Mrs. Lawrence’s Blog Exploration

I use the interactive math daily in class along with the guided practice. I hope to learn the quiz show as I have heard this is an extremely useful tool for the students. I am also looking forward to assigning students different lessons as I see reteaching is needed on past topics.

I agree with Cheylee that the interactive lessons would be a great way for students to review past lessons. I logged in as one of my students to look at the lesson I’d assigned, and I liked how it showed the video clip to review the material but also incorporated practice and quiz pieces. I could use this at my computer station during centers after I have retaught a concept to give students the opportunity to practice independently but with some support from the technology. While I would also want to pull absent students for small group reinforcement, these lesson assignments are another great way for them to learn and practice the material they missed.

I also use the digital learning bridge and the guided practice online. We do it as a class on the projector. I also do the quiz whole group at this time and we go over the answers together if a student answers wrong. I ask students to show thumbs up or thumbs down if they agree or disagree and then we talk about each answer. I will soon assign the quiz and guided practice to reteach. I love using the technology and the online aspects because the kids love the animation.

I can’t wait to play around with this tool more. I’ve used it to introduce a concept by allowing them to watch the video and explore the guided practice and then brought them back as a class to discuss questions and reinforce points of interest. I also have used it after teaching a concept and practice in class by allowing them to review what they already know and then exploring it in a different way. Next year I will incorporate this a lot more into my classroom. I also plan on teaching parents how to access it from home so that students may reinforce concepts at home on the computer instead of through a worksheet…saves lots of paper!

I like Kristin’s idea about having parents trained on the Pearson website. Kids are so internet savvy. Why not have them do something educational at home? I will defintely add this to opening packet!

I had never used the intro video before because we were always so pressed for time, and our pacing calendar is extremely tight. But now I realize the video’s purpose is to “grab” the students’ interest and to show a real-life application of the concept. I also have not been comfortable with my Envisions teaching — it seemed so slap-dash and certainly confusing for the children. Now I have a plan that may work! I will show the intro video for our next topic, division, then move to interactive learning for lesson one. Back to the digital components, we’ll view the learning bridge and do the guided practice. The students will then do their independent practice. During this time, I can work with the struggling students. We will finish up the lesson with the digital quiz. I’ll have the kids work out the five problems on their whiteboards, then we’ll vote for the answers and see how we did. We can move on to reteaching if necessary. We may even have time for centers!

I use the digital learning bridge daily. I look forward to start using the success tracker to target specific weakness’ with specific students. I like how we can add a link to an outside source. I also use etools from time to time with my smartboard. I also use quizshow weekly as a review/test taking practice.

Heather gave me an idea I hadn’t even considered — using the assignments to help absent children. Thanks, Heather!

I really like how everyone is sharing ideas here. I definitely think the visual learning bridges are a great way to introduce or reinforce a specific skill. It’s great to hear that it’s being used a lot. It’s a good place to begin with the digital side of enVisionMATH also.
I do think at the beginning of the year when you send your intro letter, if you can use that opportunity to find out your students’ internet access, you may be able to incorporate the on-line component of enVision as part of your homework. Super idea, Kristin!

I had considered having students access the site from home for skill review, but I hadn’t thought about parents. Often parents are as equally frustrated by homework as students, and so having them watch the visual learning bridge together would be a great way to empower parents to help their students at home. It would even be fun to hold a parent meeting where we introduce the website to the parents and share the tools it offers with them. Thanks for the idea of incorporating parents, Donetta and Kristin!

I love video learning bridge. I use it daily in my math lesson after my students complete the interactive learning. At the beginning of each new topic, I assign all of the lessons to all of my students so they have access to all of our daily lessons at home to review or to help with their homework. This is also a nice feature to use if the students are absent. They can log on under their individual name at school and view the lesson they missed.

