Things are moving along so quickly, and November is nearly half over! My littles are busying themselves with work on CVC words, beginning sounds, numbers to 20 and more! It finally feels like we are becoming independent in our work and our routines. Can I get a “Yeah?!!!”

A major component of learning in our class involves activities on the @Seesaw app.  As students develop more independence, they are able to interact and complete assignments within the Seesaw platform.  My students love these activities!

How do we roll out the Seesaw app each year?

Well…in kindergarten, there is a learning curve that can take from a few weeks to a few months. From the beginning, I carry my phone around as I work with students.  When an opportunity presents itself, whether it be wonderful cooperative learning with peers or individual accomplishments, I get it in photo or video form and post it to parents. This is when the magic happens for parents, and to be honest, it’s magical for the teacher too!

“When parents get a front row seat to what is happening in your classroom, they quickly become the education partners you have dreamed of!”

During the past three years, I have seen a steady increase in parent involvement. As a result of using Seesaw, ALL of my parents came to conferences this year! I know this because I had not reached some of them via other methods of communication. Even though it seemed not all would show up at their scheduled time, they all came! When I asked how they knew their scheduled time, they said Seesaw!

When independence is established…

This year’s class is working within the app with minimal help, and that results in many more opportunities for expressing learning. As soon as I see students automatically scanning our class code, or choosing their name from our list to perform a task, I know it is time to turn them loose! They take turns recording reading for fluency practice, or they may be doing one of the “interactivities” I have uploaded for the current week.

So what ARE we doing?

To make uploading and managing content as quick and easy as possible, I choose three content area skills students need repeated exposure to. The following are examples of our current “interactivities”.

ELA Focus on Letter Sounds

This is the template I repeatedly upload with each week’s letter sound focus.  It will change very little since students need to practice writing the letter and drawing an object to represent it.  It is so telling of where they are in their learning process. Here are some examples:

If you have not used this feature of Seesaw, you need to try it! My students love to:

1. Click on the three dots at the lower right of the post …
2. Click on copy/edit.
3. Draw the picture and trace/write the letter.
4. Upload for approval.   (students with iPhones or iPads can record their voice as they draw)

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like the template, you can click save as right off this page!

ELA CVC Word Builder

This template can be used with @Seesaw‘s Labeling feature. I just insert the graphic in a power point slide, insert objects that match the word family you are practicing, then make labels students can move with the labeling tool.

Here is an example from this week. Again, students have to click the three dots to the lower right, click copy/edit, then click the labeling T and choose Label.  They will then be able to scramble and make the words.

What the template looks like before, and after students make words.

Upload the template first, then create the labels and move to the area on the left.

After students make words:

Download this template by right click/save as.

Ways to Do the Math!

We are working hard on learning our numbers, counting sets to match them and understanding how smaller groups can make the whole. In order to get weekly “proof” of progress, we are using this template:

Right Click and Save As if you would like the template below. Edit in power point by adding number combinations and your own instructions, then upload to @Seesaw.

For all templates, you will need to make sure settings in Seesaw state students have permission to edit.

I hope you will try this easy addition to what you already do with Seesaw! My students look for these three activities each week. Of course the activities will increase in difficulty, but they are an easy routine to establish with your little learners!

Have fun!

If you have questions, let me know how I can help.  I also “moonlight” as a Seesaw Ambassador. 🙂