article 3

http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/mmyers/whytech.htm

This was a short, but sweet article. It listed many great reasons why children should be experiencing different types of technology in the preschool classroom. Three and four year olds like hands on activities and technology gives them that opportunity. They are able to use many of their senses when working with technology, whether it's a computer, digital camera, or other devices. Using a computer helps them develop good hand and eye coordination and small muscle because they have to figure out how to move that little arrow with their mouse and watch where it is going. They also have a choice as to what they can do and preschool should be all about choices. When children use technology they are learning math, science, reading, language, and so much more.

Article 2

http://www.naeyc.org/resources/eyly/1996/09a.htm

This was a great place to find tips to use when selecting and evaluating software for your early childhool classroom. The article stresseds the importance of finding software that is developmentally and age appropriate, and not just used as an electronic worksheet. When the software is used apporpriately, it can improve a child's thinking ability and develop good relations with peers. It is very important that the software doesn't replace program routines.
The tip that I found to be the best was the one that stated that technology should not teach children to use violence to solve their problems. I am surprised how many little children play video games that use violence. I have children coming to school everyday and acting out what they see on their video games and computer games.

article 1

http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/using_technology.htm

I think that this article really hit the idea of technology in the Early Childhood classroom right on the head. Technology is important to introduce to children, but at the right time. It can be very overwhelming for people our age, now imagine what it might be like for a young child. Dr. Perry said that it is important to remember to pay close attention to when you introduce an experience and how it is mixed with other experiences.
Experiencing technology through a computer is much better than experiencing it through TV. When a child watches TV, they just sit there. There is no interaction, but when they work on the computer, they are in control. They can manipulate the game they are playing, make choices, and do it over and over again.
The other important thing that he said is that an experience with technology should be used to expand a social interaction, not replace one. I think that is important because some parents use a computer or TV as a babysitter. They just plop their child in front of it and that's it. Technology needs to be used responsibly and needs to enhance their lives, not control it.

Ughhhhhh!!!

I have been trying to work on the Excel gradebook and have been having some serious trouble. I have never liked Excel to begin with, and this just strengthens my dislike. I can't get the avgs to come out correctly when doing the avgs for the assignments and the tests. It just keeps giving me the totals instead of the avgs. I have been working on it for the last 1/2 hour and still can't get it. I saw how to do it in the podcasts, and did exactly what it said to do, but it's not working!!!!

About Me

I guess this should have been the first post on the blog, but oh well!

I work for UWO Head Start as a preschool teacher. This year I only have 1 classroom of 17 children instead of 2 classes of 17 each. I work at a center in Neenah and am very excited to be there. This is the 4th year I've worked for Head Start.

I have been married for 2 years to Aaron...we just celebrated our 2 year anniversary on September 10th. We have a son, who is going to be turning 9 months old pretty soon. His name is Gavin and he is growing so fast.

We also have 1 dog, a black lab, named Kodiak, and a cat named Avery.

newsletter

Wow, I am so excited that this was one of our assignments. I write a weekly newsletter for my parents, but never used textboxes. I always like to make the newsletter look more like a newspaper with articles, columns, etc. I always had such a hard time getting it to format correctly. If I wanted to change font sizes or add a picture, it would mess everything up and I'd have to start over. I am going to use the textboxes all the time now because it made it so easy!!

Technology

This is all very new to me. I do use technology for a variety of things, but only stuff that I know how to do. I have responded to friends blogs before, but this is the first time I've had to do one for myself. I think it will be very fun and exciting to learn how to do something new.
I am looking forward to this class as I am hoping to learn a lot. I try to stay away from doing anything I don't have to do on the computer. I am ready to learn!!!