Seesaw is not just for recess but also use Seesaw in your classroom: A guide for teacher and parents
- Jan 7
- 3 min read
By Priscilla Martinez, Spring Creek Elementary
In today’s digital learning environment, it can feel intimidating to learn or use something new in your classroom. However, Seesaw has become essential for Elementary students and by using this interactive app, it allows students to show their learning, teachers can see their progress and families are able to see their child’s work and progress. This post will explore how it works and how you can use it effectively in your classroom.
Seesaw can work in your classroom
Seesaw is designed for our learners, making it simple to use Seesaws icons, picture/voice tools. We have a lot of EB and SpEd learners where students are able to use an alternative tools way to show their work with Seesaw:
Taking photos/videos
Recording their voices
Draw and label picture or using the Seesaw tools to create their work
These different options let students show their work without stressing them out with just writing something down and are able to use these digital tools to express their learning.
Getting Started
Introduce Seesaw steadily
Start with showing the icon on the TV screen- having a visual is very helpful for all of our students.
Click on the Clever App
Click on the Seesaw icon
Demonstrate, Demonstrate, Demonstrate
Demonstrate the tools and how to use them. You can use your Doc Camera with another iPad or show them with the Seesaw platform on your TV (everything that I’m showing is through the teacher app).
Students can click on post journal to start a blank document
Students will see this next page and can start looking at all the tools. Start off with telling students that there is a pencil, pen, marker, highlighter and eraser at the bottom. Tell students they can change the color with the color section on the right side of the page.
Start with students creating their own portrait, drawing or favorite thing they like. Show students how to click through the tools at the bottom and the colors. They can use the eraser to erase…it’s okay to make mistakes!
On a different day maybe have students use the textbox tool to write their name and slowly introduce the record/mic button to record their name. Once you click on the mic it will start a countdown and turn slightly red. Once down recording, click on the green “done” button.
Another step you can do is have students take a picture of themselves with the application using the camera button. Show students how to take the picture (with the space bar, button) and how to switch the camera over.
Lastly, make sure students click on the green check mark button on the right to submit and then you’re done!
*Demonstrating these tools steadily and slowly can help students learn new things but slowly and not feel overloaded with all the new tools.
Show Consistency
Have Seesaw activities where students can do a morning meeting (talk about their emotions or how they are feeling that day), practice math facts, review letter formation. Having students do a little a day can help students become independent in their learning and complete their assignments without a lot of help from their teacher.
Inspire by giving them Choices
Giving the children different opportunities to show their learning. Some students may understand a lesson by using pictures, others may be able to use equations and others can simply choose to record a video by explaining their thinking and work.
Collaborating with Families
Seesaw is such a wonderful tool for students in the classroom, but it can also help collaborate with parents to help their child at home:
Families can see updates on their child’s learning/work.
Teachers and parents can comment on their posts and see their progress.
Understand their learning goals through teacher feedback.
Successful Tips
Keep directions simple and slow.
Use Seesaw in stations during W.I.N time or even during independent practice.
Celebrate and congratulate on the student’s growth! Show them how much they’ve achieved using the data from the beginning of the year to the end of the year or every time they’ve succeeded in a new learning unit.
Seesaw makes learning fun, visible and interactive! Students are able to have accountability and take ownership of their learning while keeping families in the loop of their learning journey! Consistency, modeling and patience- Seesaw can become an important & essential tool in your classroom!
I used AI for brainstorming only and crafted the content myself.