We will continue working on the Internet Safety project today. You should be gathering information and forming what you gather into a cohesive movie. If you have questions about Go Animate! I will do my best to answer your questions.
This is a vocabulary week - definitions are due on the Wikispaces page by tomorrow night. This weeks theme is Software.
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This week and next week in the computer lab...
Fifth, fourth, and third grade are learning to login to NetTrekker through Fulton Countys student portal. They are conducting a basic search and learning to navigate the site.
Second grade is going on a geo solid shape hunt! Take a look at the second grade blog to see our geo solid slideshows. The students used digital cameras to capture images of real geo solids. We then reviewed the pictures as a class and each group explained why each object represented each solid figure. If we disagreed, then we decided against using that picture in our class slideshow.
First grade is learning how to power on a computer and login as a student. We are also using the first grade blog to apply what weve learned in first grade this year.
Kindergarten is practicing their money skills using games from Js Math page. The link for this site is on the kindergarten blog in the math section.
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This is another week with vocabulary, so those people who are responsible for posting definitions on the Wiki spaces website should have that done by Tuesday night. Again, it is completely realistic to post definitions for all of your words for the rest of the semester, and if you want to get all of yours done tonight that would be perfectly ok. You dont have to wait until the week your definitions are due to post the definitions - you can post them early.
We will have another week of technique grades this week as well - continue to concentrate on the little things as this will have a lasting impact on how well you key and how fast you improve. I have been very pleased with Congos work on technique - an overwhelming majority of you do a fantastic job of listening and doing what is asked (in terms of technique) and it is paying off!
Today we are going to learn the P (R4) and the V (L1). After these two letters we are left with only the Z and the Q (in terms of letters) to learn.
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This week:
Vocabulary
Create Wikispace accounts
Create a Classmarker account
Review of all keys learned
Learn N, G, Left Shift key, period (.)
Technique grade
TODAY:
We are going to begin by talking about the vocab words and vocab lists for the class. If you go to the vocabulary page on the blog youll see a variety of information - well be covering this today. Additionally, youll need to have access to the wikispaces page so that you can submit vocabulary definitions (thats already been done by me - you will need to verify by checking your gmail, and well do that in a little bit).
The vocabulary for this class is really split into 2 parts - on one hand you will be responsible for knowing all of the vocabulary words for any given week, and you will demonstrate your knowledge by completing a vocab quiz. On the other hand you will be required to find definitions for the vocab words and post them to the wiki for everyone to study off of. This "research process" will be graded, just as the vocab quizzes will be graded (our first vocabulary quiz will be this Friday, and it will be taken online on a website called Classmarker).
When you post a definition to the Wiki, your definition should be easy to understand. Sometimes, after finding a definition, you will see that the definition that you have found doesnt help you to understand what that vocab word means (or is). Therefore, find definitions that are easy to understand, and if you cant find one that makes sense please see me so I can help you write an easy-to-understand definition.
Additionally, if you have a vocab word that is an acronym (GPS, WWW, or FAQ) then please include what the letters stand for (for example, WWW stands for World Wide Web, and when you enter your vocab definition on the wiki make sure to include that).
This will seem a little foreign to begin with, but we will be talking about this every day between now and the end of next week, which is when your first quiz will be.
You could set up a calendar reminder in Google so that you receive an email - this way you will be reminded several days in advance of when you need to have a definition posted on the wiki. And, since you already know the words that you will be asked to define, you could find a definition for each of your words and save those definitions in a Google Doc - then when it is your week all you have to do is copy from your Google Doc to the Wiki.
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Because of ITBS testing, I will only be seeing a few classes in the lab this week. If you are in the following classes, LUCKY YOU!
Mr. Pratt
Ms. Story
Ms. Rancourt
Ms. Robinson
Ms. Thompson
Ms. Hamilton
Ms. Mullinax
Ms. Leclair
Ms. Johnson
Ms. Reisman
How do we use the Internet? Well be finding out in this weeks classes! Well also be using http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/ to practice what weve been learning in Math in unit 1.
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3rd-5th -Its time to assess our keyboarding skills! After completing a lesson on Type2Learn, we will be visiting sense-lang.org to see how many words correct per minute we can type and compare our results to our first test from September. Im excited to see your progress!
1st -2nd - Weve worked hard learning how to access and navigate Discovery Education, Renzulli Learning, and the grade level blogs. This week we will review these great resources and learn how to save these sites to your favorites at home.
Kindergarten - We are really getting the hang of how to use the mouse and can name several parts of a computer (keyboard, mouse, monitor). We will continue to use the kindergarten blog and explore the list of reading sites.
All students will be given a cheat sheet of websites. It will be attached to the inside of the front cover of the communication log. Also, their student numbers will be written on the cover. They will use their student numbers for their username and password on Discovery Education and Renzulli Learning.
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How do the parts of a computer help us? Find out in this weeks lessons. What is keyboarding? How do you keyboard? Well begin to explore the proper way to keyboard.
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Third, fourth, and fifth grade students are continuing to build their keyboarding skills with Type2Learn. Students are encouraged to practice their keyboarding skills outside of their computer lab time with BBC Dance Mat Typing. Theres a link on the right side of screen under "lesson links."
Fifth grade is working on a persuasive performance assessment. Each class is researching a national park, then using that information to persuade others to visit that park. Theyve each chosen to use one of the following tools to present their persuasive piece: Publisher, PowerPoint, Voki, or Word. Some students are writing scripts for commercials they will create using green screen technology. Well be posting all of the projects on the fifth grade blog, so check them out in a couple of weeks.