My students like the animations. I was going to assign lessons for extra credit over track break. For students that didn’t have Internet access at home I thought it might get them out to the library. I love being able to incorporate and outside source in with the lesson as well. We only have computer access 1 time a week, so this has been difficult so far. We also have to use Classworks and fastForword, so I have relied on students at home!

I use the learning bridge as atopic opener. i like how the kids can see the graphics to help them more readily grasp concepts. I hadn’t thought about using it for absent students. I’ll have to put that into my class for next year. I also like the idea of using Success tracker to help monitor lower level students. This would also be a great way to keep records for RTI.

I like the idea of using Success Tracker as a monitoring tool. This would be a great way to keep records for RTI.
Cheryl, I also felt pressed for time. But it does help gain their interest. I’m looking forward to next year when I’ve had a chance to review some of the ideas shared here.

I look forward to using the ideas shared through this and our centra sessions for next year. Like Cheryl, I had felt rushed for time and didn’t think I could manage the digital componant of envisions. However, I have found that it is a great tool for grabbing student interest.
I also like the idea of using Success Tracker to monitor thos eselect few students. I feel this would be a great way to keep records for RTI.

I use the digital components daily. The introduction lesson for each topic is very enjoyable for the students. The learning bridge and guided lesson also motivate the students, especially my visual learners.

The video gave me a new idea with allowing the parents to access the lessons online. I do believe it could eliminate frustration for families at home doing homework. We must admit that most parents haven’t learned math the same way.

The idea of allowing students that are absent to complete the lesson online is also helpful.

I use the DVD to intro a concept. I use then video streaming on my pc, so it’s very simple. We have computer lab 2 times a week also, so I assign topics that need review at that time. I use to use the VLB every day, but after feedback from my students, they really like the re teaching worksheets better. Shortly after I started using them in whold group, they asked me if we could always use them and cut the top off for our math notebooks. What a great idea! So now we do the VLB AFTER the reteaching. I think this will totally help a substitute as well!

I used some of the digital components last year, but I didn’t realize that I could build my own lessons for students. I think being able to assign different lessons and activities for students to do will be very useful.

One activity I found was Abra-ca-rabbits. It is a game with different levels of difficulty that requires students to figure out the magicians rule. This is a great activity for practicing missing operations and number patterns.

I can really use the lesson builder next year. It will be nice to be able to make review lessons on concepts as needed. It is a good way to effectively utilize computer lab time. I can also use it as a math center and have some students work independently while I work with small groups.

I love the Abra-ca-rabbits – that is one of the great practice activities in enVision. Being able to select what activities you want using lesson builder does make it much more useful for centers. You can diversify a little more than if you just use the readymade.

I found the learning bridges to be very effective. The fact that it is “happening” not just a series of pictures helps to illustrate the skill. I would love to add this to my whole group instruction and I will seek a way to do so. Unfortunately, my current set up prevents it. I played with the lessons I created and I was surprised when, after I gott 100% on a quiz, the program immediately gave me Enricment to do!! I did not schedule that! I love that my math savvy kids would get enrichment automatically. I am constantly looking for ways to differentiate more effectively. It has always bothered me that the kids that need extra support, get most of my small group and individual time, while those that need to be enriched are largely on their own. What a great way to enrich those that are ready for more difficult or complicated tasks. After discovering this, I added my top students, and I will try having them use it during center time and see how it goes. The other kids will be jealous though! I was hesitant to mess around with the digital components, but I found it entertaining and highly useful. I look forward to discovering more and sharing it with my students.

I do like that it does all address all students rather than just those who need additional reinforcement to understand a concept.

Amanda,
I know how frustrating it is to not have the equipment needed to use these digital tools. When I couldn’t use my projector, I had my students gather around a class computer. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing. Of course if you have a large class, that won’t work. I did hear something last year about a DVD of the learning bridges, but I’ve never seen one.

I liked the enrichment ideas also. I too feel like I don’t give enough support to the math whizzes. I’m looking forward to using the enrichment activities too.

