KidSmart- GUIDE TO EARLY LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY

TEACHERS – PROMISING PRACTICES

What are teachers doing with computers in their classrooms?

This section contains ideas that came out of an evaluation of the KidSmart Early Learning Program. A panel of early childhood experts asked participating teachers to submit examples of interesting activities they had done with young children using computers in their classrooms. Some of t he promising practices are projects that tie technology to curriculum, others are practices that address an equity issue and others are cool ideas. All of them consider technology as a new classroom material and develops a use for it that fits good early childhood practice.

3-5 year olds

On a recent field trip, I took along a camera and took pictures throughout the day that showed what we saw and did, including getting on the bus in the morning and coming back to the center later in the day. Later in the week, the kids and I made a book of our trip on the computer.

Before the trip, we talked about what we would see. I told the kids that we would make a book of our trip. Throughout the day, I had them help me choose what pictures to take that would tell a complete story of our trip.

Digital camera, or a regular camera and scanner, or laminate pictures

Word (or any word processing program) to create the pictures and text and then print out the book..

I used a digital camera so we printed out each picture. We spread out all the pictures and talked about we did first, next, etc. In other words, I helped them order the pictures in a sequence.

In a group meeting, I asked the children to dictate a sentence or two about each picture. I typed their words into my Word program. Later I inserted the correct pictures to make each page.

I also asked each child to pick a favorite picture and to tell me what he or she liked about that part of the trip. So, for each picture I had something that the group said and then, "This is Katy’s favorite picture. She liked the penguins at the aquarium."

It was fun for the kids that we could print out a group book and we could also print out individual pages for each child to take home

We often make books of our activities. I also work a lot on helping them learn about sequence. Using the camera and computer seemed like a good way to accomplish these goals.

This was a very successful activity. The kids loved remembering the trip and telling both the group story of the trip and their individual stories of what they most enjoyed. I’ve noticed that the books we made are among the most popular choices on our bookshelves.

You could use the camera and book creation for many different projects in the room. For example, you could document the sequence of a cooking activity or even the sequence of the classroom day and use pictures to tell the story of the classroom schedule.

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This idea is a submission for:

X A curriculum idea
__Cool things to do
__A special issue

3-5 years

Playing card games using "Millie’s deck" from "Millie’s Math House"

I got this idea from the Edmark Teachers’ Guide. It is fully described on page 81 of the "Millie’s Math House" learning guide.

"Millie’s Math House," Edmark teacher guide; laminating machine

We used the cards to play a matching game of memory.

We also used the cards to play a game of Old Maid using Millie as the Old Maid.

The kids used the cards to teach each other card games which they knew from home.

I noticed that the kids love playing card games and they also enjoy the characters from the computer software. I thought that this deck would work well for games because the cards have numbers from 0-20 and each number shows different pictures, so the kids could match the cards and work on counting and comparing.

 Analysis: How the kids and/or parents responded:

The kids enjoyed seeing the characters from the computer on the cards. The cards became a part of our math station and were popular during free play.

X A curriculum idea
__Cool things to do
__A special issue

3-5 year olds

- Working with calendar concepts
- Learning to collect and organize data

I sent a simple form home to get information about dates that were important to families (for example, Easter or Ramadan)

Paper, software for calendar program (for example, KidDesk)

Worked with each child individually on the computer calendar program to enter his or her birthday and special days.

In entering the data, the kids had to recognize the number of the date.

This activity also gave the kids experience with the order of the months.

They learned to use the computer to record and organize information.

We printed out the individual calendar months and could see how many birthdays were in each month. We hung these in our meeting area.

The kids always love when it’s their birthday and they get very excited, waiting for that day. I have a daily meeting with the class in which we talk about what day it is, what month, etc. I also think it’s important for them to begin thinking about the computer as a tool for recording and organizing information. This let me put two ideas together – using the computer to organize calendar information.