Fourth grade is exploring Publisher and the different templates available within the program. Were creating personalized greeting cards for friends and family this week.
Third grade is continuing to explore and learn about Excel. This week we discussed how to select a graph to best display the data. Once we selected a graph, we explored all of the cool features to customize our graphs!
Second grade is previewing simple machines for their unpcoming Forces of Motion unit in Science. First, we discussed pushes and pulls and explained how clip art images illustrated a push, pull, or both. After that, they were introduced to four types of simple machinces and we discussed how they make work easier for us. Finally, they chose a partner and began to edit a PowerPoint template by adding text and clip art images to the slides. After previewing in presentation mode, we saved our PowerPoints. The second grade teachers will then allow the students who completed their presentations to present them to the class or another class during this unit.
First grade has mastered how to locate and interact with the first grade blog from the schools website. This week we are practicing our basic addition and subtraction facts with AAAMath.com! We know that in second grade we are expected to answer 100 basic addition and subtraction facts in 5 minutes or less. This website is a fun way to practice those basic facts! Were also learning about contractions with BrainPOPjr.com and Sadlier-Oxford.com.
Kindergarten has mastered how to locate and interact with the kindergarten blog from the schools website. This week we are practicing our combinations using illuminations.nctm.org.
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This will be the last week that you will be allowed to work on the Internet Safety project. It will be due at the end of the hour on Thursday.
Additionally we have another list of vocab words this week - list #5 (it is the first of 3 Internet lists). As usual the vocab definitions need to be completed by Tuesday night and we will have our quiz on Friday.
Lastly, I have printed out new missing assignments lists - if you havent checked Skyward recently you may want to look at the new sheets posted on the wall.
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Fifth grade students are responding to articles on TweenTribune.com. Take a look at some of the articles and read our text-to-self connections in the comments section. Our usernames start with our first name and end with our homeroom teachers last name.
Fourth grade is working on a data webquest. The link is posted on their grade level blog. We are finding the median, mode, and range of a series of data about shark attacks in different states over a period of 11 years. We will then use Excel to present the data in the form of a graph.
Third grade is continuing to work on their word problem solving skills using http://www.thinkingblocks.com/TryIt.html . During week 11, we practiced modeling our solutions to addition and subtraction word problems. This week, we are going to model our solutions to multiplication and division word problems.
Second grade has just finished up their persuasive performance assessments and will publish them with a Voki! We will create a character, background, and record ourselves reading our final draft. The Vokis will be posted on the second grade blog, so check back to see their hard work!
First grade is also working on solving word problems. We will be using Pixie to write a word problem, illustrate it, and record ourselves reading the word problem and explaining the solution. It may sound like a lot, but Pixie makes it easy!
Kindergarten will be using the FREE Sight Word Buddy program to practice identifying sight words. If you would like to download this FREE program at home, go to http://quiz-tree.com/sight-words-buddy.html .We will also visit a new link (http://www.sightwordswithsamson.com/sw/sight_words.asp ) on the kindergarten blog to get in some extra sight word practice.
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Third through fifth grade will be working on two programs, Type to Learn and Calculating Crew! We are all enjoying the typing program and are almost ready to take a typing test again to check our progress! Also, well be practicing our math skills using Calculating Crew which is a math program available on all of the computers in the main lab.
Second grade will be applying their graphing skills from their latest math unit using Graph Club 2.0. Well be matching graphs, creating our own, and printing some to take home with us!
First grade will be using Carnival Countdown and Zoo Zillions to apply their math skills and learn how to open and close a program.
Kindergarten will be reviewing KidPix (background, stamper, text) and creating a Thanksgiving decoration to take home with them.
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Whew! I cant believe this is only the thirteenth time Ive seen each class. They have grown SO much already! See for yourself - just take a look back at the archived posts from previous months.
Fifth grade students are responding to articles on TweenTribune.com. Take a look at some of the articles and read our text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections in the comments section. Our usernames start with our first name and end with our homeroom teachers last name.
Fourth grade is continuing to work on a data webquest. The link is posted on their grade level blog. We are finding the median, mode, and range of a series of data about shark attacks in different states over a period of 11 years. We are using Excel this week to express the data in the form of a graph.
Third through fifth grade students are continuing to improve their typing skills using Type2Learn for the first 15 minutes of every class in the lab. Were keeping track of our wcpm progress using the sense-lang.org typing test. Youll find the link on the right side of this blog under LESSON LINKS.
Third grade students have a new site added to their grade level blog - AAAMath.com! We are using this site to help build fluency with our multiplication and division facts. The site provides practice for basic facts, times the students, calculates the percent accurate, and can produce printable record sheets to track progress.
Second grade students are creating an instructional video to teach the world about understandings from their recent fraction unit in Math. We are creating paper sliding videos that the students record and narrate using the flip camera.
First grade students are continuing to build their understanding of adding two 2-digit numbers wihtout regrouping. Last week, we created a word problem, illustrated, and narrated it using Pixie. This week, we are completing an activity in Pixie to apply our skills and using the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives to further explore adding tens and ones with manipulatives.
Kindergarten is also using Pixie this week! Currently, the students are learning about money (coin names, identifying characteristics, values)with their teachers, so we applied our newly learned skills with a Pixie activity. The students sorted coins by name and typed in the value for each. Our work was printed, so we could use this resource in the classroom and at home.
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