In the comment section below, share at least one "aha" moment (evidence) and "why." Read comments by other group members and respond to posts by at least two other teachers.
In chapter 7 the book gives a list of resources for keyboarding instruction. I am sure these would be very helpful. I just do not know when a teacher would find the time to teach keyboarding. I agree with the author that keyboarding should wait until the students hands are large enough to reach the all the letters. Also, when the student would find typing a document necessary. This might be a middle school thing.
We are lucky at Lincoln, we have a computer lab teacher that uses the Type to Learn program with our students. By the time they reach 5th grade, they are fairly proficient!
MaryJane, I agree with you regarding the Text to Table Conversion process mentioned in the book. I can see how the conversion will be a very useful step for students struggling with paragraph organization.
Whoops, I placed my MaryJane comment in the wrong place. Sorry, Becky.
Becky, keyboarding skills are definitely necessary for the 21st century student. The early the better, in familiarizing the students with the computer. From Kindergarten on up, students need to be become more and more familiar with the computer, programs, and keyboarding.
I agree with you Becky. Where I previously taught, the students had daily lessons with "Type to Learn". I'm not sure how much keyboarding is taught in the district. It seems that even the younger grades are pretty proficient in typing when they are at my Music Computer Labs. I think they are getting some instruction but not sure how much. I'm sure trying to "fit it in" is a problem!
It is crazy to me that this has not been hit harder by most schools already. To the farthest back that I can remember in my life, which is about 2nd grade (circa 1997), I was taking typing lessons in a computer lab. That was just over 15 years now. Why is this not more common after 15 years? I am glad that the school I'm teaching at values the skills that will be necessary in the future.
I love the idea of Text to Table Conversion on page 108. It would really be good to use when working on organization or adding detail to writing. Another way I would like to use this is "using your internal voice". It could really add to explaining a writier's thoughts as they tell what is happening in the story!
I agree. I thought that was a great idea and way to show flow and edit or revise. Kids would be more likely to see where to make changes. I don't think it would feel as daunting for them.
Jennifer I agree that editing on the computer is very daunting for students. I agree that the use of Text to Table Conversion should help students to see how they can make changes on their own. What a great strategy to teach to students to help them become better editors of their own writing.
There are several "Aha" moments for me during this reading. First, as I work with elementary students from all over Junction City, I find so many that have very poor keyboarding skills, as well as basic computer literacy. They are very disadvantaged with the numerous assignments required on the computer. I have even started 10 minutes of Type2Learn during my gifted teaching time. Every little bit helps. I would like to see students required to complete 10 minutes of required keyboarding practice every evening. I did not realize there were so many free keyboarding resources available (p. 93). (Of course, for those students without computers, a solution would need to be found.)
I also like the idea of necessary preparation for composing at the keyboard (p. 99). I am requiring students to take their researched topics and place the information onto an outline. Students are learning how an outline works and how to organize their own personal research. The outline preparation has organized powerpoint presentations. I plan to try third graders with the sentence strips to help them to progress quickly into the outline organizational step.
Finally, I see how the Text to Table Conversion process (p. 108-9) could be very useful. I plan to implement this process as students record their personal and class researched information. Even these basic computer techniques, should prove to be valuable with the improvement of student keyboarding skills.
one of the things that cought my attention with keyboarding skills was on page 92 talking about practicing at home and earning some extra screen time. the studetn they referred to loved computer games so they practiced 10-30 minutes. not a bad idea!
Keyboarding skills are like any other skill...practice makes perfect! Parents are always asking what they can have their student work on at home and this would be a wonderful idea. Maybe this suggestion should be posted or offered on handouts at PTA meetings Parent/Teacher conferences Monthly Newsletters and any other time parents are in the building for their children.
About the students that may not have a computer at home...maybe asking that any of the different after school programs offered at buildings have a 10 minute keyboarding session.
Good ideas Janet. This would be a great thing for us to offer as a suggestion to parents. Perhaps this could be demonstrated at one of our Family Reading/Math nights as an option. Ideas could also be sent home in our monthly newsletter. Perhaps this could be an activity that kids could do on days where there is no outdoor recess? I do think keyboarding is an important skill!
I think that kids would love to publish their poetry and enjoy adding clip art ec.... as mentioned on page 96. I loved the idea of useing colors to identify the specific parts of their writing. I love to color code. Doing this on the computer would be much easier and they could see where the holes are in thier writing. Desktop publishing and making cards is an idea 1st graders would love....even cooler if colored printing was not so $$$$.
