These are the steps my children follow as I begin to introduce technology in my first grade classroom. I introduce computer skills gradually to my students.

Materials:

Macintosh Computer,At Ease, LTV Pro, Mouse Practice, Assorted CD's

Procedures:

The children's first task before they begin to use the computer is to select a three letter word they can spell. This is their password for the year.

I enter the word into their assigned computer on the At Ease menu. (At Ease is a program that allows you to control what programs the children can use at a particular time.)

Demonstrating how a program works is essential for these children. All my demonstrations are done using the LTV Pro with my large screen television. The LTV Pro allows you to use a television screen as a monitor for group lessons. The children watch the monitor as I demonstrate each activity. After the demonstration, each child is invited to try the computer as the others watch on the television.

The first program that the children get to use on the computer is Mouse Practice. (This is a beginning level program that they can use, so they can learn how to navigate using the mouse.)

 The children get opportunities to listen to stories on CD Roms. This is very important at the beginning of first grade. Listening to stories is a form of modeling for the early readers. It helps them with their tracking of the words, too.