 Analysis: How the kids and/or parents responded:

The kids really loved checking the class calendar – both on the wall and on the computer – to see whose birthday was coming next. This seemed to give more excitement to our daily routine about the calendar. Sometimes we had our morning meeting gathered around the computer calendar to put in additional information, like a field trip. The parents also liked that the kids were "researchers." They liked sharing information about their families, not just the children’s birthdays. I think it made a nice connection between home and school and highlighted the cultural diversity in our classroom.

To follow up, we made a graph showing how many birthdays occurred in each month.
You could also extend this concept by using the computer calendar to record information about the daily weather.

__A curriculum idea
__Cool things to do
X A special issue

Early childhood

The kids in my class all took turns using a single switch to play games on the computer.

I ordered a single switch through Edmark and installed it on the computer.

Single switch

The children had to learn how to use the single switch by watching it scroll through all of the choices and picking the one they wanted.

One of the children in my class has difficulty using the mouse and the keyboard because of a disability. I found out that Edmark had a device called a single switch, which allows a child (or adult) with limited motor ability to use the computer. The way the single switch works is that, when hooked up, the computer scrolls through all of the possible places where you might "click" to make things happen. The person using the switch hits the button when the computer lands on the option they want. That way, the person using the switch only has to be able to hit a big button, instead of move a mouse around. We ordered the single switch, and it worked well and let her use the computer like the other children. When she started using the single switch, a lot of the other kids gathered around and were interested. I thought that it would be a good idea to have all of the children use the single switch, so that they could play together.

These kids loved using a different type of switch than what they were used to, and they learned how to use it easily and quickly. It was nice that the girl in my class who needed to use the switch did not have to be the only one, and we did not have to take time switching between the mouse and the switch all the time.

Early childhood

A discussion of changing seasons in the city

In meetings, we talked about our urban environment and how we notice the change of seasons. We also have a table where we bring in objects from the outside world that show the change of seasons, for example, colored leaves for fall, green leaves for spring, an icicle in winter that quickly melted leading us to a good science discussion

Sammy’s Science House Software

During our morning meeting we always talk about the weather.
We talked as well about seasons.
We identified how we dress differently for different seasons and what we notice in our neighborhoods

Most of the software for young children does not show urban environments. The kids really like the Acorn pond program in Sammy’s Science house which encourages investigation of how plants and animals adapt to seasonal changes. I wanted them to realize that plants and animals and the children themselves make similar adaptations even though we live in a very different environment.

I was pleased with this extension to the computer activity. I have often felt frustrated that urban children’s neighborhoods are not represented in the software we have. Even though they like the software as it is, I thought it was important to extend the concepts to their own lives.

This idea is a submission for:
__A curriculum idea
__Cool things to do
X A special issue

3-5 year olds

Building relationships with parents through making the computer available

This was really simple. At the beginning and end of the school day many parents and caregivers spend a little time in the classroom. I sent a note home telling parents that the computer would be available during this time for them and their children to use together. Initially, we got so many responses I had to set up appointments for parents.

Note home, computer station

The kids had to show their parents how to use the computer
They had to explain what to do and why they were doing what they were doing

Parents have been very enthusiastic about having a computer in the classroom. So many of them have told me that they’re pleased their children have this opportunity and how important they believe it is to have computer skills. Often, they would also say that they don’t have computers at home and feel ‘left out’ of the information age. I realized we could very easily make our computers available to parents.

This was a really popular activity, a real win-win situation. The parents felt good that they could learn some basic computer skills like manipulating a mouse. The kids felt good that they could teach their parents. The center was pleased to have such active participation by parents in a classroom activity. We are always trying to encourage home-school connections and this was a natural because the parents were so motivated.

X A curriculum idea
__Cool things to do
__A special issue

3-5 year olds

I created observation checklists so that I could see how children work with the different software programs

I made up a chart showing the different software programs we have. Down the side of the chart, I typed in each child’s name. Each week I printed out a new chart to use. I hung the chart next to the computer with a marker attached to it.

