What and How Do We Teach?

As an elementary teacher there are so many different subjects, lessons, units, and topics we need to cover every single day. It is easy to become overwhelmed as both a teacher and a student with everything covered. One of the main appeals of technology that we have: introducing topics in a media first way. We can grab their attention, and then teach them without “teaching them.” Everyone learns in different ways and we need to reach as many kids as we can, and we have great resources available to us that we can use to our advantage.

Kids coming into our classroom have seen more YouTube videos in their lifetime than many of us have. We should use it to our advantage – give them a “problem,” watch a video of a mistake and have them come up with a solution. Kids can watch videos of professionals learning from their mistakes, and how they have learned from them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWg1nG2AbA8  

We can watch a “how to” video and test math skills, science skills by trying to recreate it. We can watch history come alive, travel to museums that they may never see otherwise. We can visit historic landmarks and expand their worlds. We also have the opportunity to connect with more people around the world than was ever available before. All of these tools allow the walls to be pushed down, and possibilities can become endless for them.