% student engagement, full excitement, and laughter. The students often ask to incorporate them into our lessons more often.
What Is On Your Technology Wish List For Your Classroom? Why?
I would love an Apple TV so that I can transition to wireless teaching and using my iPad more consistently when teaching. Being wireless would allow more interaction and freedom of movement with the students during lessons.
What Do You Love Most About Teaching?
The part I love most about teaching is seeing the kids' excitement about what they are learning, what they have learned, and what they will learn. The moment that their eyes light up, pride beams out, and they are proud of themselves for accomplishing any goal they've set is such a gratifying feeling. Hearing them expressing themselves throughout their learning journey makes teaching worthwhile!
Nominated by:
Heidi Morgan, Elementary Technology Integration Specialist
"Kayla Browder is always open to trying new things in her classroom. She uses many different apps to help her students deepen their learning. Kayla also helps her co-workers extend their comfort levels with technology by helping them learn new tricks with the technology in their classrooms. She helps the CTS on campus out, and fills in as a TIS when I am not on campus."