Software used in my preschool classroom: What else could I be doing?

During my day to day practices I use software like Microsoft word, for completing lesson plans, creating home project assignments, progress reports, or supplemental classroom materials. I also regularly use Board maker and writing with symbols software to create games, word cards, visual communication materials like., individualized schedules, class rule charts, lunch menus, rebus charts, and many other materials to enhance learning experiences and meet a variety of learning styles. I also use e-mail to communicate with colleges and share information and materials.

     As I continue my journey to be a life -long learner, I would like to become more familiar with software applications like Microsoft publisher, eBook creation, blogs, teacher websites, podcasting, Google Doc, and smart board technologies. I think that, by increasing my knowledge of the technology  resources available to the education field, I will be better equipped to meet the diverse needs of all of my students, while preparing them to be successful in the 21^st century world.

     To achieve professional proficiency in technology resources, the best way for me to achieve my goal is to researching how these technology resources work and reflect on what applications would best meet the needs of the learning environment I am trying to create. Throughout the next year I want to develop a monthly classroom newsletter to keep parents connected with my classroom specifically, and I also want to create a teacher website. By creating a teacher website I could include the classroom newsletter and parents could have access to it anytime. I have already created an eBook site where my students and myself can create virtual versions of our classroom created stories. This would be a great tool embedded in my teacher website, to be used as a resource for families allowing them access to our stories at home. As I progress with the eBook site, I would also like to give families the opportunity to create and share their own created stories. The site I found will allow for this, and I think after explanation and guidelines are set for the students and their families it will be a great way to increase parent involvement.  I think my starting point is creating a teacher website, and then researching relevant and meaningful resources to embedded wit in it.