I enjoyed reading Chapter 9 Desktop Publishing. I personally picked up a couple of good ideas from the lesson plan included in this chapter about Necessary Skills and the Timeline. I have used the idea of publishing information with a brochure and the students LOVED it. Once again...making learning fun!
I was most excited about the built-in thesaurus. I never knew there was such a thing. What a cool idea when I'm lost for the right words. I found it very interesting using word processing rather than a spreadsheet to type charts. I learned a lot about the advantages of that. Using the text to table conversion process seems like a valuable too in writing even though I don't teach it. I also learned about improving spell check by adding the 1-Click Answers. I'm sure it is helpful to have the definitions pop up when the children are searching for the right word.
I think that the starting paragraph says it perfectly: "In many cases, word processing is completely interchangeable with pencil and paper. After all, text is text, whether a student writes by hand or types. But sometimes word processing has advantages over handwriting." There should be at least one online, or word processing assignment a week. Those two resources will guide the students to life long skills and help them be successful. That is one reason I have my students complete an online assignment on a class blog with grades 3-5 weekly. I first got many questions like: "Why does my student need to have assignments like this? I am doing this in my online class for college. My student is not in college, therefore these assignments aren't relevant for my child right now." These assignments aren't only for college students anymore. If the students get used to doing assignments like this now, they will be ahead of their peers in the future.
"Several high school teens, whose first formal keyboarding instruction came in middle school, have told me that they didn't become proficient touch-typists until they started Instant Messaging and blogging. When they had authentic reasons to type quickly, they mastered touch-typing." What a great statement. Why should we force students to learn how to type and type properly, if we do not expect them to use their skills daily? This paragraph goes back to my statement above about having a typing assignment once a week. But it doesn't have to be something super formal. It can be as simple as having an Edmodo account set up, and the students responding to a post by the teacher. There could also be a class blog that is set up for the students to interact with each other outside of class, even if they live a mile or so apart. You can even set up a blog with classes from other schools. (hint hint, like the one we are participating in now, but for the students)
I think using word processing can improve a students' desire to edit their writing. It can be such a laborous process when students have to rewrite in the editing process. I like the idea of students using word processing to edit because of the ease of deleting or adding text, or cutting and pasting to make the writing more fluent.
In chapter 7 the book gives a list of resources for keyboarding instruction. I am sure these would be very helpful. I just do not know when a teacher would find the time to teach keyboarding. I agree with the author that keyboarding should wait until the students hands are large enough to reach the all the letters. Also, when the student would find typing a document necessary. This might be a middle school thing.
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky at Lincoln, we have a computer lab teacher that uses the Type to Learn program with our students. By the time they reach 5th grade, they are fairly proficient!
DeleteMaryJane, I agree with you regarding the Text to Table Conversion process mentioned in the book. I can see how the conversion will be a very useful step for students struggling with paragraph organization.
DeleteWhoops, I placed my MaryJane comment in the wrong place. Sorry, Becky.
DeleteBecky, keyboarding skills are definitely necessary for the 21st century student. The early the better, in familiarizing the students with the computer. From Kindergarten on up, students need to be become more and more familiar with the computer, programs, and keyboarding.
I agree with you Becky. Where I previously taught, the students had daily lessons with "Type to Learn". I'm not sure how much keyboarding is taught in the district. It seems that even the younger grades are pretty proficient in typing when they are at my Music Computer Labs. I think they are getting some instruction but not sure how much. I'm sure trying to "fit it in" is a problem!
DeleteIt is crazy to me that this has not been hit harder by most schools already. To the farthest back that I can remember in my life, which is about 2nd grade (circa 1997), I was taking typing lessons in a computer lab. That was just over 15 years now. Why is this not more common after 15 years? I am glad that the school I'm teaching at values the skills that will be necessary in the future.
DeleteI love the idea of Text to Table Conversion on page 108. It would really be good to use when working on organization or adding detail to writing. Another way I would like to use this is "using your internal voice". It could really add to explaining a writier's thoughts as they tell what is happening in the story!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I thought that was a great idea and way to show flow and edit or revise. Kids would be more likely to see where to make changes. I don't think it would feel as daunting for them.
DeleteJennifer I agree that editing on the computer is very daunting for students. I agree that the use of Text to Table Conversion should help students to see how they can make changes on their own. What a great strategy to teach to students to help them become better editors of their own writing.
