October Entry
On October 5 my computer was connected!  I am looking forward to using the lesson plans created by the Cyber Exchange Teachers.  The students in my class are excited about the new computer.  I will give an update on this entry next month after using one of the plans and having a Cyber Ambassador in class. 

I use lessons with my class similar to the reading comprehension lesson Rachel and I created.  The children catch on quickly to the task and do very well.  In their early experiences with this skill some of the words they use to fill in the blanks are so funny and ridiculous.  They even think so after I have them read to me what they have written.  This is a great way of checking comprehension and learning the simple story told even in a sentence. 
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November Entry
November 4, 1998
In the month of October we made a classroom newsletter.  Our newsletter is called Culbertson's  Classroom  News.  This is a means of communication between the classroom and home.  The parents are informed about the upcoming week's skills and classroom activities.  Also listed are the students who are chosen for The Student of the Day for that week.  Any thanks that need to be made to parents for sending supplies, washing class shirts, or reading to the class are included in the paper.  In the margin of the newsletter the student of the day adds his or her original artwork and signs the work.  Also the children add other artwork sometimes with a sentence telling about the work.  The students and I share excitement about participating in writing the paper. 

I have chosen the "Kids to Kids International" Internet project.  I have not started the project, but will very soon.
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December Entry
November was a very busy month.  I chose a lesson to teach entitled A Day Full of Popcorn found at "Ask Eric" lesson plan #:AELP-INT0015. A Full Day of Popcorn includes many areas of the curriculum from Language Arts to P.E.  The end result of the day will be a student made book detailing the activities of the day.  There are a couple of really cute songs to sing and we have been working on them. We will use this lesson in December. Getting the weekly newspaper out has been great.  The student for the day is the artist for the paper.  He/She can illustrate and/or write something seasonal or just something of interest.  The weekly paper shares thank-you's to the parents for their support, Student of the Day for each day, experiences for the week, up coming events and new skills to be taught the following week.  Hopefully I can use a Cyber Ambassador to work with our class in December. 
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February Entry

Having missed the December meeting I have not used ICQ in the classroom.  I will have to catch up on this.
In the month of January we had Cyber Ambassador, Logan, working in our class.  Logan has shown the students our Jefferson County Schools Home Page and how to get to some different activities.   He is very good working with the students and they enjoy working with him.  Next visit the students will hopefully remember how to get to the activities and Logan will get them started working. 
I have not used the laptop.  I will try to make this a goal before the March meeting.
To say at this point I see student achievement in Reading due to the technology use in the classroom I can not.  This is due to lack of time rather than lack of technology in the class.  However I can say the students are excited about using the Accelerated Reading Program on our computer.  One student read two books over the weekend and was ready to test Monday.  This has generated enthusiasm in other classmates.
Our weekly newsletters are going great.  I am getting better at time management with the students and their needs for computer skills.  I would like to have Logan work with the students to create a newsletter.  Just having him in the room on the two visits the children look forward to his coming.  The students give their thoughts about what they want me to include.
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March Entry

I have three power point presentations in the making.  Two of them are for Language Arts and the other for Math.  This is a real experience for me.  In April I will give you a complete report of the presentations.
 Our Cyber Ambassador has been out of school due to illness and has not been with us.  However we have been doing many different activities.  We have Gus and the Cyberbuds, which the children really like.  The children practice math facts on the Saxon site.  Our Math program is Saxon so having the technology in the classroom is once again beneficial. 
 My first experience with the laptop went well.  I started the power point for the meeting this month as we traveled to and from Nashville.  I hope to use it more in the future.
 We are still publishing a weekly newsletter.  The children are getting more involved with the publishing.  Experience is one of the best teachers.
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April Entry
 My Cyber Ambassador has not been in our class this month.  This part of the program has not been successful for me.  We had a set time for the ambassador on days he could come.  The few times we have had him the children were excited.  This however has not kept the children from using the computer. 
 I have not used the laptop this month.  I think it would be great if each teacher could have access to a personal laptop.
 Each student in the class typed their story onto our web page.  We had great success with this and the children enjoyed the writing experience.  However we/I have not been successful in uploading the stories to the page.  We are still working on it.
 Class newspapers have slowed a bit.  The students like making decisions about what to put in our paper and choosing clipart and/or pictures.
We want to include more of their original work in our papers. 
 I have incorporated the use of technology into the classroom for enrichment and as well as mandated academic skills.  We chart the weather each day and take a look at the headlines. While doing a study of chickens we have used a web site to enhance our study.  I prepared a PowerPoint to introduce the book Chickens Aren't the Only Ones.  We also have a PowerPoint presentation which teaches the sound of soft c called Cedilla C.
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May Entry

In the 1997-98 school year I did not have a "workable computer" for the class.  This has been a great year in the classroom for technology.  In first grade we have much to teach in a small amount of time.  We have used technology in the classroom from charting the weather during our meeting time to building a web page with each child writing his/her own story.  Just having the station in the classroom for software activities has been great.  Also writing class newspapers with the use of technology has given the children added learning experiences.   For units of study such as hatching baby chicks and watching the metamorphosis of a monarch butterfly the access to technology in the classroom has added a tremendous element of enrichment to our study.  For without this access to technology the children would have missed many learning experiences. 

I have used lesson plans for Language Arts as an enrichment tool.   Having access to electronic communication has been beneficial in that you can communicate quickly with others to ask questions or share an idea.  Also sending messages or other information concerning teaching needs is a help to instruction.  I do not have access to video conferencing at this time but will have in the future. 

We use Word to prepare our class newspapers.  PowerPoint has been a great tool for instructions in the classroom.  We have a presentation introducing the book Chickens Aren't The Only Ones to add enrichment to our study of chickens and oviparous animals. Another presentation Cedilla C is used to teach the soft sound of letter c.  PowerPoint is a great aid for classroom instruction.

Our classroom newspaper is a source of communication for school, teacher, and student in conveying information to the parents or caregiver at home. Our newspaper shares with the home current classroom events, needs of the class, daily lessons for the week, Student of the Day for the week, and school news.

Faye Humbard and Connie Campbell are major assets to our system.  Connie is great at our monthly meetings. Being very knowledgeable in her area of technology she leads us successfully through our endeavors. She is a motivator and this is an asset to me when I become frustrated.  Knowing she is only an ICQ away when I need help is great.  This is a confidence builder and a motivator and thusly an advantage to my comfort in my classroom instruction.  She has the patience of Job, for which I am very thankful.

I have only used the laptop once.  I have a computer at home so the necessity of the laptop has not been great.  However the laptop gives mobility in working.

Our Cyber Ambassador came to our classroom about three times.  He worked well with the students.  I think this is an area to be looked at more closely.

Student achievement through the use of technology as a tool  has enhanced my reading curriculum.  As the students write and see their words in print this is a learning experience.  The children have a connection with what they need to read.  Also using the web as an access to search for topics of study has enhanced their desired to read for discovery.  At the level I teach (1st grade) creating a desire to read and allowing for successful experiences are a priority.  Through the use of technology in addition to other avenues I think this is accomplished. 

I feel the most beneficial aspect of participating in this project has been a new awareness of technology and added confidence in the use of technology. Having a knowledgeable leader like Connie is the key too much of the programs success.

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