Three Parent Teacher Conferences- Three technology discussions
This week was parent teacher conferences. I love and loathe this week. I love discussing student progress, missteps, and goals with parents. I loathe the long day and pure exhaustion of changing from kid- mode to adult mode. However this week three parent conferences stood out in my mind. Hopefully these conversations will help give you confidence, provide resources, and a peek into the parents point of view of the use of technology in a first grade classroom.
This week was parent teacher conferences. I love and loathe this week. I love discussing student progress, missteps, and goals with parents. I loathe the long day and pure exhaustion of changing from kid- mode to adult mode. However this week three parent conferences stood out in my mind. Hopefully these conversations will help give you confidence, provide resources, and a peek into the parents point of view of the use of technology in a first grade classroom.
Conversations #1- Day 1, Conference 1
A terrific start! My first conference was with the parents of a boy who is an enthusiastic learner and loves using technology. When I introduced KidBlog to the students and allowed them to log on and log off this student left my room asking "How do I get to KidBlog at home?" My nervousness set in, I stopped him in his tracks and asked him what we can and cannot post online. I am not sure why I was so nervous as I have so many restrictions on KidBlog he really couldn't do too much harm but still I was not ready for the home access. However, from his response he was. Fast forward to meeting with his parents. I start my conferences with "Have you seen the report card, do you have any questions, comments, things you would like to discuss?" Immediately mom piped up, "I love what you are doing with teaching the students about safety online! My son has been the internet police in our house. I have a 14 year old daughter who is on Instagram and my son grabbed her phone to check her username. When he discovered her username revealed her full name he yelled are her and told her you should never tell the internet your name!" My heart melted. You don't always know the influence that you have on your students until the learning comes full circle.
Conversation #2- Overuse at home
How do your kids use technology at home? Do they play games, listen to books, or write for authentic audiences? Majority will most likely say play games. Which is fine as long as it's not excessive and used as a baby sitting tool. My second use of technology parent conference was the discussion of using the iPad as a babysitting tool. While there is a time and place for "fun" use of technology the consistent use of technology just for fun presents a challenge when using technology as a tool for learning. I have found that this is the biggest obstacle when introducing technology as a learning tool. This student is a struggling reader and when I asked mom if/when he reads at home she struggled to answer. She said it's hard to get him off the iPad. When he gets home that's all he wants to do. She also stated that with a two year old running around and trying to make dinner allowing him on the iPad is so much easier. I suggested that she have him use the iPad for learning if the necessity is for him to be on the iPad for sanity of the household. He has access to RAZkids (an online book library), write about this (a writing prompt tool), and starfall (a beginning reading/math app). Hopefully with these suggestions his iPad time can be productive towards becoming a better reader rather than a gamer. (Not that there is anything wrong with that :-))
Conversation #3- Using 21st century tools
My conversation with these parents revolved around goals for motivating their first grader into liking school, being organized, and finding a structure that allows him to strive in both of these areas. We started with his organizational skills. His dad had a brilliant idea that was to put a desk in his home office so that he could model a strong work ethic, organizational skills, and motivate him to be "just like dad", which we already knew was a motivator. On top of that, his dad asked a powerful question. He asked "How can we make him a 21st century learner?" I thought I was ready to answer this question but after having this conversation I reflected on some of my teaching practices and while I am starting to introduce technology tools I wondered if I really am teaching them 21st century skills with the technology tools. Now dad was simply asking what tools he could provide his son on the iPad/computer that were more educational rather than games. They do not let the child on the computer or iPad. This is quite evident when we are using technology on the computer. So I researched the answer to this question so I am better prepared the next time a parent asked me this question as well as to perfect my practice.
Angela Watson was asked this same question from teachers. She reflects on the question by including the 4C's, how to access technology, and how technology enhances an elementary classroom. From this post I realize that the practice in my classroom is working on it's way towards providing 21st century skills to the students. The next step is to teach parents how to utilize and foster the 21st century skills learned in school.
This blog shares how 21st century skills exist in a first grade classroom. The author also shares the steps to creating a blog and it's reasons for incorporating them into the first grade classroom. I am proud to say that when I responded to this parent's question about creating a 21st century learner that I included our journey of creating a classroom blog and it's use for an authentic audience for our writing. There is a long way for me to go to ensure parents that their students can use their 21st century skills and use of technology at home for creation, collaboration, and critical thinking but the first steps are in place.
Angela Watson was asked this same question from teachers. She reflects on the question by including the 4C's, how to access technology, and how technology enhances an elementary classroom. From this post I realize that the practice in my classroom is working on it's way towards providing 21st century skills to the students. The next step is to teach parents how to utilize and foster the 21st century skills learned in school.
This blog shares how 21st century skills exist in a first grade classroom. The author also shares the steps to creating a blog and it's reasons for incorporating them into the first grade classroom. I am proud to say that when I responded to this parent's question about creating a 21st century learner that I included our journey of creating a classroom blog and it's use for an authentic audience for our writing. There is a long way for me to go to ensure parents that their students can use their 21st century skills and use of technology at home for creation, collaboration, and critical thinking but the first steps are in place.