Using Technology in K-8 Literacy Classrooms

PREFACE INTENT Using Technology in K-8 Literacy Classroomsis designed to provide K-8 teachers with an array of computer tools to promote reading, writing, and critical thinking in their classrooms. Thus, this text can be used not only in a preservice course but also by seasoned teachers who recognize the need to continue their education by becoming adept at using computers in their classrooms. Each chapter provides rationales for using computer technology to teach literacy and gives many examples of how teachers can use technology effectively. The chapters deal with issues such as how the teacher can facilitate students' use of technology, how the Internet can enhance students' literacy education, how the teacher can develop integrated lesson plans, how technology can be used to help students write and publish their work, and how teachers can use technology to work with ESL and special education students. Each chapter provides information the teacher needs to use technology in the literacy classroom and sample lessons that can be imported into his or her classroom. This two-fold intent, providing continuing teacher education and pedagogical materials for classroom use, structures the chapters. Each chapter consists of a scenario that dramatizes the topic; includes a Classroom Snapshot of a actual teaching situation whereby a teacher handles the topic in his or her classroom; and provides discussion of the topic, Electronic Classroom Examples, Techno-Teacher Tips, and Frequently Asked Questions. In short,Using Technology in K-8 Literacy Classroomscovers the major concerns K-8 teachers face as they integrate computer technology into their classrooms and provides numerous suggestions for applying the ideas described in the text in real classrooms. FEATURES The following features makeUsing Technology in K-8 Literacy Classroomsparticularly valuable: The book provides teachers with theoretical information so that they have the assurance that the information conveyed is based on solid research. The book focuses on major issues and gets to the point; it allows teachers to save time by looking at the significant issues without getting bogged down in the details. The Computer Classroom Snapshots provide real-life examples of how teachers are integrating technology into the K-8 literacy curriculum. Lists of electronic sources provide teachers with easy access to URLs that can give them more materials for their classes. The Techno-Teacher Tips provide important pointers on using technology in the classroom. Print sources cited throughout the book provide numerous resources, including References at the end of each chapter that identify sources to promote the integration of technology and literacy in the classroom. As an ancillary text,Using Technology in K-8 Literacy Classroomsdoes not belabor points but treats each subject in enough detail to get the message across. The book is practical, so that teachers can either use the materials straight from the book or easily adapt them for their classes. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book would not have been possible without the support and help of many people. That the book was published was due to the faith that our editor, Brad Potthoff, had in us, and we know that we tried that faith during our prolonged period of writing the text. We thank Brad for bearing with us and giving us the opportunity to provide a book that will help K-8 teachers integrate literacy via computer technology into their classrooms. We are also grateful to the reviewers who provided helpful comments on drafts of the book: Donna Camp, University of Central Florida; Kara Dawson, University of Virginia; Laurie Elish-Piper, Northern Illinois University; Patricia P. Fritchie, Troy State University-Dothan; Joan Hanor, California State University-San Marcos; Kim MacGregor,Anderson, Rebecca S. is the author of 'Using Technology in K-8 Literacy Classrooms', published 2000 under ISBN 9780139363375 and ISBN 0139363378.