The Way I Teach

Read Part 1:

3 Ways QR Codes can Help you Teach HERE

Mini-Lessons can be given using QR codes. If you have ever had that overwhelming feeling of helplessness and felt like you couldn't possibly reach all your kids, QR codes can help you reach and teach students. When I started using QR codes in non-traditional ways, I was blown away by the impact, engagement, and student independence that was occurring.

What types of mini-lessons can QR codes work for?

Vocabulary support
Charts (graphics or class made)
Rubrics (when students forget criteria)
Phonics Skills
Refreshers/Reviews of content
Front-loading
Behavior/Social Skills

Remember, you have the entire web at your disposal. Linking QR codes to

content
images
videos
audio

is a way to invite other experts into your classroom to do some teaching for you.

There are a multitude of videos that are kid friendly and explain academic content in an engaging and kid friendly way.

Vocabulary

One way I was able to help reach my ESL students was I made vocabulary cards that were categorized by theme. I found ESL videos that I was able to use to teach vocabulary like family, fruits, animals, colors, numbers, etc. I was able to pair these up with units we working on in class and send them home.

Making simple videos to teach kids vocabulary while they practice sight words, simple sentences, and reading is one way to use QR codes. Below are a few examples on how QR codes can be linked to lessons and offer student support.

Here are 2 examples of videos that are linked to QR codes.

Resource Link

Resource Link

I had made the resource specifically because I had 11 ESL/ELL level 1 students in a kinder class along with a few students who needed extra support with teen numbers. I needed a way to work with my groups while others were working on something meaningful.

Problem:

How were my students who could not say the teen number names with one to one correspondence possibly going to trace the correct number on their recording sheet?

Solution:

Count the objects (animals), clip their answer, scan it. A 1:00 minute mini-lesson with visuals. Audio counts out the animals one at a time as the animals are shown to represent the number being said. The final teen number that represents the amount of objects is repeated. Students correct their answer then trace.

What happened:

Highly engaged students who you could hear saying the numbers with the audio each time they scanned. That means they were practicing counting from 1-20 and number recognition 20 times in one center with audio and visual support while I was working with my math groups!

Phonics Skills and REVIEW

Putting QR codes linked to short phonics videos or songs can be placed in centers for

reviewing phonics skills being practiced in center
early finisher activity
QR codes with audio is helpful for instructions for kids who forget

The QR codes can be placed with the center or copied onto the recording sheet so it can go home with students and shared with families.

Below is an example of a QR code linked to a video for review:

phonemic-awareness-centers-long-a-short-a

Resource Link

Rubrics and Charts

When using worksheets or recording sheets for students to complete, QR codes can be linked to images to show,

anchor charts made with the class
student tools such as number lines, alphabets, periodic table, wanted to throw that in there because, remember, it's the concept not the content that will help you teach and reach students.
rubrics

I can't tell you how many times I had asked my own son, "Do you have a rubric? Where is your rubric? What is the criteria?" For the sake of time, saving paper, and parent support at home, QR codes linked to rubrics would be great!

Student Behavior and Social Skills

You know how you see all those wonderful calm down ceters on Pinterest, well, I don't know about you but in the lower grades it was difficult to use a "safe space" or calm down area in a managable way. What I ended up doing was finding videos linked to specific behaviors so if a student did need behavior intervention after I tried A, B, or C, I could have them scan and watch the social story video. This bought me time to finish lessons, groups, or whatever I was doing, until I could get to the student. Plus it gave the student a place to take a break and reflect on what was going on. You can see and download the social story book with QR codes HERE.

QUICK and EASY

Making QR codes linked to ready made videos and images is quick and easy. It takes a minute and is worth it!

Making QR codes with audio for instructions, reading a word, giving directions, etc. takes a few more steps but is a pretty simple process and can be done rather quickly.

Making QR codes linked to videos or lessons made by you takes a little longer and can be as simple or complicated as your skill set allows when making videos. I have made some videos for QR codes that were simple and they got the job done.

NOTE: ALL my videos were made in PPT (Powerpoint).

If you are thinking - GREAT! but what is the process for making these QR codes, audio, and videos? Subscribe below.

If you're thinking, "I don't have time for that," start small and see how kids interact with the QR codes or check out some resources that are ready made with QR codes.

