There are a number of students who simply don't enjoy reading and writing. They may be overwhelmed by books or even by a piece of paper and a pencil. But when reading and writing can be accessed through the use of technology, students will more than likely gain a new perspective on it. Reading through the use of technology (books on tape/online) and writing (using various software) has potential for being a lot more fun for students and in some cases, they may not even be aware that they are using their literacy skills. Therefore, straying away from the standard book and lined paper can help motivate children to want to read and write more and improve their reading and writing skills.
Technology allows students to participate in activities that are interesting, meaningful and culturally relevant. It opens up countless doors of opportunity for the differentiation of material, which is important for keeping students interested and challenged, along with offering immediate assessment and feedback. Immediate gratification is at this point almost a complete necessity for students to receive and build on as that is what the culture shift has deemed important. Technology has the ability to store information, respond immediately to the user’s actions, and provide a sense of novelty which aids in increased interest, a necessity of progression in literacy. It offers the student control of the learning process and bountiful resources that literally put the world at their fingertips.
Technology in schools is becoming more and more popular. Before we know it, students will probably all have their own laptops and smartboards will be in every classroom. I think technology motivates students in a variety of different ways. For struggling readers and writers, it takes some of the pressure off of having to flip countless number of pages in a book, or write numerous paragraphs by hands. Technology allows students to use their literacy skills in fun and engaging ways. For some students, having the opportunity to type stories on computers, read books on tape, or reinforce their math skills online allows them to soar to new levels while completing literacy tasks. One unique and popular technology device is the latest SKYPE connection. My students in my class had the chance to connect to students and teachers in Russia over our SKYPE connection on our smartboard. I have never seen twenty completely engaged and motivated students before! Their eyes did not come off the screen the entire connection. The questions, conversations and research that was conducted via SKYPE and during their internet searches were incredible. I think technology provides new opportunities for students, and places them in the driver seat of discovering many new things at the touch of a few buttons or clicks! It’s nice to hear students begging you to sign up for the computer lab or library to continue working with pieces of technology. Technology is shaping many aspects of our personal lives and it’s nice to be able to connect it with literacy and learning.
Implementing technology allows students to use 21st century skills within the classroom. They become confident in using methods that they see professionals and adults use in today's society. This in itself allows students to be more motivated. They realize that the work they are doing in the classroom is associated to the activities they are doing outside of the classroom. Technology involves hands-on and/or interactive activities that can turn traditional reading and writing methods into an energetic and functional activity. When students feel that what they are doing has a purpose they are much more motivated to complete the task. Sarah discussed how technology allows students to engage in culturally relevant activities. I completely agree and think that this plays a very strong role in how students view their education. Our culture and way of life is shifting towards the necessity of technology so in order to motivate our students we must also make that shift in education. With regard to literacy instruction, technology allows resources that are not normally available to be accessed in a second’s time. Students with reading and writing disabilities can be better accommodated and therefore more successful. Their success will further their motivation to read and write.
Technology can motivate students in numerous ways. As we discussed in class, classroom blogs are a great way to motivate students and incorporate literacy into the classroom. With class blogs students levels of motivation and excitement rise because students are able to work on computers, read and write their own messages, and share their responses with others. This also allows students to apply visualization strategies by being able to read other examples from their classmates. I believe having the audience of their peers is the most beneficial aspect of using blogs to have students work on their literacy skills. It is exciting to have your peers read the work that you take pride in. This way students will also be able to challenge each other's thinking and interact with each other. Other ways technology can motivate students is the use of websites. There are a lot of great websites that allow students to work on their literacy skills through fun games and activities. Using these sites properly will motivate students to read and write, while having fun.
Most of us are fortunate to have had access to computers since we were very young. I remember playing Oregon Trail on the old Apple computers using floppy disks and writing essays without copy and paste features. That was only about 15 years or so ago, and I cannot imagine what the next fifteen years will bring. In any case, the technology was motivating then and certainly is still (if not more) motivating today. Kids are much more willing to write if it involves a computer. I have a student now who has made huge gains once she began using co-writer software on the computer to help with organization and proofreading. Her confidence in reading and writing has soared from this technology.
I love that Kathleen used Skype in her classroom! I currently have a friend in China, one in Germany, and one in Denmark all teaching English. Email, Skype, blogging, and internet research could make for a ton of wonderful (and engaging) learning and literacy opportunities not only for all the children, but for me as well.
