In today’s digital landscape, many students are already accustomed to using technology in their daily lives. At Henderson Elementary School, the teachers, principal, and Instructional Technology Coach (ITC)are actively integrating technology into daily learning across grade levels, transforming how students engage with their studies.

“PWCS has created opportunities for collaborative learning teams within the ITC community, which has helped ITCs work together to create meaningful resources for teachers to utilize within their curriculum,” shared Lindsay Bennet, ITC at Henderson Elementary.

Starting with the youngest learners at Henderson, from kindergarten through second grade, students are using digital tools that provide teachers with real-time data on students’ reading progress. This has become a valuable resource for enhancing reading skills.

Second grade students are utilizing Book Creator in collaboration with their fifth grade buddy class to learn about famous Americans, a key component of their social studies unit. This initiative followed a coaching cycle where the second-grade team was guided on the benefits of Book Creator and how to integrate it with their standards. The result has been an engaging and interactive learning experience for both grades.

In third grade, students are working on a Book Creator template for their upcoming ancient civilizations units. Although it's still a work in progress, this project promises to provide a creative and immersive way for students to explore historical topics. 

Fourth-graders are embracing the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of Quizizz, which generates review quizzes based on uploaded PDFs. This innovation has enabled teachers to create customized quizzes quickly and efficiently, thereby enhancing the review process.

For fifth grade students, the focus is on preparing them for what they will be expected to use in middle school. The goal is to ensure students are proficient in using Canvas including its features like submitting assignments and locating resources. Additionally, proper typing techniques and best practices within Word documents. This preparation is crucial for their smooth transition to the next stage of their education.

In preparation for the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments, the focus for third to fifth grade is to ensure all students are well-prepared. By becoming familiar with the tools and processes, students can approach their SOLs with confidence.

“There are endless digital learning opportunities happening on a weekly basis,” shared Amy Schott, principal of Henderson.

The commitment to integrate digital learning tools across all grade levels is fostering a dynamic and supportive educational environment in PWCS. ITCs, principals, and teachers across the division continue exploring new technologies and methodologies to enhance our students' learning journeys.