Digital Technology in Early Childhood Education with Parents

On Saturday, April 23^rd a professional learning community (PLC) meeting was held with pre-k teachers on the topic of “Using Digital Technology in Early Childhood Education Classroom”.  One of the components discussed was ways to communicate with parents in this world of technology that were not just the common ones of telephone calls, sending emails and so forth.

It is so important to help parents have a smooth transition along with their child they enter the doors of the pre-k classroom using technology.  Here are ideas to think about as you plan for the start of the 2016-2017 school year:

1.      Prior to the first day of school record a virtual tour of your classroom then share as part of the “Open House” events.  Start clockwise or counter clockwise introducing them to centers along with the skills/objectives and do not forget the open-ended inquiry-based questions to build upon children’s critical thinking skills.  If possible, make available as a podcast so parents can view throughout the school year.

2.      Create a classroom blog (e.g., www.blogspot.com), closed Face Book page or webpage to display daily and/or weekly lesson plan content.  Remember to discuss with your administrators for approval and have written parental permission that their child’s photos can be displayed.  Also to include technology teachers can (a) link resources related to child development developmental age appropriate activities, (b) link songs and/or finger plays, (c) link videos of classroom activities and other important events that went on in the class.

3.      Due to parents busy schedules who may not be able to attend face-to-face parent/teacher conferences rethink using the technology such as Skype, video-conference (e.g., www.freeconferencecall.com) and other electronic devices.

4.      Prior to the start of school and as you conduct your home visit consider asking parents to make family scrapbook.  Encourage parents to put information in Power Point, Word or other program to create their family book.  This can be shown to ease the transition and/or viewed privately by child as needed.  In addition, you may send home and/or post electronically lesson plan related question(s) where parents can send in child’s end product and/or include in child’s family scrapbook.

5.      Create a school photo gallery for each child using Power Point, Word or other program displaying work samples and skills incorporated to enhance parent’s knowledge of what’s happening in the classroom.  The child’s photo gallery can be send at least once a month so parents are abreast of child’s mastery of developmentally age appropriate skills.

6.      Record and/or download songs that are a part of the weekly lesson plan onto MP# player, iPad, tablet or other devices then send it home for child and parents to sing for the night and return next day.  If possible include the words (in English and primary language of family) and a related activity that can be returned the next day with the song.  You may want to include a journal where child (with assistance from parents) can draw picture and dictate to parent to record then bring back to school then sharing during large group time.

We live in the 21^st century of technology and it is important that pre-k teachers move in that directions with parents and children enrolled in the classroom.  If you are using other strategies to bridge the gap based on technology exposure to parents please share.  Knowledge is powerful!