Access to technology and through technology has multiple meanings. What aspects are particularly important to the reading specialist? To the student that is struggling to read, to write, or to communicate?
I feel that there is so much technology out there now to help struggling readers and writers. Many of the students I work with use many different assistive technology pieces that help them be able to read and write at grade level and keep up with the fast paced curriculum. As a reading specialist I think it is important to keep up with the new technology and be willing to experiment with them to see what works well. I just got the reading pens and have been trying to figure out how they work, and what areas they would be best for. Most of the time I give them to my students to try and have them show me how they think they would be helpful. As for writing, there is a ton of technology out there to use. My class uses DANA keyboards, Co-Writer, and simply just microsoft word to help in the writing process. I think overall the most important thing is for the teacher to be willing to try new technologies, and to have the students experiment with the technologies as well.
I agree with you kellie I believe that as a reading specialist it is very important to see what technology is out there and how you can take advantage of that so that a student can benefit from that. In my student teaching classrooms the students were able to use the computers for writing out important projects and for doing different reading activities. I believe there are a lot of different technologies such as like kellie said Co- Writer so that the students can succeed even more in reading. I as a teacher will be more then willing to use different technology in my classroom so that the students can do even better in their reading.
I think that technology allows the reading teacher to reach, or "access" students that would normally be unmotivated. Students in today's world are accustomed to being bombarded by multiple stimuli, making it difficult to captivate their attention with strictly paper and pencil work. Students are incredibly comfortable with and motivated by technology, something that I see every time we use the SMARTboard with my students. Even if we're just working on something simple like contractions, the students are suddenly eager to manipulate the words because technology is involved. Many times, students who are struggling to read or write need that extra boost of motivation to help them stay focused and continue to improve in these areas.
In working with nonverbal students in the past, I've seen how technologies like the dynavox open up a new world of communication by giving them a voice.
While technology does not need to be used in every lesson, it's important that teachers provide students with opportunities to experiment with and use technology whenever appropriate. I agree with Kellie - providing students with access and being open yourself as a teacher to technology is the most important thing.
Kellie I think you really hit the most important piece about usuing technology in the classroom. It is up to us to find out the new programs and tools to help our students succeed. Because technology is changing almost on a daily basis it is critical to keep current on the programs and tools being presented to teachers and school districts. I also think that technology levels the playing field between studnets and no one is seen as inferrior or labeled as the the "struggling" student when they all use or work with these programs. Most studnest enjoy working with technology and see it more as an exciting and interactive way of learning and it essential to capture that excitement and roll with it. I think it is important to realize too that technology is a tool to help students and can be extremely helpful to you the teacher as well as the studnents to have overall success.
As a special education teacher, I am familiar with a lot of new technology programs/items that help support struggling readers and writers. I have seen technology truly make a child's day less stressful and give them tools that allow them to be successful. One of my students uses a write-out-loud program which allows the student to type in a few letters of a word and a list will appear of possibilities for correct spelling and the student moves a cursor over each word as a person reads them. This allows a struggling speller to find the correct format of a word they do not know how to spell. Unfortunately, this program can be detrimental, I believe, because I do not want my students depending on a computer for basic skills. However, it gives so much relief and allows students to feel successful as they are able to participate in the same lessons and tasks as their peers. I also use a bookshare program where students are able to listen to grade level text they are not able to read independently. This also allows for struggling readers to keep up with a faster paced curriculum without completely changing their routines. It is important that teachers become familiar with technology so that when at risk students enter their classroom, they have valid options to help support their learning.
As a Universal Pre-Kindergarten teacher, I have two students now who recieve special services with the use of technology programs and devices to support their writing (names, letters, and numbers).
I have to agree that the teacher has to be willing to use different resources such as technology in their classroom to support low level readers and writers. We live in a world today that is technology friendly, and that is what children are growing up with. I think incorrporating technology into the classroom for students of all learning levels is important because students will be ready and wanting to learn as well.
I think a reading specialist, much like any teacher, needs to be open to using technology and continue to explore options on programs and assistive technology to help a student best with reading and writing. Through subbing I have noticed that the students love using technology to do reading games where you have to read then speak the word and it gets crunched earning points, or games that help a student better with typing.
I think that bringing the technology to students and having the opportunities for the students to manipulate them is crucial to keeping students motivated, interested, and engaged. Students should know what resources are available for use, and how to use a variety of resources. I think that students who have a hard time communicating can really benefit from any form of assistive technology that can take the strain of thinking of how to spell, or decode away. But technology does come with its own downfalls. Students should not become dependent. The goal is for them to be able to do as much as possible with as little support as needed.
