Technological tools for Learning styles

In a world full of screens, it's hard to find a meaningful way to incorporate technology in the classroom.  Children are going to have more technological experiences throughout their lifetime than we can even imagine as adults.  As a preschool teacher, I hope to expose my students to fun games that trick them into practicing skills.  I will explore some tools you can use for different learning styles in your class and some of my experiences with these apps!  

"What sound does a T make?"
"/t/!"
"What sound does it make with a robot voice?"

It is fun to make up voices with students.  When beginning a lesson, it is vital to grab their attention and help them focus on the task at hand.  Often, when I begin the lesson of letter sounds, I grab my mystery box! (full of maracas, paperclips, sandpaper, and a flyswatter of course!) I ask everyone to copy the sound as I hide my flyswatter and hit it against the inside of the box. 

What sound did you say? 

 Most of my children responded, "smack" or "ssssst".  So we could begin to form /s/. Then, of course we incorporated a group writing of the letter S and we got our sky writers out (children write with their fingers in the air to copy me as I write on the whiteboard). And that was the extent of my lesson, until......

I am working on my Masters currently, and the text we are reading, Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional by Don Kauchak, challenged in each chapter to incorporate technology in the classroom.  I have been wanting to for a while, but was hesitant.  Then, I read to use tech as an instrument for practicing new skills, and that in this way "technology can be a valuable tool" (Kauchak, 379).

  Ok, so how do I make this work, but not have children playing silly "learning" games and waste their short, valuable classroom time with me? The easiest solution would be to send links to parents (and at the end I will give you some great apps as rewards or for parents to use at home). However, I want my technology to be a tool.  I wanted to enhance their creativity, not let them drone on in front of a screen.  So, I began my research. 

1. Here are some great apps that get kids to use their voice as an auditory tool to practice skills.
2. Here are great ideas to get your kinesthetic learners moving.
3. Get your touch screen ready for those writers.
4. Visual learning that can stimulate their minds.

You can use them in centers, small groups, or even as a group lesson!  Hope you enjoy and share any suggestions that have worked for you! Here is a list of many more apps, their uses, prices, and recommendations.  This download had some great ideas and some not so effective ideas. It was worth the download for myself, because it has helped begin my journey into educational tech tools. I recently went to a workshop with Dr. Jessica Redcay and she has fantastic resources learning style skill-building.  I also recommend reading Mind in the Making by Ellen Galinsky.  It has a lot of great research and creative suggestions for guiding the development of young children.