Using technology in the classroom can be challenging and frustrating, but it can also be inspiring and fun. Over the last two years we have worked to obtain an IPAD for every student in our class and implemented their use in a number of different areas including math and literacy. We work with a large proportion of students from low-income families who do not have access to technology and/or internet at home, thus creating a blended learning environment where students have to do work online from home has not been super successful. Instead, we are working towards a blended classroom, but with the blending occurring during the day. Our workshop will share how we plan units to include the use of the IPADs and how we also use technology for interventions. Topics included are poetry, developing fluency, building background knowledge about fractions, Edmodo for book groups, and more. Participants will have the opportunity to work together to explore the lessons we have created, play on the IPADs and to plan their own lessons tailored to their students.

Anne Garcia

Anne Garcia is an 4th/5th bilingual elementary school teacher. She works extensively with Comprehension Strategies and biliteracy techniques to inform her instruction. She has a Master’s Degree from the University of Colorado in Multicultural/Bilingual/ESL education. She is also a Nationally Board Certified Teacher (2010). She has published several professional development texts for teachers titled: Ladybugs, Tornadoes & Swirling Galaxies (2006, Stenhouse), Moving Forward…., Comprehension Going Forward: Where We Are and What’s Next (2011, Heinemann), Scaffolding The Comprehension Toolkit for English Language Learners: Previews and Extensions to Support Content Comprehension, (2012, Heinemann). She is also the author of a work of fiction titled Las Hechizadas.

Anne Garcia, 4th/5th Grade Teacher
Columbine Elementary School
3130 Repplier Drive, Boulder, CO 80304
[email protected]

Jeanette Scotti

Jeanette Scotti grew up outside of Seattle, Washington. She attended Oregon State University where she received a degree in Business with an emphasis in Management Information Systems in 1996. After a stint in the business world working as a business analyst in the IT department of a company, she returned to OSU obtain a Master’s Degree in Teaching with an endorsement in ESL. She has been teaching in Boulder Valley Schools since 2002 on a 4/5 looping team. In 2007 Jeanette furthered her education in her field and received a certification from the University of Colorado in the Transitions to Biliteracy program. Jeanette is a Nationally Board certified teacher in English as a New language, having received this certification in the fall of 2010. Currently she is on her school district’s technology cohort.

Jeanette Scotti, 4th/5th Grade Teacher
Columbine Elementary School
3130 Repplier Drive, Boulder, CO 80304

For more information, contact Patricia Upczak, Synchronicity Publishing, LLC