Junior Ideas???

This is a different kind of blog post for me. Instead of sharing what I’ve done, I’m now asking for some help. The news is now official that next year, I’ll be moving to Grade 6. As I prepare for this big move from the primary grades to the junior grades, I’m also looking for some new ideas. I’ll definitely have access to at least four Livescribe Pens in my class — maybe more – and I want to figure out the best possible ways to use them to improve student achievement.

Here are my initial thoughts:

1) To record Literature Circles. Students can then share their ideas orally as well as writing them down. This also allows for great accountable talk.

2) To record solving math problems. Students can work in groups and record their solutions using the Livescribe Pen. Then I can see what they’ve done, but also hear the discussion that led to the solution. This will help me see what the students understand and what they don’t understand.

3) To help struggling students. If students are having difficulty reading questions on a test, I can record the question, have them listen to it (thank goodness there’s an earphone jack on the Livescribe Pen as well), and then write an answer. If students are having difficulty expressing themselves in writing, they can write what they can and then expand on their ideas orally using the Livescribe Pen.

I know that there must be more ideas though. What’s worked for you? Please leave me a comment and let me know. Thanks for your help with this!

Aviva