I also think that access through technology is huge. In a previous experience I worked with students who did not have basic understanding of many topics that were presented in a text. I worked with their vocabulary words and the topics in the story and pulled up videos and images for them to see exactly what we were talking about on the SMARTboard. We then researched together what they were interested in on the topic so that they had ownership and clarification. They seemed to grasp the topic much better than had I just told them the word or just talked about the topic. Access through technology to the rest of the world can be empowering, and useful in the classroom.
As a Special Education teacher, I use many different types of assistive technology to help my students reach success. It is imperative for the reading specialist to be willing to keep an open mind as well as willingness to multiple forms of technology that help struggling readers and writers to meet their goals. There are many technology tools available today to assist struggling readers and writers to improve their skills and to compensate for learning difficulties that inhibit success by traditional teaching methods. Since there are multiple forms of technology that we have access to, it is essential for the students as well as educators to experiment with the technology that best fits their needs.
I have a student who has difficulty writing down his ideas on paper clearly. He uses writer plus, which is a type of technology that helps compensate for his motor difficulties and allow him to write more efficiently and effectively. I agree with Janet and Kelly that technology does not need to be incorporated into every lesson but the students should have the opportunity and exposure to access different forms of technology that best fits their needs.
I think we would all agree that in order for learning to take place, lessons need to be meaningful and interactive for our students. What may have been meaningful for us when we were younger is probably not as meaningful for the newer generation of students (paper and pencil activities). For today's generation, meaning and interaction are both found in technology! It's amazing how some kids can barely spell thier own name (exaggerating a little...), but they can explain how to use different technologies better than the manuals created for them. This only solidifies the value that technology needs to play in the cassroom. Also, as a teacher, I think we owe it to our kids to always be aware of cutting edge technology. I find the bad teachers are those who are outdated, and cant find a common ground with their students. Technology can provide techers with that common ground.
Having access to technology is a benefit in and of itself, both to teachers and students. As a reading specialist, I will have the privilege of using various programs, softwares, and websites to pull from. Articles and scholarly journals will prove invaluable as I'm learning to understand the strengths and struggles unique to each of my reading students. Beyond just the computer, various electronics and tools can help connect my world to the students'.
I truly believe that one of the greatest disservices we can do to students (whether or not they struggle with reading, writing, and communicating) is to keep them from the technology that is so pervasive in our society today. When students struggle, it is our duty as teachers to offer creative and effective means by which to help them learn! Technology surely offers innumberable tools, many of which have already been mentioned, such as speech-to-text software and the SmartBoard. As teachers, we and our students will benefit from being introduced to new and up to date technologies!
I believe that although educators have “access to and through technology” that has the ability to enhance student learning, they don’t necessarily have the knowledge or skills that are essential in order for them to integrate it into classroom instruction. As mentioned, technology has the ability to motivate students to learn, and can be especially helpful for students with special needs who need technological support to complete classroom assignments. It is up to the schools and educators to ensure that they are exploring the many technological opportunities that are available for them to use during classroom instruction through professional development and training. There are so many exciting programs out there that educators don’t know about! So it is not only important for a teacher to be willing to explore new technologies that will benefit students, but also that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to do so.
I think that technology can be an excellent resource for the classroom and has many applications for literacy and literacy instruction. Technology can turn a lame lesson into a fully interactive and highly motivational one. I think that access to technology means that we can provide students with challenging and relevant instruction in a meaningful way. This can help unmotivated students stay on task and engaged in learning. On the other hand, I think that access THROUGH technology means that we can give certain students who are struggling (with reading or disabilities) better access to the content of our lessons through the use of technology. Our world is changing rapidly and technology is going to be part of it for a long time. We as teachers need to embrace this fact and be able to provide our students with many meaningful opportunities to work with technology.
Technology is so important in a classroom to teachers as well as students. There are so many different devices that students can use to help them communicate effectively. Some technology can be as simple as having a student type work on the computer instead of handwriting it. If students become frustrated very easily because they have problems writing then technology can be used to help them ease their frustration level but still being able to complete the work. Teachers need to be updated constantly on technology so they are able to use it in their classroom and know what specific type of technology works with each student. Being a substitute teacher I haven’t had access to much technology in the classroom because the teacher’s don’t usually leave instructions on how to use it or when to use it. However, I have used the smart board a lot and have seen how it can have a positive impact on the students. Having a background in technology I have learned about many different devices/computer programs that are used in schools.
