The following is a guest post by fifth-grade teacher Barbie Monty. Check out her bio below!
Students actively engaged in the classroom, creating work inspired by their imaginations while showcasing what they’re learning in all subject areas, has always been a dream for me as a classroom teacher. Discovering Buncee and introducing this incredible tech tool to my students has made this no longer a dream – it has become a reality! And, it is so exciting to watch it unfold right before my eyes.
All I have to do is mention the word Buncee in my classroom, and my students’ eyes light up brightly! I can immediately see the wheels begin to turn as their creativity is unleashed. It is beyond magical! The wonderful thing is it does not matter what subject we are working on, Buncee works with them all. And, what’s even better, is hearing the words, “Can we create a Buncee?” That’s music to my ears because I know I will see learning in action!
Whether it results in students visualizing our Quote for the Day, responding to a story we’re reading, or crafting a story for extra credit based on the genre we are studying (or one we previously studied) – Buncee means students are actively engaged in showcasing the learning. This is because Buncee makes it possible to see exactly what students are learning and the extent to which they understand the concepts! It is beyond thrilling to witness this magic happening in my classroom!
Recently, during our human body unit, students were presented with our vocabulary words for each body system. Students were asked to create a Buncee with each of the vocabulary words and their definitions. They were free to choose the backgrounds, stickers, and animations that they felt best illustrated each word. Throughout the unit, students feverishly worked on creating their Buncees for the different systems. They diligently sought backgrounds that supported each vocabulary word, and they found perfect stickers and animations that supported the definitions. Each student’s work was so different – yet each perfectly captured what they were learning.
Buncee provides such a realistic way for students to comprehend vocabulary words and definitions in a way no ordinary list of vocabulary words and definitions can do. Students are able to visualize the content as they create each slide. Searching for the perfect graphics reveals the knowledge students are gaining and the level to which they are understanding the content throughout the unit. This is evident when it comes time for assessments. Students’ Buncees provide the perfect tool for them to utilize as they prepare for each assessment. One important fact to note is during the process of creating their Buncees, students ARE learning the material. So, Buncee creation in and of itself is a valuable tool for review for students.
During our human body unit, my students’ Buncees made the content so realistic to them that their scores were far higher this year using Buncee than in previous years before I knew about Buncee. I was thrilled to see so many perfect scores plus bonus points – truly, a dream for any teacher! Knowing my students were walking away with the knowledge I intended for them to gain from the unit was so satisfying. The success can be totally attributed to how engaged students became creating their Buncees throughout the unit.
Click each Buncee to see the Students’ Work
