Technology class and Kindergarten students

[James Stewart]

This year, my district has decided to increase technology class time for kindergarten students from 25 minutes once a week to 50 minutes. I am looking to see what other districts provide their kindergarten students for technology class. I will need to provide multiple, short activities to use with students. Since I am also the media teacher, I plan on beginning the class with a story. Whenever possible, I will connect a technology activity with that story. Other activities that I have done in the past include websites to practice mouse skills, read along/abc's, drawing skills and using the smartboard for interactive websites. I would appreciate any other suggestions from fellow technology teachers to fill these 50 minutes. I will have to recruit parent helpers as I will be the only adult present during this time. Thanks for your input.

[Jay Bennett]

Also remember that it's never too early to talk about the safeguarding of passwords and what to do if you come across something on the internet that makes you feel uncomfortable. I like using Webkinz as an in and trying to explain to them that they wouldn't want just anybody to come in to their Webkinz room and spend all of their kinz Cash. They need to keep those passwords secret and only let their parents know what they are. If they ever see anything or read anything that makes them feel uncomfortable they need to talk to a parent. You may also want to consider having an Internet Safety presentation for the kids. The Michigan Attorney General's office has a program focused on K-3, 4-5, and 6-8. The K-3 program uses a cartoon and talks about safety issues as it relates to the web. www.michigan.gov/csi

[James Stewart]

Thanks, Jay - I forgot to include Internet Safety in my list of to-do's. I will check out the site for what kindergartners need to know about Internet Safety. Any other topics I have missed that others teach the little ones in the computer lab?

[Cawood]

James,
I had a 25 min block last year with the little ones and frequently ran out of time. Besides safety, I primarily used a couple of sites:

www.starfall.com
www.brainpopjr.com this one has a cost

The starfall site covers phonics, reading skills, has short movies, games. Many additional activities too. The other bonus is inexpensive consumables to go with the site...pencils games, take-home books, journals to reinforce skills. Really Great!
I often started with a book, went to the computers or used consumables.

Brainpopjr.com has a free weekly theme and I used it to cover many of the health of the health objectives. Hope this gets you rolling.

[James Stewart]

I forgot about the additional activities available on StarFall. I have used this site many times with the young students for mouse and phonics practice. I have heard of BrainPop jr. but did not know of their free weekly themes, so I will look into it this year.

I just found out that I will see the Kindergarten class at the end of the day, after their lunch recess. This will be a seperate challenge to work with tired students. Asked why this was done, the classroom teacher said that the students learn best in the morning and that is when the teachers would like to see them. Huh? That was my response too? So, I guess I will do a lot of get up and stretch activities or maybe Simon Says!

[Patty Ellick]

Hi
I teach k-5 in a lab setting and try to do as much integration as possible. I see my k-1 for 40 minutes and my 2-5 for 45 minutes (once every 8 school days). My biggest issue is I can't make it to all 24 kids quick enough, so I try to get one parent to help and last year I was using a couple of 5th graders for their 15 minute recess period. It really helps to have someone walking around making sure the kids are seeing and clicking on what I want them to do.

I started the year talking about the parts of the computer and having them interact by holding up, pointing and answering my questions, along with my class rules (1) Only touch your own computer & (2) Make smart choices. The second part of my class with kdg was working with a paint type of program. I had them showing me their mouse talents by drawing whatever they want. It gets them rolling, clicking and clicking and dragging.

We are in a new building (as of last October) and I really minimized what I bought, based on what we could integrated. We've got something called Scholastic Keys (it is Win only), and it works in conjunction with Microsoft Office. It makes Word, Excel and Power Point into a little kids program and also includes a paint program. MaxPaint also has "backgrounds" that they can pour paint on and "stampers" that they can draw around, but I don't show them those in the first class, because I want to see them draw.

Once the kids learn a program in my room, the primary grade teachers use these programs as part of their centers. Scholastic Keys has some templates too that I sometimes use. The other program I use quite a bit is Kidspiration. It has some great templates that go right along with their curriculum. My kdg teachers have told me for curriculum planning, to come up with things that fit with the seasons &/or holidays.

Last year, I introduced some websites that are on our homepage for the kids to accessed.
https://www.edline.net/pages/Licking_Valley_Elementary_Scho
I put things on each grade level that I've heard about or discovered and any that teachers want on there. By showing them how to get to it at school and how to "play" the games, the kids can be assigned these for centers and they can get to them from home. (I've put a note in the school newsletter on how to access the school site). I was going to tell you about one of our favorite math sites from last year (rainforest math), but it seems to be down today. Another one that's a great resource is Ohio Treasure Chest (I live in Ohio). This is a site that was created by and is maintained by a Canton Ohio teacher. He has everything aligned with the Ohio content standards. Which is probably close to what you are teaching.

Kdg is supposed to be able to open and exit from programs and I found double clicking to open a program is a problem for many. I have them click one time so the icon is selected and then click the Enter button.

Well, this may or may not be helpful to you, but I just figured, since I get sooooo frustrated with my time with kdg (so many kids and they are so young), that I'd put in my two cents. I hope it gives you some ideas...and thanks Jay for the internet safety ideas. I hadn't thought to talk about it with the little ones too.

Good Luck!
Patty

[James Stewart]

Thanks Patty,

I appreciate your input and it is comforting to know that I am not alone. I will focus on clicking and double clicking quite a bit. I find still that some students, the ones that do not have computers at home, don't even know how to hold the mouse correctly. And don't even start about using the right click button, I try to use a sticker until one of the older students take it off and stick it on themselves!

