Yesterday, my elder sister who is a preschool teacher in Manhattan, came home a bit frustrated. She complained that while for students every day in the classroom is a new day, for teachers it is not easy to keep the curriculum fresh as imparting the same syllabus to their students every time can become mundane. So, I did some research to try and help her out. I decided to share my findings with all of the teachers out there via this blog. Here are a few ways of integrating technology into classrooms to can help make the classroom learning experience a more engaging and exciting one for both the students as well as the teachers.
The Interactive Whiteboard
Start the morning check-in process using an interactive whiteboard. For morning attendance, asking students to raise hands for counting can be a cumbersome process, but is an essential one as it lets the teacher know which students are present. Firstly, take pictures of all of the students, make a template on the interactive whiteboard and finally make a notebook file wherein the attendance, morning activities and lunch choices of all the students are referenced. Now, simply instruct them that they have to drag their pictures into the attendance area on the whiteboard to mark their attendance. Through this, the students will not only learn to use an interactive whiteboard but will also become more responsible and accountable. It's also a lot of fun for them!
Let students hear their own reading
This technology is already being used in some Manhattan preschools. Teaching students about correct pronunciations and the use of expressions in reading can become somewhat of a repetitive job. To make them understand better, record their voice while they read aloud their texts. Then, make them hear their own reading. By doing so, they will themselves recognize the differences they can make by using expressions in their voice or correct pronunciations. The best part of this practice of recording is that it keeps the students excited for reading and inspires them to do better each time.
How About Listening to a Book?
When I had admitted my child into a Manhattan preschool, one of the things I liked most about it was this way they incorporated technology into their daily activities. There, students were made to listen to books as much as to read them. For this, an iPod works best as it allows to use books in more engaging way. By listening to books, the students also learned how to read better and help them be more engaged when reading, or listening to a book. Young children seem to adapt to technology in a very natural way. Try these various activities in your preschool and let me know how they go!
The Interactive Whiteboard
Start the morning check-in process using an interactive whiteboard. For morning attendance, asking students to raise hands for counting can be a cumbersome process, but is an essential one as it lets the teacher know which students are present. Firstly, take pictures of all of the students, make a template on the interactive whiteboard and finally make a notebook file wherein the attendance, morning activities and lunch choices of all the students are referenced. Now, simply instruct them that they have to drag their pictures into the attendance area on the whiteboard to mark their attendance. Through this, the students will not only learn to use an interactive whiteboard but will also become more responsible and accountable. It's also a lot of fun for them!
Let students hear their own reading
This technology is already being used in some Manhattan preschools. Teaching students about correct pronunciations and the use of expressions in reading can become somewhat of a repetitive job. To make them understand better, record their voice while they read aloud their texts. Then, make them hear their own reading. By doing so, they will themselves recognize the differences they can make by using expressions in their voice or correct pronunciations. The best part of this practice of recording is that it keeps the students excited for reading and inspires them to do better each time.
How About Listening to a Book?
When I had admitted my child into a Manhattan preschool, one of the things I liked most about it was this way they incorporated technology into their daily activities. There, students were made to listen to books as much as to read them. For this, an iPod works best as it allows to use books in more engaging way. By listening to books, the students also learned how to read better and help them be more engaged when reading, or listening to a book. Young children seem to adapt to technology in a very natural way. Try these various activities in your preschool and let me know how they go!
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