Technology+in+the+Classroom

=Technology and Kindergarten=

Teaching the kindergarten students how to use the computer is some of the best time spent - aside from the fact that they love using it, it fulfills our requirement for using technology in the classroom. Additionally, students whose attention tends to wander easily are much more engrossed by the use of the computer than by any writing task you could give them. The affective filter is practically zero and they readily help each other out with figuring out the space bar, backspace, and shift keys. While you could argue that kindergarteners ought to be practicing their handwriting skills rather than typing on the computer, my goal is to get the kids writing in English. I am less concerned about handwriting and neat letters than I am about ideas and word order. Typing allows the young writers to focus more on ideas and neither of us have to wonder exactly what was written, thanks to the keyboard. There's also the concern that while they're at the computer they won't hear the lesson - I've found that this has more often than not worked out to be a benefit for the others - another opportunity for a turn-and-talk,or a quick whole-group review that benefits those just back from the computer and those who've been on the rug the whole time.

Routine
How well this goes depends on routines. Before the students arrive, I open the computer folder with the students' work to full screen so that all they have to do is click on the file with their name. At the beginning of every class, we repeat the the Open and Save procedures, chanting the procedures as we scroll through the presentation. As soon as that's done the students are able to use the computer according to the list. They also know that before they ask the teacher, they should ask their computer partner(s) if they know the answer. The biggest drill is to never, ever forget to save!

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Supplies

 * Timer
 * List of names
 * Magnets
 * Sample writing

To start, the students get 5 minutes each. At the kindergarten level this doesn't overwhelm them and once you get the kids in the habit they'll tag each other in at the end of their allotted time like clockwork. The beeping of the timer is a non-negotiable signal for the students to switch.

The list of names displayed visibly on the board allows the students to see who is next. This keeps it fair and again squelches any opportunity there may be for argument over whose turn it is.



The magnets serve double duty; they hold the list up to the board and at the same time show which students are currently at the computer. Because some of my kids are clever and look for ways to have more than one chance during a lesson, I've posted the kindergarten list at the top of the board, out of their reach. When the timer beeps the end of a turn, I move the magnets down to the next pair of names.



The sample writing is either the same as what the rest of the students are writing, or a close variation. I write the sentences to be typed on chart paper. The students help spell the words and create the sentences. These sentences remain on the board until everyone has finished typing them. The students who finish early can type their own sentences using the sentence starters or their handwritten sentences as guidelines. As a quick, additional guide, I write each sentence in a different color. This way if a student is stuck and can't figure out where to start, it's a quick fix to get them started again.

Student Work
Click on the powerpoint to see the collected typing samples by the kindergarten students.