Kindergarten

Kindergarten begins attending the computer classroom soon after the Thanksgiving holiday.  By this time, kindergarteners are comfortable with school and classroom rules and have learned and practiced enough basic alphabet and phonics skills to begin applying them with our computer programs.

Each class is divided into 2 groups and while the division of the class is a necessity due to the number of computers available, this is a benefit to the children in several ways: A smaller group allows for more individualized attention from teachers for both groups and while at computers, each child can work at a separate computer with individual headphones.  

Separate computers also allows for a variety of activities to be planned and used each class and gives children the opportunity to work at an independent pace.  This maximizes the utilization of software available and gives greater flexibility to tailor activities to individual needs and abilities. 

As done in the classroom, their phonics skills are then applied more thoroughly in word building.  While still using our 3 older I.B.M. computers, children practice ten groups of "cycle words".  Each group consists of three words and the children practice 42 phonetic skills with these words.

All of this is not to downplay the other important skills used and taught in our computer classroom which, of course is appropriate use of the computer and typing skills. Children are taught right from the start that they are to use both hands for typing. Our keyboards are divided into 2 color sides that are coordinated to our typing program, "Type to Learn Jr".