Dear Parents,
Recently, Martin School has been the recipient of new "AlphaSmarts" for student use. Some of these AlphaSmarts were purchased with funds from the Meghan K. Duffy Memorial Fund. Others were privately purchased to add to our collection. Presently, we have eighteen units for students to use.
What are AlphaSmarts?
AlphaSmarts are a small, portable keyboard that allows for students to write without the need for a computer or expensive word processing programs. They are quite simple to operate... just press "on" and type! When the student in finished during their writing block, they press "off"... all of the saving in done automatically. Each AlphaSmart holds eight files, meaning that eight students can be utilizing the same machine at any given time. They all can't "type" on the AlphaSmart at the same time, of course, but their work is saved and safe for use when they can and want to work. And, based on the popularity of the AlphaSmarts here at Martin so far, students WANT to write! From the AlphaSmart website:
"Now you can generate the kind of excitement for writing in all of your students that other teachers only dream about! ...even students who avoided writing now eagerly express themselves. Ease-of-use and built-in writing tools make writing, revising, editing, and printing assignments so much easier and more enjoyable for both students and teachers. And, unlike expensive standard laptops that are designed for business, NEOs are designed specifically for use in the classroom."
How are AlphaSmarts being used at Martin School?
Currently, the "AlphaSmart cart" is being used by several fourth and fifth grade teachers in a variety of ways. Book reports, creative writing, completion of shorter assignments... the variations are many. In addition, the newer "NEO" line of AlphaSmarts (of which we have nine units) has an infra-red feature allowing them to communicate with each other... "beaming" files back and forth and also to a designated teacher computer. AlphaSmarts also include "applets"... small programs that students can use in addition to typing. There are applets for typing, math facts, and more!
What's the potential for the AlphaSmarts?
Where to begin?? Take a simple brainstorming list from the Cambridge Public Schools on "artfully integrating the AlphaSmart":
Ideas from K-3 teachers
· Take outside to another spot and type what is observed- silently exercise the senses and record.
· Round robin story making, whole class editing for class story journal, etc.
· Kids interviewing others.
· First graders using them for creating sentences, helping each other with spelling.
· Comment on digital pictures.
· Science observations.
· Keep a class journal.
Ideas from 4-8 Teachers
· Authentic keyboard practice.
· Use photographs as story prompts. Students write dialog for the photos.
· Alphasmarts with digital cameras on field trips. In classroom, import the picture stories and talk about the trip.
· Electronic yearbook with camcorder, AlphaSmarts.
· Students run own store and use AlphaSmarts to write own story problems.
· Use it for chain stories where participants write and pass the story.
· Response to direct instruction questions. Way to evaluate that all are involved and understand.
· Use get utility to obtain Internet text for use in group or individual work.
· Interviews.
· Take the writing outside.
Ideas from Administrators and Others
· Keyboarding: Story writing, writer's workshop, editing, publishing.
· Math programs,How the West was One, Math Arena.
· Full Inclusion/Special needs keyboarding, writing, spelling, math, modified assignments.
· Net, researching.
· Trading Cards, author, personal.
· Small groups and full class (hooked up to the T.V.).
· Use alongside digital camera photos, slide shows.
