lauraadavis.blog-city.com

First Entry ... What am I doing?

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posted Wednesday, 9 April 2008

Hello all. My name's Laura, I'm a kindergarten co-teacher at a private school in Los Angeles. Next year, I'll be teaching the second grade during my first year in the lead teaching capacity. I'm nervous about the transition from Kindergarten to Second, from co to lead-teacher, and adding the idea of technology to the mix is ... an interesting challenge. :)

 I use technology in my own life in very limited ways - mostly those that I learned through my own high school and college experiences. I used to blog using livejournal, I use digital cameras with limited proficiency, I frequent facebook.com and some myspace, I email, mapquest, and gchat sometimes. Aside from that, computers lie in the realm of the great unknown, although I have a Mac G5 that now serves as a very pricey paperweight, since I no longer edit video.

 My school does not frequently utilize technology with students, aside from word processing and some internet searches. I know we own a handful of digital cameras, but we rarely see them in the hands of students. I hope to see that change as we become more comfortable with the computers and as I find a way to appropriately integrate them into my curriculum in a meaningful context.

 I look forward to hearing from the rest of the "neighborhood," and will check back soon!


comments (4)


1. Terry Smith left...
Thursday, 10 April 2008 2:21 am

So you already have a second grade position lined up for next - congratulations! Have you had opportunities to observe and/or work with the "older" 2nd grade kids? You mentionws the digital cameras - do the teachers use them with the kids, as part of activities? Can be a great lesson just showing the kids what's happening with the camera and how the result is used later, whether on a web site or printed and cut out and pasted onto a project. Next year maybe you want to bring your kids into a multi-school Monster Project? Lots of fun, teamwork, adjectives, and sharing with schools from many different locations. Terry


2. katemrob left...
Sunday, 13 April 2008 4:40 am

Hey Laura- I like the look of your blog :) Have you ever thought about using any of your video editing skills in the classroom? Maybe the 2nd graders will be easier to use technology with.


3. jackrich25 left...
Thursday, 12 June 2008 1:55 am

Laura,

I agree that I am still looking for ways to integrate the time of technology in the curriculum. The use of computers is minimal in comparison to Terry's class. Students at my school primary use the computer labs to work on specific projects. In the class the teacher uses the computer, or very very minimal use of the computer by students. I think it is because of the time. When I began in the fifth grade classrooms; the students were studying for State Testing. There was no computer time.


4. jackrich25 left...
Thursday, 12 June 2008 1:56 am

Laura,

I agree that I am still looking for ways to integrate the time of technology in the curriculum. The use of computers is minimal in comparison to Terry's class. Students at my school primary use the computer labs to work on specific projects. In the class the teacher uses the computer, or very very minimal use of the computer by students. I think it is because of the time. When I began in the fifth grade classrooms; the students were studying for State Testing. There was no computer time.