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.