Incorporating Technology into Learning

By Elizabeth

Technology is an increasing part of our everyday lives. This comes through to me greatly at my school. I never quite new just how much technology can be incorporated into learning until I started my new job this school year. I consider myself to be very tech savvy and up to date on all the latest techy stuff but I have been introduced to a new world of technology this year. I am amazed at how you can incorporate technology into learning and I thought I would share some of that with you all.

There are several different programs out there that I have learned about this year. The first one is super fun and my favorite, it is called WORDLE. http://www.wordle.net I think it is just the neatest thing. You type in a bunch of words related to a topic or subject and then hit create and it arranges them for you in an organized jumbled up sort of way. For example, here is one I did for my school website:

There are a few tricks to Wordle I will share with you! To make Ms Wilson large I typed it several times and also to link Ms and Wilson I put this ~ in between the word Ms and Wilson. A fun way to do a report on France would be to make a WORDLE of all the places in France or landmarks you find in France. There is no end to the ways you can use this fun program.

Another fun program to use is a Wiki! Wiki is the Hawaiian word for fast and some say it stands for "What I Know Is." You probably are familiar with Wikipedia. It is a widely known and used place for finding out information. To start a wiki, one would post a question or topic and others would add their answers or knowledge on the subject. It is a great way for teachers to get feedback and for students to post information they research. A great link is 50 ways to use Wiki's in the classroom. Wikispaces.com is a great place to start creating wiki's.

A couple of other ways to incorporate technology into learning are to use SKYPE and iPods. First, SKYPE is an awesome way to talk to people in other cities, states or countries and its free. You can skype with another class in China and learn all about their culture or school day. You could also skype with family members around the globe and go on an instant field trip to where they are. Everyone has iPods now and why not use them for learning also. You can download books and listen to them or make a podcast of a presentation and let everyone listen to it on their ipods. The possibilities are endless.

Of course we all know the power of a blog! Blogging has become one of the fastest ways to get thoughts and ideas on the internet. Blogs can also be used for learning. Teachers can use a blog to get students more engaged in learning. They can have students write reports on their blogs because typing it and it showing up on the internet is way more fun than typing it on paper and turning it in. Blogs can also be used to engage students that are bored or need that extra push.

I hope this helps you as a parent or teacher engage your children in learning in a new and tech savvy way. The next time your child has a report or presentation to do help them use one of these programs to transform their project into an exciting presentation.

Educational Building Blocks

By Elizabeth

Building Blocks are the foundations that your child needs to have in place so that they may succeed in school. These usually need to be in place by second grade in order for your child to progress at the appropriate rate and level. The following list should help you understand what your child needs to work on from pre-school on. You can start at an earlier age but remember that your they will only grasp a concept when it is developmentally appropriate!

• Correct Pencil Holding! This helps your child be able to write easier and better. The following picture can help you show your child how to hold a pencil correctly.
  
  
  The website Draw Your World is an excellent resource for helping you find the best way to help your little one hold their pencil the right way!

• Proper Letter Formation! This may seem like an easy task to teach but it isn't. You cannot make your child write properly but you can help them grasp the right way to write their letters. Don't forget bad habits are hard to break. A great way to start children out or help them is to let them trace letters or connect the dots to form the letters. Good handwriting leads to good spelling and good reading. Here is a link that I find very informative on this subject and just how important it is: Letter Formation.

• Sight Words! DOLCH Sight Words are very important for your child to recognize instantly. These words are the foundations for reading. Your child should be able to read them immediately when shown them. Ed Helper is an excellent site that will help you with several different ways to help your child learn these words. It also gives the lists according to age/grade level of when they should know them.
  
  
• Technology Skills! In todays techno savvy world it doesn't hurt to introduce your children to technology at an early age. This is such an instrumental part of our everyday lives that they need to grow up using it. There are all types of technology for all ages that can help make your kids tech savvy. Letting them play on the internet is one thing but helping them learn how to log on to the computer, start programs and such will be such a help to their teachers. Lots of schools now are basing their lesson around technology and are using Skype in the classrooms as well as Wikki's, Blogging and YouTube. Here is a great article on how one school system is implementing technology.
  
  
• Reading! I cannot say this enough- Read to your kids every day or have them read to you! It is so very important and helps them more than you can imagine. Just 20 minutes a day can help improve your child's vocabulary, spelling and knowledge. It will also instill in them a love for reading. School systems usually use the Accelerated Reader Program that allows students to read a book and then take a test on that book which will earn them points. The higher the level the higher the points and the higher the reward. Renaissance Learning's site allows you to type in the title and or author of the book and tells you the level of the books and the point value. Some schools will provide a link for your children to be able to take these tests at home but most are done in the classroom or library!
  