Paper, marker, MS Word or other word processing software

Each time a child used the computer, he or she put a mark in the appropriate box. I also used this chart to help the children keep track of taking turns.

I wanted to have a better idea of which software programs the children were using. I noticed that some software (for example, JumpStart and Franklin) offers a report on what kids are playing on the software. I realized I could make up my own system to accomplish this. It’s important to know what they are exploring and playing with. Kids were complaining to me that some kids were "hogging" the computer and wouldn’t give others a turn. I thought I needed a system that would be fair, would help the kids take responsibility for themselves and how they were using the computer, and would also help me keep track of what they are doing.

 Analysis: How the kids and/or parents responded:

This is a very simple tool but it gave me good information over time about how the kids were using the software. It also gives the kids a good opportunity to have responsibility in recording their choices.

To follow up, we made a graph showing how many birthdays occurred in each month.

3-5 year olds

IThis is a game I designed to develop number skills and one-to-one correspondence through a board game that can accompany the Make-a-Bug software activity in Millie’s Math House.

Whenever I introduce a new material, I let the kids play with it first without any particular instructions or goals. I realized this is actually like the exploratory mode in the software. The kids liked putting together wacky bugs and we counted together the number of eyes, tails, etc. You could make a chart, too, showing how many bugs have one ear, two ears, three ears, etc.

Playing the Make-a-Bug Game

The kids have to be able to roll the die and match the number indicated with the number of body parts, and also match the picture with the body parts to place on the bug.

I took the first turn to show them how to count the pips on the die and how to use the cube to identify which body part they would add on that turn.

I expected them to be able to count to six and to take turns. Sometimes I needed to prompt them by asking questions like, "What number comes after two?" On each turn, we counted together to make sure that the number of parts matched the number on the die.

There is no real end to this game. We played until we used up all the parts or until the kids were satisfied with the bug they had created.

Some kids liked to draw the bug they had made afterwards. This way they got to keep it.

With the game, you could use two dice and have them work with numbers up to 12.

If some kids don’t yet understand number concepts, you could play this as a matching game. Then you would only use the cube with the body parts.

"Millie’s Math House," felt for board game, glue, die, cube, paper and crayons for children’s bug creations

Each time a child used the computer, he or she put a mark in the appropriate box. I also used this chart to help the children keep track of taking turns.

I noticed that some kids just love one particular activity in the software and could get stuck with that. I wanted to think of a way of helping them explore the same concepts that were in the game in a different way. Also, the software activity is confining because it puts the body parts on the bug in a certain way. In the felt board game, the kids could put the parts on any way they wanted. For example, they could put spots on the head - the computer doesn't let you do this

 Analysis: How the kids and/or parents responded:

The kids loved making wacky bugs. They also seemed to like doing it as a board game where they could look at each other’s creations and compare. To extend the game, I asked a lot of questions like, "Who has more ears?" How many people made bugs with three feet?" I think it helped them learn about counting and numbers in a fun way. They like the computer game and I also like to provide opportunities in the real world to count and actually hold the different shapes to enable the kids to get a better idea about number and quantity. I think it also helps them learn that there’s a connection between what they do on the computer and what they do in other areas of our classroom.

(Allows opportunities for assessment, mastery learning, grows with child, and turn taking)

3-5 year olds

As part of a unit on self, we talk about eye color, hair color, and height. We did this both on the computer activity My Friend in Bailey’s Book House and also in class meetings.

In Bailey’s Book House, an activity called My Friend asks children to describe and define the features of a creature: hair, eyes, nose, mouth, arms, and feet. The words are common adjectives such as straight, curly, big, pointed, etc. I also encourage the children to talk about other non-visible features of a friend such as kindness, fun to be with, has good ideas, easy to get along with, etc. This is a good way to talk about friendship and characteristics of a friend.

We then made a chart of our own features. This was a great tie-in to a unit we did on self..

What the children had to do and what I wanted them to learn:

After playing the computer game, I asked the children to identify characteristics of their own that we could graph.

