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Jennifer Shepard- 6th Grade Teacher, Sparrows Point Middle
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My name is Jennifer Shepard. I have been a teacher in Baltimore County for 12 years. I have spent 11 of those years at Sparrows Point Middle school. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from The College of Saint Rose, in Upstate New York. After I graduated, I moved to Baltimore from New York to pursue a teaching career. When I am not teaching, I spend my time with my husband and two children.
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June 2016
I cannot believe this school year is over. I have been privileged to watch SPMS students grow and become more confident using the devices. Each child acquired the ability to access programs such as Discovery Education and BrainPOP, just to name a few. Students are creating Animoto videos and Power Points to demonstrate their learning. SPMS students are able to find and save files to their student drives and BCPS One with ease. In reading, students are turning in assignments through Turn-Ins and can easily keep track of their grades. During the school year, they have kept an open line of communication with their teachers through BCPS One messages.
As a teacher, I was able to customize and differentiate learning by offering student choice, as well as the option to showcase their learning digitally. I am truly impressed how the 6th grade students and teachers took ownership of their learning and the responsibility of being a Lighthouse school. I look forward to what next year has to offer.
I cannot believe this school year is over. I have been privileged to watch SPMS students grow and become more confident using the devices. Each child acquired the ability to access programs such as Discovery Education and BrainPOP, just to name a few. Students are creating Animoto videos and Power Points to demonstrate their learning. SPMS students are able to find and save files to their student drives and BCPS One with ease. In reading, students are turning in assignments through Turn-Ins and can easily keep track of their grades. During the school year, they have kept an open line of communication with their teachers through BCPS One messages.
As a teacher, I was able to customize and differentiate learning by offering student choice, as well as the option to showcase their learning digitally. I am truly impressed how the 6th grade students and teachers took ownership of their learning and the responsibility of being a Lighthouse school. I look forward to what next year has to offer.
March 2016
During the 3rd quarter here at Sparrows Point, I have noticed students in all grades taking ownership of their work. Student created projects are helping kids get more excited about learning now more than ever before. I have seen 7th graders doing Makerspaces and hands on activities to learn about the rock cycle. The 6th graders are offered multiple options to show their learning through projects such as Black-Eyed Susan projects, where they can create a mobile, a diary, glossary, or a PowerPoint about the book they read. Also, in Language Arts class, students are creating trading cards in the mythology unit. In 6th grade world cultures, students made PowerPoints, used Board Builder, or used Movie Maker to show the ways to improve the standard of living in India. I have also noticed that students’ confidence in academics has skyrocketed. The kids have gotten so much better at collaborative learning. I have witnessed many students being the teacher and it’s helped to build their confidence. When one of my “shy” students feels confident enough to volunteer and get up in front of class and show them how to use a feature on Board Builder, it makes my heart melt. The teachers are also building their confidence using the different programs in order to make these learning options happen. For instance, in our school we have someone from Discovery Education who will sit down with us and teach us how to use the programs. They will even come into our classes and help. At this point, I can only look forward to more positive change.
During the 3rd quarter here at Sparrows Point, I have noticed students in all grades taking ownership of their work. Student created projects are helping kids get more excited about learning now more than ever before. I have seen 7th graders doing Makerspaces and hands on activities to learn about the rock cycle. The 6th graders are offered multiple options to show their learning through projects such as Black-Eyed Susan projects, where they can create a mobile, a diary, glossary, or a PowerPoint about the book they read. Also, in Language Arts class, students are creating trading cards in the mythology unit. In 6th grade world cultures, students made PowerPoints, used Board Builder, or used Movie Maker to show the ways to improve the standard of living in India. I have also noticed that students’ confidence in academics has skyrocketed. The kids have gotten so much better at collaborative learning. I have witnessed many students being the teacher and it’s helped to build their confidence. When one of my “shy” students feels confident enough to volunteer and get up in front of class and show them how to use a feature on Board Builder, it makes my heart melt. The teachers are also building their confidence using the different programs in order to make these learning options happen. For instance, in our school we have someone from Discovery Education who will sit down with us and teach us how to use the programs. They will even come into our classes and help. At this point, I can only look forward to more positive change.
