EDU 620: Meeting Individual Student Needs with Technology Dr. Moerland

 iStartSmart-is a kid friendly preschool computer, preloaded with early childhood software that scaffolds learning.  iStart Smart Mobile-(Shell Squad Games)-500 research based literacy and mathematic games.

 The education experts at Hatch developed iStartSmart specifically for early learners, so that children can independently access the system and be monitored as pre-readers. Aligned to early learning standards (NAEYC, Head Start Framework) and various assessments (e.g. Teaching Strategies GOLD), iStartSmart preschool computers integrate with curriculums, assessments, and standards that you are already implementing in your classrooms. The games and activities positive encouragement and rewards provide educational opportunities, while creating an engaging learning environment for children. The system automatically increases or decreases difficulty as children move through the 18 core skills. Teachers love iStartSmart because they can view detailed progress reports for each child and share this information with administrators and parents.

 Yes, Delta Head Start received a grant from the Madison Parish School Board. Each classroom received 3 iStartSmart Mobile Tablets and 3 new computers as well as $1000 for the things we needed in our classroom.

 3-5 year olds who are economically or otherwise disadvantaged at Delta Head Start.  About 120 students attend DHS.

 This is a universal impact. Every skill has five Scaffolding Levels. As children show success with a game, the skill levels increase in difficulty. Once a child is successful at the Emerging Level, the game will move into the Developing Level, and so on. Some children don’t have to do the tutorial stage. The teacher can go ahead and put them on Emerging, etc.  If a child struggles with a particular skill activity, the system will automatically regress the child to the previous skill level until they reach emerging. If the child continues to struggles at the emerging or tutorial skill levels, the activity will become locked and the child will not be able to play that activity again until they receive additional assistance from the teacher.

 Beyond the Screen activities to be used for centers and small groups.  Ideal time for child to reach developed level of each skill: The iStartSmart (All In One) Time Study (2011) and the iSS/AIO Texas efficacy studies’ (2012) results provided a time recommendation for users.  They recommend children play Shell Squad games at least 30 minutes a week for a total of 2 hours a month.  Teachers MUST monitor children as they progress through Shell Squad Games to obtain the developed level on the 18 skills.

 Our Educational Leader had a trainer from hatch to come to Delta Head Start for two hour and Mr. David came again the next week for two hours to train all teacher and aide. The teachers and aides can also go online to take the online training.

 You install new updates every month. You can call a specialist 7days a week 24 hours a day. There is ongoing support Learning Management System, Online Trainings, Video Tutorials and Free Technical Support. It has a 3 year warranty so, if it breaks it will be replaced.

Likes  Portable and easy to use  The child can only go to the games; it will not let the child go to teacher’s area Reviews about iStartSmart  The child will be able to remember, detect, and manipulate sounds  Write name or letters  Name objects rapidly  Say most of the alphabet rapidly  Count  Add & subtract  Measurement  Shape identification  Thinking spatially

 Yes, teachers can login on to  Child Reports for Planning, Parent Conferences, and Interventions.  Display relevant classroom information inside an easy to use online dashboard.  Provides real-time child data for strategic teacher’s planning and parent conferences.  Offers a first hand look into children acquisition of school readiness skills.  Records time on task for each student as they progress through activities.

 Not all children learn the same. I must get to know my students. Only trough taking the time to learn who my students are both as people and as learners. Then, I will be able to differentiate instruction by looking at students interests, learning profile and readiness.

 Madison Parish School Board  Corrine Riggs Special Education Leader over all of Madison Parish School (Tallulah)  Tonya Shorter IEP Facilitator of all Madison Parish School