My students and I love watching the animation versions of the bridge. For the most part, the animation bridge keeps them engaged, but then I also like to reread the bridge whole group to make sure everyone understands the topic of the day.
I also like the online versions of the Problem of the Day, Daily Sprial Review, and Quick Check. We work on the Problem of the Day daily and one of the other activities. I have the students work them out in their math journal (sprial notebook-bought at the begining of the yr. for .20c). At the end of the week I check their journals to make sure they are completing the online work that’s been assigned.

The learing bridge is one of my favorite tools as it allows me to reinforce the interactive learning that I have just taught. It provides me with a visual tool that is more comprehensible to some students than white board and lecture. I also like the ability to use the guided practice, the independent practice, the quiz, and the remediation. I can put problems on the tv for students that are mastering the subject while I work with students that need help. It also allows me to better pace my lesson.

I like the Learning Bridge on the Student Pages and I have used them on the overhead! Yes, the technology resources in my 1st grade classroom are limited! Now that 5th, 4th and 3rd grade will have interactive white boards it will free up projectors for the primary grades to use! Of course we have no laptops to use, but that is another issue. I’m just glad we will have projectors. I look forward to using the digital components with my Kindergarten classes next year. I feel that by using the animated stories and the Digital Learning Bridges I will be able to hold the attention of my students for longer periods of time.

I am really excited to use this component in my classroom! I think it will be a great review for my kids who are struggling or didn’t get it when the material was presented in class. One of my gripes with EnVision has been how they move so quickly from topic to topic with very little practice. I think being able to view the learning bridge, d o some guided practice, independent practice and then take a quiz is just what a few of my students need. I hope to use this in 2 ways. First allowing students to complete these assignments at home and/or 2nd, students who struggle with understanding the topic (maybe as indicated on their quick check) can have some computer time in school to complete the computer assignment.

I start out each day by having my students take out their Daily Spiral Review and Quick Check Packet. I copy them side by side for each lesson and put all the lessons in a packet for them to keep in their folders. They turn them in at the end of the Topic. This way, I can do all the copying at once and keep all the pages together. I can easily go around and grade their Quick Checks in order to pull small groups after the whole group lesson. I have students gather on the floor for the Learning Bridge. I have all my students sit on the floor so they are paying close attention. I project it onto my whiteboard. They really like the animation and routine. I use the little music that plays after the bridge as the signal for them to return to their seats to do the Guided Practice or depending on what it is, I’ll do the hands-on activity. We do the Guided Practice together using the Tools4Math if they are available. If they aren’t, I just write on the whiteboard. I would like to start projecting the Problem of the Day and having my students write in a Math Journal. Part of the problem is fitting everything in in the time allotted. I really like being able to get everything online and print it from there. It is especially helpful when an extra center is needed, if it is not printed in what looks like Russian! I’ve had this problem even when doing a print preview.

I use the learning videos on a daily basis. I have found that it is a good way to reinforce the content learned that day. I also use the guided practice and I have recently started using the quizes as a whole group. I taught my class the sign language letters for a, b, c, and d so that they can answer each quiz question without talking.

I just want to say that I love edublogs. I have one set up for my 1st graders and they love it too. However, we do ocassionally have problems with the students comments not posting.

Most of the time my students really enjoy watching the videos. I like to have them watch the videos because they seem more engaged and are excited to shout out the answer to the questions being asked. My kids also really enjoy doing the quizes at the end of each topic.

I have a hard time assigning the topics to my students because the website reads the video and then when they move on to the assignments they don’t read it. That makes it difficult for 1st graders.

I coudn’t figure out how to respond to Kimberly’s commnet but I wanted to know where you found the problem of the day, and spiral review. Did you just go to teachers edition and pull them up that way?

Kim how do you get the problem of the day and the daily spiral review? Do you just pull up the teachers edition?

Amanda… I totally agree. There are some pretty cool things. But like you, I have technical issues. I have one computer in my classroom and as many of you know, it is tough to gather 25 kinders around my desk to view it. I have a question for all of you. Can you assign videos for me to watch when they log in to enVisions?

