1. Preparing Educators for the Millennium Generation Dr. Jean M. Casey Professor - Reading/Early Childhood/Technology California State University, Long Beach

2. Writing my own story…Colleen The New Literacy begins at age three

3. Writers & Readers…ages 7 and 3

4. Todays Focus How PBS Ready to Learn, that has produced Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow and programs to interest and light the fire of knowledge for preschool youngsters, can now go the next step and empower them as writers and readers. How collaboration between educators and media is our next most important challenge. Language Processing makes Language Experience work; What I can say, I can write. What I can write, I can read! (Van Allen, Casey)

5. Important Facts The child has an absorbent mind ages birth to seven (Montessori). Learns second language, music, math, computers much more easily at that age. Small muscle coordination is developmental and sometimes doesnt occur until 7 or 8 years of age. A pencil is a tool that needs small muscle coordination to use. It is easier for a young child to hit the a key on the computer than to write an a. A computer is a sophisticated pencil, a writing tool that works well for young writers.

6. Teacher Education and Technology Descriptive Study of the Reading Program in ABC School District - Cerritos, California (Casey) 21 Schools-qualitative and quantitative study of the reading program in all classrooms Teachers enthusiasm, love of learning and expectations for students. Simi Star Project - Research on early literacy and technology (Casey) 6 School Districts-26 classrooms-1000 writing portfolios Students with daily access to computers for language processing all became readers and writers.

7. Research Support Simi Star Conclusions Teachers idea, administrator support. Students in the WTR classroom averaged two writing levels higher and exceptionally high reading attitude compared to control. Sixth grade follow-up study-Students won the county writing contests/their own website/all were proficient writers and readers.

8. Education Testing Service Evaluation of WTR 10,000 Kindergarten and Grade 1 students at 21 sites (R. Murphy and L. Appel) Writing to Read (WTR) Three year study most extensive research on computers and early literacy Children in WTR write better than comparison groups In Reading, Kindergarten WTR students have a significant advantage over comparison students.

9. NCLB and Technology NCLB requires teachers to integrate technology into ongoing instruction and make technology a part of the learning process. The value of technology is knowing how to use it to learn, the goal is for every student to be technologically literate before entering secondary education. (NCLB 2003)

10. The Beginning - Failing at Five Codey (Age 5, Kdg.) was placed in the low group in his class. When asked to write, he avoided the task, because he couldnt do well with a pencil. The computer made a difference for him. He went from low group to author in one session.

11. Codeys Literacy Success The computer empowered him to write. The computer proved to him that he was not dumb. The computer gave him a tool to type in any word he saw and then hear it spoken to him. It was his ticket to the Literacy Club

12. Los Angeles Unified School District Waterford and WTR Waterford Early Reading Program in 244 schools Waterford used by about 150,000 students at 1,600 schools in 40 states. It puts the learner in control of his learning, processing his own language experience stories. It has the outstanding music, graphics, sound educational materials for comprehensible input. Its based on a good understanding of reading development. (G.Reid Lyon, NIH)

13. Estimate Brandons Level of Maturity

14. Brandon 12-13-95 It is raning hrd twoda. I lik the ran bekaz I lik gateng wet. I lik plaing in the ran. Brandon, Age 6, Gr. 1

15. Anthonys Story (2 versions) Version 1 – Pencil and paperVersion 2 - Computer

17. Mini web, Multilingual, Maxi Learning Project Dr. Rachel Cohen - University of Paris, France Dr. Gloria Medrano - University of Zaragoza, Spain A network which links children aged 3 to 8 from 10 countries using 4 languages. Research shows that using technology at an early age, before children become candidates for school failure, can indeed make a significant difference.

23. Davids Story (Age 6, diagnosed A.D.H.D.) 9-18 dinusors lift 200 yers a goe They had fites. Evey day they had fites. One day a dinusor was eating gras. And a dinosaur got in a fites. The bigis dinnsor wan. it was nite time. it was snowing for a week.the dinsaurs dide.

24. More from David gorchwoshtin live he was the first presit.He was born in ' 16-48.He was 1 yers old. He was nise he noow lots of thing. he had fan win he was 2 yers old he had tlooes. Noul he is 3 yers old he was omoste in pescol. noul he is 5 yers old he is in cinagarn.noul he is 6 yers ]old he is in fiest gard.

