Technology for ELL students

Chapter 10 discusses using technology in English Language Learning (ELL). I think this is important because we are having more and more students that speak primarily Spanish, but have English as their second language (ESL). As educators we are required to make sure that we are teaching the Alabama Course of Study standards. With ESL students this can prove to be difficult at times. We have an ELL teacher at my school to help the ESL students’ transition into the English language better. I have had a few ESL students over my years of teaching, but each of them had no problem with the English language. LeapFrog is listed in Chapter 10 as one of the strategies for integrating technology in the classroom for ESL students. I have 2 LeapFrogs in my classroom that my students love. I feel this would be good for ESL students to work with because they are able to hear how the words are pronounced correctly and learn how to read at the same time. I know that my students love to go to the computer center. Chapter 10 lists the top ten strategies for technology in ELL instruction, and it lists websites that offer exercises for students to practice subskills. ELL students are becoming more common in schools today and it is important that they receive the same education and opportunities as the other students.

Litercy and Technology

Chapter 9 discusses the use of technology in English and Language Arts instruction. As a first grade teacher, my student’s are still learning how to use the keyboard and computer. We do literacy centers during our ninety minute reading block. One of the centers that are offered is the computer center. My students are always excited about going to the computer center because it is their favorite. I mainly use two websites that are focused on literacy and phonics at my computer center. The two that I feel are the most successful are starfall.com and pbs.org. Each of these websites offer games and stories that engage the student and make them not feel like they are necessarily learning, but having fun. Another reason that the computer center is very popular is that it enables students who are not as fluent to have a chance to listen to accurate readers. As I have stated in my earlier blogs, students are very knowledgeable about technology these days. I recently got a third computer for my classroom so that more students can have a turn at the computer to learn and expand their knowledge of technology. I know that not every family as access to a computer at home, but between the classroom and computer lab at school the students have opportunity to learn.

Integrating the Internet into the Classroom

I was very excited to read Chapter 8 on Integrating the Internet into the Curriculum. I feel that is important to integrate as much technology into the classroom as possible. I thought the page that listed the Top Ten Strategies for Integrating the Internet into the Curriculum was very helpful. One of the activities and website they suggested was Writing with Writers on the scholastic website. It lets the students work with authors, editors and illustrators to develop their skills. It even allows them to publish their work online! I think this would be such a neat project to work on with your class. Another activity that they mentioned was investigating weather in their area. We teach weather and seasons in First Grade and I feel that this would be a great activity for my class to participate in. My students love looking things up on the internet. The chapter also discusses distance learning and using the internet. If you had a program that you could get involved in and do this with your class it would be a wonderful learning experience. Students could learn so much from another class, even if it is another town in Alabama. This would be a great opportunity to share ideas and activities with each other to use in the classroom.

The Internet

I really enjoyed reading Chapter 7 on the internet and ways to use it in the classroom. The students today know so much more about the internet and the variety of ways that it can be used. I think it can be a very useful resource in the classroom. I am a huge fan of using the internet for research as I discussed in my last blog. One activity that the book discusses is using the internet in the classroom for student research. Students would have access to multiple search engines to look for the information they need. For instance, a student or group needs to look up who was the 29th American President. They would be able to pull the information up within minutes. Yes, they could still look up the information in a book, but students today are used to everything being fast paced and easy to use. I do feel in a sense this has made students lazy, but that is the way that technology has changed the world we live in. I am a firm believer in teaching students how to use the internet in the classroom and to teach them all it has to offer. But at the same time, feel that teaching them the beneficial aspects of textbooks is just as important.