Unfortunately, not a lot of teachers take advantage of the technology available for their students. There are so many things out there now that it seems almost impossible not to find some type of technology that would work with your class. Many students would highly benefit from being able to use more technology in everyday lessons. The use of a smart board for example is one thing that I've found to be very motivating for my students to use in math class. A few times we have taken them up to the library to use the smart board when finding the area of shapes, and it has proved to be extremely useful. By allowing students to show their work on this form of technology, many of them seem to be more willing to participate and answer questions if they know they get to use the board. Also, the use of new software on the computers is always a good way to go. We often use geometers sketchpad with our students, which allows them to quickly plot points and create shapes on the computer, rather than graphing them out by hand. It always seems easier to get students to complete work when you introduce it with some form of technology.
In regards to literacy, technology can be used to make almost any assignment for interesting for students. Tessa mentioned using books on tape, and I would agree with bringing this technology into any classroom. For those students who struggle with reading, and it becomes a task to even get them to pick up a book, having them listen to books on tape would be a great way to ease them into this activity. By first listening, then listening and following along with the book, you could gradually transition them to reading independently. The use of Skype in the classroom is something that I hadn't really thought of before. I have used it myself to talk to people overseas, but until reading Kathleen’s post I didn't really think about the possibilities it could have in the classroom. This would be a great piece of technology to use with students to help them learn about different cultures, even just different school districts! I would definitely like to bring this into my own classroom at some point.
Technology is becoming much more prevalent in classrooms so teachers need to stay current to help their students. It is amazing how many districts have access to technology and it is important for teachers to ask so that they can have access in their own classrooms. Teachers are given the opportunity to utilize technology within their classrooms to help motivate all students, particularly those who are struggling readers and writers. In my own classroom, a great motivator is the computer center where student are able to learn how to read based on visiting the www.starfall.com website. As we discussed in class, there are many more engaging child-friendly websites that students can navigate through. Another motivating center is the listening center as students are able to visit and listen to a story twice during the week. This helps students as they are able to follow along with the story and it builds fluency as they are getting multiple exposures to the same book. Smart boards are very interactive and exciting for students as they are able to come up to the board and use their finger to click for various things. You could also have a poem displayed on the smart board and then have students come up and underline the rhyming words or words that follow a particular skill, etc. I just hope I can have access to a Smart Board someday but if not, Imagination stations work nicely too as teachers can pull things off the computer and display it on the TV.
Technology can be used in a variety of ways to motivate students. As many others have mentioned, books on tape is an easy way to get students engaged in what they are reading. At my school we also have books on a device that is similiar to an ipod, which the students absolutely love! I think anytime a teacher includes technology into their ELA instruction, children instantly become excited. Something as simple as having students publish their final writing piece on the computer, will motivate students. Last year the use of technology allowed my class to have a virtual field trip to Ellis Island while we were studying immigration. We were able to talk directly to a park ranger from Ellis Island who showed us a variety of artifacts. Students were engaged and motivated throughout the entire lesson. They were excited to be able to ask questions to the park ranger as well.
Using technology in schools is a great way to motivate children in all content areas and in literacy. I know children are becoming more computer literate at such a young age. I was babysitting a few years ago for a four year old and he was able to go on the computer by himself, click on a Disney site him mom let him use, and play educational games. When I tried to get him to the site, he told me he could do it by himself and he was right. By using computers, I feel children feel in their comfort zone and see it as being fun if given the right software programs and websites to go on. Like Jackie said, teachers can use the computers to keep a classroom blog with the students. In class, we discussed how classroom blogs are motivational for students and they get a chance to learn from their peers. They are also working on their literacy skills, but having fun doing this. Some software programs I would use with my students include: PowerPoint, Kidspiration, and several different ones for the content areas and literacy. Another form of technology I have seen beneficial is listening to books on tapes. Children love listening to stories and following along. When students are able to listen to how books are suppose to be read through books on tapes and even read-alouds, they will be able to use what they hear and try it when they read on their own. I plan on using technology to teach my students as much as I can in my classroom.
There are a number of ways that technology can motivate students especially regarding literacy. First of all, students who are in need of additional practice with reading comprehension can work independently on websites such a Compass or Starfall. I noticed with my own second grade students that they are more likely to read for details when they are on one of these sites, so they can get the comprehension questions correct, to obtain the highest score. In addition technology can be used to motivate students who are creating a written report might use the Internet for research, word-processing software to write and format the text, and hypermedia software to add images. I think when students use the Internet for research they seem to get more involved in the research process verse using traditional research methods. Also when students use word-processing to write and edit their work, it makes the writing process more easier for them. Even though, students must have aquired the basic keyboarding skills in order to use word-processing.
