Math concepts taught in class such as shapes and patterns can be extended with the use of technology. Your child may use draw and paint software programs to do a counting activity or create a pattern. He may use a computer template the teacher has created to group objects by attributes, such as size, color, and shape. Or he may be asked to extend a pattern, deciding which object comes next. Berthiaume notes: “The class may make a counting book using digital photos, numbers, and words.”

What you might see in a well-equipped classroom Educational software that reinforces reading and math skills Interactive story books on a computer One computer or more in the classroom with access to the Internet and a printer Large-screen display connected to a computer used by the teacher to demonstrate a technology lesson to the whole class (If none is available, the teacher may have smaller groups gather around the computer to introduce a lesson or technology skill.) An interactive whiteboard, which is an electronic writing surface that can capture writing electronically

Early childhood education consists of lots of hands-on projects. Teachers can document their students’ progress by taking pictures with a digital camera. These photos serve as illustrations of the children’s accomplishments and assessments of their growth. Explanations students give at a smart board can also be kept in a digital portfolio. The portfolios can be shared with families at conferences and given to the next year’s teacher as a point of reference.

While technology doesn’t take the place of vital, developmental play and hands-on learning, it adds to them, reinforcing traditional methods of teaching.