Do you know my entire kinder class taught themselves their Christmas songs using QR codes? They did. Then I took a bluetooth speaker with me and we walked into classrooms and around the school doing "flash" caroling in pajamas. It was awesome! The resource below is what I used to accomplish this. Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to see that QR codes can be used in a variety of ways and for different purposes. They can be a valuable tool for lessening your work and reaching students.

Resource Link

If you want to know more about how you can create your own images, audio, and video to help you reach more students or to create resources to help teachers teach subscribe below.

Using-QR-Codes-in-the-elementary-classroom

Read Part 2: How you can use QR codes to teach mini-lessons and reach more students.

QR codes have helped me,

reach more students

cut down on interruptions

ensure students are learning and not just copying

teach vocabulary

teach numbers

front-load

offer scaffolding support

and more

This isn't just for young kids. QR codes can help you teach at any grade level.

Here are 3 main ways I used QR codes to help me teach in the classroom.

Self-Checking
Mini-Lessons
Independent Activities

Under each of those 3 topics there are many different ways to use QR codes. What I mean is this.

Self-Checking can look very different depending on the grade, activity, and purpose. There are 2 things, however, that remains the same for all students, teachers, and grades.

Self-checking is a researched based practice that supports student learning by giving students feedback to monitor their learning.
Giving students immediate feedback can be difficult for teachers.

QR codes can help you give students feedback on their work in a variety of ways regardless of age and grade through images, audio, or video. Those media files can be made by you or by others.

Mini-Lessons can be given using QR codes. But think of the different types of mini-lessons you might need.

Vocabulary support
Charts (graphics or class made)
Rubrics (when students forget criteria)
Phonics Skills
Refreshers/Reviews of content
Front-loading

Independent Activities can help you reach more students. If you have QR codes that lead to lessons, you can reach more kids. Sometimes that may require audio for your ESL students or non-readers but other times it can lead to lessons that are personalized for a specific student or groups of students.

If you are having a hard time visualizing these 3 topics, here are a few examples of resources that demonstrate self-checking using QR codes.

Purpose:

Student support
Immediate feedback

Here is an example of a resource that uses QR codes linked to videos.

I worked with a wonderful lady who made me think harder and that is how the resource below evolved. She was a skeptic of centers and felt that many kindergarten kids probably practiced words that they couldn't read and if they could read and write them, then, why were they practicing them?

Point Taken.

Resource Link

First 10 Words FREE Sample Link

She was correct. If you do centers or word work,take your kids who are struggling with reading and writing vocabulary words in any academic area, sight words, or spelling words in any grade level and I am certain you will find the same thing. Ask them (struggling students) what the word says, means, or to spell it.

In Kindergarten, I did that. My lower 3rd of the class were practicing words in word work centers and they had no idea what the word was that they were doing a word work activity for!

A Solution:

QR codes on rings that students could scan and see and hear the word no matter what center they were in. They also used these in writing. Kids stopped coming up to me to ask, "what's this word?" They had the rule ask 3 before me interruptions were still happening.

Why it works:

Kids got immediate feedback when they needed it and when it mattered.
The QR codes addressed different modalities of learning: visual, kinesthetic, and auditory.
Students were using technology in a meaningful way.

Here is an example of a resource that uses QR codes for self checking linked to images. A QR code with audio would be a great option for students who may have difficulty reading the text.

Resource Link

Students read and better understand how descriptive details lead to painting a picture (literally) but with crayons. When they finish they scan the QR code. If they read the description correctly then their picture should look very similar.

Common Use in Classrooms

Typically, and what you will see a lot of, is teachers who use QR codes for the ever so popular "write the room activities." That's where kids at any age or grade level and any academic area area walk around the room and scan QR codes to reveal a picture, word, or answer to what they are trying to solve. The QR code can reveal an image, text, audio, or video, depending on what you are trying to accomplish.

An example in a primary classroom would be a picture taped or stapled to a wall. The student writes the word, then scans the QR code to see if they spelled the word correctly. That's not the only way but you get it. In the example below, students counted how many animals were on the card and then used a clothespin to clip the number. Students then scanned the QR code to check their answer and get a mini-lesson. I'll show you the mini-lesson in part 2 of this series.

Resource Link FREE

In older grades it might be a math problem or vocabulary word. Students write the definition, scan, and reveal. These are forms of self-checking that help them monitor their learning.

There are so many things and ways to use QR codes in the classroom and you don't have to have Ipads. Chrome Books work with QR codes too. I'm wondering how you might be thinking you can use QR codes to reach your students and help you teach or what questions you might have? Leave a comment or questions below.

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You are interested in learning more about ways to use QR code in your classroom.
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Read Part 2: How you can use QR codes to teach mini-lessons and reach more students.

What teacher doesn't need more time and what teacher doesn't want to save money, even if it is so you can spend more on "ALL the THINGS?"

Two of the biggest complaints we hear from teachers when it comes to teaching is something you just cannot buy. TIME and MONEY.

Well, I am here to tell you I can help you save time and save $$$$$. I've began creating resources to help teachers do just that. Save TIME and MONEY. How you ask?

I have taught myself and learned how I can create documents that let you type in a word or words or skill or math problem once and then the entire document will auto-fill for you. So now you can customize resources with the words or skill you need for you and for your students.

There was a time when I recall downloading freebies during the holidays that consisted of read and color the sight word. Only problem was the sight words weren't the sight words we were working on in class. Ughhh! the frustration. But, I'd download anyways because I was in a pinch and I needed a back-up plan while we finished holiday projects.

If you teach grades TK-3rd then I believe these resources can help save you TIME and MONEY. You won't need to search and spend hours looking for all those supplemental resources each week for your foundational skills.

Further, the activities stay consistent which means your students become more and more independent each time they use the activities because they are familiar with them.

You may want to sign up to receive emails because I will be sending one of the auto-fill games below to subscribers.

Let me show you how I can help save you TIME and MONEY.

But wait . . .

or if you need weekly supplements for your phonics instruction take a look at this . . .

The above resource includes:

focus word cards
sorts
sentences
games
centers
notebook component

and you can use weekly sight words and your phonics focus! Totally customized to what you need and every week the activities stay the same but the words change. You may not use all the templates but you can just print what you need!

To get your resource that will save you TIME and MONEY you can click on the pictures or click HERE and HERE.

Don't forget to sign up to receive emails so you'll get your FREE auto-fill game and be updated when I add more resources that will save you TIME and MONEY!

If you are wondering how to differentiate sight words and your word work in a simplified way you may be interested in this post about my auto-fill sight word management system HERE.

Happy Teaching,

Tonya

If you use Bee-Bots in the classroom, these job cards will help your students work as a team to get the job done.

I went back and forth on using job cards because ideally you want kids to be able to break up the tasks and delegate jobs with-in their own group. If they can do this on their own your students will be more independent and will get practice breaking tasks into jobs on their own. In the long run it is better. Due to time constraints, 30 minute class sessions with kids and once a week, I opted for the job cards with kinder and first. You can click on the picture or the link to download the Bee-Bot job cards.

Job Cards Download Link
I did find that using the job cards made tasks less abstract. It also helped kids take turns. They switched job cards after one complete go through of the process. These job cards are like training wheels so when students start designing mazes, obstacle courses, and so forth for the Bee-Bots, they will hopefully recall how they worked as a team and be able to pick and choose their jobs based off of the tasks and which job they prefer (student strengths and personalized learning).

I made these job cards last year and wrote this reflection about using job cards and Bee-Bots last year if you are interested in reading it.

I'm going to say it again, I am in a 1st year (now in 2nd year) Innovation Makerspace position after teaching 13 years in grades K-2. It has been a learning year for me with lots of hands on PD.

I also want to give you 2 different perspectives. I would love for you to comment on your thoughts.

Reason for Job Cards:

I made job cards because many kids in K-2 were having a difficult time working together to figure out how to get the Bee-Bot to its destination as a team.

My Thoughts:

I am limited on time in reality but if I was in the classroom and had the same kids everyday . . .

I could find the group that was successful.
Have all the kids come to the carpet
Have the kids share how they were successful.
Have them demonstrate.
I could ask other groups why they weren't being successful and see what they say.
Arguing, not taking turns, one person doing all the work, someone is confusing their left for right, someone keeps drawing the arrows wrong (TRUTHS).
We would have a discussion on how we can resolve each one of those things and try again.

However, I have 30 - 45 minutes max and that includes students engaging and connecting to what they did the week prior, connecting to the days activity, lesson, clean-up, reflection and out.

