Our Laptop Computers

We are extremely fortunate to have a laptop computer cart in our classroom for student use. With the cart comes a lot of responsibility, not only for the teachers, but for the children, too. We spent today introducing our students to the rituals, routines, and expectations that come with handling the expensive learning tools.

To prepare for today, we printed students' user names and passwords on Avery labels and put them in the back cover of their planner. We also included our blog site which will be a one stop shop for all links students will access at school. In addition, we assigned students a computer partner and put computer labels on their desks.  Having this handled prior to our work today was essential.

Then, to acquaint students with their laptop, we began with a PowerPoint presentation, conversation, and demonstration on the proper way to prepare your desk, retrieve your computer from the cart, carry your computer, turn your computer on, log in, get to the blog, get to our Reflex math site, log in to Reflex, plug in headphones, turn up the sound, and finally to build an Avatar and begin using our Reflex fluency site. It sounds like a lot, we know, and it was, particularly when the technology didn't fully cooperate. However, the excitement of the students made it all worth it, and we know that with practice and patience these things will come more easily. 

 

After working on their laptops, the students learned how to properly log off, shut down, return their computer to the cart, and plug in the laptop to charge. Though some of them may have been overwhelmed at first, we know practice makes perfect, and using the laptop will become automatic. The computers weren't away for two minutes when they started asking if we could use them again tomorrow, that's a good sign that they'll love them as much as we do!