Striving Readers grant helps with technological advances

Libby Elementary School is currently in the third year of a federally funded grant entitled Striving Readers.  

This grant is designed to foster stronger literacy instruction and promote the use of technology. We have an action plan that details the objectives of the grant and how those objectives will be met.  

Through this process the grant already has provided positive outcomes at Libby Elementary School.  One very tangible outcome that needs to be shared has been an increase in technology for student use as well as increased instructional technology.

Our first goal has been to provide robust wireless connections in the building. Wireless allows technology to be integrated into our students’ classrooms instead of technology existing as a separate time or place where students go.

Technology should be implemented throughout the curriculum.   Currently, our wireless is strong in all grade-level classrooms. By the end of the year, the entire building will have seamless wireless connections. Students will be able to work in all pods, music areas and in the gymnasium.

Our second goal is to provide digital devices for classroom use. At this point, there are three types of devices being purchased and used by students.  

First, we have purchased iDevices, such as iPods and iPads.   Students use iPod and iPad apps to create presentations and other types of media. Other apps are used for practice and exploration. The variety of apps is extensive.

We also are using ChromeBooks, designed to run Google apps for Education. The ChromeBooks are inexpensive, quick and easily managed.

Currently, we have 80 ChromeBooks and will possibly have 250 in the next few months, giving us enough devices for a one-to-two student ratio in grades second through sixth.

The third device type is the traditional laptop. Laptops are more expensive, slower to turn on and require more maintenance, but they are very versatile and capable of creating documents, presentations and can be used for almost any task.   

Our ultimate goal is to use technology throughout the day to support current learning objectives. This way, we have not added technology and reduced other curriculum. Our students are continually reading and responding to literacy.  Responding may take the form of simply writing on Google documents, or it may be a shared document that is written collaboratively.  

Students may also present information using digital presentations. To quote wording from the Common Core Standards, we would like students to, “Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas clearly and efficiently.”

It is our desire at Libby Public Schools to provide the students of Libby with a world-class education. This includes academic skills, behavioral skills, creativity and the opportunity to use and understand technology that will impact their lives in the 21st century.

(Ron Goodman is principal at Libby Elementary School.)