In the classroom

I am currently placed in a third grade classroom and once a week I go in to help, teach, and gain experience. I was looking around at the technology they have been given and was pleased to note that they have about eight computers in the back of the class. These computers are utilized during their literacy center time and they have the opportunity to learn literacy through games and quizzes. Overall this is entirely their favorite center and they usually run with joy to the back of the classroom when it is their turn. I also noticed that they usually struggle with working together but when they share computers this is not the case. Like many third graders they seem to struggle with the teamwork attitude but since I have been working in this classroom I have never seen a fight or even a flair of a temper. The students are required to work two to a computer and they tend to do quite well with this.

Earlier on in the week I also watched The Buried Life on MTV and the show is about four guys who want to accomplish 100 things on a list before they die. This episode was especially striking because after they completed their task they wanted to do something for someone else. They found a teacher in a small town who wanted something simple. He wanted a computer for the classroom. Now with all of these technological advances it seems that these days everyone has a computer but this reminded me that computers aren't a commodity. In school districts that are suffering it makes sense that computers would be left out of the classroom but in reality this will only hinder students from a world that is completely engrossed in technology. I know that for many of the students I work with, the school day is the only time they have access to a computer. This is crucial. Students need to learn how to read, write, do math, and in 2010 it seems as if they also need to be able to type. Just food for thought. It made me appreciate things a lot more and it was great to see this classroom get their very first computer!