I went home and reflected on the issue and I really have 2 different perspectives on using job cards which leaves me perplexed. I struggle with my own views at times. It is totally off the charts - CRAZY.

Problem:

Not a lot of kids were very successful the past few weeks in their limited time with me.
Some kids weren't sharing.
Some kids were doing ALL the work.
I wanted to speed the Bee-Bot process up because I want them to create their own maps, mazes, program, etc. (maybe time should not be an issue and the more valuable lesson would be what I mentioned above).

Results With Job Cards:

The kids who worked as a team authentically saw the successes of working as a team and that together is better. It turned into a lesson more on teamwork and helping each other to be successful (valuable). Kids also switched jobs (necklaces) with-in the same group until every-one had a turn to do the job.

Very few teams were unsuccessful on the first try and we discussed why. It was always because they weren't working as a team.

Concerns About Using Job Cards:

When I did a design challenge with 4th/5th graders mid-year, they completed a reflection piece. I found that EVERY single group that finished ON-TIME without having to use lunch recess, after school, or extra class time were successful because they delegated tasks (jobs) with-in their group on their own. Unfortunately, if I'm being honest, there were very few. Others who were less successful did not delegate tasks(jobs) and required additional time. My thinking is that kids don't necessarily understand how to identify the tasks (jobs) and how to delegate so they can work as a team. That was an assumption on my part that never crossed my mind to teach.

On a side note, this was true with 5 different 4th/5th classes.

As teachers, we always assign job cards like the ones you can download in this post but are we taking away the opportunity to help students identify tasks (jobs) and how to delegate them? It was a real issue with 4th/5th graders. This was with 5 classes and all 5 had similar results so it wasn't just a single class.

Would job cards be the intro for lower grades (K-1) and modeling how to work together? While other grades identify the tasks (jobs), write them out in a class discussion, then decide in their groups who has what job (2nd). 3rd-5th find and identify the tasks in their group, describe the job then choose which job they want with-in their group?

I basically described a pathway for teaching kids to identify jobs, describe the task and choose their job to work as a team so they can be successful.

Perspective 2:

Makerspace is suppose to be about figuring things out. Forming your own learning through discovery. Did I just take that away by giving them job card necklaces? Am I micro-managing the kids and not letting them figure it out on their own? Does this process need to be taught? Is giving students job cards telling them what and how to do things again so they don't have to think on their own? I found that to be a real issue in a first year Makerspace.

Children of all ages wanted approval for the simplest of things and confirmation they were doing it right. Children specifically wanted me to tell them what to do - HUH? UH - NO. These kids prior to this year had zero experience with a Makerspace.

If I had the same kids everyday, I do believe with these recent revelations, I would teach children how to identify tasks (jobs) so they can delegate or choose jobs on their own. They can make their own job cards and necklaces if it is an ongoing activity for the year.

Do I recommend Bee-Bots

Yes, I recommend Bee-Bots (Not sponsored), my views are my own after using them with many classes and many grades!

If you don't have Bee-Bots they are worth having. You only need 1 or 2 in your classroom for students to use in a center. They cost around $100.00 but they definitely have a low floor, high ceiling. There are so many uses for them and any grade will love them if your kids have yet to be exposed to coding or beginning robotics. They are not hard to use and kids who can read, can read the manual to get some authentic non-fiction technical reading in.

Bee-Bots aren't just for Makerspaces. I really want to say this because my goal as the Makerspace facilitator is to help teachers understand how the things we use in a Makerspace can be used in the classroom. I don't necessarily feel that a Makerspace should be an isolated classroom that kids visit once a week for 30-45 minutes. My goal is to find ways for teachers to integrate a Maker Mindset into their everyday instruction and activities so it doesn't become one of those added extra things where we all say, "and when am I suppose to do that?!!!!"

Please leave any thought or comments about the job cards below. Thanks for reading!

FEBRUARY 2023 UPDATE:

Super excited to share this robotics WINTER STEM resource! Super Simple and low prep with high impact and phenomenal learning! VIDEO and PREVIEW HERE or click on the images.

More Unplugged Coding If you are looking for more unplugged coding and you are just getting started, you may like one of the resources below. They will help you and your kids understand the basic concepts of unplugged coding before moving into robotics that require coding. Lesson plans are included! Click on the pictures to learn more about the resource.