I feel that technology plays a huge role in what we teach children today. There are a lot of students out there that know more information about how to use a computer than me. I think that there are so many things that you can use to help motivate students, especially in literacy. Some things that I have seen are books that students can read online. This is great for students because some may find that it is easier to read directly from the computer instead of from a book. There are also a ton of games that deal with vocabulary building, reading comprehension skills and much more that teachers can use as a center. I think that books on tape are another great thing for students to be using and be exposed to. It's great to have them listen and hear what a good reader sounds like to help them work on fluency. I think that technology gives a lot of support to teachers and we should be trying to use different technologies in our classroom.
Although technology has been around for a while it hasn’t been until fairly recently that teachers have been incorporating technology into the classroom on a more regular basis. I do not think it matters what kind of technology is used students will have a positive response to it. One program that I have seen children respond well to is Course Compass. Students love it because they each have their own individual log in name and password. This program covers all content areas and allows teachers to modify lessons for each child. Students have responded well because material is at their level and they are not bored or frustrated while working. Students also have enjoyed when teachers incorporate the smart board into class lessons or even centers. Math is one of the best subjects to incorporate the smart board into. There are many games and applications that are fun for students to do. Virtual field trips are an engaging way to incorporate technology into the curriculum. They are also helpful to districts who cannot afford to send students on actual field trips. Teachers can create field trips themselves using Microsoft power point or by creating their own webpage directing students to multiple web pages.
Technology motivates and benefits students in so many different ways. When we take a look at struggling readers, especially as they get older, many students get embarrassed if they don't know how to read or write. Allowing those students to practice independently with computer software, websites, books on tape, even good old hooked on phonics, will do wonders for their self-esteem. Of course not limiting students to those options, but starting off there.
Then we have students that do not like to do homework. Primarily, homework is for teachers to determine whether their students understand the concepts they are teaching. If we have computer programs that track student progress, it will help us as teachers determine who understands and who may need extra help in certain areas.
Technology can benefit/motivate just about any student. There are many good examples mentioned in previous postings that explain ways that students can become engaged whether it be through virtual field trips, skyping, etc. Although there can be downfalls to technology (things not working when we are trying to teach a lesson and what not), it can be a benefical source. Using technology is much better than reading out of textbooks and filling out worksheets. I always hated that and can imagine I am not the only one!
Motivating students with regard to literacy is definitely a challenging job for teachers in the 21st century. When I taught 2nd grade in Virginia, I had a SmartBoard (as mentioned by others in their blogs) mounted in my classroom. I found it to be a fun way for students to physically interact and stay focused on what they were reading, writing, and learning. I’m a visual learner and most of my students were as well. After reading books, I would create graphic organizers on the SmartBoard and the class would work together to compare and contrast characters, retell details in the story, etc. I believe the SmartBoard is not only motivational for students but for teachers as well. Teachers can find premade SmartBoard activities and educational games online and adapt those activities/games to meet the needs of their students. For many students, writing can be a difficult and sometimes disheartening task. Giving students the opportunity to create an E-book (using PowerPoint) of their own writing (e.g. type up their writing and include illustrations) and share it with their classmates encourages them to take their time as they write, check for mistakes, and instills in them a sense of accomplishment and success (necessary in order for learning to take place) when they are able to share their work with others. Many schools have laptops teachers are able to utilize during computer lab/class time. Teachers can guide their students in researching topics of their choice and deciding which information is most important. When the teacher enjoys using a variety of technology to practice reading and writing, students will sense the teacher’s excitement and emulate it.
Technology is a real motivator for students and can be used to even assist in practicing literacy skills. Reading can get boring and frustrating to students, especially those that struggle. Using technology in the classroom is a great way to spice things up and eliminate the repetitiveness. It allows a struggling reader to listen to a book while following along and a more skilled reader the opportunity to learn how a fluent reader sounds. Writing can also be a struggle to get students to complete but often times if students are given the option to type their work or write it out, they will choose to type it. Not only is it more enjoyable to some students but it seems to make them more productive as well. I also tend to use the computer as a reward. Kids will do just about anything you ask if you tell them they can go on the computer when them have completed the task. They even don't usually mind if you limit the games to the educational ones either!