I like to use the digital components to show on the projector. I use an interactive white board to have students come up and solve the problems. To engage students interest I will break the class into two teams and they can earn a point for their working as a team helping each other solve the problem posed.

I always show the digital component of the enVisions before I teach the lesson for the day. I like how I can assign an assignment and before they can get to the guided practice they see the visual component of the lesson that was already taught. It is good reinforcement and practice of what they have learned prior to completing the assignment.

I always try to use the digital version of the introduction for the topics, but I did not realize that you could get the quiz or the re-teach or enrichment. This is an awesome discovery. I feel this will definitely help when we have the laptops in the classroom or during our computer lab because I can do it myself and not just count on the ones assigned by enVision after benchmarks or test. Awesome. Irma Perez

I use the digital learning bridge with every lesson in my classroom. The students enjoy the digital version a lot more than the overhead.
I would definitely like to get all of my students assigned so they are able to do this at home. I only have one student computer in my room, so it would not be very feasible to have students check and do assignments in the classroom.

I looked at 4th grade, 1-5 using money to understand decimals. I found the learning videos to be extremely helpful and in fact there was a plethora of information. I would use the components as a reteach, practice or enrichment center. I liked the sound option so my ELL learners could hear the question. The act it out video with a real life situation was an excellent example. When students are absent this is a great way to teach them the lesson. Sometimes it is impossible to give them a 1-1 lesson of missed material.

Cathy, I agree. My students would be more focused on the digital version than an overhead because of the animations and sound. I am on track break and am looking forward to using the learning bridges with my class.

We also use the Digital Learning Bridges daily. I could assign it to student who were absent, to be made up when I’m administering time tests, or before we complete that day’s Learning Bridge. It’s individual, and I could use it in the first trimester without a problem.
Also, underneath the “Assign” tab is an “Information” tab, and I was enlightened to see the Spanish translation for the Lesson Keywords.

Recently sent home progress reports, and had one student telling me they accessed their grade via ParentLink. Thank you Kristin and Ryse for the idea of sending home information inquiring about home internet use. This is an area I would never have thought to ask my parents regarding.

I find it fascinating that you can add a video, song, or game in the Lesson Builder.
With the Tools4Math (Contents), I’m not sure how I could use it in class, except to perhaps introduce base ten math manipulatives.

Multiplication – I liked the bridge videos. I also was impressed with the guided practice involving multiplication. Also, the closed caption option is great. I will be using these in combination with my smart board tools to present to my class.

I love using technology in my room. The major plus for me and enVisionMath is the fact that I can get (just about) anything that I need online.

I always use the Visual Learning Bridge to get my students engaged before the lesson. We always talk it out so we’re about 4 or 5 steps ahead of the video but this way they have automatic feedback one way or the other.

I also like the fact that I can pull up any black line master off of the Teacher’s Edition. It’s nice to have all of their attention focused on something I’m pointing out.

I like using the visual learning bridge, and use it for every lesson, sepecially when I have to go over a lesson a second time. I enjoy pulling up the activity page before the guided practice. I can acitvate my students prior knowledge and complete it along with them before they start doing the lesson on their own.

I have used the quiz show in the past and love its purpose, however the students need to be held accountable for doing the work rather than guessing.

If all my computers had the ability to print, I would functionally be able to differentiate homework based on the quizzes that I assign after each lesson. Instead it has become in-class work that they are responsible for.

I use the Digital Learning Bridge each lesson after I have introduced the lesson and have done the Interactive Lesson portion of the new topic. My problem right now is that I have a Smart Board standing in my room….but don’t yet have everything else to make it work! So I have my 20 students gather around a small computer..which is LESS than ideal. I like the idea of having students that have been absent watch the video on a later date. Let’s see if I can remember to do this! (Unfortunately I have had more students adsent this year already than almost ALL of last year combined!)

