Elementary students in the Shawano School District are discovering a new way to improve their reading skills through a district-wide technology initiative this year.
Using Keynote, an Apple presentation app, students recorded themselves reading lessons in digital journals. They were astonished and excited when they played back their recordings.
“Our primary students’ determination to read accurately and with expression for their fluency journals was exciting to see. ‘Can we take a picture of another story and record ourselves?’ was excitedly echoed by so many students,” said Instructional Coach Brittney Firari, adding that the journals helped engage and motivate her students.
The digital journals were just one of several projects implemented throughout the district this year with the help of Jim Weber, a senior specialist for Apple Professional Learning. Nicknamed “Apple Jim” by district staff, Weber was assigned to help staff explore new ways to use existing technology.
According to district Learning Director Elisha Wagenson, the district’s instructional coaching team met with Weber to determine how to best utilize his expertise. For the digital journal project, he trained one teacher at each K-3 grade level, who then introduced the technology in their classrooms. Weber modeled the process alongside teachers before they, in turn, trained their peers. A follow-up meeting was held to review the results.
Wagenson said digital journals were chosen because of the district’s strong emphasis on literacy at the K-3 level. By allowing students to hear themselves read, they were able to improve their fluency and accuracy.
“We anticipate continuing this type of feedback,” she said.
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