Unparalleled Insider Seesaw Secrets from A Kindergarten Dream Team
April 4, 2024
Todays podcast highlights the transformative impact of Seesaw on early childhood education, as shared by two long-time users who have been with the platform since its early days. Jennifer and Tarah first discovered Seesaw around 2015 and were immediately captivated by its potential to engage young learners. They describe their experience as borderline obsession, noting how the platform has evolved to become an integral part of their teaching practice, allowing them to create more personalized and interactive learning experiences for their kindergarten students.
A key theme of the discussion is how Seesaw has revolutionized family engagement and student learning. The teachers emphasize the platform’s ability to provide parents with real-time insights into their children’s education, moving beyond traditional worksheets and papers. As one teacher noted, “Parents appreciate it much more than little papers or worksheets that come home. This is just so very hands-on and so authentically their child.” The platform enables students to share their learning moments, with children becoming excited to show their work and families receiving instant updates about classroom activities.
The podcast explores Seesaw’s versatility in supporting diverse learning needs, particularly for young learners. Jennifer and Tarah highlight how the platform allows them to create targeted assessments, support intervention groups, and provide additional learning opportunities. They particularly praise features like self-checking assessments, recording capabilities, and the ability to differentiate instruction easily. For their ESL students, the tool provides additional support through features like recording instructions and reinforcing skills, essentially acting as a “backup” for teachers to reach all students.
The teachers offer practical advice for educators new to Seesaw, emphasizing a gradual approach to implementation. Their key recommendations include exploring pre-created activities, allowing students to explore the platform’s features, finding a mentor or colleague to support learning, and being consistent in integration. They stress the importance of taking it slow and not trying to do everything at once. As they put it, “start by exploring all the activities that are already created. You don’t have to create them. You find and assign what you need.” The episode ultimately portrays Seesaw as more than just a technology tool – it’s a transformative platform that empowers teachers, engages students, and connects families to the learning process.
Transcript
Kris Szajner (00:00):
Welcome everyone to the Learning Loop Podcast, your best source for educational insights and trends. I’m Kris, your host. Today’s special guests are Jennifer and Tarah. They are both kindergarten teachers in Texas and long-time Seesaw users. We are so excited to be joining them in a special joint session here today. Welcome to the show!
Jennifer and Tarah (00:32):
Thank you! We’re so excited to be here.
Kris (00:38):
It’s great to have this double-trouble team with us. That nickname feels fitting!
Jennifer (00:49):
It really does!
Kris (00:57):
Let’s dive right in with a basic question. When did you first hear about Seesaw?
Jennifer (01:06):
I think it was around the same time for both of us. We attended a staff development session in the computer lab—back when we still had those! We got so excited about it and decided, “Let’s be ambassadors. Let’s do all the things.”
Tarah (01:35):
Yeah, I think it was around 2010. We just dove in headfirst because it looked amazing.
Jennifer (01:48):
Absolutely. The training showed us how seamless it could be in the classroom. Seeing the kids’ engagement made us go, “Whoa, this could really change education!” And it has, especially as Seesaw continues to evolve.
Kris (03:37):
Amazing! So as long-time users, you’ve seen Seesaw grow. What are some key benefits you’ve experienced using it in your classrooms?
Tarah (03:58):
For me, it’s like a modern-day show-and-tell. As a mom, I know that when I ask my kids what they did at school, I often get “I don’t know.” But with Seesaw, parents can log in, see what their kids are doing, and engage with them.
Jennifer (04:26):
Exactly! It lets parents see their child’s work in such an authentic way, beyond just worksheets coming home. It’s something parents can connect with and even share with extended family.
Tarah (04:55):
Seesaw has also evolved the way we teach. When Jen and I create something, we can easily turn it into an assessment or assign it to specific groups for interventions. It’s streamlined so much for us as teachers.
Kris (08:15):
That’s fantastic to hear. You’ve mentioned family connections—how has Seesaw impacted your role as educators?
Jennifer (08:34):
It’s created a constant connection to families. Students can share pictures or videos in real time, something we could never do before. And having iPads for every student now has been a game-changer.
Tarah (09:12):
Definitely. I love how intuitive Seesaw is for kids. It inspires them—and us—to get creative. Whether it’s assessments or hands-on activities captured digitally, it combines technology and tactile learning beautifully.
Kris (12:36):
Speaking of assessments, how has Seesaw helped you cater to individual student needs?
Tarah (12:51):
It’s amazing for differentiation. For example, we’ve used it to teach advanced skills to kids ready for first or second-grade content. Seesaw makes it easy to fit in those extra learning opportunities.
Jennifer (13:38):
And it’s fun for the kids, too. They love hearing, “It’s on Seesaw!” It’s an instant engagement boost.
Kris (16:55):
That’s so inspiring. Can you share a specific example of Seesaw helping a student in a way other tools couldn’t?
Jennifer (17:18):
We’ve used it to build online learning journals that parents can access anytime, not just during conferences. It’s been a huge time-saver and allows parents to see exactly what their kids are excelling in or need help with.
Tarah (17:56):
And the kids take such pride in their posts. They’re always asking, “Is my mom going to see this?” or “Can I record a video for my dad?” It’s really sweet.
Kris (21:10):
That connection is so valuable. Let’s lighten things up with a fun question: If you could only have one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Jennifer (21:25):
Cake. Always cake!
Tarah (21:31):
She’s a cake lover for sure. For me, it’d be my mom’s cinnamon rolls. She calls them “bodacious buns” because they’re massive!
Kris (21:54):
Those sound incredible! I’d probably go with brownies. There’s just something about a gooey brownie that’s hard to beat.
Tarah (22:09):
Agreed—baked goods are the best!
Kris (22:17):
Thank you both so much for joining us today and sharing your insights. It’s clear Seesaw is making a huge difference in your classrooms, and I’m sure our listeners are inspired by your stories.
Jennifer and Tarah (22:38):
Thank you! This was so much fun!