A Digital Day in the life of a 4th Grader at Howe Manning

I got to spend a day in Ms. Thompson's 4th grade classroom at Howe Manning to see what types of lessons and activities they were doing. As the Digital Learning Specialist for Middleton Public Schools, it was a great way for me to see what the teachers are already using for digital learning as well as to see how I can help guide the teachers and students in their use of devices and the digital programming that we offer. Integrating digital learning into a 4th-grade classroom is crucial for preparing students for the increasingly digital and interconnected world. Digital tools not only enhance traditional teaching methods but also cultivate essential 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and digital literacy. Interactive educational software and online resources offer personalized learning experiences, catering to individual student needs and pacing. Additionally, digital platforms facilitate real-time feedback, allowing teachers to assess and adapt their instruction promptly. Exposure to technology at an early age fosters technological fluency, preparing students to navigate a future where digital proficiency is integral to success in academia and the workforce. By embracing digital learning, 4th-grade classrooms can empower students with the skills and knowledge necessary for a dynamic and tech-driven society.

The Student Information System (SIS) that we use in Tri-town Schools is "School Brains". This program allows the teachers to take attendance and get the lunch orders to the cafeteria digitally. We also use School Brains for our report cards.

Every classroom in our schools has a Smartboard and all work is presented on it. To begin the day, Ms. Thompson posts a morning message for her students with a "Do Now" that will start their Social Studies class. The students are learning about the Midwestern states as a part of the entire United States and Regions study. Our 4th and 5th grade Social Studies curriculum incorporates the TCI SS program. Students gather information from this program and complete different styles of questions and lessons.

Our schools use Epic Books and Sora to read digital books. Reading online books in elementary school is crucial for fostering digital literacy skills, as it exposes young learners to diverse online platforms and navigational tools. Additionally, it enhances their engagement and comprehension by incorporating multimedia elements, making the learning process more interactive and enjoyable.

For Reading and Writing classes, students are learning about Poetry. In a fourth-grade reading class, learning about poetry rhyme schemes helps students develop a deeper appreciation for the rhythmic and melodic aspects of language, fostering a heightened sensitivity to the musicality of words. Understanding rhyme schemes also cultivates analytical skills as students decode the structure of poems, enhancing their ability to interpret and express ideas creatively within the framework of poetic forms.

In writing, students are learning to create cinquain poems, a concise and structured form of poetry that enhances their language skills by encouraging thoughtful word selection and a keen awareness of syllabic patterns. They will record their poems in a digital writer's notebook created by fellow 4th grade teacher Julie Klipfel. Ms. Thompson wrote a sample cinquain poem about our Howe Manning therapy dog Howie. Students will also use edtech programs, IXL and Boom Cards to practice their poetry.

For math, Ms. Thompson used the digital devices and programs in her classroom to show her students how to solve improper fractions. They used the Smartboard and interactive components of that program to write, highlight and move fractional parts around. They worked out of their textbook and blended in edtech programs such as IXL math and Math Fact Lab.

In science class, students are harnessing the power of LEGO Education Spike kits to seamlessly integrate engineering design thinking and coding into their learning experience. These innovative kits provide a hands-on approach to science education by combining physical building with digital programming. Through collaborative projects, students not only construct intricate models using LEGO bricks but also delve into the world of coding to bring their creations to life. This immersive approach not only fosters creativity and problem-solving skills but also introduces young minds to the fundamental principles of engineering and computer programming, laying a solid foundation for their future STEM endeavors. These kits were purchased thanks to generous donations from parents and grant organizations.

As you can see, we had an amazing day in Ms. Thompson's 4th grade classroom. The edtech integration is impressive and students are continuously engaged.