There are a number of students who simply don't enjoy reading and writing. They may be overwhelmed by books or even by a piece of paper and a pencil. But when reading and writing can be accessed through the use of technology, students will more than likely gain a new perspective on it. Reading through the use of technology (books on tape/online) and writing (using various software) has potential for being a lot more fun for students and in some cases, they may not even be aware that they are using their literacy skills. Therefore, straying away from the standard book and lined paper can help motivate children to want to read and write more and improve their reading and writing skills.
ReplyDeleteTechnology allows students to participate in activities that are interesting, meaningful and culturally relevant. It opens up countless doors of opportunity for the differentiation of material, which is important for keeping students interested and challenged, along with offering immediate assessment and feedback. Immediate gratification is at this point almost a complete necessity for students to receive and build on as that is what the culture shift has deemed important. Technology has the ability to store information, respond immediately to the user’s actions, and provide a sense of novelty which aids in increased interest, a necessity of progression in literacy. It offers the student control of the learning process and bountiful resources that literally put the world at their fingertips.
ReplyDeleteTechnology in schools is becoming more and more popular. Before we know it, students will probably all have their own laptops and smartboards will be in every classroom. I think technology motivates students in a variety of different ways. For struggling readers and writers, it takes some of the pressure off of having to flip countless number of pages in a book, or write numerous paragraphs by hands. Technology allows students to use their literacy skills in fun and engaging ways. For some students, having the opportunity to type stories on computers, read books on tape, or reinforce their math skills online allows them to soar to new levels while completing literacy tasks. One unique and popular technology device is the latest SKYPE connection. My students in my class had the chance to connect to students and teachers in Russia over our SKYPE connection on our smartboard. I have never seen twenty completely engaged and motivated students before! Their eyes did not come off the screen the entire connection. The questions, conversations and research that was conducted via SKYPE and during their internet searches were incredible. I think technology provides new opportunities for students, and places them in the driver seat of discovering many new things at the touch of a few buttons or clicks! It’s nice to hear students begging you to sign up for the computer lab or library to continue working with pieces of technology. Technology is shaping many aspects of our personal lives and it’s nice to be able to connect it with literacy and learning.
ReplyDeleteImplementing technology allows students to use 21st century skills within the classroom. They become confident in using methods that they see professionals and adults use in today's society. This in itself allows students to be more motivated. They realize that the work they are doing in the classroom is associated to the activities they are doing outside of the classroom. Technology involves hands-on and/or interactive activities that can turn traditional reading and writing methods into an energetic and functional activity. When students feel that what they are doing has a purpose they are much more motivated to complete the task. Sarah discussed how technology allows students to engage in culturally relevant activities. I completely agree and think that this plays a very strong role in how students view their education. Our culture and way of life is shifting towards the necessity of technology so in order to motivate our students we must also make that shift in education. With regard to literacy instruction, technology allows resources that are not normally available to be accessed in a second’s time. Students with reading and writing disabilities can be better accommodated and therefore more successful. Their success will further their motivation to read and write.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can motivate students in numerous ways. As we discussed in class, classroom blogs are a great way to motivate students and incorporate literacy into the classroom. With class blogs students levels of motivation and excitement rise because students are able to work on computers, read and write their own messages, and share their responses with others. This also allows students to apply visualization strategies by being able to read other examples from their classmates. I believe having the audience of their peers is the most beneficial aspect of using blogs to have students work on their literacy skills. It is exciting to have your peers read the work that you take pride in. This way students will also be able to challenge each other's thinking and interact with each other. Other ways technology can motivate students is the use of websites. There are a lot of great websites that allow students to work on their literacy skills through fun games and activities. Using these sites properly will motivate students to read and write, while having fun.
ReplyDeleteMost of us are fortunate to have had access to computers since we were very young. I remember playing Oregon Trail on the old Apple computers using floppy disks and writing essays without copy and paste features. That was only about 15 years or so ago, and I cannot imagine what the next fifteen years will bring. In any case, the technology was motivating then and certainly is still (if not more) motivating today. Kids are much more willing to write if it involves a computer. I have a student now who has made huge gains once she began using co-writer software on the computer to help with organization and proofreading. Her confidence in reading and writing has soared from this technology.
ReplyDeleteI love that Kathleen used Skype in her classroom! I currently have a friend in China, one in Germany, and one in Denmark all teaching English. Email, Skype, blogging, and internet research could make for a ton of wonderful (and engaging) learning and literacy opportunities not only for all the children, but for me as well.
