Notes From The Lab

Another Monday is here and we have a new week to explore computer technology. Two new sites we are using that you might want to explore at home are: The Talking Book Center and Book Pals. Both sites will serve to strengthen reading for elementary students. The books are fun and the stories hold the students interest. At Book Pals the books are read by members of the actors guild and other celebrities (such as former VP Al Gore). This is another way to encourage reading and it is fun.

Computers are more than big game machines. They are tools to support and encourage learning. An unsupervised Internet for children can be a dangerous and very bad place. A supervised Internet for children can be a great place to learn. In the Northglade Montessori Computer Lab, children are always adult supervised. Children are not allowed in the lab if an adult is not present to supervise. Children do not "surf the web" in our lab. Internet usage is adult supervised and learning supportive sites are used by the students. The Internet is used for "educational purposes". Parent signed internet permission forms are required for each student.

Northglade Computer Lab

It has been a busy year. We are 19 school days away from summer vacation. We opened our lab this year with new computers and headphones. We saw our Children's House students on almost a daily basis. They built their reading skills by using material from ReadingA-Z.com. We supplemented this in the lab with visits to Starfall.com. Our other students in E1 and E2, came in regular for Enrichment, testing, and scheduled class time. During Enrichment, we used new software that we found at Grey Olltwit's website. Some of his software is for fun and some of it is educational in nature. Our students in grades 2-6 participated in the online Scantron Testing. Tests were taken in Reading and Math.
Classes that scheduled Computer Lab during their class time had the opportunity to utilize technology to support and supplement what was being taught in the classroom. This could be done through teacher supervised research, typing skills, software supportive of reading, math, geography etc. Accelerated Reader and Star Reading Tests were available through the computer lab. Teachers were able to academically assist their students in the Computer Lab with the support of a technology trained paraprofessional. This was an opportunity to relocate the class from the classroom to the computer lab for a 30 minute session of teacher led instruction with technology support.

Email and Viruses

Email is a valuable tool. It can also become a dangerous tool. It can carry viruses and worms that can damage or destroy valuable data. They can also affect the operation of your computer and even the network that you may be attached to. Do not open emails from people or businesses you do not know (This is an open at your own risk kind of thing.) Do not open attachments.