Volume 2 ~ Issue 4
SCHOOL BEAT
Meet Cedar’s New Technology Resource Teacher Mrs. Morriah Harp helps teachers, parents and students integrate technology into the classroom and beyond! By Ronda Tomovcik
concepts; such as number sense, patterns, and counting; in a fun and interactive manner. In First Grade, students are focusing on their keyboarding skills. They are applying those keyboarding skills while typing basic sentences using Pages, Google Docs, etc. Our first graders also learned how to identify “just right” websites and apps.
Mrs. Morriah Harp, her husband Ryan, and children; Landon and Grace.
Mrs. Harp is not new to Cedar, however, she is new to her role as a Technology Resource Teacher (TRT). Mrs. Harp is a 12-year veteran of the Canton City School District, serving the students at Cedar for the past seven years. Mrs. Harp’s role as a TRT is to provide leadership and instruction in the integration of technology into daily classroom practices, a role that she has more than fulfilled daily. Throughout her day, Mrs. Harp coplans, co-teaches, and coaches the teachers at Cedar about the integration of technology. She provides them with curricular support, professional development, and models how to utilize online curricular resources within daily instruction. She does an amazing job at researching and sharing technology resources that enhance daily instruction. Mrs. Harp’s knowledge and skillset have helped our staff tremendously, especially when technology becomes challenging. More importantly, Mrs. Harp has shown our staff how students can take their technology
to the next level for more than just apps, videos, and keyboarding. However, those are the fundamentals she starts with when working with the students. Mrs. Harp works with all students in all grade levels weekly, teaching students how to properly use their iPads to enhance their learning. Here are some of the amazing technology skills our students are learning this year, thanks to Mrs. Harp’s expertise: In Kindergarten, Mrs. Harp’s number one priority is to teach our students how to be safe when they are online. The internet can be a risky place to visit, especially when not at school. Students have learned the warning signs for dangerous things and how to avoid them. Students are also taught how to navigate the many aspects of the iPad, such as independently opening an app or assignment upon adult request. Students also use an educational app called SeeSaw that allows Mrs. Harp to reinforce math
In Second Grade, students continue to improve their keyboard skills through their daily iPad use. They also are learning how to insert pictures, shapes, and text boxes into Keynote and Google Slides by using an app called Class Kick. Students will be learning how to use Apple’s Clips app, a fun app that allows students to make and edit short videos. Second graders also are learning about coding, which allows students to create digital media such as animated pictures, video games, and websites. In Third Grade, our students have engaged in activities that have allowed them to understand that the internet allows people to “visit” far away places while sitting in their classrooms or homes through virtual field trips or meetings. Third Grade students learn more advanced technology skills such as: splitting their screen, how to use the toolbar to highlight or record notes, searching the web and inserting an image, and copying and pasting to format a Google Doc. Students are currently working on creating presentations in Keynote or Google Slides. They will end the year learning how to use Flipgrid. Flipgrid is a video discussion platform that helps educators see and hear from every student in the class and foster a fun and supportive social learning environment.
Mrs. Harp’s tips for using Technology at Home: Parents, if you are looking for some additional resources to enrich your child’s learning at home, check out these websites: • National Geographic Kids: From “Weird But True” facts to games and quizzes, the National Geographic Kids’ site is a dream for science-loving kids. kids.nationalgeographic.com • Study Jams will help your child remember facts related to topics ranging from division to the water cycle with music, so if your child learns better through songs and rhymes, check it out. studyjams.scholastic.com • FREE Virtual Field Trips: These virtual field trips allow students to experience locations around the world from the comfort of home. Several websites offer many locations to choose from, each with its own educational experience. From the Louvre to the International Space Station, your athome students won’t be bored! • CoolMath4Kids: Kids learn how to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and create fractions with the use of games and puzzles. www.coolmath4kids.com • PBS Kids: Popular characters from educational TV shows engage students in themed learning activities. • Lego.com: A free, fun, interactive site for Lego enthusiasts. • Pottstown Regional Public Library’s “Little Library”: A virtual toddler storytime room that includes over 40 interactive themed rooms. pottstownregionalpubliclibrary.org/
Meet The Amazing Drivers Who Train the Drivers! By Nicole Kiser, Transportation Supervisor
OBI is an acronym for On-Board Instructor. In the school transportation realm, these individuals are responsible for teaching and training all new drivers to obtain their Class B CDL license and Ohio School Bus Certificate. Training someone to be a bus driver is no easy task! A 100 point pre-trip inspection of the school bus must be recited by memory and performed in under 30 minutes. Drivers must pass a CDL skills test that evaluates parking, docking, and backing the school bus, followed by a 90-min-
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The Bulldog Bulletin
ute road test involving student loading and unloading, railroad crossing procedures, and emergency pullovers. Training a new driver from start to finish takes a minimum of six weeks. The Canton City School District Transportation Department currently has four instructors on staff. These ladies have over 93 years of combined school bus driving experience with our district! They have an impeccable training record meaning if we take someone to test…they pass the first time! This year alone
these professionals have trained and licensed over 15 new drivers. Most districts in Stark County only
license a few drivers per year. We are very proud of our amazing training team. Way to go trainers!
Claudia Cheviron, Patty Eagon, Jean Eldred & Megan Slagle