I use the Learning Bridge everyday with my students. This definitely helps engage my students and gets discussions going before we really dive into the lesson.
I try to use the guided practice daily as well as the quizzes. It helps to have these visual tools available.

I use the learning bridge for almost every topic because it’s fun for the students to see a visual component on screen. My only complaint is that they are often paced too slow for the majority of my students (who can solve the problem right away). I think that the “assign” button may cure this problem, as my students can independently watch the learning bridge, and work through practice problems at their own pace. I LOVE the quizes for each topic =).

I use the learning bridges daily. The students love them and love to guess the answers to the questions before I can press the arrow to go on. One way I want to start using the assignment portion, is when a student is absent. It is hard to find time to help students catch up. If I assign the learning bridge, activities, and quiz for the student who was absent, I will then be able to check their progress to see if they have grasped the material they missed in class or need more help.

I did not realize that I could do that with that part of the visual bridge. All this time I was only using the introduction and doing my own guided practice and independent practice with the students.

I agree with the Nancy about how more engaged the students are with looking at a digital lesson versus something that in on an overhead. black and white, plain, just boring for the students and even for me.

I agree with Mako that some of the learning bridges are too easy for the students. I try to supplement the bridges that are extremely simple by asking my own questions and encouraging students to explain their thinking.

I use these tools each time I introduce a new concept. I agree that the videos are somewhat simplistic for those students who “get it” and adding further questions is a good approach. I think it is good to go over the guided practice with the class to model how to approach each exercise. You can also assign the quick quiz which students can answer through activevotes (with interactive white board) helping you to assess that they actually are “getting it”. Then students can work on the independent practice.

I like the idea of the learning bridges to introduce content I will be teaching and have begun to use them. My kids think they are funny. My only concern is that as I was going through the “Learn” section in different topics I found that it doesn’t explain how to figure out what they are asking for. One topic in paticular was the Subtraction. Also, in regard to the quiz – it doesn’t have the manipulatives as an option for use. This may in part explain the lower test scores. Just a thought.

I ues the enVision math components often in my room, but I don’t have a class to use them with. I help other teachers assign lessons, assign tests, view the visual learning bridge, the topic openers, view reports and other components of enVision. I have found that the more people play with the program they like it.

After this class and a few more sessions of me searching for what I need, I will be more comfortable using this as an extension to math lessons. I recently gave a benchmark assessment to one of my students and I could tell he really enjoyed taking it on the computer. He was also amazed he received his score so quickly. He was interested in finding out which one he had gotten incorrect. It also helped that he was able to immediately take advantage of the interactive re-teaching activities.

A couple of people have commented that there are aspects of the learning bridges are too easy for most of their students. That is exactly why I think I will be able to utilize them even more. (I teach 4th & 5th grade Special Education.) These learning bridges are another form of differentiated teaching that will benefit the students. I think the students in my room will find them entertaining and helpful.

The digital world has its perks! With each lesson we have started using the animated learning bridge. The students enjoy this and they like the quiz at the end! With the new buzz word for the district: “Depth of Knowledge” it provides opportunity to extend their thinking. I put a blank transparency over the screen and extend the questions. Also, assigning topics makes it so easy for a teacher. The students go to the lab and their interventions and enrichments are customize for their level. A great component for reteaching those who are absent. I am utilizing many of components offered online. I must say, the digital aspects of enVision Math is a plus!!!

Responding to Pat Stevens’ 11/10 comment: I, too, enjoy watching students’ reaction to the immediate feedback they receive when doing the online assignments. I am definitely using more and more of enVision’s online components as I become familiar with them. I like seeing many of my student’s increased interest in math and their desire to do better since they get immediate feedback. They know it is now a permanent part of learning and beg in the computer lab, “Can we go to enVisions?” “I’ve got assignments!”

I use the learning bridges in my self-contained classroom to keep my kids hooked and interested in math. They seem to need quick activies and lesson that help them in all learning areas. The learning bridges are a great way to help with differentiated instruction.