Helping Parents Connect to Room 88

I. Overview & Purpose - Why am I setting up a classroom blog for kindergarteners?

There are a wealth of web sites geared for children, but which sites connect with what your child is currently learning in kindergarten? This blog is designed to keep parents updated on quality web sites that children will enjoy.

II. Education Standards Addressed

*to be researched (technology for kindergarenterners is most definitely in our Masschusetts Curriculum Frameworks, I need to reread for the accurate numbers. Also, language arts, science and mathematics are a part of our frameworks.)

III. Materials

Parents need access to the Internet (and of course a computer). I also strongly suggest that parents pull up a chair and work with their child as he/she engages in these suggested web sites (remember one wrong click can take anyone anywhere online).

IV. Objectives

My objective in approaching this type of blog is to help parents get involved in their child's education. Children are highly motivated to use the computer and parents are more motivated to have their child play games on line oppose to opening up and setting up board games.
This blog will suggest teacher approved sites that correlate with what the students are currently learning in class. With only two computers in my classroom for 22 children, it takes 11 school days for everyone to get a chance to use technology. By then, we have covered several new concepts.
I also plan to use this blog to get feedback from parents regarding the suggested sites. Were the sites too easy, difficult or hard for the child to play? Also, any posititive feedback would be great to hear.

V. Procedure
Every week I would like to suggest three or four sites or links that correlate to the week's content. Every week in room 88 the children learn a new letter and sound, additional sight words, continue to build their science knowledge and learn about upcoming holidays and special events.

VI. Verification
As the blog is visited, it is hoped parents will post a response to any web sites they visited. Any feedback will be followed up with a response. Based on this communication, I will be able to see if the blog is well received (or not).

VII. Reflection
Weekly I'd like to post a reflection on the students performance. Are the students who engage in online games gaining more success in the classroom. Are the students making connections to the games they play and the learning we're doing in the room?