  
  Instilling a love and want for learning in your child can be a daunting task but will benefit your child greatly throughout their school years. Remember to make sure they realize just how important it is for them to learn as much as they can. This will bring about confidence and success in school and will make our jobs as Parent's much easier. ( This article lists ways to encourage your child to be successful in school.)
  
  I hope these tips are beneficial to you. Please leave a comment if there are any topics or issues you would like me to write about!
  
  

Tips to help with homework!

By Elizabeth

With our busy and demanding schedules we don't always have the time we should to devote to homework. If you are like me you say a little prayer on busy days that your child will have little to no homework when they get out of school. Luckily, my son is just in first grade and we only have a little amount of homework. Even that little amount can be burdensome when trying to deal with dinner, extra curriculars such as sports or dance, house up keep and family time. For those of you out there like me and are a little late on getting your college degree we have our own homework to throw in the mix. With all that said doing little things to maximize our homework time can really help. Kid Source and several other parenting sites recommend 10 ways to do so.

1. Keep in touch with your child's teacher so that you know ahead of time the amount of homework to be completed. This way you can rearrange things if needed or get the supplies needed to complete assignments ahead of time.
2. Set a homework schedule. We all use planners, our outlook calendars and such to schedule our days, this also needs to include homework time. A beginning and end should be set that way the child doesn't feel like they will be doing their homework all night. Also give children time to unwind from their day at school and unwind before going to bed. Remember to schedule weekend homework for Fridays when the subjects are fresh in their minds and nothing is forgotten.
3. This one is the biggest one in my mind! Have your children look over their assignments and divide them into two categories: 1. what they can do themselves and 2. what they need your help with. You should only help them with the parts of their homework they cannot do alone, such as practicing spelling words or doing flash cards. Not only does this teach them responsibility but also doesn't waste your valuable time.
4. Try to have your children hold off on watching tv or playing on the computer until after their homework is completed. They truly need to unwind their brain after a long day at school.
5. Pick a desk or table or quiet place and designate this as the "homework" spot! This area should be quiet and well lit with supplies needed to complete assignments. This area should be used every time for homework so that feel comfortable working.
6. Remember to use direct and positive praise when checking over homework not only for getting it correct but for completing it. ex. You've correctly answered 15 out 18 Math problems, that is the best you have done this week! Great Job.
7. Be available to your child when they are doing their homework for any questions or help they might need. Stay somewhere close by, maybe not in the same room so as not to be a distraction.
8. Look over your child's homework but do not correct it unless you have spoken with the teacher and they say it is ok. Errors help the teacher see where their weaknesses are.
9. Allow a break during homework time if it exceeds an hour so that they can get something to drink or eat or a change of scenery. They can't sit for very long periods of time after they have been sitting all day at school. Insist on them only taking 5-10 minutes so they can get back to it and finish their assignments.
10. Let your child know homework is important and valuable. Be positive when reinforcing homework times and don't just tell them to do it because they have to, explain to them why we do homework.

Using these tips should maximize your homework time and it should become part of your routine and hopefully not be burdensome to you or the child anymore.

Elizabeth is a native Birminghamian and a single Mom to 2 boys and has a blog all about them, http://luvingmy2munchkinz.blogspot.com. She is also pursuing her degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education with a Minor in Health Education. Elizabeth teaches Keyboarding and is a Technology Team Leader for the Trussville City School System.

Help Your Child Succeed In School

By Elizabeth

Want your child to succeed and have a great school year? There are things you as a parent can do to help your student! The number one most important thing parents can do is ALWAYS have a positive attitude about school. Your attitude about school effects your child's. Please don't think of school as a burdent on you. Education is the single most important asset we can give our children that will be with them for a lifetime!

Secondly, talk to your children each day about their day at school. Even if this is only a brief 5 minute conversation, let them know you are interested in their time at school. Ask them ?'s about what they learned and try to engage them to learn some more about the topics or subjects they learned.

Lastly, read to your children for at least 20 minutes each day. If they are too old to be read to, have them read a book or the newspaper to themselves or a sibling. Reading will help them to learn vocabulary, sentence structure/punctuation and about new people, places and things. Reading everyday will also help improve their comprehension and test scores.

Don't forget that learning is a lifelong process and commitment for both parent's and children.

Have a great school year!

Elizabeth is a native Birminghamian and a single Mom to 2 boys and has a blog all about them, http://luvingmy2munchkinz.blogspot.com. She is also pursuing her degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education with a Minor in Health Education. Elizabeth teaches Keyboarding and is a Technology Team Leader for the Trussville City School System.