Technology in the Classroom Varies from School to School
Your kindergartner may use word-processing, draw and paint software, and presentation software (such as PowerPoint) to complete activities in a range of subject areas, including language arts, science, social studies, mathematics and art. These activities, which integrate computers into the classroom curriculum, are the first steps to technological literacy: the use of tools to solve problems.

“When learning to read and write, kindergarten students may be practicing identifying letters and sounds on the computer,” explains our teacher consultant Gayle Berthiaume.

Many states base their technology standards on the National Educational Technology Standards for Students. But because children aren’t tested on their use of technology, teachers are typically not held accountable to teach them. That means computer use varies widely from classroom to classroom. Your kindergartner may have one or more computer workstations in the classroom, may go to a computer lab once a week or may not use technology regularly at all. To get the maximum benefit from technology, the best classrooms implement technology into the curriculum plans to develop students’ higher order thinking skills, promote creativity and facilitate academic learning.

Introduction to the Mouse and Keyboard
In kindergarten, your child is likely to be introduced to the mouse and keyboard. She will be shown how to use a mouse to click, drag and double click. To learn this she may visit Web sites that have large pictures she can click on. Kindergartners typically learn where the letters, numbers and special keys are on the keyboard. The class may start off doing activities with paper keyboards. You can expect your kindergartner to learn to type her name and use the shift key to make a capital letter.

Introduction to Draw and Paint Software
Draw and paint software programs such as Kid Pix and AppleWorks are common in many kindergarten classrooms. Kindergartners learn the tools in the program to type and create pictures. Your kindergartner may insert pictures that begin with the letter sound the class is learning or use pictures to do a counting activity.

Introduction to Presentation software
Your kindergartner may use software such as PowerPoint, iPhoto or AppleWorks to contribute to class books and presentations. He may make a slide or book page using pictures and text, with the help of his teacher. He will then observe the teacher putting student’s slides together to make a slide show or class book. Your kindergartner may contribute to an “ABC” book or an “All About Me” book as part of a class project.

A Few Words About PowerPoint
Some critics argue that teaching young children to use PowerPoint puts too much emphasis on fonts and formatting and not enough on thinking, writing and organizing ideas. Others argue that teaching the effective use of multimedia tools is essential, as long as they are used as visual aids, to highlight and clarify a student’s ideas. To learn more: Read Technology in the Classroom: Fad or Foundation for Learning.

Introduction to Internet Research
In kindergarten your child may visit Web sites the teacher has bookmarked to further explore what is being taught in class. If the students are learning about farms, they may visit a Web site about farm animals, while learning how to move up and down and back and forth on the Web page.

To find out what your kindergartner should be learning in spelling and handwriting, read What Your Child Should be Learning: Kindergarten Spelling and Handwriting.