The learning has ramped up and the questions don't stop coming.  About 4 weeks ago I learned that I was lucky enough to be awarded a technology grant.  I am a Resource Specialist at Free Orchards Elementary School in Hillsboro, OR.  

The grant was written to focus on a  co-teaching endeavor that I am engaged in with the three other 5th grade teachers at Free Orchards.  Our goal is to make sure that all the students at our grade level are engaged in the same curriculum no matter what their achievement levels.  It is a lofty one but we thought one tool that might help us meet that goal would be an infusion of technology.  Hence the grant writing began.  

The students knew I had written a grant and as the announcement date grew close they were asking every day.  Did we get the grant?  Did you hear yet?  When am I gonna get my iPad? Why is it taking so long?  I felt like I was back in my early parenting days and taking a long road trip.  Are we there yet???????

A roar of delight filled the classroom when I announced that we got our grant.  Hold on to your seats.  This salt and peppered 57 year old  was going to have to step up to the technology plate.  I was very thankful that I had had an epiphany last summer when I knew our cell phone contract was coming up for renewal.  Up until then I had not had a smart phone.  I just watched the ads for them and was in awe of what they could do.  I told my husband that I think I needed to take the plunge or I would never be able to keep up with my students.  I walked out of the Verizon store in August with my iPhone in hand.  The "i" journey had begun.

Mid January 10 iPad minis were delivered to my office.  Yikes! Now there was no going back. I was a bit hesitant to break them out but I knew I just needed to take the plunge. The next day they were in the kids hands. But I did start simple.

Step #1- Get Our Pinky Toes Wet: Actually I cheated and used the schools iPads first.  I serve a group of 10 5th graders in a smaller math group.  Every day we work on math facts.  The school iPads had a nice facts app that I had yet to download on the new pads so we all tried it out.  WOW.  I couldn't believe how much fun the kids had that first day.    The next day I had the app loaded onto the new pads and we have been using the app and the pads every day since.  Below is Felicia so totally engrossed in doing her math facts that she didn't even realize I was taking her picture.