January 2016
Wow!! So many exciting things have taken place in my classroom this year. I have fully emerged my students and myself into the 21st century. Not only are we using technology on a daily basis, my classroom has transformed to the modern classroom. If you visited my room you would see students cooperatively work in groups, partners or independently. This has allowed them to become problem solvers and use each other to come up with solutions without asking the teacher right off the bat. I love watching the progress my kids have made using their devices. This is because all of the 6th grade teachers have supported the transition to being a Lighthouse School. We are providing our kids with opportunities to use multiple programs on their devices. Many teachers take the time to share with other colleagues the programs that they use that supports students being on task, allows for enrichment and gives alternatives to assessments. It makes it so easy for me when I do not have to teach students how to use Edmodo or Board Builder on Discovery Education, because they already have been taught it and use it. I see my students having more confidence in the classroom. They have come to realize that they each play an important part in the classroom learning experience. They seem more excited because they know they will not just sit back and listen to me talk. The expectations of the student centered classroom has made this a positive change.
Wow!! So many exciting things have taken place in my classroom this year. I have fully emerged my students and myself into the 21st century. Not only are we using technology on a daily basis, my classroom has transformed to the modern classroom. If you visited my room you would see students cooperatively work in groups, partners or independently. This has allowed them to become problem solvers and use each other to come up with solutions without asking the teacher right off the bat. I love watching the progress my kids have made using their devices. This is because all of the 6th grade teachers have supported the transition to being a Lighthouse School. We are providing our kids with opportunities to use multiple programs on their devices. Many teachers take the time to share with other colleagues the programs that they use that supports students being on task, allows for enrichment and gives alternatives to assessments. It makes it so easy for me when I do not have to teach students how to use Edmodo or Board Builder on Discovery Education, because they already have been taught it and use it. I see my students having more confidence in the classroom. They have come to realize that they each play an important part in the classroom learning experience. They seem more excited because they know they will not just sit back and listen to me talk. The expectations of the student centered classroom has made this a positive change.
October 2015
My Lighthouse journey begins with high expectations, excitement, and hesitancy. I am very excited about starting this school year because I am going to be a part of the Lighthouse team in my building. Mostly I am excited about all the technology that is going to be available this year. I am also nervous because even though I use technology regularly, there is still plenty for me to learn. I had my doubts about giving 6th graders the responsibility of taking care and having their own devices. I have to say I am quite impressed with my sixth-grade students for taking PRIDE in the responsibility of bringing their devices to class every day. Because of the many supports in my building, my classroom is a student-centered environment. My classroom is designed with strategic seating to allow for small and large group work. There are stations available for blended learning. The technology allows my lessons to provide personalized and customized options for learning. I am able to offer my students a variety of choices in order to self-direct their own learning. What I love the most is watching students embrace the technology and share their expertise about the many programs being used.
My Lighthouse journey begins with high expectations, excitement, and hesitancy. I am very excited about starting this school year because I am going to be a part of the Lighthouse team in my building. Mostly I am excited about all the technology that is going to be available this year. I am also nervous because even though I use technology regularly, there is still plenty for me to learn. I had my doubts about giving 6th graders the responsibility of taking care and having their own devices. I have to say I am quite impressed with my sixth-grade students for taking PRIDE in the responsibility of bringing their devices to class every day. Because of the many supports in my building, my classroom is a student-centered environment. My classroom is designed with strategic seating to allow for small and large group work. There are stations available for blended learning. The technology allows my lessons to provide personalized and customized options for learning. I am able to offer my students a variety of choices in order to self-direct their own learning. What I love the most is watching students embrace the technology and share their expertise about the many programs being used.
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