Technology is important not just to the reading specialist, but as with any teacher. The days of pencil and paper are over and technology is taking over. Many students find that learning just by a textbook can be very boring and therefore they will not put any effort into it. Teachers have the ability to get out there and look for various types of technology that will help keep their students motivated. Unfortunately, there are many older teachers still in the schools that don't want to learn the technology let alone use it. This only leads to an unruly classroom and often becomes very frustrating for students who already struggle to read or write. When teachers are introducing new technology, such as a new program, they need to make sure that it is meaningful for students in order for it to be effective to their learning.
I agree with Annie. Technology is changing the way we do everything- the way we think, the way we teach, the way we live. If used thoughtfully and responsibly, it can be an extremly useful, effective tool for supplementing learning experiences. It is critical for teachers to take advantage of the times we are living in an utiliza all that technology has to offer. Many programs exist that offer assistance to children who struggle with their learning. Like all other aspects of teaching, looking and finding the right fit for the students we teach may take some time and effort, but can be well worth it.
Technology continues to expand, develop and grow. As educators it can often be difficult to remain aware of the wide variety of programs that are out there for our students. We have two clear responsibilities with the integration of technology. The first being, staying abreast the wide variety of programs and assistive technologies that are out there. The second being, knowing our students as learners and taking the roll of a diagnostician to understand the needs of our students and finding what will be useful and meaningful for them. There is no question that technology is motivating to students. It is most effective when it is motivating as well as purposeful.
Access to technology is very important for the struggling reader and writer. A program that I became familiar with in my long term subbing was Co-Writer, which is an assistive technology that is used for struggling spellers and writers. I saw firsthand how helpful this program was to a student that had very difficult to read writing many times due to spelling and a low motivation to write. Many children that do not enjoy writing become much more motivated when they can do so on the computer. Technology is also very helpful in the area of reading. There are many interactive reading programs such as Successmaker and KidBiz that get struggling readers reading, as well as helps them to work on their reading comprehension. I also think it is important to use audio versions of books with children because it helps to model fluency, as well as gets struggling readers the opportunity to discuss higher level texts that they may not have been able to read independently. I think as an educator it is very important to keep up to date on the changing technology and weave it into the curriculum as much as possible since it is such a motivator for students.
I feel that there is so much technology out there now to help struggling readers and writers. Many of the students I work with use many different assistive technology pieces that help them be able to read and write at grade level and keep up with the fast paced curriculum.
ReplyDeleteAs a reading specialist I think it is important to keep up with the new technology and be willing to experiment with them to see what works well. I just got the reading pens and have been trying to figure out how they work, and what areas they would be best for. Most of the time I give them to my students to try and have them show me how they think they would be helpful.
As for writing, there is a ton of technology out there to use. My class uses DANA keyboards, Co-Writer, and simply just microsoft word to help in the writing process.
I think overall the most important thing is for the teacher to be willing to try new technologies, and to have the students experiment with the technologies as well.
I agree with you kellie I believe that as a reading specialist it is very important to see what technology is out there and how you can take advantage of that so that a student can benefit from that. In my student teaching classrooms the students were able to use the computers for writing out important projects and for doing different reading activities. I believe there are a lot of different technologies such as like kellie said Co- Writer so that the students can succeed even more in reading. I as a teacher will be more then willing to use different technology in my classroom so that the students can do even better in their reading.
ReplyDeleteI think that technology allows the reading teacher to reach, or "access" students that would normally be unmotivated. Students in today's world are accustomed to being bombarded by multiple stimuli, making it difficult to captivate their attention with strictly paper and pencil work. Students are incredibly comfortable with and motivated by technology, something that I see every time we use the SMARTboard with my students. Even if we're just working on something simple like contractions, the students are suddenly eager to manipulate the words because technology is involved. Many times, students who are struggling to read or write need that extra boost of motivation to help them stay focused and continue to improve in these areas.
ReplyDeleteIn working with nonverbal students in the past, I've seen how technologies like the dynavox open up a new world of communication by giving them a voice.
While technology does not need to be used in every lesson, it's important that teachers provide students with opportunities to experiment with and use technology whenever appropriate. I agree with Kellie - providing students with access and being open yourself as a teacher to technology is the most important thing.
Kellie I think you really hit the most important piece about usuing technology in the classroom. It is up to us to find out the new programs and tools to help our students succeed. Because technology is changing almost on a daily basis it is critical to keep current on the programs and tools being presented to teachers and school districts. I also think that technology levels the playing field between studnets and no one is seen as inferrior or labeled as the the "struggling" student when they all use or work with these programs. Most studnest enjoy working with technology and see it more as an exciting and interactive way of learning and it essential to capture that excitement and roll with it. I think it is important to realize too that technology is a tool to help students and can be extremely helpful to you the teacher as well as the studnents to have overall success.