I made a few charts. One showed different eye colors; one showed hair colors; one showed height.

I gave the children small post-it stickers on which I wrote each name. Each child had to put his or her post-it in the correct column.

When our charts were completed, we compared how many people have black eyes; who is the tallest, are there more black haired children or brown haired children in the room.

We always do a unit on self. I realized that the kids could make a ready connection between the My Friend game and thinking about their own features.

IIt was interesting to me to see that an activity that I do each year really took on a new life when it was connected to the something the kids were already enjoying on the computer. Making our charts also seemed to stimulate greater interest in that computer activity.

X A curriculum idea
__Cool things to do
__A special issue

4-7 year olds

Creating our own weather instruments that replicate the weather instruments in the Weather Machine activity in Sammy’s Science House

I got this idea from the Edmark Teachers’ Guide. It is fully described on p. 44, 48 and 49 of the Sammy’s Science House learning guide.

Sammy's Science House

The instructions for making the wind indicator and rain gauge were very clear and easy to follow.

We created a weather station in our classroom with the daily task of recording weather information on to our calendar.

In our morning meetings, we always talk about and record information about the weather. We can tell if it’s sunny or cloudy but we can’t really "see" if it’s windy or how much rain there is.

The Weather Machine activity in Sammy is a popular one. I like how it makes the weather concepts real for kids by combining them into a weather report that they can watch. I thought that the idea of measuring wind and rain would also appeal to the kids.

The kids really liked making the instruments for our weather station. Some kids wanted to make their own at home. I sent home the instructions that call for very simple materials. The parents reported that it was a fun activity to do together and that they used their instruments.

If you have a video camera, you can make a weather show with kids taking turns being the weather person and giving weather information.

X A curriculum idea
__Cool things to do
__A special issue

3-5 years

Using the computer to make shapes and create a dominoes game

With the kids, I used the exploratory mode in Millie’s Math House to make different combinations of shapes. We printed these out to make a set of dominoes.

Millie’s Math House software (You could also use the drawing tools in Word or KidPix; cardboard; scissors

What the children had to do and what I wanted them to learn:

I made sure all the kids spent some time in free play exploring shapes with materials we have in the classroom such as pattern blocks, unit blocks, and puzzles.

I worked with small groups of children to name and identify basic shapes

I introduced the Frank Lloyd Mouse activity in Millie’s Math House

We made various combinations of shapes, cut them out, and pasted them on to cardboard strips to make a game of dominoes.

The dominoes were available in a shoebox in our manipulatives area

I always work on shapes and I noticed how much the kids were enjoying Frank Lloyd Mouse. I thought this game would help them further explore shapes and learn to identify and name them. .

Kids always love teacher-made games. I think this one had extra appeal because they helped create it on the computer. I like giving them opportunities to extend their use of the computer into other areas of the classroom.

We used the shape sheet from the software to take a walk around the room and name the shapes we saw. For example, most of our books are rectangles, our plates for snack are circles, etc.

We took a walk around the block looking for shapes. For example, we saw windows that were the shape of rectangles and squares; tires on cars that were circles; triangular shaped and semi-circular windows on top of doors.

X A curriculum idea
__Cool things to do
__A special issue

3-5 years

Making cards for special persons, instead of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day cards

I used the blank cards in Bailey’s Book House and had the kids dictate their thoughts to me. They could use clip art or could print out the cards and draw on them.

Bailey’s Book House, crayons and markers

The kids had to choose who their card was for. They could choose a Mother’s Day card but I didn’t want them to be limited to that.

The kids looked at the cards in Bailey’s and chose a prepared one or a blank.

They dictated their thoughts and wishes to me and I typed them in.

The kids could use clip art or they could print out the card and draw on it.

So many kids in my class live with only their mothers or with grandparents and no parent in the house. When it comes to holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day they often feel left out. I wanted to have an activity that was tailored to their experience..

