Exciting news today!!!! I have a new computer in my classroom (and its a good one)!! That brings the number up to 4. I spent 2 hours after school today rearranging my room because I did not have enough room for the new computer. But no worries, I found a spot. It actually looks better than it did before and its not dusty (because all the dust is on my new black pants...lol). Just thought I would share the news. I'm VERY excited about it.

Computer Jobs

I have 18 jobs in my classroom, one for each student. One of the jobs is a computer helper. The computer helper's main job is to exit any of the games after we have our reading centers. I usually have to show the students on Monday how to exit the games and by Wednesday they usually get it. It is hard for me to teach the kindergartners how to exit the programs because they do not know how to read or are very limited. I had a new student become the computer helper on Monday and as I was turning around to show her how to exit the programs, the games were already closed. I have three computers and each computer there is a different game. She figured out on her own to exit all three programs. I was surprised and on Tuesday I decided to sit back and watch her. Now she has very limited reading skills and she troubleshooted the games to close them. I was impressed to see a 5 year old girl trouble shoot the problem. She tried several ways to close the games and finally got it! It is obvious that my student has had experience with computers but I can't help but be impressed by her.

Sharing

This is my first semester taking graduate classes and so far I am enjoying my two classes. I think it helps that both classes are about things that I am interested in. Each class has taught me new technolog tips to use in my classroom. After I learned the new tips I go to school and share them with my kindergarten team. One of the teachers I work with has enjoyed hearing me teach her the new ideas that she actually told me that she was so happy for me because I found something that I'm interested in and I enjoy learning about. She likes that I share these ideas with her and I'm just excited to share them to anyone who listenes :-). Anyway, I guess the point of this is that I like what I'm learning and I like even more sharing it with my friends and family.

I've been back to school for almost three weeks now and my students and I are finally starting to settle in. We're in our new routine and everything is running smoothly (cross your fingers that it will continue to run smoothly). By the end of the second week, I saw most of my students from last year. One of my former students came to visit with my new students. I had her explaining different things to my new class. Out of nowhere, she starts telling my class that they are so lucky to be in my class because I'm the only kindergarten teacher to have THREE computers and a huge TV. I thought this was hysterical because I thought I was the only one to be thrilled to have three computers. It was a touchy subject around the other kindergarten teachers because I was the new teacher and I was given the extra computer. When I first got the third computer, I didn't ask any questions. I didn't want anyone to take it away. After having the computer for awhile I finally asked the technology coordinator why. She simply said it was because I was the only one integrating technology into my classroom correctly.

After hearing my former student say things about my computers, I think it's safe to say the even the kindergartens are aware of how important technology is.

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TEACHER? by Jeff Foxworthy

1. You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.
2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.
3. You walk into a store and hear the words "It's Ms/Mr. _________" andknow you have been spotted.
4. You have 25 people that accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.
5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under twenty-five minutes.
6. You've trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day: lunch and prep period.
7. You start saving other people's trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.
8. You believe the teachers' lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine.
9. You want to slap the next person who says "Must be nice to work 8 to 4 and have summers off."
10. You believe chocolate is a food group.
11. You can tell if it's a full moon without ever looking outside.
12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says Boy, the kids sure are mellow today."
13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.
14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.
15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.
17. You can't pass the school supply aisle without getting at least five items!
18. You ask your friends if the left hand turn he just made was a "good choice or a bad choice."
19. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils
20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer and finally,
21. You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents.