Databases

I teach a preschool class and I have been trying to think, how in the world can I create a database using nursery rhymes? I know this class is all about technology and doing things on the computer but to be able to show my children, we will make a paper database. Children at my age need to see what is happening and in large print. I am a big fan of making bar graphs in the classroom with my kids so I think I could set up a big paper that resembles a database to show on what days, how many children liked the nursery rhyme of the day. At the end of the week we can compare which day had the best nursery rhyme. The biggest disadvantage of this to me is that I have to use terms in my classroom for my children to understand. When I say " Ok guys we are going to create a database" I do not see anything about them that will make them excited. They may remember that we made a database and to know that is what it is called but will they truly understand the importance of it. Still to me it's just a fancier name and set up of a spreadsheet. I can still make the database colorful and exciting for them to look at though. Creativity and innovation is definitely one that can tie into this lesson plan with databases because  the way I can dress the wall database up can cause the children to be more intrigued. They will be communicating with me which ones they like most to me as well as their friends and explaining what they don't like about it. Giving me reasons why they do not like the particular nursery rhyme is causing them to have some decision making.

Word Processing

Word processing can be very fun for kindergarten kids. In kindergarten children will be learning cite words as they are beginning to read. A fun game that they could play on the word proccessor is matching rhyming words with pictures in the clip art.Advantages are that they can play with the keyboard and typing letters. They can play with the colors to change the font as well. This is a disadvantage for the kids are not computer savy and the ones who are struggling to read. That's why it is great that they have pictures.

Pinky Dinky Doo!

Pinky Dinky Doo has definitely brought the fun back into the ordinary reading. Our country has many children of young age who are struggling with literacy. The world that we know now is very technical that once these children get to class and have to open up a book, they don’t know what to think or how to feel. I don’t see this as an excuse to not teach them the correct fundamentals but we have to remember what type of world we live in and how to move with it. Pinky Dinky Doo puts the excitement and imagination back in to writing and reading through story telling that has animated pictures and sounds. This program can enhance my children’s cognitive and social abilities by using complete team work. The children can sit at the computer while trying to figure out what phrase should come next that makes the most sense. They will have to work together and come up with the next phrase together. This also helps their cognitive development because they have to think about what makes the most sense in the earlier part of the sentence. A developmentally appropriate use for using technology is to expand the children’s thought process. To make their words come alive before their eyes. An advantage of this website is to see their visions laid out on screen from an animated concept. The disadvantage from this website is if I do this in a group the children may not be able to compromise on one idea. I will definitely need to consider the time of the day to have them play this game on the computer. This helps with classroom management because I am sure that children will all want to join in and have a turn. We could also play this game off of the computer by writing them down on note cards with pictures attached to do as a board activity too.

Come Alive! Nursery Rhymes!

When doing my unit plan on Nursery Rhymes, I have chosen the software, Come Alive Nursery Rhymes!
This software is fun filled game to teach children the legendary nursery rhymes.  The songs included are, "Baa Baa Black Sheep", "Jack and Jill", "Twinkle Twinkle", "Hey Diddle Diddle", "Sing a Song of Sixpence", "Mary Mary", "Humpty Dumpty", and "Hickory Dickory Dock". The children will play interactive games that allow them to make rhyming words and place them together as well. It also gives the children an opportunity to sing all of the songs. This game also comes with a book that has 48 pages so that the teacher may get activities from to bring this game to life off of the computer. Rhyming cards(a set of eight) are also included in the case. These colorful cards are doubled sided as well with a word on the front and one that rhymes on the back. there can be many games played with this during free time or circle time. The publishers have also attached an audio CD that can be played in the classroom through out the day to enforce the songs that you want them to learn. One of the best assets to this game is that they give you wooden people pieces that you can put in your block area or make a table toy set out of as well. This way children can sit at the table and play while they sing their newly learned songs.

Mobile Technology

In your blog post this week, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating mobile computing devices in the classroom and how you might use this technology to enhance your students' learning if you were provided with a classroom set.

I think having mobile computing devices in the classroom is a great idea. But we all know that when their is a great positive in something, it always has a down fall.
I think that all ages are engaged in technology and it is easy for them grasp the concepts. I have no doubt in my mind that anyone by the age 3 and up can use any type of technological device.
I think they will benefit children and teachers by providing a more exciting source or learning, better interactions, help the teachers with a better filing system, be more beneficial to students with site problems and others who have trouble with mobility.
However, I still believe in "old school teaching" all of the things that we have now to me are also a distraction in education. Yes the children will learn new concepts but things come so easily to them now that something so simple as tying a shoe or holding a pencil correctly is almost taboo. These systems can also renig on us if they are dropped multiple times, if something falls on it, if something is spilled on it, or if it is misplaced. Hard earned/raised money will go straight down the drain and years worth of filing and a months worth of work will go straight down the drain if these systems fail us. I think most parents and some teachers find technology as their outlet time away from dealing with certain behaviors and use the term "times are changing" to make excuses for just doing the right thing. I am not against change in the technology world because I actually think that the Ipod and Ipad usage is really neat and creative, but I think that we need to master home base learning first.

NETS

The website for NETS for Students stated that these are the areas for the standards

• Demonstrate creativity and innovation
• Communicate and collaborate
• Conduct research and use information
• Think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
• Use technology effectively and productively

I feel that I apply all of these areas to my classroom. I think the one I need to utilize more are types of digital technologies in my classroom. We have two computers but some of the games are just what they are, games. They are not really teaching my kids anything strenuous which is why I limit their play on them. The only problem with me fulfilling this is the funding. I don't have the means to be able to provide my classroom with these types of technology. I know that some schools do fundraisers but we are only allowed to do two a year. To be able to fulfill this area, I am currently looking into getting a grant and asking parents to make donations. I have always had issues with being creative but I have been thinking out the box lately by using my resources and conducting thorough researches.  I have also been communicating more with other teachers at my center as well as having a brainstorming time. I see what things they have done, how it worked, what did it help improve in the classroom and with their children, and what would they change.

Isn't it just Delicious?

Delicious is a website that you can use for bookmarking. I know I have experienced forgetting the names of many websites to help when I go the library or I'm using a friends computer. Using the Delicious website allows you to put in these websites online for the next time you are away from your main computer, you can still find the websites with easy access without having to research them all over again. The aspect that I liked most about creating a Delicious account was that I didn't have to give them a lot of information because it was already linked to my Yahoo! account. The aspect that I didn't appreciate most was that after I put in one book mark, it was quite hard for me to find the link to add more. It took me quite sometime to find it because th elink was so small and I felt that if this was a site to add bookmarks that the link to add more would have been easier to find. This site would be a great use for when working in a group because I wouldn't have to jot down links for my group members, I could simply just have them go on to my Delicious page and click the links. Then they could easily save them to their account as well.