Context

During my student teaching, at Pressly Elementary School in First grade, I was required to complete NETS standard III. I met these standards by taking my students to the computer lab each Friday and facilitating computer use each day in the classroom. My students rotate in workstations each day. One of my stations each week is a computer station. When students finish their work they are always encouraged to use our three classroom computers. Students also use our computers to look up the weather each morning when they come into school. My students used programs such as Kidspiration, Orchard, and Rigby PM books. To facilitate higher order thinking skills for my gifted students I used my Photo Essay (in the science folder).

Impact

I will use these programs in my future teaching to help facilitate all student learning. I will use Kidspiration to address needs of all diverse students. Students can complete activities using bubble maps in Social Studies, Science, and Reading. I will also use PM Rigby books on the computer if available. When students have access to books and their activities on the computer that reinforce what they have read, they are receiving exposure to books. I will also use Orchard because I feel this is a great way to get reinforce math skills rather than having students work math problems on paper. The games in this program facilitate all student learning because there are so many to choose from that all students find at least a couple of games they want to play.

Alignment

I have met Standard IIIa by taking students to the computer lab, making computer time available in the classroom, using Kidspiration, Orchard, and PM Rigby book programs.

I have met Standard IIIb by using the Kidspiration program. After studying families in social studies, students made a bubble map of their family. Then we went to the computer lab and created bubble maps with this program. Students use Orchard programs and Rigby book programs. They are given the choice whether they want to complete reading or math activities using these programs.

I have met Standard IIIc by using my photo essay to spark students' higher level thinking skills. They read each question and wrote down their answers after I explained that all answers are correct for these type questions.

I have met Standard IIId by exposing students to computer based activities each day and taking students to the computer lab each Friday.