Catholic Schools use iPads in the classroom

20    +  20 = Hundreds of Learning Opportunities

-- Generous Donation Enables Students to Utilize Tablet Technology --

  Montrose, CA, April 2013 -- iPads: these tablet computers may seem like a luxury today, but St. James Elementary in La Crescenta and Holy Redeemer Middle School of Montrose are lucky enough to have a total of 20 iPads on each campus for student education.

These electronic devices offer a platform on which to use a wide variety of educational tools and applications (apps) that are fun and enjoyable.  Both schools integrate their iPads into  everyday academic curriculum.  There are apps for logic, mathematics, history, science, grammar, reading, and literature, and students use them on a weekly, if not daily, basis in most of their classes.  

The students believe that they are 100 percent useful and say they are able to work faster and more efficiently, often reducing their homework load.  “The tablet computers are a great enrichment to the education and make learning more enjoyable, allowing students to grow in all subjects,” said Mrs. Susan Romero, principal of the schools.   “One of the greatest advantages of having these portable devices is being able to quickly research any question that anyone may have.”  

The iPads have brought about new projects and activities that the middle school students are able to participate in, such as:

• Keynote: an app that allows students to create presentations on various social studies topics
• Sixth grade students create flashcards to learn Spanish vocabulary and verb conjugation
• Numerous logic games helped the decathlon team prepare for its March 2 competition
• Students use earphones to listen to a video program on California photographer Ansel Adams and noteworthy scenes in Shakespeare plays.
• Eighth graders use the tablets to access an internet blog on Romeo & Juliet and post comments related to the tragedy and their life

 Eighth grade teacher Lisa Knatcal reported her students are motivated by the touch-screen interactivity of the tablet computer.

On the St. James campus, first grade teacher Katy McCauley said, “The kids enjoy playing Spell Wiz, Coin Math, and TeachTown.”   These applications help improve math computation speed and reading fluency.  

Of the total 40 iPads, 20 were recently donated by Mrs. Hansing, a grandmother of a student who currently attends St. James Elementary School.  “We are very thankful for this very generous gift, and appreciate her interest in helping our teachers deliver the very latest tool to create a more interesting and effective learning environment,” added Mrs. Romero.

  (Note: 8^th grade students Johan Appels and Darren Kim assisted in writing this news release.)