ReplyDeleteAs a special education teacher, I am familiar with a lot of new technology programs/items that help support struggling readers and writers. I have seen technology truly make a child's day less stressful and give them tools that allow them to be successful. One of my students uses a write-out-loud program which allows the student to type in a few letters of a word and a list will appear of possibilities for correct spelling and the student moves a cursor over each word as a person reads them. This allows a struggling speller to find the correct format of a word they do not know how to spell. Unfortunately, this program can be detrimental, I believe, because I do not want my students depending on a computer for basic skills. However, it gives so much relief and allows students to feel successful as they are able to participate in the same lessons and tasks as their peers. I also use a bookshare program where students are able to listen to grade level text they are not able to read independently. This also allows for struggling readers to keep up with a faster paced curriculum without completely changing their routines. It is important that teachers become familiar with technology so that when at risk students enter their classroom, they have valid options to help support their learning.
ReplyDeleteAs a Universal Pre-Kindergarten teacher, I have two students now who recieve special services with the use of technology programs and devices to support their writing (names, letters, and numbers).
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that the teacher has to be willing to use different resources such as technology in their classroom to support low level readers and writers. We live in a world today that is technology friendly, and that is what children are growing up with. I think incorrporating technology into the classroom for students of all learning levels is important because students will be ready and wanting to learn as well.
I think a reading specialist, much like any teacher, needs to be open to using technology and continue to explore options on programs and assistive technology to help a student best with reading and writing. Through subbing I have noticed that the students love using technology to do reading games where you have to read then speak the word and it gets crunched earning points, or games that help a student better with typing.
ReplyDeleteI think that bringing the technology to students and having the opportunities for the students to manipulate them is crucial to keeping students motivated, interested, and engaged. Students should know what resources are available for use, and how to use a variety of resources. I think that students who have a hard time communicating can really benefit from any form of assistive technology that can take the strain of thinking of how to spell, or decode away. But technology does come with its own downfalls. Students should not become dependent. The goal is for them to be able to do as much as possible with as little support as needed.
ReplyDeleteI also think that access through technology is huge. In a previous experience I worked with students who did not have basic understanding of many topics that were presented in a text. I worked with their vocabulary words and the topics in the story and pulled up videos and images for them to see exactly what we were talking about on the SMARTboard. We then researched together what they were interested in on the topic so that they had ownership and clarification. They seemed to grasp the topic much better than had I just told them the word or just talked about the topic. Access through technology to the rest of the world can be empowering, and useful in the classroom.
As a Special Education teacher, I use many different types of assistive technology to help my students reach success. It is imperative for the reading specialist to be willing to keep an open mind as well as willingness to multiple forms of technology that help struggling readers and writers to meet their goals. There are many technology tools available today to assist struggling readers and writers to improve their skills and to compensate for learning difficulties that inhibit success by traditional teaching methods. Since there are multiple forms of technology that we have access to, it is essential for the students as well as educators to experiment with the technology that best fits their needs.
ReplyDeleteI have a student who has difficulty writing down his ideas on paper clearly. He uses writer plus, which is a type of technology that helps compensate for his motor difficulties and allow him to write more efficiently and effectively. I agree with Janet and Kelly that technology does not need to be incorporated into every lesson but the students should have the opportunity and exposure to access different forms of technology that best fits their needs.
I think we would all agree that in order for learning to take place, lessons need to be meaningful and interactive for our students. What may have been meaningful for us when we were younger is probably not as meaningful for the newer generation of students (paper and pencil activities). For today's generation, meaning and interaction are both found in technology! It's amazing how some kids can barely spell thier own name (exaggerating a little...), but they can explain how to use different technologies better than the manuals created for them. This only solidifies the value that technology needs to play in the cassroom.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as a teacher, I think we owe it to our kids to always be aware of cutting edge technology. I find the bad teachers are those who are outdated, and cant find a common ground with their students. Technology can provide techers with that common ground.
Having access to technology is a benefit in and of itself, both to teachers and students. As a reading specialist, I will have the privilege of using various programs, softwares, and websites to pull from. Articles and scholarly journals will prove invaluable as I'm learning to understand the strengths and struggles unique to each of my reading students. Beyond just the computer, various electronics and tools can help connect my world to the students'.
