So proud of ur Daddy!!

Andrew was recently asked to submit to our local paper on technology in the classroom!! If you know Andrew .... you know technology is everything to him and he strives to know the most recent and up to date ways of using it in his classroom and in his everyday! Here is the article he wrote....


In my short time as a first-grade teacher, technology has exponentially grown in finding a role in educating today’s digital natives. While education is shifting to more and more digital tools, the underlying challenge is still the same — meaningful instruction. One tool that has assisted in providing authentic and meaningful instruction has been the assistance of a SMART Board.

Here are some examples of how the SMART Board has enriched learning in my classroom:

• Using Street View in Google Maps, students were able to take a virtual tour of the NASA Space Center. The SMART Board allowed us to annotate over the image and locate 2-D/3-D shapes.
• Using Skype, we have been able to connect with classes across the U.S. and even with the governor of Iowa. When chatting via Skype, we shared our screen and used the SMART Board to create a Venn diagram in real time highlighting similarities and differences between schools and communities.
• The SMART Board allowed us to collaboratively create a story map and story. Once done, the story was exported as a PDF file, which in turn was created into an e-Book and shared on student blogs/class website.
• Videos and flash files coupled with interactive quizzes are inserted into lessons, instantly assessing student understanding and enriching lessons.

While digital tools will continue to find their way into the classroom, the SMART Board has been a valuable tool to manipulate the plethora of digital resources in real time.

Andrew Fenstermaker

On top of being , what we like to call in our house, A ROCK STAR he was also recognized by the superintendent of the schools!!

Good Afternoon Andrew

You may remember me visiting your classroom during one of your Skype visits two years ago. When I saw your letter in the paper on Monday I knew it would make a great read during a presentation I did this morning. I received the following from a member of the audience. 

Congratulations and thank you for all that you do four students!

AND a parent......

I also wanted to comment on your letter from Andrew Fenstermaker.  I had not seen that letter in the paper, but as a parent, I had the opportunity to have my son in his class.  He is a world class teacher.  We are very lucky to have a lot of very good teachers in our school system, but Mr. Fenstermaker is one of the best.  He is very engaged with his students.  I know my son loved to skype with kids from all different states as well as watching videos of himself in class learning.  It was a fantastic 1^st grade year at Penn.  I for one love to hear the good stuff, so I thought I would pass it on to you.

GO DADDY GO!!!! We are so proud of him for all his time and effort he puts in to be the best he can be everyday!!!