Flipping Out!

The idea of a flipped classroom model has intrigued me since hearing about others doing this for their action research projects in the Spring. It has taken awhile to wrap my mind around the concept and even longer to get the nerve to try it. I like the idea of sending work home in an effort to "pre-teach" concepts. In the realm of early childhood, I like the idea of more parental involvement which is required for little ones to manage the flip. However, I would be remiss if I did not offer some concerns. First of which is the use of technology with a Title I school where many families are struggling to put food on the table. Second is the time in which it requires of the educator to plan and implement the flip.

My first thoughts were much like those in the November 2013 issue of Teacher.net Gazette article titled, Flipped Kindergarten by Kris Szajner. Szajner talks about the misconception of flipping the entire classroom, for every lesson and every subject. This would be an impossibility and take the teaching out of teaching. However, it can be a "one of your tools in the box." A tool used to reinforce, pre-teach, or train parents. The last use of the "tool" is the most appropriate for the early grades. It can be used an effective tool for training parents on routines, homework help, and procedures for certain programs.

The article mentions the three important components of a flipped classroom. A flipped classroom should be: student friendly, innovative and interesting, and available 24 hours 7 days a week. With most families having some type of digital device, this becomes more possible. Although I teach at a Title I school, this year all my families have access to email and/or internet; whether through a computer, smart phone, or tablet. By choosing the right platform information can be distributed to any or all of these devices. YouTube is the most common and practical for all these devices. I have used a screencast for teaching parents how to complete literacy game sheets when they come home, but this technology may not be feasible for all technology devices.

I would like to do more with the flipped classroom, in terms of sight word practice. Sight words are a great way for students and parents to connect over homework. Additionally, sight word apps on the iPad are common and motivating. By presenting sight words prior to teaching them in class would give all students the opportunity to be ahead of the learning curve. This will increase motivation and confidence in the way of reading.