Preschool in the Digital Age

This has been a fun learning experience. When I started this class I did not know what to expect. I did learn about the latest technology that is available to educators. The challenge for me was that most things that I learned about was geared towards the older grades. This got me to think of ways that I could still incorporate technology at the beginning level. I wanted ways that supported the developmental readiness of preschoolers without taking away from the knowledge of the digital world in which they live in. I never thought that I would create my own website!

To view my webpage go to http://preschoolinthedigitalage.weebly.com/-resources.html

Western Hills FFVP blog

http://westernhillsffvp.blogspot.com

As I was chatting with my principal, Mrs. Schmid, about my Integrating Technology class she asked me if I knew how to start a blog. Of course at the time I didn’t have a clue but I knew by the end of the eight weeks I certainly would have a better understanding. Our school received a grant to continue our Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program next year and Mrs. Schmid thought starting a blog about this program would be a great way to involve our staff and students using technology.

Each week, during the school year, our students are able to sample fresh produce. The kids go crazy just waiting for their fresh treats and it is great way to introduce our children to fruits and vegetables that will hopefully prod them into choosing healthier options later in life.

The purpose behind creating the blog was for students to research and develop their writing skills to communicate with their school audience and families about what they learned about each new fruit or vegetable. They may want to learn more about where the produce is grown, how it is grown, how is it shipped to various places, the nutritional value, scientific name, what it is similar or related to, what it tastes and looks like, and did they like it.

One small glitch in the process of creating this blog was the ability to access it from school. As of now, Omaha Public Schools does not allow access to blogs and forums. This is something I will be working on in conjunction with Mrs. Schmid but in the meantime we will use the blog I created and let the students, staff, and family access it outside of school. Another option may be to use the social forum on DotNetNuke through OPS. This forum can only be accessed through OPS so unfortunately parents and community members are not able to see and read what the kids have researched and written and is limited in its creativity.

Technology is constantly changing and transforming so I imagine and hope that within a short time our district will begin to allow various sites for students and staff to communicate and collaborate in direct relation to curriculum standards.

The blog I created is through blogspot.com. Students and their families will be able to comment on posts and teachers will be invited to be authors on the blog in order to post student facts and photos.

Teachers will first need to sign up for a gmail account and send it to the administrator. http://mail.google.com/mail/help/open.html

Invite authors to a blog

Sign in to www.blogger.com and type in the

username and password

Go to the “Settings” page of the blog

Click link for “Permissions”

Click “Add Authors” and type in email addresses of each author then click “Invite”

Blogger sends the invitation to each author listed and once they respond to the email they are ready to go.

New authors can write and edit their own blogs but are not able to edit or delete posts written by any other authors.

Here is the blog I created for our Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program. New postings will begin in August or September of 2011.

http://westernhillsffvp.blogspot.com

Unit Plan-Integrating Technology

A NEW CURRICULUM-A NEW PLAN!

This year my science curriculum will be changing. For my final I decided to create a unit plan for a unit I have never had the opportunity to teach. The 7th grade curriculum now includes Energy Flow through Ecosystems, i.e. Food chains/webs. I created a plan that integrates some of the technology that we have been using and learning about in this class.

WHAT AN ADVENTURE!
It was a great deal of fun to put together this plan. It was also extremely time consuming. I was thankful that I had the opportunity to come up with this plan. I can see that integrating technology into my teaching will take time and for most units will be done in baby steps.

Here is the link to my unit plan.

FACES in the Music Staff

I am on a mission to find technology that I can incorporate within my music classroom. It needs to be easily accessible, appropriate and specifically incorporate music fundamentals that I share with students throughout the school year regarding to the music staff.


Students need to be able to identify the letters names within the lines and spaces of music staff. Students who are able to quickly identify the musical alphabet can then read music, compose their own music, which moves them closer to singing and or playing a wide range of instruments. Within my classroom my students are able to manipulate pitched percussion instruments such as the

• resonator bells

• xylophones

• and piano

I understand the value of being aware of the different learners
within the classroom, therefore I would like to incorporate technology that gives attention
to visual, auditor, and tactile/ kinesthetic learners.

Through the help of a very wonderful musician and friend, Mrs. Geraldine Tyrance, I have been introduced to an awesome tool that will captivate, engage and help my various students learn the bass clef as well as the treble clef. Mrs. Tyrance has completely come upon a wonderful unique way to understand and read the Grand staff. This is for anyone who is desiring to learn how to read music accurately and quickly. It's not magic and it is definitely not a quick fix. "According to Mrs. Tyrance, the psychologists and the linguists, have done extensive research to support "chucking" information together in bite-size pieces so it can be easily understood." This concept is used in Mrs. Tyrance's "FACES" web apps technology.

Okay so I was absolutely excited to know I have a new technology music app to present to my students as well as to my music teacher colleagues.

The NECESSARY TOOLS needed to begin integrating this awesome "FACES"app include the

iPad, , iTouch, iPhone

After having a one-on-one discussion with Mrs. Geraldine Tyrance regarding her awesome innovative music break through, I discovered that I can only access "FACES" through the above mentioned tools. So being slightly aware of some of the hardware available and lack of funds within the elementary level, I wanted to know if I could get by with using my iTouch while allowing students to watch how the apps are manipulated through the ELMO. Students would need to take turns.

http://www.facesinthemusicfamily.com/
(The cost for this app is $4.99 and it is well worth every penny and more.)

The word document gives a brief look at what you will find when opening the app. Is doesn't come close the the real thing, so please do not hesitate to purchase the under priced innovative grand music staff app.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/59392937/Final-506

The following is an attachment of a Power Point for the kinesthect learners to experience after viewing the innovative app.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/59395789