Unfortunately, not a lot of teachers take advantage of the technology available for their students. There are so many things out there now that it seems almost impossible not to find some type of technology that would work with your class. Many students would highly benefit from being able to use more technology in everyday lessons. The use of a smart board for example is one thing that I've found to be very motivating for my students to use in math class. A few times we have taken them up to the library to use the smart board when finding the area of shapes, and it has proved to be extremely useful. By allowing students to show their work on this form of technology, many of them seem to be more willing to participate and answer questions if they know they get to use the board. Also, the use of new software on the computers is always a good way to go. We often use geometers sketchpad with our students, which allows them to quickly plot points and create shapes on the computer, rather than graphing them out by hand. It always seems easier to get students to complete work when you introduce it with some form of technology.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to literacy, technology can be used to make almost any assignment for interesting for students. Tessa mentioned using books on tape, and I would agree with bringing this technology into any classroom. For those students who struggle with reading, and it becomes a task to even get them to pick up a book, having them listen to books on tape would be a great way to ease them into this activity. By first listening, then listening and following along with the book, you could gradually transition them to reading independently. The use of Skype in the classroom is something that I hadn't really thought of before. I have used it myself to talk to people overseas, but until reading Kathleen’s post I didn't really think about the possibilities it could have in the classroom. This would be a great piece of technology to use with students to help them learn about different cultures, even just different school districts! I would definitely like to bring this into my own classroom at some point.
Technology is becoming much more prevalent in classrooms so teachers need to stay current to help their students. It is amazing how many districts have access to technology and it is important for teachers to ask so that they can have access in their own classrooms. Teachers are given the opportunity to utilize technology within their classrooms to help motivate all students, particularly those who are struggling readers and writers. In my own classroom, a great motivator is the computer center where student are able to learn how to read based on visiting the www.starfall.com website. As we discussed in class, there are many more engaging child-friendly websites that students can navigate through. Another motivating center is the listening center as students are able to visit and listen to a story twice during the week. This helps students as they are able to follow along with the story and it builds fluency as they are getting multiple exposures to the same book. Smart boards are very interactive and exciting for students as they are able to come up to the board and use their finger to click for various things. You could also have a poem displayed on the smart board and then have students come up and underline the rhyming words or words that follow a particular skill, etc. I just hope I can have access to a Smart Board someday but if not, Imagination stations work nicely too as teachers can pull things off the computer and display it on the TV.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can be used in a variety of ways to motivate students. As many others have mentioned, books on tape is an easy way to get students engaged in what they are reading. At my school we also have books on a device that is similiar to an ipod, which the students absolutely love! I think anytime a teacher includes technology into their ELA instruction, children instantly become excited. Something as simple as having students publish their final writing piece on the computer, will motivate students.
ReplyDeleteLast year the use of technology allowed my class to have a virtual field trip to Ellis Island while we were studying immigration. We were able to talk directly to a park ranger from Ellis Island who showed us a variety of artifacts. Students were engaged and motivated throughout the entire lesson. They were excited to be able to ask questions to the park ranger as well.
Using technology in schools is a great way to motivate children in all content areas and in literacy. I know children are becoming more computer literate at such a young age. I was babysitting a few years ago for a four year old and he was able to go on the computer by himself, click on a Disney site him mom let him use, and play educational games. When I tried to get him to the site, he told me he could do it by himself and he was right. By using computers, I feel children feel in their comfort zone and see it as being fun if given the right software programs and websites to go on. Like Jackie said, teachers can use the computers to keep a classroom blog with the students. In class, we discussed how classroom blogs are motivational for students and they get a chance to learn from their peers. They are also working on their literacy skills, but having fun doing this. Some software programs I would use with my students include: PowerPoint, Kidspiration, and several different ones for the content areas and literacy. Another form of technology I have seen beneficial is listening to books on tapes. Children love listening to stories and following along. When students are able to listen to how books are suppose to be read through books on tapes and even read-alouds, they will be able to use what they hear and try it when they read on their own. I plan on using technology to teach my students as much as I can in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of ways that technology can motivate students especially regarding literacy. First of all, students who are in need of additional practice with reading comprehension can work independently on websites such a Compass or Starfall. I noticed with my own second grade students that they are more likely to read for details when they are on one of these sites, so they can get the comprehension questions correct, to obtain the highest score. In addition technology can be used to motivate students who are creating a written report might use the Internet for research, word-processing software to write and format the text, and hypermedia software to add images. I think when students use the Internet for research they seem to get more involved in the research process verse using traditional research methods. Also when students use word-processing to write and edit their work, it makes the writing process more easier for them. Even though, students must have aquired the basic keyboarding skills in order to use word-processing.
