Technology in the Kindergarten Classroom

Can technology be used in the Kindergarten Classroom? The answer is yes! Our world in education is ever changing. We have to provide 21^st century skills to our students to help them succeed in life and in the classroom. One goal of my PDP (Professional Development Plan) this year was to integrate technology into my classroom. I chose to use technology programs and software that can be used to better enhance my student’s learning.

So far this year my students have used:

Microsoft Word- My students use Microsoft Word for typing stories. Microsoft Word has helped my student’s over all writing skills. Students learn how to space, capitalize letters, use punctuation, and learn typing skills.

Kid Pix- My students use Kid Pix for publishing their writing. They use this computer program to create pictures and integrate their writing into their art work.

Google- Students use Google to answer questions about non-fiction text. Naturally students have many questions before and after reading a non- fiction text. My students use the Google search engine to find the answer to their questions. My students then put their questions and answers onto our classroom question wall.

IPod for literacy games- My students use iPod for literacy games during center time. Right now my students are using the Sorting Sound App that lets student's identify and sort the beginning sound of a word. 

Digital Cameras and IPods- My students use digital cameras for taking pictures to create books. Students use the cameras to take pictures for math scavenger hunts and to make classroom books.

Later on in the year I plan my students to use Animoto in small groups to make a video about animals.

Technology can motivate and engage students in ways that traditional education cannot. Technology is not just to add frill to the curriculum but to create a well-rounded student that is prepared for a technology driven world!  

Whole Brain Teaching in the Kindergarten Classroom?

This is my fourth year teaching Kindergarten and I have been very blessed to have a great class every year. My classes are always so well behaved, patient, and not to mention SMART!  This year as been a struggle for me and I consider this class to be my most challenging group yet! Early in the year, I noticed my normal teaching methods were not working for this group… I had to do something different!

I started doing research on the Internet and stumbled upon a YouTube video of a Kindergarten teacher using the Whole Brain method of teaching (one of the fastest growing education reform movements in the United States) in her classroom.  The students in the video were so engaged, talking, and taking an active role in their learning! It’s just how I wanted my classroom to look. I then visited the Whole Brain Teaching website where I learned more about Whole Brain Teaching and how to get started using this method of teaching in my classroom.

Whole Brain Teaching is a researched based program developed by Chris Biffle, Jay Danderfin, and Chris Rekstad in 1999 that uses all areas of the brain to keep students engaged in the lesson that is being taught. WBT is highly structured, interactive, and well organized. With chants and hand gestures students are actively engaged and students retain the information being taught.

The whole brain teaching method is focused around seven components that they call ‘The Big Seven”.
1. The Attention Getter- 'Class- Yes!"
2. The Organizer- Class Rules
3. The Activator- "Teach/ Okay"
4. The Motivator- The Scoreboard
5. The Unifier- Mirror
6. The Focuser- Hands and Eyes 
7. The Involver- Switch

After conducting the research( by reading articles, videos, and research papers) , I decided I would try the new teaching method in my own classroom. On the first day, I saw a change in my students. Whole Brain Teaching allowed my students to talk, move, share ideas, and teach their friends. My students responded very well to all seven components. The gestures help them remember information from my lessons.

Using the whole brain teaching method in my classroom is extremely effective. It reminds me of the quote from Benjamin Franklin- “ Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn”. I will start off every year using Whole Brain Teaching in the classroom! 

Online Learning- Just As Good As Face to Face?

Is online learning just as effective as face-to-face? This issue has been up for debate in education in recent years.
The short answer is yes. An article in the New York Times points out that an online course can be just as effective as a traditional classroom setting if set up the right way.

 There are advantages and disadvantages to both online and face-to-face learning. There are some courses that the online method of teaching would benefit the student more (i.e., technology course) than a traditional face-to-face class. In my experience, there is a time and a place for online courses.

Pros of Online Learning:	Pros of Face-to-Face learning:
*Online learning provides people the opportunity who do not have the ability to go back to school in a traditional college setting. *Money is saved by not having to travel to campus. *Students are able to attended universities no regardless of location (distance learning). *Students are able to complete assignments on their own time.	*Face to face learning provides students with hands on interaction. *Students can receive immediate feedback from their professors. *Students are able to use group collaboration. *Teachers are able to differentiate instruction by catering to student’s different learning styles.

In my High Point University Cohort, I have experienced both face-to-face courses and online courses.   I have learned just as much (if not more) from the online courses as I have from the traditional face-to-face courses. I enjoy the face-to-face classes because I can interact with my classmates more. However, I enjoy taking online courses because I learn information like how to use online tools (Blogger, Twitter, Jing, and Wordle) to enhance my instruction in the classroom.

 In some cases, the best option would be to blend face to face with online learning. Embedding technology in face-to-face classes allows students to be activity engaged while implying their knowledge by using real world tools.

All About Me!

I captured a Wordle using Jing! 

Welcome!

I am creating this blog for my EDU 5010 class! I look forward to blogging with my fellow classmates on education issues!