Laptop Center

I rearranged my room over the workday to set up a permanent laptop center for my students. It was a pain to pull them out and put them back each day and I figured if they are a part of our room, they will be more visible and more protected if they are stationary. We use the center each day for a literacy station and then again in the afternoons for a STEM station. The students are able to sit there and complete a task without interrupting my guided reading groups and they are actively engaged. I did post on the wall some Laptop Procedures as well as the daily task. I love having the laptop center and it adds so much to making my classroom a 21st century class!

Fall Fun

I love the fall in kindergarten! My students are doing so well adapting to school and catching on to procedures. This week we did our leaf hunt with the digital cameras, its one of my favorite things to do with my kids. I love having the laptops in my class since I have 24 kids, I didnt have enough desktops to use for centers with my larger center groups. Also I have been using them for STEM for students to look at science clips or go to websites that have science games. I love the new common core because there is no down time but my challenge is getting ahead!

School Starts!

Another year another new batch of little ones! Our rosters have been changing nonstop and its finally slowed a little and I have 24 kindergartners in my class! I love every one of them, I just wish I had more space for them and another me to go around! I started them on using the desktops this week during guided reading centers and STEM and they are doing pretty well with it! They cant log in yet since they are not in the system but they can complete tasks at websites I put them on. I look forward to getting out the Ipads soon and the laptops and really get them into it. I love having STEM time at the end of the day because its a PERFECT time to play with our technology. I am really enjoying the new math and reading programs and there is never a dull moment!

21 Century Teacher

A 21st century teacher does have to be connected. PLC's are in place because of the importance of being connected and networking to improve planning and instruction. We are no longer lonely isolated classrooms, and we shouldn't be! Our students do not belong to us alone, they need to have connections with other teachers and other content and experiences. This is why it is so important to work with your grade level to be on the same page with content. Once those students leave our classes, they are all mixed up in the next grade and it is important for them to have similar experiences. A 21st century teacher also does have to know technology well because we have to keep up with our new generation of students. We have to be able to relate to them if we want to engage and connect with them. Reflection is important because we need to constantly improve and stay sharp on new ways to teach old material so we ourselves are engaged like our students. It is best practice. Being a young teacher, I consider myself a 21st century learner and I think that is why as an educator I have a passion for technology and want to use it in my class since I grew up being comfortable with it.