ReplyDeleteI feel that technology plays a huge role in what we teach children today. There are a lot of students out there that know more information about how to use a computer than me. I think that there are so many things that you can use to help motivate students, especially in literacy. Some things that I have seen are books that students can read online. This is great for students because some may find that it is easier to read directly from the computer instead of from a book. There are also a ton of games that deal with vocabulary building, reading comprehension skills and much more that teachers can use as a center. I think that books on tape are another great thing for students to be using and be exposed to. It's great to have them listen and hear what a good reader sounds like to help them work on fluency. I think that technology gives a lot of support to teachers and we should be trying to use different technologies in our classroom.
ReplyDeleteAlthough technology has been around for a while it hasn’t been until fairly recently that teachers have been incorporating technology into the classroom on a more regular basis. I do not think it matters what kind of technology is used students will have a positive response to it. One program that I have seen children respond well to is Course Compass. Students love it because they each have their own individual log in name and password. This program covers all content areas and allows teachers to modify lessons for each child. Students have responded well because material is at their level and they are not bored or frustrated while working.
ReplyDeleteStudents also have enjoyed when teachers incorporate the smart board into class lessons or even centers. Math is one of the best subjects to incorporate the smart board into. There are many games and applications that are fun for students to do.
Virtual field trips are an engaging way to incorporate technology into the curriculum. They are also helpful to districts who cannot afford to send students on actual field trips. Teachers can create field trips themselves using Microsoft power point or by creating their own webpage directing students to multiple web pages.
Technology motivates and benefits students in so many different ways. When we take a look at struggling readers, especially as they get older, many students get embarrassed if they don't know how to read or write. Allowing those students to practice independently with computer software, websites, books on tape, even good old hooked on phonics, will do wonders for their self-esteem. Of course not limiting students to those options, but starting off there.
ReplyDeleteThen we have students that do not like to do homework. Primarily, homework is for teachers to determine whether their students understand the concepts they are teaching. If we have computer programs that track student progress, it will help us as teachers determine who understands and who may need extra help in certain areas.
Technology can benefit/motivate just about any student. There are many good examples mentioned in previous postings that explain ways that students can become engaged whether it be through virtual field trips, skyping, etc. Although there can be downfalls to technology (things not working when we are trying to teach a lesson and what not), it can be a benefical source. Using technology is much better than reading out of textbooks and filling out worksheets. I always hated that and can imagine I am not the only one!
Motivating students with regard to literacy is definitely a challenging job for teachers in the 21st century. When I taught 2nd grade in Virginia, I had a SmartBoard (as mentioned by others in their blogs) mounted in my classroom. I found it to be a fun way for students to physically interact and stay focused on what they were reading, writing, and learning. I’m a visual learner and most of my students were as well. After reading books, I would create graphic organizers on the SmartBoard and the class would work together to compare and contrast characters, retell details in the story, etc. I believe the SmartBoard is not only motivational for students but for teachers as well. Teachers can find premade SmartBoard activities and educational games online and adapt those activities/games to meet the needs of their students. For many students, writing can be a difficult and sometimes disheartening task. Giving students the opportunity to create an E-book (using PowerPoint) of their own writing (e.g. type up their writing and include illustrations) and share it with their classmates encourages them to take their time as they write, check for mistakes, and instills in them a sense of accomplishment and success (necessary in order for learning to take place) when they are able to share their work with others. Many schools have laptops teachers are able to utilize during computer lab/class time. Teachers can guide their students in researching topics of their choice and deciding which information is most important. When the teacher enjoys using a variety of technology to practice reading and writing, students will sense the teacher’s excitement and emulate it.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is a real motivator for students and can be used to even assist in practicing literacy skills. Reading can get boring and frustrating to students, especially those that struggle. Using technology in the classroom is a great way to spice things up and eliminate the repetitiveness. It allows a struggling reader to listen to a book while following along and a more skilled reader the opportunity to learn how a fluent reader sounds. Writing can also be a struggle to get students to complete but often times if students are given the option to type their work or write it out, they will choose to type it. Not only is it more enjoyable to some students but it seems to make them more productive as well.
ReplyDeleteI also tend to use the computer as a reward. Kids will do just about anything you ask if you tell them they can go on the computer when them have completed the task. They even don't usually mind if you limit the games to the educational ones either!