25. Without a classroom computer and a knowledgeable teacher…David would probably have spent the next six years in a special category…on Ritalin. Without a classroom computer and a knowledgeable teacher…David would probably have been lost in our one size fits all educational system. With a classroom computer and a knowledgeable teacher…David became an early member of the literacy club and, in the 7th grade, he designed the Web Page for his class. Outcomes for David

26. The Lake Chapter 1 by Libby Age 5

27. The Lake Chapter 2 by Libby Age 5

28. The Lake Chapter 3 by Libby Age 5

29. The Lake Chapter 4 by Libby Age 5

30. The Lake Chapter 5 by Libby Age 5

31. Outcomes for Libby? Without a knowledgeable teacher…Libby will probably hate being forced to read decodable books and, as a result, will be bored with school. Without a knowledgeable teacher…who understands about phonemic spelling as a first stage, Libby will probably stop writing her novels. There is real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment. (Norman Vincent Peale)

32. Mat sat on a fat cat just wont hack it. It failed with SWRL in 1970. It will fail again.

33. Importance of Early Experiences Children who lack access to books, who are not read to in the home, start school with a significant disadvantage. On-target students typically start kindergarten with 3000 hours of pre-literacy activities in the home. At-risk students start with just 50-250 hours of the same activities. (Adams, 1990) Without effective intervention, this deficit continues to increase yearly.

34. Benefits of Computer Access for Young Children Empowerment and control of learning - accepts computer as a lifelong learning tool Interactive, visual positive feedback An experience that can support the development of learning, logical thinking and ability to solve and analyze problems

35. Software to Review Dr. Peets Talk Writer Waterford Early Reading Program (Pearson) OpenBooksLearning Writing to Read 2000 Write: Outloud (Don Johnston) KidWorks Deluxe or KidPix Clicker 4

36. Jessicas Story (WTR Age 5) The Vois Inside You One day Jenny seid to her mom I want to do jimnastiks Her mom seid OK why dont you try out for the Olimpiks? Jennys techer was tuf. it was the day of the Olimpiks. Jenny was scard when it came to her tern. Then she herd a vois it seid you can do it. Jenny ran to the beem. She did a back flip the vois cep saing you can do it. Then it came agen you can do it. She one the Olimpks

37. Classroom Integration Six networked computers/Internet connections/Teachers Computer Computers integrated in writing process all day long 88 Classroom writing ideas in Creating the Early Literacy Classroom (Casey)

39. Pre-school Teachers Model reading, writing and daily use of computer, understand how to inspire and encourage children Understand about providing writing and reading experiences for at-risk students Understand the needs of on-target students as well as those leading the way and living in a technology household

40. Power of PBS Communication Ready to Learn resources for Parents and Teachers need to be a part of home-school communication at every school and in all teacher training Generations of learners, because of programs like Schoolhouse Rock, can recite the Preamble of our Constitution. Now we need new programs like this that highlight how young children can use the technology as a tool to write, read and learn. PBS should show children, parents and teachers the value of computer technology in literacy development.

41. Leadership PBS Ready to Learn - The next step Children as Authors Collaboration between university and K-12 educators, parents and media to give voice and literacy to all preschool children Human beings learn through interest and need to know. They need role models that inspire them and tools that empower them to become literate.

42. Inspiring Friends to Use the Computer Federal mandates like Good Start, Grow Smart have demonstrated great success with 3 and 4 year olds literacy. Preschool is a gift for a lifetime.

43. Literacy Success for All Learners Anthony (Age 10, Gr. 5), Poor eye-hand coordination Brandon (Age 6, Gr. 1), Poor eye-hand coordination Codey (Age 5, Kdg), Teacher labeled him a low-low David (Age 6, Gr. 1), Diagnosed A.D.H.D. Jessica (Age 5, Kdg), Motivational Writer Libby (Age 5, Kdg), Gifted, GATE

44. Remember One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car you drove or the sort of house you lived in. But the world may be different because you were important in the life of a child. Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. (W. B. Yeats)

45. Dr. John Henry Martin The computer can give the learner the worlds most beautiful feeling, the Greek Eureka: I got it, I know it, I can see it, I can understand it! Thats a transforming feeling; to be awakened from dormancy, from sadness to strength, to dignity. I can write, I can read!

46. Where to get more information Early Literacy: The Empowerment of Technology by Jean M. Casey, Ph.D. (Revised Edition 2000) ISBN 1-56308-458-9 Creating the Early Literacy Classroom by Jean M. Casey, Ph.D. (2000) ISBN 1-56308-712-X jeancasey@aol.com www.csulb.edu/~jmcasey