Blended & Engaged Learning

Second graders in Mrs. O'Grady's class were engaged in blended learning activities today. That means they used a combination of technology learning and face-to-face learning. Mrs. O'Grady had planned out 5 different Social Studies stations. Students rotated fluidly to each station. They recorded their learning on a flap book organizer. They were encouraged to work with other students and locate the answers to their own questions.  The topic was characteristics of different types of communities, ie. rural, suburban, and urban.  Students watched a BrainpopJr. video using iPads. They used an interactive website on the SMARTboard. They read a slide presentation with vocabulary words and graphics on the computers.  They played a board game and they sorted attributes. At the last two stations in particular, students were asked to communicate using the targeted vocabulary words to explain their thinking.  The teachers role had shifted from being the knowledge giver to being the facilitator. Mrs. O'Grady walked around the room and asked follow-up questions, checked for understanding, or coached students as needed.  Every student in the room was engaged and on task, communicating and problem solving collaboratively. Rock on Mrs. O'Grady!