tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781401.post9170646627239356405..comments2008-04-01T12:49:38.821-07:00The Science Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02846516022505481326noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781401.post-22576797904352869002008-04-01T11:03:00.000-07:002008-04-01T11:03:00.000-07:00Exactly! Kindergarteners and pre-schoolers are used to hearing and learning about the alphabet in its sequential ABC order. While environmental print, their names, etc. "mix the letters up," they locate and identify the letters on alphabet strips, wall posters, puzzles even...IN ORDER. A keyboard set up that way would be a HUGE help!Michaelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14990037834550670314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781401.post-37750196343854393762008-03-31T07:06:00.000-07:002008-03-31T07:06:00.000-07:00LOL<BR/><BR/>I can only imagine the annoyance of a spell-checker!<BR/><BR/>My friend has a 3 (now 4) year old who is quite good with using a mouse and often refers to sending e-mail (not that he knows his letters, mind you)---so I know it's possible for young minds to use the basic equipment.<BR/><BR/>I wonder if a different (non-qwerty) keyboard would help? I am sure that 5-year olds could learn to "hunt and peck," but why let that get in the way of them being able to use the technology?The Science Goddesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02846516022505481326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781401.post-24639074510837303132008-03-31T05:43:00.000-07:002008-03-31T05:43:00.000-07:00Thought provoking- and relieved someone out there (YOU!) are including kindergartners in your range. I've asked many of the same things- more obvious questions for me as I've relocated from state to state, school to school, kindergarten room to kindergarten room and the diversity in prior schema, exposure and basic availability of technology has been astounding to me. Each school has been a rather isolated bubble- correction...each community has been an isolated bubble...by choice, slow, careful, and in some cases, fearful to welcome the paradigm shift that has and will continue to happen with or without them. <BR/><BR/>As for kindergarten, students are usually eager to use sounds/letters in journals, on notepaper, on a computer screen, online if possible too...as long as there's not a spellchecker beeping at them! :)Michaelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14990037834550670314noreply@blogger.com