Second-graders experience interactive lessons through the iPad

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Students in David Murray’s grade 2 class — “The Chipmunks” as they call themselves — at the SeDoMoCha Elementary School have been using an iPad during the school day. “One of the ways we use it is with out listening center,” Murray said.

    He explained one such way to utilize the device is for reading fairy tales, such as “Pinocchio”. “They will meet in a group and listen to a story as I play it for them,” Murray said as currently the second-graders use his iPad.
    “They will read it and turn the pages and they will hear it,” he added, as the students, in groups of five, listen to the stories with headphones. Following the story will be several listening comprehension questions for the students to answer.
    Murray’s students have used several other software programs. “One is where they try to build words, and there’s also a spelling app I use,” he said. Murray said another lesson involves math flash cards on the iPad, “the basic facts of addition and subtraction, they try to do the flash cards as fast as possible.”
    Technology Director David Bridges has helped in securing apps for the second-graders, Murray said. He said the students have been motivated to use iPads, with most knowing exactly how to go through the programs.
    Having just a single device for the class has created a bottleneck, Murray said. “I’m going to www.donorschoose.org, and I’m trying to get four Amazon Kindle Fires,” he said, with these costing about the fourth of a price of an iPad.
    On www.donorschoose.org teachers can post wish lists for their classrooms — Murray’s can be found by typing David Murray into the search box or SeDoMoCha which brings up several other requests made by RSU 68 teachers. Those visiting the website can then make donations to the various items sought by educators, with many requests being made to benefit impoverished school districts.
    Under the heading of “Bringing Technology Closer to Students” Murray writes that he has been using one iPad, his own, for the entire class. “Our school has not been able to supply iPads to every teacher, let alone enough for students even if they shared. I’ve used my own personal tablet in several ways.
    “I use it as a listening center during reading time, where students can see pictures and listen to the story read to them. I’ve also accumulated several math game apps that fit the second-grade curriculum. We use these during math rounds.
    “With four tablets, options improve. I can use the tablets with my four spelling groups (they can all get on Spelling City at the same time). I can expand my listening center so I’m not limited to only five students at a time, and they can all be listening to different stories. I can ensure that as many students who wish to practice math can do so during our limited math time, for example practicing flash cards using the Flash2Pass app.
    “It’s been frustrating to have a vision of technology for my class that hasn’t been fulfilled. It’s so tantalizing to see the great success of the one tablet I own but not be able to build upon that due to lack of resources.
    “I can’t stress how motivational this technology has been in my class. I’ve seen students who have little interest in reading or math get a light in their eyes when they realize it’s their group’s turn to read or do math on the tablet. It’s fun, and yet so educational!”