First weeks

[Traci Musso]

I teach K-5 computer lab. This is my first year in the lab (29th year of teaching). We had an unexpected couple of weeks off due to Isaac, and now I have 3 extra kindergarten classes we are housing from a school that flooded. Kindergarten students make me tired!

Is there anyway to stop kids from hitting you and saying, "Can I play another game?" I was amazed at the first grader who told me my game was "lame" and he wanted to play Puke Pirates! Everytime I turned around he had closed the program I had put him on and opened Puke Pirates! That is until he became my first time out of the year (and the next week he became my second time out for the same thing!!) It is amazing how kids who don't know the letter A can close a program and find what they would prefer to play! This week I even had some fifth graders perusing YouTube for how to do some kind of dance (cat daddy?). They minimized it when they saw me thinking I was like their regular teacher who wouldn't know it was still open. Boy, were they surprised!

I spent today revamping the workstations again! I have 2 sets of headphones at each computer. One with a microphone for 3-5 Reading Assistant students. The other a regular one. They unplug headphones, try to trade with neighbors, and insist on using the ones with the microphone!

The first few weeks I wondered, "What have I gotten myself into?!" but things are settling down a bit and I have the headphones untangled, taped, tied together, and hopefully unmovable!

Thanks for letting me vent!

[Deanna Sternefeld]

WOW.. and i thought I had it bad.  I started teaching computers in the Elementary schools...after not working for 14 years (being a stay at home mom).  I originally was a Computer Instructor to Corporate.  What a difference...I am STILL trying to change their mind set, that Computer Class was learning about computer and how to use them properly...and NOT about computer games... Ugh...It's hard when I only get to see them once a week...

But I'm trying and persistent...and I will survive!  :-)  and soo will you!  :-)

[Sandy Croushore]

I don't know if it's possible for you to do this, but I teach only half of each Kindergarten class at a time.  The music teacher takes the other half.  That doubles our K classes, but it's more manageable for both of us.  I can put space between the kindergartners on the computers.  I also get parent volunteers to help with those classes.  Another set of eyes (or two!) may help keep them on track.

As for students going on games, can you get your network administrator to block the game? 

[Dottie Burkley]

I calmly ask the student to "stop hitting me, it hurts". it really works.

[A. Adams]

I teach 500 kindergartners a week.  It is definitely hard but my focus is on teaching them about properly using the computers.  They ask about games but I tell them that we have to work first.  

This past week we learned about internet safety.  We discuss being safe and responsible on the internet.  If they go on a different webpage, they lose 5 minutes of computer time.  They would definitely rather be on the computer.  

[Traci Musso]

Definitely going to have some consequences for going on other games.  Little ones will probably be 5 minutes.  Bigger ones are the rest of their computer period. I just wanted to make sure they knew what they were doing.  Some of them didn't know what to do and just started clicking whatever they saw .  Others knew exactly what they were doing.  Now that I know them a bit I can start looking at rewards and consequences.

500 K a week?!  I would be exhausted!  I teach one class and the art teacher has the other at the same time.  That way they can have grade level meetings.  We have the extra three classes just until their school is gutted and rebuilt.  At least they call me, "Ma'am."  I do say, "Please sit down and I will come help you."

Last year our computer lab teacher was out half the year and there was a sub.  The sub just let them play whatever.  That is part of the reason that the older kids think they go in there to play.  One of them even said, "Hey, I thought you used to be  a teacher!"  I said, "I am a teacher.  I am the computer teacher!" I explained that learning to use a computer and the internet properly was just as important now as reading and math.  They will do their work/projects and when we have time they will have free time to visit educational games.

It is a lot of work, but I needed a change from being in the classroom for so long.  Don't miss lunch duty, recess duty, restroom duty, etc. 

[SaraEastman]

It will get easier if you are consistent in your expectations. The older kids are just testing you. First, I would try to get some of those games blocked. So much at my school is blocked the kids don't get a chance to try opposing me (although sometimes that's a hassle if a good site is blocked). Also you could find games to work into your lessons. For Internet safey, netsmartz has a lot of great games.

Second, set up a reward program for them where they have the chance to earn time to play the games they want. In all of my classes, the students have the chance to earn 2 letters toward spelling the word computer each time they have class. At the end of each class, I ask they how they think they did and we discuss whether they should get 0, 1, or 2 letters. Lattes earned get hung on the wall. Once they spell the entire word, they get 10 minutes of free time of their choice. Even at fifth and sixth grade I find it motivates the students, especially if one week they miss a letter. Plus, because I only see them once every 6 school days, they are only getting time to play games once a month.

[Bridget Link]

I have a "hand" velcroed on the side of my computers that the students raise up when they have a question.  It takes some training but it really helps the "tapping" on my shoulder and keeps them from chasing me around the room.

[Bridget Link]

I also use this routine in my room most of the time:

1- students sit on the floor at the front of the room

2- intro lesson or review previous lesson/standards/goals

3- show them what they are going to do using the projector

4- ask if there are any questions

5-review steps again

6- send them to their seats to do the assignment

[Teri Pope]

Kinders make me tired too! They don't follow directions well, even after I've modeled the lesson for them. They are always running to the bathroom, worrying about what their neighbors are doing, or randomly clicking or closing out the window before the lesson is over. 

[Sheila Guido]

Traci- It's my first year in the lab too!!   I have grades K-6 for tech, but don't take the k students in the lab.  I take them 8 at a time during their reading group time, and use ipads (4 of them- 2 kids/ pad) to teach them skills.  I preload the game so there's no "wandering off".  Lucky for me, I taught K for 12 years, and the k teacher in me came back:)  For grades 1-6 I created a computer lab protopage.  I made a tab for each grade, and only approved sites are bookmarked on their pages.  So far the kids have really loved it, and stay on my page.  Good lucK!