Janet

It has been an ordinary week in 3rd grade math class, but today’s lesson turned out to be extraordinary. Handhelds made it happen.

We have been working our way through some basic geometry lessons: line, line segment, end point, ray, angle, right angle, radius, diameter, center, etc. Each lesson opened with listing the vocabulary words for that day in our Math Journal. Then we used our textbooks to familiarize ourselves with the definitions and the visual of each term; talking through each one by identifying a similar example in the world around us and also drawing them in the air or on the desk with our fingers.

Next we wrote the definitions into the journals and did the usual workbook pages for each lesson. Pretty humdrum,huh? Well, the fun was about to begin.

Now, enter the handhelds. With the advice of a trusted colleague, I invited the children to try creating and labeling the new math vocabulary on Novianimator. Within a couple minutes some of them had the first figure drawn and were trying to label it. Labeling did not go very well when writing on screen, so soon there was some noise about it being hard. (They assured me that they were not whining!) It wasn’t long before they were asking if there was an easier way. I suggested that we look for a text option, and away they went.

In less than one class period, we had done textbook and journal stuff, and several of the children were finished with the nine slides and ready to run them in a slide show. Of course, the slide show flipped like a runaway rabbit, so they had to figure out how to slow it down.

Cries of elation were heard; “I’m done”, but the ever-ready teacher said, “How about a title?” or “I wonder if you could use color to make it more interesting?”

In truth, they were more ready to accomplish this project than I, but with a little bit of encouragement, they searched out solutions to their own problems and there was no lack of help when someone was stuck. Bits of advice were flying about the room like Bluetooth transmissions.

This lesson was double-edged; it was a terrific experience for the students. I don’t think they will have any trouble remembering these terms. For me, it cemented the belief that technology belongs in the classroom,not just as an occasional treat,but as a constant resource.

Handhelds are clearly the answer to the prayers of a lefty with a broken wrist!