This week...

So it's only Tuesday but it feels like this week has taken forever.  Today I taught in a kindergarten classroom.  I really tried to look at the technology we used through out the day.  First off in the morning I used the Elmo to do the morning message.  The students did a  really good job with it. It was different then the ones I have used so the zoom was hard to figure out but I tried.

The other thing I used a lot was the cd player.  The students love singing and dancing to those song.  I had a few stuck in my all night.  Another one I used today was the television and DVD player. The students also used the the computers during center time.  Bailey's Book House was one of the games they were playing.  It was just a for fun thing they did.  Overall I used some technology that I didn't think of because it came natural.

So a funny side note that happened today with the tv and dvd.  I was having trouble with it and couldn't get it to start because some switched the mode.  Anyways the students thought because they were talking it broke the t.v.  I have never had the class be so quiet.  It was an interesting day.

Kid Pixs

So this week we worked with a bunch of different programs one of which was kid pixs. This program is one of my favorites. I love to see what students create with it.  When I was a sub in kindergarten one of the centers was computers, this program was on it.  The students would always be like Miss. K come look at this funny stamp, then they would giggle.  I think that is a good way to get students to know the software then when you want to do a project with them they will know what to do.  I have thought about some different books I would use, like If you give a mouse a cookie, the purple crayon book, with really young kids you could use Brown Bear Brown Bear what do you see. There are just so many things you can do.

As I was thinking of all these different technologies we are using I started to think about a school I taught in.  There was only five extra computers for the whole school, no computer lab.  What is a good way to get these projects in for students if you don't have the sources?  I mean sometimes it's easier to do projects as a whole group.  I was just wondering what other people thought....

Oh the places you will go!!!

This week in class we used software that would help us teach students how to make concept maps, we also discussed different softwares that we could make lessons from.  I brought in the book, "Oh the Places You Will Go!" The first software we looked at was, "Baileys Book House," this software was OK.  It wasn't my favorite but I came up with a lesson that a teacher could use this software with this book.  The second software we were shown had to deal with making your own comic strip.  There were so many lesson I could do with this software.  I just can't wait to get my own classroom and start doing this stuff!!!!

We also discussed blogging in class.  I have thought of many ways to use blogging in a class but one idea I really like is a news letter to parents.  The reason I like this is nothing has to go home with students, it's green, and it is so easy to use.  I also love the idea of students doing it each week! Just think writing, creativity, and using technology all in one. Students would also feel so cool because they are in control of telling parents, students, and other staff members what is going on in their classroom.  It's just so amazing everything you can do now in the classroom!!!