I found an article that discussed the important computer concepts kindergarten students should be using. Being a kindergarten teacher and one that is convinced that my kindergarten students can use any and all equipment that the older students do this article really caught my attention. I hate hearing teachers that are so pessimistic when it comes to the thought of kindergarten students using the computer. The author of this article Susan Brooks is under the same impression as me, that five year olds can do amazing things when given the chance to. The author of the article is actually one of the co-founders of Internet4classrooms and was also a 30 year veteran of kindergarten and technology classrooms. Susan listed the basic skills that she felt were necessary for the kindergarten students to learn. She also provided sites that she felt would best enhance those skills and that were appropriate for a kindergarten age group. I was glad to see her outline so far because it seems to be what I am following with my students so far this year. We have been practicing our mouse skills from the beginning of the year up until now. This past week I began introducing the basic keyboarding skills. They really surprise me with what they are able to do when given the chance. I liked Susan’s idea of using computer words on the word wall. I think I will start to integrate those on our word wall in the classroom since we are beginning to integrate the keyboarding skills. It would be an easy way to review those words on a daily basis even if we were unable to get to the computer lab. I would really like to follow along with Susan’s outline for the computer skills that my kindergarten students should be learning. I am excited to see what they will be able to do on the computer by the end of the year. ">http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech209.shtml that discussed the important computer concepts kindergarten students should be using. Being a kindergarten teacher and one that is convinced that my kindergarten students can use any and all equipment that the older students do this article really caught my attention. I hate hearing teachers that are so pessimistic when it comes to the thought of kindergarten students using the computer. The author of this article Susan Brooks is under the same impression as me, that five year olds can do amazing things when given the chance to.
The author of the article is actually one of the co-founders of Internet4classrooms and was also a 30 year veteran of kindergarten and technology classrooms. Susan listed the basic skills that she felt were necessary for the kindergarten students to learn. She also provided sites that she felt would best enhance those skills and that were appropriate for a kindergarten age group.
I was glad to see her outline so far because it seems to be what I am following with my students so far this year. We have been practicing our mouse skills from the beginning of the year up until now. This past week I began introducing the basic keyboarding skills. They really surprise me with what they are able to do when given the chance. I liked Susan’s idea of using computer words on the word wall. I think I will start to integrate those on our word wall in the classroom since we are beginning to integrate the keyboarding skills. It would be an easy way to review those words on a daily basis even if we were unable to get to the computer lab.
I would really like to follow along with Susan’s outline for the computer skills that my kindergarten students should be learning. I am excited to see what they will be able to do on the computer by the end of the year.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
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5 comments:
Great article! These young kids never to cease to amaze me with computers! When I taught pre-school last summer, my 4 old years were excellent on the computer. They knew how to work the mouse and loved wearing the headphones while playing games. While substitute teaching, I taught computer class for Kindergarten and 1st grade and I loved seeing how excited they got about learning new things on the computer and playing all the graphic intense games online. Do you think your Kindergarten kids are learning this at home before they come into your classroom or are they just picking up technology that quick?
I love this website for independent games that primary kids enjoy:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/month2month.htm
I cannot agree with you and the article more. I taught pre-k for two years, and they loved any and all opportunities to work on the computer. I had to really push to get the computer teacher in the last school that I worked to allow the pre-k students to come in for class. She was teaching computer classes to K-8, so why not start earlier? After begging and pleading she finally agreed. I know it can be overwhelming for the teacher to have a room full of little ones on the computer, but they really were learning. I have pictures of them using the computer. They were completely engaged. I just think if anyone wants to do a whole group technology class or project with kindergarten or pre-k students extra teachers and hands need to be in the room!
Keep working with your students! I do not think they are too young! :)
Tamra --
I found the article to be very insightful because I have many questions when it comes to kindergartners. As you know, they are the students who I have the least amount of experience with. However, I am always curious of what they can do. One message i got from the article is whether these students can uitlize technology well or not, they should still be learning new tasks in kindergarten as well. What experience do your students in technology when they first come to you? Also, what skills do you think they should have before they leave?
I enjoyed this article. I also enjoyed reading your outlook on the article and the issue as well. Great post!
-Steph
I also agree that this is an interesting article. They say that kids are the easiest to teach new things because they just absorb the information (like learning a new language). So, why not start them early with technology as well?
The one comment I did have though was I don't think the classroom teachers should be relying on "computer teachers" to teach their students. The point of this entire class is for us to learn how to integrate technology to teach students 21st century skills. You simply cannot do that through a computer lab session time of maybe 2 times a week. We as teachers need to develop these skills.
Tamra,
I thought the article you found was great because it related to how you feel about the issue of kindergarten students using the technology equipment in the classroom. It is amazing that students at that age have the prior knowledge to know and understand the concepts of how to use the computer. It will be exciting to see all of the knowledge that your students have retained over the year on how to use the computer. I think it is great that you teach your students how to use the equipment, what is does, and allow them to practice using it. Overall, you did a wonderful job explaining your view on the article and the importance of students in the elementary grades especially kindergarten using computers.
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