In a second-grade class, the educator uses Kahoot prior to a weekly spelling assessment. In the Kahoot activity, students are asked to compete with one another to determine who in the class can correctly spell the spelling words dictated by the teacher. The teacher offers a treasure box prize to the winner of the Kahoot game. Students are eager to answer the spelling questions and cheerful to participate in the game before their assessment. 

Reflection and Analysis 

This resource is an exceptional tool that educators can incorporate into their classrooms to improve students' engagement in a variety of concepts and subjects. Kahoot offers educators with numerous games, activities, and quizzes to enhance students’ participation and support their learning. One limitation of Kahoot is the lack of structured peer collaboration opportunities offered by the resource. This resource would benefit students more if student-centered activities offered students to have “Think-Pair-Share" opportunities to discuss their learning with a partner in a gamified manner. Overall, this resource is an asset in elementary classrooms due to its simplistic yet engaging design. 

In the tenth grade History class, the instructor wanted to evaluate students' sense of readiness for their regent's exam. Students' homework that night was to complete a Google form that addressed any questions or concerns they may have for their upcoming assessment. Students selected either “prepared” or “unprepared” for several topics that would appear in their regent's exam. Students also could write specific topics/ concepts they would like to review before the exam. This tool enhances educators' knowledge of their students’ thinking and concerns, thus improving academic performance. 

Reflection and Analysis 

Google Forms offers educators imperative insight of their students to guide their instructional practices. Also, these forms and surveys can be used by students' parents to enhance parent engagement, improving community engagement. Have strong community engagement with increased parent involvement will assist in bettered student outcomes. 

In the twelfth grade English class, the instructor asked students to design their resume using Canva. He had previously taught students core elements necessary to incorporate in their resumes and modeled the construction of a resume with the class. Students discussed with their partner the key elements they would like to include in their resumes and their ideal resume designs before starting it. After a week of working on their resume's students created a PowerPoint presentation that detailed specific characteristics of their resumes and presented it to the class. 

Reflection and Analysis 

Canva is a unique digital platform that is user-friendly to assist educators in constructing classroom resources such as presentations, flyers, homework sheets, activity sheets, center time activities, and so much more! These educational resources can be easily tailored to meet the needs of all students and enhanced with colorful graphics to improve student engagement. Furthermore, educators can instruct students to use Canva themselves for certain assignments. Assigning projects through Canva can strengthen students' technical skills, a skill that will be necessary as they enter the workforce. 

In the first day of school, Ms. Torres began using ClassDojo with her class of kindergartners. She rewarded students with a token that made a chime sound when they listened and followed instructions the first time. Students were also rewarded when they were observed being kind or helping their peers. Students were informed that the alumni who had the largest number of tokens at the end of the day would visit the treasure box. Students were motivated to make positive choices throughout the school day. The teacher provided parents with QR codes at the end of the day and asked them to regularly check ClassDojo to stay up to date with their child’s behaviors throughout the school year. 

Reflection and Analysis 

ClassDojo can have a meaningful impact on students and their families. Through routine positive reinforcements offered through the program, educators can minimize negative behaviors in the classroom, thus enhancing the classroom learning environment. Additionally, educators can easily communicate with parents' students behaviors as parents have access to student reports of their child’s token log in ClassDojo. Communication of students’ behaviors can improve community relations, while simultaneously progressing student’ social emotional learning. 

In the first-grade classroom, Ms. Hernandez was concerned about several students that lacked Kindergarten decoding skills. She immediately contacted their parents and asked them to regularly work with their children to practice their decoding skills using the assigned Boom Cards. Boom Cards required students to attempt decoding CVC words, then would ask them to tap each letter of the word, before blending it together. The parents were content that the gamified learning resource was effective in re-teaching decoding skills in an engaging manner. 

East Elementary had an exceptional turnout during Field Day. This was the result of several postings on Parent Square reminding parents of the event. Parents were informed to get in contact with their children's teachers if they had any questions concerning the event. After Field Day, East Elementary posted many pictures of the special event on Parent Square illustrating the plethora of joyous moments and smiles shared by students, families, and teachers. Pictures of the East Elementary staff participating in the Inflatable Costume Contest was liked the most. 

Reflection and Analysis 

Parent Square delivers rapid streams of communication for schools, teachers, and parents. Through school and classroom postings and direct messaging, parents can resolve their questions and concerns efficiently. This enhances family engagement as parents can be more involved in their child’ academic success. 

Ms. Burns utilized Nearpod to teach her second-grade students. Colorful visuals were provided to accompany the descriptions of the different states of matter. The pre-made Nearpod also included a student-friendly to further clarify the different states of matter. The Nearpod required students to work with their partners at the end of the lesson to answer questions about the different states of matter. Ms. Burns differentiated the quizzes based on students’ needs. 

Reflection and Analysis 

Nearpod is a resourceful tool that can allow educators to adopt instructions based on their students’ needs. It also provides multiple methods of instruction via interactive videos, presentations, and games/ activities that can be used for a variety of subjects and grades. One limitation of the platform is the lack of parent communication opportunities. This resource would be more beneficial if educators could communicate with parents about the concepts and topics their children are learning directly on the platform, so that parents can reinforce their skills at home. 

Ms. Santiago wanted to find an engaging resource to accompany her lesson about Butterflies for her Kindergarten students. One student has an IEP and requires additional time out of his seat due to his ADHD and difficulty concentrating during a lesson. Ms. Santiago decides to use Epic to engage this student through the video graphics in a non-fiction book about Butterflies. All the students enjoyed using this resource and many asked inquisitive questions about Butterflies after the lesson. 

Reflection and Analysis 

Epic is a great resource in educational settings as it can guide students in sustaining better focus and improving their interest with the content curriculum. Additionally, parents can use this resource at home to assist in their children's reading development. However, as technology becomes an omnipresent aspect of our lives, resources such as Epic can result in worsening students’ attention span for old-fashion models of learning, such as a textbook or a regular book.

Mr. Khan had used Padlet in previous lessons when teaching students about the Civil War in his 10^th grade History class. He noticed that his students appeared more attentive and engaged when he used the Padlet. A few of his students had also asked for the name of the resource. When he noticed their interest in the Tech Tool, he decided to require its’ usage for their following assignment. Students were to use the Padlet to develop a timeline for World War 2. Students were delighted to share and present their Padlet designs to the class. 

Reflection and Analysis 

Padlet is one of the many transformative resources developed in the 21^st century that will have a long-lasting impact on the presentation of material beyond the educational setting. Through developing, presenting, and assigning materials through Padlet, educators foster their students’ technological awareness and improving digital skills.  Assigning assignments through Padlet provides students with the opportunity to share their unique styles and creativity with their peers in a fun and exciting environment that may lessen some timid students’ anxiety. I highly recommend educators to explore this resource due to its outstanding benefits!