"I hate coming to computer lab!"

Slap in the face...okay, maybe not a real one, but definitely one that you feel as a teacher.  Let's be honest, MOST of us want our kids to enjoy coming to our class and want the kids to like us in some way or another.  This past week, a teacher brought her class to the computer lab and shared that her class was not excited to be there.  They said they hated coming.  Ouch!  As soon as she said it, I knew why.  The second graders did not enjoy learning to type.  Although we practiced typing for a few weeks, then did something different, the weeks of typing were becoming dull.  I could tell the kids were getting antsy and even the good students were complaining.  It was time for a change.  

The wheels began turning as I processed a lot of different things.  Are 2nd graders developmentally ready to type?  It is a district expectations that they spend 20 minutes a week typing.  How could that look differently?  How could I benefit the classroom teachers even more?  Could we quit typing? How will that change my whole K-5 progression?  Could I split the class time and do two different things?  

I can do things differently, we can split the class time, it will change the whole K-5 progression but this is a learning process!  

Since those were the answers to my questions, here is the new plan...(I started the next day with day one of my rotation)

The kids come into my classroom, clean their hands, and immediately get on the computer.  They begin typing and type until 10:00.  (This gives them 15-20 minutes of typing) We use Dance Mat Typing. 

At 10:00 we will work on STEM activities that tie to their second grade science report cards.  

We are starting with a study of how earth can change instantly-earthquakes, volcanoes-and how earth can change slowly-weathering, erosion.  We used an online thesaurus to look up synonyms for quickly and slowly because those were terms in the standard.  Then, we began talking about earthquakes, volcanoes, and erosion.  Next week, when they come in, we are going to use the search engine to look up structures that survive earthquakes.  The final portion of the earthquake study will include building earthquake structures and testing them on gelatin earths/fault lines.  Pictures to come!  To study erosion, we are going to look at cookie rocks and spray them with water before we do another search engine search.

If your kids don't like what you are doing, or are not enjoying the class, evaluate and ask yourself questions.  Don't be afraid to listen to your kids and change things up.  Don't wait until you are slapped in the face and the kids vocalize they "hate coming to your class."  See the signs in their eyes and actions!   Be willing to CHANGE things up!