Using AlphaSmarts at Glendover
Jeopardy Games

AlphaSmart Keyboards are small, portable, inexpensive, and have a wide range of classroom uses, including word processing and keyboarding instruction. Many schools have purchased AlphaSmarts (KETS money can be used), and the Technology Office has a set that can be checked out for keyboarding classes (see your TRT). 

From Ruth Ackerman at Glendover Elementary: "My kids really pushed me into using Alpha Smarts; so many of them wanted to type their Young Authors stories that they couldn’t possibly have done it on our two classroom computers. When I asked Nathan if there was a way to transfer the children’s typed stories from AlphaSmarts to the computers, he was at our beck and call from start to finish. 

"The children who chose to use the AlphaSmarts really enjoyed the process of typing their work and then seeing it appear on the classroom computer screen for revisions and printing. A couple of children accidentally lost their entire stories during the process, but Nathan was diligent about figuring out how to retrieve them. 

"I have been quite reluctant to pursue the use of technology in my classroom, and am pleased to have had the natural push from my students in that direction and to have had the support of those who know what they are doing and can direct me to help my children succeed."

See Ms. Ackerman's students' work in Through a Student's Eyes. For further uses of AlphaSmarts in instruction, see Practical Classroom Activities with an AlphaSmart, maintained by Paula Whitmer.

Many primary teachers have been developing Power Point presentations with their students on various topics. In addition to the presentations teachers /students have constructed PowerPoint Jeopardy games to enhance and build enrichment into their content areas. Children research their topic, gather their information and build their presentations. After research, children are asked to determine the categories for the game and base their clues / answers to fit the categories. Many teachers across the grade levels have found this to be very helpful in acquiring and utilizing knowledge. If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact me: Guyanne Vaughan gvaughan@fayette.k12.ky.us or your building TRT.

Here's some on-line resources for Jeopardy games:

Complete games from Hardin County Schools

Complete instructions and a blank template are available on Nathan Cornett's TRT website