Wecome Back!
I hope everyone had a wonderful break! Many of our students will be finishing up projects they started before break, while others will begin new projects. Lots of learning happening in the computer lab!
Computer Class Update
Wow. Time really flies when you are busy and having fun. After learning our procedures and many of the features on our Apple laptops, our students jumped right into projects and learning in the computer lab. Updates for each of the classes are listed below.
Kindergarten
Our kindergarten students have learned so much about computers already! They have explored many of the applications on our Apple computers and are now learning about the different parts of a computer and their functions. We are exploring some of the information and activities that are available on the internet to help us learn even more about computers. We have also been using the computers to help us learn more about letters and letter sounds
First Grade
Our first graders have started a unit on nutrition. They are learning about the Food Guide Pyramid and how it helps us determine which foods are healthy and which are not so healthy. The internet is full of wonderful information, and we are working our way through some of the available activities to help us better understand healthy living habits.
Second Grade
Our second grade students are creating books about the parts of the computer, that they will eventually share with our Kindergarten students. They are creating these books in Keynotes, which is the Apple version of Powerpoint. This project is giving them an opportunity to review the parts of the computer and their functions; review, learn, and use Keynotes to make a book – which includes adding slides (pages), importing pictures, adding text boxes, designing the layout of their pages, and citing sources. In addition, they are working on writing complete sentences, and using pictures to illustrate a concept. We hope to share these books with Kindergarten next term.
Third Grade
The third grade students are learning about life in Scotland. This research project is designed to give them new knowledge about the environment, the people, education, and the culture, so they can have more meaningful interactions with their Scottish pen pals. It is exciting to see them reaching beyond their own community to communities around the world!
Fourth Grade
Our fourth graders will be using many word processing skills in their projects and assignments this year. So we are taking some time to learn proper keyboarding skills with good posture and correct finger placement. It is hard to break old habits, but learning the correct way will increase speed and accuracy in the future.
Fifth Grade
The fifth graders have been learning about changes in technology over time in our social lives, business and in the medical field. It is amazing to see how much has changed just in my lifetime! From typewriters to cellphones to defibrillators, our world is changing very quickly. What does the future look like? Our fifth graders will have some incite into several new technologies that are in the developmental stages, and some are prettying incredible.
Sixth Grade
Our sixth grade students have been learning about good study habits and their positive effect on learning. They are sharing the research information they find through posters, brochures, skits, bookmarks, study cards, and videos.
Seventh Grade
Seventh Grade has been working on an Internet Safety Unit this term. They are raising awareness about the dangers of the internet when not used properly. They've been working on posters, brochures, skits, and a new internet safety webpage - coming soon. Next term, they will share the information they have learned with other classes in an effort to educate our students on ways to be safe when using the internet.
Eighth Grade
Our eighth graders are deep into our unit on Cyber-bullying, which continues to be a nationwide problem in schools. Join us on family night, October 6th, to see how much they have accomplished in their campaign to raise awareness and educate our students about the effects of bullying.
Welcome to the Computer Lab!
We have already finished our first week of school! This past week we went over our Computer Use Policy and our procedures in the classroom. Now it is time to get busy on the computers. The kindergarten students will be learning the parts of a computer as they are introduced to our Apple laptops. First through fifth graders are learning all of the features our Apples have to offer. Sixth and seventh graders are focusing in on good study habits, and our eighth graders are beginning their anti-bullying campaign. The computer lab is a very busy place! I'm looking forward to a great year of learning!