The kids and caregivers were really pleased with this activity. We’ve made cards before but using the software to create cards gave them a new feel for the possibilities of the computer. I want them to think of the computer not only in terms of playing games but also as a tool for communication and creation.

X A curriculum idea
__Cool things to do
__A special issue

3-5 years

A sorting game to accompany the sorting activities my kids play on the computer.

I did sorting in my classroom before I had a computer and thought doing a hands on activity in addition to the computer would extend the experience. After all of the kids had a chance to play the computer sorting game, we did a whole class lesson with beans and muffin tins

Sammy’s Science House; muffin tins; assorted objects for sorting such as a jar of buttons; a container of colored beans, or anything else that can be sorted!

The children had to sort objects according to categories they identified

The categories were not pre-determined. For example, you could sort the buttons by the number of sewing holes each had or by the color or by the size.

I wanted them to understand that objects can be categorized in different ways.

The sorting game on the computer gave me the idea to try sorting with everyday materials. I’m really not sure that the kids understand the categories in the computer game; some of which are very complicated. I wanted them to have an opportunity to work with them with everyday objects so they’d start getting an idea about classifying.

This became a good workstation in our classroom. The kids enjoyed thinking up their own categories for sorting. I periodically changed the materials on the table to stimulate more sorting games.

__A curriculum idea
X Cool things to do
__A special issue

This is for teachers

I turned a digital picture of my class into the screen saver on the computer, so the kids see themselves whenever the computer is not being used.

First, I took a digital picture of my group of kids, my whole class. Then I saved it on my computer. I made a folder on the desktop called "group photo" and put the picture in there.

I went to the Internet and found a free screen saver program at http://www.dcatsoftware.net/mswind/dss/main.htm

When I clicked on DOWNLOAD to get the little program called Dcat Screen Saver that lets me make my own screensaver. Save the Program to your hard disk. Once it is saved, open the program and follow the directions. The program will start with images from the company, but you can remove those and load the images from your "group photo" folder. There is a help button if you get stuck.

A Digital Camera, The Internet to find the software, and the Screen Saver program

This is a not real learning activity.

I saw this at a friend’s house. He’s a computer person. He explained to me about screen savers and how new computers don’t really need them anymore, but he had a picture of his family on there just for fun. So I asked him if he thought I could do it too. He explained to me about compressed files, so I wasn’t confused when the Dcat Screen Saver file said my browser couldn’t read it.

This is for the kids. They love it. They love showing it off to their parents. But it was for me too. I really liked being able to do that, to customize the computer. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do it, so I didn’t tell my kids about it until it was done. When I did it by myself (I did have to call my friend twice on the phone while I was doing it, but he only reassured me that I was doing the right thing – I had already done the steps I was asking him about), I felt really proud and much more confident about the computer. It was challenging, but it was worth it!

You could use any pictures of your classroom activities, field trips or even kids picture from home.

__A curriculum idea
__Cool things to do
X A special issue

3-5 years

This involved discussions at our class meetings about stereotypes.

We always have a morning meeting in which in addition to going over calendar concepts or today’s schedule we talk about things that are important to our class. I initiated a discussion of stereotypes.

All our software but especially the character-driven games (e.g., Mickey Mouse).

What the children had to do and what I wanted them to learn:

This is a talking rather than a doing activity.

The kids had to think about what makes a stereotype and how not to get caught up in stereotypical thinking

The main idea is not to be limited in what you think you can or can’t do because of someone else’s categories

The kids really enjoy software that has characters that they know and like. I noticed, however, that while these characters can be appealing, they can have built-in constraints that are sometimes subtle. For example, Minnie Mouse is shown liking flowers. I questioned the kids about whether boys could like flowers, too.

Although you could think of this as a negative example, it provided a good opportunity to talk about stereotypes, a topic I think is really important for kids of all ages. It’s amazing how much of the media that kids are exposed to (software, TV, even books) has assumptions about boys and girls or about race and ethnicity. I want them to go beyond those categories.