1. The document discusses the benefits of using a SMART Board in an early childhood classroom, including improving fine motor skills, gross motor skills, attention span, visual attention, and more. 2. It provides tips for using the SMART Board with young learners and examples of how to incorporate it into different subjects and activities. 3. Research cited found that SMART Boards can improve achievement, confidence, and participation for students with special needs.

1. How Smart is a SMART Board in an Early Childhood Classroom? Debbie Canfield and Melanie Haight EC/ECSE Teachers Fort Osage School District Independence, MO debcanfield@fortosage.net/mhaight@fortosage.net

2. Why Use a Smart Board This type of technology is being used in more primary classrooms so having one in an EC classroom is beneficial to our youngest learners Fine motor – when children “write” with their wrist up and arm extended it strengthens their arm, wrist, hand and fingers, in turn, making it easier to write on a table top Gross motor – when they “write” on the Smart Board, they are increasing their balance and core strength

3. Why Use a Smart Board Interaction increases attention span Visual attention increases Visual discrimination is refined Enhances learning for children who are more visual and tactile learners Hand-eye coordination becomes more integrated, and a child who has trouble using a computer mouse can be more successful on the Smart Board

4. Why Use a Smart Board Spatial awareness grows stronger Oral language increases when a child has to ask a teacher or peer for assistance Teachers can use pre-made or self-made activities to engage children for different lessons Can be used with websites to introduce and/or reinforce skills and concepts taught in the classroom

5. Two Quick Tips for Little Learners If the children cannot reach the top of the Smart Board, let them use a padded pointer. Tennis balls on the end of a pointer work well. Take a Smart Board marker from the tray and replace it with a Crayola marker to transform the Smart Board marker into the mouse. This helps to avoid the ‘jumpy finger’ young children get from pushing too hard on the Smart Board.

6. When to Use Smart Board in the Classroom Music/Movement Play exercise/music DVDs so the whole class can see Show them different types of instruments using web resources Taking attendance Move faces or names from HOME to SCHOOL Write name on attendance wall Calendar www.starfall.com

7. When to Use Smart Board in the Classroom Teach and reinforce skills and concepts using different websites: (just a few) http://www.learningplanet.com http://www.storyplace.org http://www.crickweb.co.uk/Early-Years.html http://pbskids.org http://www.starfall.com http://www.scholastic.com http://www.helpkidzlearn.com http://www.mymcpl.org/ http://www.ellsworth.k12.wi.us/hillcrest/jungmann/smartboard.htm

8. When to Use Smart Board in the Classroom Large group, teacher directed Small group, teacher directed Work on IEP goals, teacher directed Individual students, student directed Peers, student directed Therapy (PT, OT, speech)

9. Smart Exchange http://exchange.smarttech.com/index.html#tab=0 Smart Exchange is a website created by Smart Technologies. You can search for interactive lessons, games, and activities. Search by grade level, subject, file type For preschool through high school Includes special education, ESL and special classes

10. Supportive Research http://downloads01.smarttech.com/media/sitecore/en/pdf/research_library/special_ed/the_aural_enabler.pdf The Aural Enabler: Creating a Way for Special Needs Kids to Participate in the Classroom Lesson by Geri Salinitri, Kara Smith and Christopher Clovis - University of Windsor “ The SMART Board assisted the special needs teacher in improving the learning environment for her students. All participants maintained motivation and participation levels throughout the lessons. Those with the most initial problems showed the most improvement in achievement and confidence, ergo increasing participation in their regular classroom.”

11. Why Teachers Love Smart Board The interactive electronic whiteboard is great for demonstrations. The interactive electronic whiteboard is a colorful tool. Research indicates that students respond to displays where color is employed. The board can accommodate different learning styles. All ages of students respond favorably to board use. Distance learning is an excellent setting for interactive whiteboard use. One-computer classrooms can maximize the use of limited computer access. The interactive whiteboard is an excellent tool for the constructivist educator. The boards are clean and attractive tools. Students with limited motor skills can enjoy board use. It is interactive. It can interface well with other peripherals. The board is great for meetings are lessons where the participants need printed copies. It is a kid magnet! Dr. Mary Ann Bell, Sam Houston State University http://teachers.net/gazette/JAN02/mabell.html