Technology Use for the K-3 crowd

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron Smuin on September 17, 2009 at 9:30am

I was stunned - the grade ones and grade twos sat down at their computers, typed in their six-digit id numbers, their passwords, and logged in!
Thanks for the ideas.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scott Merrick on September 15, 2009 at 10:53am

I'm K-4 guy at an independent K12 in Nashville, Tennessee, and I blog weekly about what's going on in the computer lab. I see each of the 20 classrooms of <18 kids once a week for a half hour to 45 minutes. That's not a great deal of time, and I also use the model Rachel does, of a brief intro on the rug at the projector screen before diving into work at computers.

This year I picked up some great carpet number squares and I'm pleased with no longer having to replace Sharpie-numbered colored tape for where the kids sit, plus being able to move them around so the 6 on the back row aren't on the back row for the entire year.

We use a safe-start browser page for our Firefox, our Webliographer. Much like del.icio.us or Diigo (but preceding either by a year or two in its creation), it's a collection of online bookmarks. While theoretically anyone with an account can add links, I do all the link adding and maintenance, and it's pushing a thousand URLs at the mo', all alphabetized by topic name and easily revisable or deletable.

For our youngest, I love UpToTen.com's Boowa and Kwala Premium@School site, at http://uptoten.com. Years ago I helped its creator, Jason Bernard, work out a scaffolded series of computer interface skills that has evolved into "MyFirstClicks" at the site. The free site has MyFirstClicks but sports a sidebar ad banner and the at school site is free with confirmation that you're a teacher. All this may change as the result of some ongoing legal battles between Jason and his partner, so stay tuned.

My 4th graders do Keyboarding for Kids early in the year and then move into Quest Atlantis; and I'm really looking forward to our second year, as QA has undergone a complete remodelling. The social commitments underpinning is fantastic, and the chance to be inworld with my students, and to reply to their Quest submission writings in character as a Council Member on Atlantis, is a highlight of my year.

I'm looking seriously this year at compiling Scope and Sequence for all 4 grade levels

aligned with NETS and other standards suggestions, so also stay tooned for all that. I'm likely to share.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Janet Toto on September 19, 2009 at 7:28am

Scott,
I felt like a kid in a technology candy store! What a wonderful collection of resources. Our school does Type to Learn for keyboarding instruction, but it's only available in our computer lab (one a week). The BBC site is perfect for putting on my TeacherWeb page so the kids can practice in the classroom and at home!

Thanks!!!!

Janet

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rob Bayuk on September 17, 2009 at 9:59am

Hi,
checkout DreamBox Learning (http://www.dreambox.com/). A web-based math development site for K-2. Well thoughout and engaging. Parents can assist at home as well. My understanding is they were doing some programs to offer to schools. It is a small, Seattle-based company.

Hope this helps,
Rob Bayuk

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Janet Toto on September 19, 2009 at 7:19am

Hi Rob,
Dream box looks highly motivating, I'm going to see about the free trial offer and I'm passing along the link on Back to School night Thursday!
Thanks!
Janet

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by R. Scott Young on September 18, 2009 at 4:57pm

If you collaborate with your teachers feel free to use my resources page and link to it in your lab. I have bookmarked hundreds of interactive and informational sites sorted by subject and topic. All the links are graphical which makes it easy for "little hands" to use. Here is the link:


http://covenantworks.com/Bouncy-A/index.htm

Enjoy!

- Scott

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Janet Toto on September 19, 2009 at 7:17am

Scott,
Thanks for the link. I often find that I waste time doing my research. I love the way the links are organized and there seems to be something for everyone!

Regards,
Janet

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by sridhar iyer on September 18, 2009 at 5:12pm

Hi:

For the K-3 (their primary goal: reading, vocabulary and spelling), please try www.readinglogs.com.
It is a site that lets kids create reading logs and vocabulary cards online and submit to their teachers
for review. Good luck

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Janet Toto on September 19, 2009 at 7:31am

I really liked the link and I'm wondering how my student's parents would feel about it. I have in the past used Spelling City, but for some reason, only a few students took advantage - I guess it's in the way I present it. How do you get the word out to parents that resources like this are available?

Janet

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by sridhar iyer on September 19, 2009 at 8:50am

Hi - my experience has been that parents live the online feature of the readinglogs website. The reading logs or the vocabulary cards do not get lost. If children forget to bring the spelling lists, parents do not have to drive to a friend's house, etc.

The site is free, so parents seem to like the convenience. If I remember correctly, there are letters for parents, so you can print and send them home with the kids.

Sridhar

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dianne Kelm on September 18, 2009 at 7:03pm

I have seen clickers in action in the 7th and 8th grade classroom. I can only imagine how much younger children would enjoy using the interactive clickers to share their answers. Classroom response systems (clickers) allow the student to respond to questions asked about a particular topic and gives instant feedback for the teacher. For example, introducing about the subject of space using clickers would show the teacher what areas of the unit to focus on and which areas the students are already familiar with. It is an excellent technology tool to show results immediately in graph form and by percentages.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Janet Toto on September 19, 2009 at 7:21am

Dianne,
I agree that clickers would be motivational - I'd like to see them at the faculty meetings too ;) I think my interactive whiteboard manufacturer has them for sale (I feel another grant coming on).
Thanks for the suggestion,
Janet

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page