Desktop Computers in the Kindergarten Classroom

It doesn’t take long for my tech-savvy kindergartners to get used to using our classroom Smartboard. Once I feel we have a pretty solid understanding of the Smartboard in our room, it’s time for the next technology adventure.  I like to start by introducing the idea of internet safety to my students. We utilize Net Smartz Kids to talk about being safe and smart on the computer. Net Smartz uses kid-friendly characters, like Clicky the Robot, to discuss the general rules young students should follow while online. The Webville Outlaws ,Potty-Mouth Pete, Wanta-Know Wally, Look-At-Dis Louie, and Meet-Me Mack, use catchy songs and games to remind students what to look out for when using the computer.

Clicky:

The Webville Outlaws:

 

Once I feel confident that my students know the rules of internet safety, we learn to log-in. Each child has a unique student ID to gain access to classroom computers. Logging in is an accomplishment in itself. Luckily, students are so excited to use the computer, they don’t even realize I’m making them practice letters and numbers to log-in to their account.

Log-in Screen:

Now that we have finally made it to the desktop screen, students have a couple of choices.

They may click on the yellow star to visit Starfall or they may click on the monkey to visit ABCya. Each website is visited several times on the Smartboard as a class to get the students used to navigating appropriately. We visit all of the curriculum supporting games and resources available, and work through them together, allowing different students to come up to the board and take a turn. They may not remember everything we do as a class, but by the time students are using these websites independently, they at least know where to locate games and what type of  activities are available to them.

Starfall:

 

 

ABCya:

 



Each time my students interact with the desktop computers, they are working on fine motor skills (using their fingers to type, navigating and using the mouse, etc), practicing letter and number recognition while logging in and navigating through games, and working on whatever skill is being addressed in the game or activity they are using that day (typically letter sounds, blending sounds together to read short consonant-vowel-consonant words, and basic math skills like number identification, ordering numbers, making an extending patterns, identifying and classifying shapes, and simple addition and subtraction). One added bonus is that my kids are being forced to read and decode words without even realizing they are practicing this skill. My students never hesitate to attempt reading a word if the words available stand between them and a game on the computer.

Overall, the time my students spend on the computer is pretty minimal. Each kindergarten and first grade teacher in my district received six tablets early in the school year. These tablets have greatly minimized the need for desktop computers that take up a large portion of our already small classroom. The tablets are small, wireless, and mobile, which is invaluable with my always-on-the-go kindergartners. I do look forward to second semester when my students will start to utilize Microsoft Word with their writing. Although the tablets are great for convenience, I don’t think I will be giving up my desktop computers until the district makes me!