Technology plays a key role in our classroom. We use the balanced literacy model for reading and writing, and our technology allows us to meet the objectives in new and exciting ways.

 

Students do not surf the internet, but we use the internet on an almost daily basis to make the world an extension of our classroom. Sometimes the students click on a link to take them to a specific site, but more often, we take virtual trips using our 32” monitor.

 

Our computers are all equipped with Microsoft Office 2007, and students work within their ability to type their name, words from our word wall, and (later in the year) sentences and single paragraph stories. They learn to place clip art, or to draw using simple programs like Paint, or sometimes they illustrate with “older technology” such as crayons, markers or colored pencils. Or, they may write using a pencil about a drawing they made using Paint.

 

We use a digital camera extensively in our classroom to document student work in centers, to record a special ‘creation’ using blocks or clay, and also just to photograph special events like field trips & animal visitors. These photographs are often made into ‘slide shows’ using PowerPoint.

 

Students learn the similarities between a book and a PowerPoint presentation, and with some help many can assemble short presentations of 4-10 slides by May. Or, they may upload the slides to Animoto and make a video.

 

Occasionally, we digitize a class book and create a PowerPoint presentation and use students for narration of each page.

 

We also hope to resume use of our class webcam. We had some difficulties with the server the camera was tied to and we had problems keeping it running.  In my spare time, I will be trying to get it working smoothly.  When that occurs, the image will be on the “ What’s Happening” page.

 

Students also visit the campus computer lab twice weekly to work on math and reading readiness skills. 

 

Last but not least, we programmed one computer to alert us with sounds if we work past clean-up time so we don't miss one of our special periods.

Sometimes the students click on a link, but more often we take virtual trips using our 32” monitor.

To contact us:

Phone: 830-778-4750

Fax: 830-774-9532

E-mail: peter.coggi@sfdr-cisd.org

How we use technology

Mr. Coggi’s Kindergarten Class | General Information | Calendar | What’s Happening | Literacy Centers | Intel Teach to the Future

| How we use technology | Other Web Pages | Food for Thought | Who is Mr. Coggi?

On a technical note…

This website was designed using Microsoft Publisher 2000 & 2002, as well as FrontPage 2003 software provided by the Intel Teach to the Future Program.