Handheld Computer Reaches CPS First Graders

When I went to high school actually my senior year my school still has computers that operated on antiquated software. I was still working with this program Microsoft Works and it had to have been version 3.0 because I couldn't use a mouse with it. It was all keyboarding and function keys.

What these kids have these days. CPR:

Different animals drift across a small screen as Lumani Lubenba scrambles to match them with the right letters. The little blue device he holds is designed to help first graders with math and reading. TeacherMate, as it’s called, reinforces these skills in a variety of ways.

LUMANI: This is a camel, you have to match it with the “c.” Now this is a pig, you gotta match it with a “p”

Some games record reading…

STUDENT: My sister
PLAYBACK: My sister
TEACHERMATE: My sister

Others practice spelling or addition. The device is about the size of an index card, but thicker, and looks a little like a GameBoy.

STUDENT: The reason why I like it is that it got buttons on it.

Many students here refer to it simply as “the game.” In fact, it reminds Lumani of a Wii.

HEIKENEN-WEISS: Do you like the Wii more than the TeacherMate? STUDENT: No

It’s hard to believe that six-year-olds like TeacherMate for its educational value, but Lumani explains he prefers this to the Wii because he knows he needs to learn.

Any tool that'll help these children learn is a good thing. Books or handheld computers, anything.