Frustrations:
This week over on the Elementary Tech Teachers Ning there is a discussion about Frustrations in the Computer Lab. I didn’t start it but I definitely empathize with it. It’s very hard when you get asked the same questions over and over and over again and no one seems to be listening. That discussion thread got me to thinking how best I can try to head this tendency off at the pass:
- I am going to start classes out with a presentation on what we are doing for the day away from their computers. I do find that once they are sitting at their own computer they are too easily distracted and don’t listen to instructions. I have been doing this with the younger grades but not the older ones. I am going to start it with the older ones too and see if that helps things.
- I will remind classes daily that they should read their screen and ask their neighbors before asking me.
- I will also remind them that if they do want to ask me a question that they must remain seated and just raise their hand and I will get to them. It seems that a lot of teachers use a red cup to indicate trouble and I may try something like this. If they have to keep their hand raised they can’t continue trying to work so they become more impatient. If they could put a cup up and then try to continue that might cut down on them calling out my name or getting out of their seats. I have not used this up to now for fear the red cups would become a distraction themselves.
- I will stop talking and start over if they begin talking over me. Some of the classes are just chatty and I don’t mind if they talk while they are working but they need to listen while I’m talking.
- I often remind the older grades that if this were a new video game they would just be trying it and I want them to use that same approach in computer class.
I have also had some frustrations this week due to problems with our Internet connection. More and more of what we do in class depends on the Internet so when it’s not available that can be a real problem. For the next few weeks, I am going to have alternate plans available for each day so that if there are issues I don’t have to try to figure out what to do at the last minute. Our provider did come out and look at what was happening this week but they said there was nothing they could do – of course at the time they were there it was up. Isn’t that always the way it happens?
Triumphs:
I’ve been using some of the ideas that one of the teachers that I have met online has posted on her Kid Pix Projects pages and the kids have really enjoyed them – thanks Ann. Kindergarten was introduced to the pencil tool in Kid Pix and asked to draw a picture only using that tool. A few of them really wanted to use other things available in Kid Pix but did do the assignment. 1st Grade reviewed the pencil tool, Uh-oh Man and eraser and then created Self-Portraits only using the pencil tool. I did let them use the flood fill bucket at the end to color in the background but they had to have finished their portrait with only the pencil tool first.
2nd Grade started an ABC Chart of Initial Letter sounds using stamps that start with the initial letter sound. 3rd Grade also started an ABC Chart of Initial Letter sounds but they are using stickers instead of stamps. 3rd Grade really liked learning how to move things around and about flattening stickers and how to use the scissor tool to delete things. They have a hard time with the eraser and often end up erasing more than they want to so they think the scissor tool is wonderful.
The teachers are starting to ask me if I could integrate with certain things more. I’m happy with that. All of Middle School has to turn in a crossword puzzle as part of their Book Report next month so I’m working with the Middle School students on how to create crossword puzzles in Excel and I’m giving them some web sites they could use too. I’ve also started putting spelling lists into Spelling City and a few grades have played some of the games there with their spelling lists.
Plans:
I just found out that Voices of the World is starting up again this year. I had just signed up to have 2nd Grade do the Online Autumn Project (Kindergarten was already signed up to do this one) so they won’t be doing Voices of the World but I will have 4th Grade do it. 4th is a small class this year so I can teach them how to record their own voices for this. I’m hoping that our Internet connection doesn’t give us problems again because I really would like to finish the book reviews on Voice Thread this coming week.
And how is your school year going so far? Share your frustrations, triumphs and plans!
As I read the post Frustrations I found myself nodding my head in agreement. I know people have responded and I haven’t been back to read those yet but I’m willing to bet many of us feel the same way.
I have the kids sit on the floor for directions. They are just like adults if they are at the computers, busy playing instead of listening. I also tell them to look at what their neighbor is doing and ask a neighbor for help before asking me. I think for many classes this is a new concept. They think looking at someone else’s work or asking what to do is like cheating. I admit to them that I know I give lots of directions and it’s ok if they need to have them repeated. Instead of cups I glued red and green foam sheets together and cut them into small squares. They sit on or next to the computers. When a student has a question for me they are to turn it to red. This is something new and we’re still working on it. I thought the cups would be noisy and distracting. A few kids have pulled the foam pieces apart but they will be easy to fix and I made extras. When I go to a student this year the first thing I ask is; “Did you ask a neighbor?” If not I have them do that while I’m standing there. Then my next question is; “What do you think you should do?” I’ve only seen my students twice so far so I haven’t seen any progress yet. But I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
A frustration I have is that some training will be going on in a lab on the day I’m at that school so I have to teach in the classroom. That throws off my plans for all those classes and just makes it hard for my old brain to keep track of where I am with each class.
A triumph is that my first graders will be participating in the Online Autumn project and the 2nd grades with the Scary Spuds. Our whole school is participating in a Chinese cultural program. So, lots of good things will be happening.
I like the idea of the foam squares. Maybe I’ll use that instead of the cups. I just really fear the cups. I know my classes and know they would become an issue I had to correct too.
Good luck teaching in the classroom. Since we only have 1 or 2 computers in each classroom and no Internet access there that would be a real problem for me.