DeleteThere are several "Aha" moments for me during this reading. First, as I work with elementary students from all over Junction City, I find so many that have very poor keyboarding skills, as well as basic computer literacy. They are very disadvantaged with the numerous assignments required on the computer. I have even started 10 minutes of Type2Learn during my gifted teaching time. Every little bit helps. I would like to see students required to complete 10 minutes of required keyboarding practice every evening. I did not realize there were so many free keyboarding resources available (p. 93). (Of course, for those students without computers, a solution would need to be found.)
ReplyDeleteI also like the idea of necessary preparation for composing at the keyboard (p. 99). I am requiring students to take their researched topics and place the information onto an outline. Students are learning how an outline works and how to organize their own personal research. The outline preparation has organized powerpoint presentations. I plan to try third graders with the sentence strips to help them to progress quickly into the outline organizational step.
Finally, I see how the Text to Table Conversion process (p. 108-9) could be very useful. I plan to implement this process as students record their personal and class researched information. Even these basic computer techniques, should prove to be valuable with the improvement of student keyboarding skills.
one of the things that cought my attention with keyboarding skills was on page 92 talking about practicing at home and earning some extra screen time. the studetn they referred to loved computer games so they practiced 10-30 minutes. not a bad idea!
DeleteKeyboarding skills are like any other skill...practice makes perfect! Parents are always asking what they can have their student work on at home and this would be a wonderful idea. Maybe this suggestion should be posted or offered on handouts at PTA meetings Parent/Teacher conferences Monthly Newsletters and any other time parents are in the building for their children.
DeleteAbout the students that may not have a computer at home...maybe asking that any of the different after school programs offered at buildings have a 10 minute keyboarding session.
Good ideas Janet. This would be a great thing for us to offer as a suggestion to parents. Perhaps this could be demonstrated at one of our Family Reading/Math nights as an option. Ideas could also be sent home in our monthly newsletter. Perhaps this could be an activity that kids could do on days where there is no outdoor recess? I do think keyboarding is an important skill!
DeleteI think that kids would love to publish their poetry and enjoy adding clip art ec.... as mentioned on page 96. I loved the idea of useing colors to identify the specific parts of their writing. I love to color code. Doing this on the computer would be much easier and they could see where the holes are in thier writing. Desktop publishing and making cards is an idea 1st graders would love....even cooler if colored printing was not so $$$$.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading Chapter 9 Desktop Publishing. I personally picked up a couple of good ideas from the lesson plan included in this chapter about Necessary Skills and the Timeline. I have used the idea of publishing information with a brochure and the students LOVED it. Once again...making learning fun!
ReplyDeleteI was most excited about the built-in thesaurus. I never knew there was such a thing. What a cool idea when I'm lost for the right words. I found it very interesting using word processing rather than a spreadsheet to type charts. I learned a lot about the advantages of that. Using the text to table conversion process seems like a valuable too in writing even though I don't teach it. I also learned about improving spell check by adding the 1-Click Answers. I'm sure it is helpful to have the definitions pop up when the children are searching for the right word.
ReplyDeleteI think that the starting paragraph says it perfectly:
ReplyDelete"In many cases, word processing is completely interchangeable with pencil and paper. After all, text is text, whether a student writes by hand or types. But sometimes word processing has advantages over handwriting."
There should be at least one online, or word processing assignment a week. Those two resources will guide the students to life long skills and help them be successful. That is one reason I have my students complete an online assignment on a class blog with grades 3-5 weekly. I first got many questions like: "Why does my student need to have assignments like this? I am doing this in my online class for college. My student is not in college, therefore these assignments aren't relevant for my child right now." These assignments aren't only for college students anymore. If the students get used to doing assignments like this now, they will be ahead of their peers in the future.
"Several high school teens, whose first formal keyboarding instruction came in middle school, have told me that they didn't become proficient touch-typists until they started Instant Messaging and blogging. When they had authentic reasons to type quickly, they mastered touch-typing."
What a great statement. Why should we force students to learn how to type and type properly, if we do not expect them to use their skills daily? This paragraph goes back to my statement above about having a typing assignment once a week. But it doesn't have to be something super formal. It can be as simple as having an Edmodo account set up, and the students responding to a post by the teacher. There could also be a class blog that is set up for the students to interact with each other outside of class, even if they live a mile or so apart. You can even set up a blog with classes from other schools. (hint hint, like the one we are participating in now, but for the students)
I think using word processing can improve a students' desire to edit their writing. It can be such a laborous process when students have to rewrite in the editing process. I like the idea of students using word processing to edit because of the ease of deleting or adding text, or cutting and pasting to make the writing more fluent.
ReplyDelete