Technology in the early years can be a touchy subject, even with me. I am one of the biggest supporters of technology, but only if it is used appropriately and wisely. I do think that getting children comfortable with using computers is important, and teaching the the vocabulary that goes with technology use is very important as well. I do not think that it is the best idea to take them into programs that are too difficult for them to master or understand, as it can make some of them become fearful of using computers. I have had young students cry in my lab every year because they are just overwhelmed with the whole idea of using a computer. That usually only lasts the first few classes because they learn very quickly that I will lead them where they need to go and I never take them to do things that are too difficult for them.
My feeling on technology in Pre-K and Kindergarten is that we are to use their time on the computers to get them feeling comfortable and confident in the very basics. Our main goals should be working with their fine and gross motor skills, which means being able to move the mouse where they want it to go and being able to hold it still while they click, and their listening skills. They need to practice these basic skills over and over so that it becomes second nature. I know this may sound funny to you, but many of them have trouble just remembering which of the two buttons on the mouse to click. We are so used to using this hardware that we forget just how difficult it can be for those new learners to grasp even the very basics.
If you are going to use technology with this age group you have to remember one very important thing: Patience! They are very needy at this age and many are afraid to even try to do what you ask them for fear of "breaking" something. When you are working with a large group of very young and very needy children it can be stressful. Make sure you go into it knowing that. You will have some students that are already familiar with computers that want to take off and go willy nilly all over the place. You have to learn how to manage those students to keep them from just taking off and not following directions. You will have the other side of this where students will have no experience on computers and you will be with them constantly, guiding them and doing a great deal of hand over hand instruction until they understand the concept and have the confidence to do it alone. If you do not remember to be patient and that it is going to be hectic and not go according to plan then you will end up frustrated and angry.
STORY TIME! The first year I taught in the computer lab at my two elementary buildings I had a couple of Kindergarten students that would start crying as soon as they sat down at their computer. For those of you who don't know me, I am 4ft 8 inches tall with red hair. I am always trying to have fun and smiling so I could not imagine why this children would burst into tears when they came to my room. I thought that it was just because of starting school and being with a different teacher. But this went on for a few weeks and it really bothered me. I talked to them and asked them if they were afraid of me. They assured me that they were not and that they liked me "a wot!" (translation for those of you who do not speak Kindergarten..."a lot!"). What I did discover while talking to them was that at home the rule is that they are never allowed to touch the computer. Children at this age can have a very difficult time separating the rules they have at home from the rules they have at school. The reason they were so upset was because in their mind I was asking them to break the rules their parents had given them. Wow what an eye opener! Now every year I start out by talking to them about the difference between the rules they have at home and the rules for the computer lab. I assure them that when they use the computer at school that they will not be in trouble because that is what they are supposed to do. I do remind them that if the rule at home is no touching the computer that they still need to follow that rule at home. I have less crying in my room now because they have a better understanding of how everything works and what is expected of them.
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| Get it? Links? Engh, it was funny even if you wont admit it...LOL! |
So now for the best part...the links! I do have some really nice places you can take Kindergarten students to not only work on computer skills, but to work on reading and math skills. When Kindergarten students go to websites and practice their reading and math they are also learning to manipulate the mouse and how to navigate around the web and a computer. That is honestly the best thing that you can teach them in that first year of school. Teaching them how to use the equipment and to recognize the terminology is the best foundation you can give them!
One site that I use a lot is Starfall. This site has a wonderful set of activities for Kindergarten. They work on their ABC's on this site and also using their mouse to click on specific items on the page. Visually it is very nice for young learners. They have chunky objects to click on and they are very clear on what they are to do because they use animation and sparkles around the object they need to click on. Students wear headphones in my lab when working on this site as it pronounces the letters and gives them a great deal of practice with each sound in the alphabet. My students really enjoy going here and because it is easy to navigate it gives them that confidence builder they need. They even have a section at the bottom that does sign language! There is also a curriculum posted on the site that gives you the full picture of how and why this site was developed. They are also coming out with a new part that covers math, but at this time it looks as if it is going to be a paid service. I know that I have suggested that our district do the yearly subscription because I tried out the new things and I think it would be very beneficial to our Kindergarten students.
Another site that I like is Bembo's Zoo. This is a very simple site that allows students to select a letter of the alphabet and then watch an animal's name (starting with that letter) morph into the animal itself. Simple, but very beautiful and effective. It has the animal name spelled out on the screen and it then takes those letters and puts them together to make the shape of the animal. It does not say the name of the animal however. This is a site that you might want to do in the classroom as a fun activity and show them a real picture of the animal and see if they know the animal and then show them how they move the letters to form that same animal with animation. This is not a site I would just take them to for them to work on independently.
Kindergarten students also need to work on number recognition and counting. I found a site that has a game on it that covers those needs plus working on mouse skills. Funschool has a game called "Fishin' Mission" that has students catching fish with their mouse pointer and dragging the fish into a fishing net. Students are learning the "click, hold, drag, and drop" skill with their mouse as they need to do this to move their fish. As the game advances, the fish change and they must pay attention to not only the number of fish they are supposed to catch, but the type of fish they are to catch as well. This activity is also timed, but not so fast that it will cause them to fail easily or become discouraged.
If you look at my blog you will see that I have tabs at the top that have grade levels. Those tabs are set up for my students and teachers so that they can easily have a collection of educational games and activities to do in the lab based on the skill and grade level. I am always adding new links to this list. If you are interested in more Kindergarten activities please go look at what I have on my site. You will have to test them out and see how well you think YOUR students will be able to accomplish these activities. Some of them are also activities that we do more towards the end of the year when they have a good solid base under them of their Kindergarten skill requirements.
If you have any awesome and amazing sites that you use with your Kindergarten class please share them with me! I am always on the lookout for great tools to share with the teachers and I know they appreciate any help we can give them.
Note: I just wanted to state that all of the pictures I use on this blog I go to www.google.com and use search terms that apply to what I am talking about. The pictures I post about the websites are never for my benefit and I get nothing from it. I use those pictures to give you an idea of how the site looks and works.
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