The use of technology is an important part of the overall learning environment throughout  Bloomingdale School District 13.  It is the responsibility of each of us to prepare our students for a technological world.

Your first grader will be introduced to technology

 in the following ways:

• Discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the use of technology in today's world.
• Discovering how computer technology fits into school life.
• Identifying workstation components: hard drive; floppy drive and disk; CD-ROM drive and disk; printer, CPU, mouse; keyboard; microphone; speakers; and digital camera
• Practicing proper keyboarding techniques: correct posture and wrist position; typing with two hands; and locating numbers, letters, enter, Esc, arrow, and function (shift, backspace, etc) keys
• Identifying and using home row keys
• Learning why and how to take care of equipment, diskettes, and CD-ROMS
• Navigating within the Windows environment (e. g. click, drag, minimize, and maximize windows.)
• Opening and closing applications
• Logging on and off a network
• Saving to an appropriate drive
• Becoming familiar with age-appropriate software including entering data and navigating within a word processing document

We hope to introduce your child to use appropriate resources

 to enhance learning:

• Reinforcing and expanding knowledge and skills through the appropriate use of electronic tutorials, simulations, etc.
• Using appropriate multimedia resources to support learning: powerpoint presentations
• Using technology resources for problem solving, communication, and illustration of thoughts, ideas, and stories

Students are currently using the Microsoft Word program to practice writing skills.  Each week students are writing sentences, letters, thank you notes, or practicing their spelling lists.  If you have a computer at home let your child show you what they have learned to do.