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that one of the greatest disservices we can do to students (whether or not they struggle with reading, writing, and communicating) is to keep them from the technology that is so pervasive in our society today. When students struggle, it is our duty as teachers to offer creative and effective means by which to help them learn! Technology surely offers innumberable tools, many of which have already been mentioned, such as speech-to-text software and the SmartBoard. As teachers, we and our students will benefit from being introduced to new and up to date technologies!
I believe that although educators have “access to and through technology” that has the ability to enhance student learning, they don’t necessarily have the knowledge or skills that are essential in order for them to integrate it into classroom instruction. As mentioned, technology has the ability to motivate students to learn, and can be especially helpful for students with special needs who need technological support to complete classroom assignments. It is up to the schools and educators to ensure that they are exploring the many technological opportunities that are available for them to use during classroom instruction through professional development and training. There are so many exciting programs out there that educators don’t know about! So it is not only important for a teacher to be willing to explore new technologies that will benefit students, but also that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to do so.
ReplyDeleteI think that technology can be an excellent resource for the classroom and has many applications for literacy and literacy instruction. Technology can turn a lame lesson into a fully interactive and highly motivational one. I think that access to technology means that we can provide students with challenging and relevant instruction in a meaningful way. This can help unmotivated students stay on task and engaged in learning. On the other hand, I think that access THROUGH technology means that we can give certain students who are struggling (with reading or disabilities) better access to the content of our lessons through the use of technology. Our world is changing rapidly and technology is going to be part of it for a long time. We as teachers need to embrace this fact and be able to provide our students with many meaningful opportunities to work with technology.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is so important in a classroom to teachers as well as students. There are so many different devices that students can use to help them communicate effectively. Some technology can be as simple as having a student type work on the computer instead of handwriting it. If students become frustrated very easily because they have problems writing then technology can be used to help them ease their frustration level but still being able to complete the work. Teachers need to be updated constantly on technology so they are able to use it in their classroom and know what specific type of technology works with each student.
ReplyDeleteBeing a substitute teacher I haven’t had access to much technology in the classroom because the teacher’s don’t usually leave instructions on how to use it or when to use it. However, I have used the smart board a lot and have seen how it can have a positive impact on the students. Having a background in technology I have learned about many different devices/computer programs that are used in schools.
Technology is important not just to the reading specialist, but as with any teacher. The days of pencil and paper are over and technology is taking over. Many students find that learning just by a textbook can be very boring and therefore they will not put any effort into it. Teachers have the ability to get out there and look for various types of technology that will help keep their students motivated. Unfortunately, there are many older teachers still in the schools that don't want to learn the technology let alone use it. This only leads to an unruly classroom and often becomes very frustrating for students who already struggle to read or write. When teachers are introducing new technology, such as a new program, they need to make sure that it is meaningful for students in order for it to be effective to their learning.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Annie. Technology is changing the way we do everything- the way we think, the way we teach, the way we live. If used thoughtfully and responsibly, it can be an extremly useful, effective tool for supplementing learning experiences. It is critical for teachers to take advantage of the times we are living in an utiliza all that technology has to offer. Many programs exist that offer assistance to children who struggle with their learning. Like all other aspects of teaching, looking and finding the right fit for the students we teach may take some time and effort, but can be well worth it.
ReplyDeleteTechnology continues to expand, develop and grow. As educators it can often be difficult to remain aware of the wide variety of programs that are out there for our students. We have two clear responsibilities with the integration of technology. The first being, staying abreast the wide variety of programs and assistive technologies that are out there. The second being, knowing our students as learners and taking the roll of a diagnostician to understand the needs of our students and finding what will be useful and meaningful for them. There is no question that technology is motivating to students. It is most effective when it is motivating as well as purposeful.
ReplyDeleteAccess to technology is very important for the struggling reader and writer. A program that I became familiar with in my long term subbing was Co-Writer, which is an assistive technology that is used for struggling spellers and writers. I saw firsthand how helpful this program was to a student that had very difficult to read writing many times due to spelling and a low motivation to write. Many children that do not enjoy writing become much more motivated when they can do so on the computer. Technology is also very helpful in the area of reading. There are many interactive reading programs such as Successmaker and KidBiz that get struggling readers reading, as well as helps them to work on their reading comprehension. I also think it is important to use audio versions of books with children because it helps to model fluency, as well as gets struggling readers the opportunity to discuss higher level texts that they may not have been able to read independently. I think as an educator it is very important to keep up to date on the changing technology and weave it into the curriculum as much as possible since it is such a motivator for students.
ReplyDelete