Using Technology as Centers

Here is a great idea to incorporate technology into your Language Arts block. Take the class to the computer lab and have center rotations there! Depending on number of students in your class set up 2 to 3 computers per center. I am going to use a six center example, but of course you can have more.

Designate a website for each center and have them rotate through each one for 15-20 minutes depending on your time. You could do a two day rotation as well and do three one day and three the next.

Here are some great websites to use and how to use them.

Rotation 1: http://www.atozreading.com/

This website has many different leveled readers. The students can choose books from their level to read. After they choose a book they can click on projectable books and they can turn the page using the mouse. They can also underline words with electronic highlighters or electronic pencils. The teacher can have students highlight or underline words such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, color words, or anything the class might be working on.

Rotation 2: http://www.mrs.cannonscomputerlab.com/

This is a great website for teaching kids keyboarding skills. The kids just click on keyboarding and they have great games to help them learn how to keyboard and make using the word processing portion of the computer much faster.

Rotation 3: http://www.starfall.com/

Students can go on this website and play reading games and hear stories on their reading level.

Rotation 4: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm

There are many different types of math games at many different levels. Students will have a great time testing them all!

Rotation 5: http://www.coolmath-games.com/

This is a similiar site to sheppard sofware with a lot more graphics. Students will enjoy all of the different characters and games.

Rotation 6: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

Click on Fun and Learning then click on Games and Interactives. There are interactive books and games for all ages. There book in Spanish! There are crafts and songs as well. There is also a webcam to watch live fish in action and videos help bring the ocean to life. Students can have a real ocean experience all online!