My Blended Learning Experience
By Shannon Griffin-3rd year Kindergarten Teacher at Hanford-Dole Elementary
How do I feel about blended learning? If you would have asked me that question in
August, my reply would have been nervous and overwhelmed but excited at the same time. If you were to ask me how I feel about blended learning now, I would tell you that I am completely in love with it. Blended learning made my students excited about learning, helped me meet the needs of every student in my class and kept behavior problems at a minimum.
I got really nervous when I learned that we would be implementing blended learning in
every classroom this year. The beginning of the school year is stressful for every teacher. The thought of learning and implementing a new way of teaching on top of it overwhelmed me. I didn’t know how in the world I was going to teach my new students about iPads because I wasn’t familiar with them. Panic really set in when I learned that we would be using Smarty Ants and Dreambox. However, the thought of small group instruction for reading and math was so exciting to me! I always felt like it was difficult to hold everyone’s attention and keep behavior problems at a minimum with whole group instruction. I loved my small groups during Guided Reading in 2014 - 2015 and often wished I could do small group instruction for every subject. Although it felt like a nightmare at first, my wish came true this 2015 - 2016 school year.
In the beginning of the school year, I spent a lot of spare time familiarizing myself with the iPad, Smarty Ants and Dreambox. This helped me gain self-confidence and lessen my
overwhelmed feeling. I relied heavily on the Blended Learning Manual and took things slow with my students. They spent the first few weeks learning rules and procedures, practicing them, and building stamina. It didn’t take too long for them to build enough stamina for 20 minute rotations. We had two 20 minute rotations until the iPads arrived.
When the iPads arrived, I kept two rotations at first. I made technology my station. I
explained that I was learning how to use the iPad, Smarty Ants and Dreambox programs just like they were and we were all going to be patient with one another. One of my students could not believe that I did not know how. He told me that he thought teachers knew everything! I explained that there is not a person on Earth who knows everything. We are lifelong learners who learn new things every day.
My students and I got the hang of the online programs in no time and we were able to go
to three 20 minute rotations. From the very beginning, Smarty Ants and Dreambox have been exciting “games” for the children that have made learning fun. The programs keep them engaged and challenged. They like having choices between activities within the programs. I think this has helped prevent boredom. Personally, I wouldn’t like having to play the same thing every day at the same time. It would grow old quick. Last, my students enjoy receiving awards (coins, trophies, etc.) within the programs and in class. You should hear them hoot when they hear that they’ve earned Class of the Week in Smarty Ants or their name is announced for showing the most growth in Dreambox.
Blended learning has helped me meet the needs of my students in several ways. First,
having students in small groups has helped me get to know them better. My relationship with each of them is deeper than any class I have had before. Therefore, planning activities that will interest them has been easier. Second, it has been easier for me to see who is struggling with something. I have been able to provide more individual attention when it’s needed. Last, having students in leveled groups has helped me focus on specific skills for each group. For example, in the beginning of the year, my low group focused on finding one letter and two letters in stories. My middle and high group had already mastered that so I focused on other skills with them.
Blended learning has also kept behavior problems at a minimum. 14 out of 15 of my
students are less likely to act out when sitting with me in a small group than when they are
sitting together as a whole group on the carpet and I am teaching in front of them. I truly don’t know why that is. Maybe they think they’re lost in the crowd and I won’t see them. Regardless, blended learning provides choices for students and it doesn’t feel like a strict “old school” classroom routine. It helps students not feel forced to do something, which often causes behavior issues. Last, as mentioned before, I am able to provide more individual help to my students. This prevents frustration and the risk of outbursts.
In conclusion, blended learning made my students excited about learning, helped me
meet the needs of every student in my class and kept behavior problems at a minimum. It has helped me develop deeper relationships with my students and provide more individual attention when needed. I am thankful for blended learning. It has helped me become a better teacher and my students have learned more because of it.
This opportunity provided to us by the NC Symphony is more than just students learning how to play an instrument...it is giving our students HOPE. 