Thank you for sharing your links. I have collected some myself, which you can find here - http://www.ikeepbookmarks.com/browse.asp?folder=1821382 My K-4 links are here - http://www.ikeepbookmarks.com/browse.asp?folder=1651613

I will also try to recruit parent volunteers. I will see 26 kdg, and will need another pair of eyes and hands. The biggest problem in the past is keeping them on task. I will have to think of 2 or three different activities that relate to one another. Hopefully, this will reduce the likelihood of students getting off task.

[Kelley Irish]

I just got my Kindergarten time increased from 30 to 50 minutes as well.
A suggestion- start by making sure they have all used the restroom-or the restroom is close. Hard to help with zippers, run around help, and escort to the restroom. I also have whatever they are going to do on the desktop as a short cut!

Here is my list of simple sites.

On Line Tools for the K-2 Crew
Collected by Kelley

• flowers2mail.com - mail a bunch of flowers! Create an online bouquet of flowers using gif's and paint.
www.starfall.com- online phinics
• Toy Theater - Road Signs http://www.toytheater.com/road-signs.php Create on-line street signs
• Official Seal Generator http://www.says-it.com/seal/circle.php Create an official looking seal.
• The Newspaper Clipping Generator - Create your own fun newspaper. Creates a great little on line newspaper
• Kerpoof™ Home http://www.kerpoof.com/home is a web site primarily for children. It features various creative activities that are generally rooted in image creation, manipulation, and sharing. One reviewer described it as "a living coloring book Kids love making avatars and creating movies
• Animation for kids - Create animation online with FluxTime Studio http://fluxtime.com/animate.php Make an animation in a few simple
• Moovl http://www.moovl.co.uk/ Moovl is a unique online tool which teachers and pupils can use to draw, animate and apply physical properties to objects in order to bring their pictures and words to life.
• Make animations and create cartoons with four basic shapes - Aniboom’s Shapeshifter http://www.aniboom.com/ShapeshifterAnimachine.aspx
• Pencil drawing program on-line
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/index.shtml phonic activities from the bbc
• http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/virtualfarm/main.html 4-h virtual farm visit with an adult
• http://www.zoobooks.com/ virtual petting zoo
• http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/moviemaker/moviemaker.html Busters movie maker -you get to change parts and create a little movie clip
• http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/factsopinions/factsopinions.html facts verses opinion
• http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/elwoodcity/elwoodcity.html map of arthurs neighborhood
• http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/index2.html lots of educational activities on the arthur site
• Dr. Seuss - Welcome to Seussville
• http://www.earobics.com/gamegoo/gooey.html Game Goo - Click on a game by your level.
• http://www.mamamedia.com/areas/zap/home.html?src=sdwz create people
• School Time Games http://schooltimegames.com/Language_Arts.html Word Building with Language Arts
• Worddelicious http://lightupyourbrain.com/wordelicious.html
• Brain Teaser games http://lightupyourbrain.com/games.html
• Fish Tank http://www.kidsplaypark.com/games/fish/ create your own fish tank.
• Talking Pets http://www.talkingpets.org/ use or upload a pet picture. Type in sentences and the pet reads them out loud.
• Veggie talk http://www.fodey.com/generators/animated/talking_tomato.asp type in speech bubbles
• Musical Gummy bears http://www.gummy-bear.com/ create a song by dragging and dropping word blocks. Next, a Gummy Bear will perform the song. Finally, you can email and post the url address of your creation.

[James Stewart]

Thanks, Kelley for all the links!

I am sure that phonics will be the biggest topic I can integrate technology with. I am also the media teacher, and plan on beginning class by reading a story. StarFall is a great start of the year program to help students practice phonics, as well as work on mouse skills. I would like to look more into Kerpoof, does that require individual students accounts or can students use it without one? I will take time to look through all these sites you sent and also visit your website for lab ideas.

I agree that the bathroom is the #1 issue for me. It is nowhere near the computer lab. That is another reason why I am hoping for an adult helper to walk students to the bathroom. Thanks again, I need to mine the Macul Space knowledge bank to help me prepare for yet another change this year.

[Kelley Irish]

James,
If you have a really active parent group I make up a tech helper badge and take a picture of the helper and post it outside the room. They trip over themselves to help for the recognition- and you get the help

[Ben Rimes]

Where were you five years ago when I was teaching Kindergarten computer lab, Kelley? That's an amazing list of websites and tools.

James, I love your idea of reading to the kids first, and tying it into the lesson. I actually used to read to my Kindergartners and 2st graders while working on writing projects; it was a nice way to keep the classroom feeling comfortable and familiar while the kids gots used to word processing.

[Ashara Shepard]

Wow, this information is great. Thank you for sharing this list. I was just recently transferred from 8th grade technology to K-5 technology and am desperately trying to find age appropriate resources. My first day with kids last week in my new position was 1st grade and Kdg. I thought I was going to lose it. I'm glad to see on here I am not alone.

[James Stewart]

Hi Ashara,

I am glad you found the resources helpful. I am in a role reversal this year, and you may be of help! Besides teaching K-4 technology, I am also teaching 7/8th grade technology class. I am covering Office products and am looking for interesting ways in which to teach students Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher and Access. So far, I have had students create documents setting Tabs and utilizing Page Setup to adjust layout/margins. Any ideas you can share from your experience teaching 8th grade would be much appreciated.