Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year!

May the Holidays provide much joy, laughter,

and love to you and your families.

His Presence is the BEST present!

First Grade Students

The students continue to work in the Microsoft Paint Program. They have learned how to select and draw some of the different shapes in the Paint Program. The students know how to change line thicknesses, find a new piece of paper, save their work, edit colors and use the text tool. They will be creating their first project in Paint in the coming weeks. They will be creating their own nativity scene using some of the tools and shapes they have been working with in Paint. The students will continue with the Paint Program through January. They are encouraged to go home and practice what they learned in their computer class.

Second Grade

The students have been introduced to the Kid Works Program. They know how to select their name and open the program. They know how to use the tools within the book cover, how to change book covers, font, font size, and font color. They know how to select the different voices that will read back what they wrote and how to save their work.  

The students will be working for the next several weeks in Microsoft Word. They will be typing their Christmas project – “What Christmas Means to Me”.

Third Grade

The students have been working in Microsoft Word 2010. They will learn how to retrieve documents from one drive and save them in another drive. The students will know where to find Spelling and Grammar or Spell Check and how to use it when editing a document. The students will learn that spell check is not 100% accurate and that they have to reread documents to see what spell checked missed. They will also learn how to insert clipart, use the text wrap tool to send their images behind text and change the brightness of their image. They will be able to manipulate their images by using the sizing handles and clicking and dragging or by clicking on the size tab on the picture tool bar. The students will also learn how to type in a text box.  They wrote the story of the nativity in their own words and they will be typing their story in computer class working within a text box.

Fourth and Fifth Grade Students

The students are working on their typing skills in UltraKey Typing. They have set typing goals for themselves so they can improve at their own pace. They type a lesson and then take a challenge test. The program is considered one of the best typing coach programs. It demonstrates each new skill and rapidly builds typing techniques. They have a record keeping sheet to record their scores. For extra practice they are encouraged to go the Typing Club which is a free online typing program to improve their typing skills, accuracy and speed.

December’s SLE – Effective communicator who writes ideas clearly.

Common Sense Media Bulletin Board

outside the Computer Lab

Please take a minute and read what is going on in Cyberspace. There are so many things changing on a daily basis. Please talk to your children about Facebook. There are 1.71 billion monthly active users on Facebook. There are approximately 7.5 million kids under the age of 13 on Facebook. Facebook isn't supposed to be used by children under 13. 

A great website - commonsensemedia.org

“Their mission is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.” Please take a minute to look at their site and sign –up for their weekly communication.

Why Do We Need A Technology Lab?

1. A technology teacher provides a structured curriculum with complete and specific instructions in computer skills that are taught in a lab environment. This enables the students to become more confident in their technology skills and it improves technology use in the classroom. It validates the importance of the subject being taught.
2. In a lab, students have the opportunity for hands on experience to learn about new applications and review past lessons. This is a great advantage to students so they can become more confident in their technology skills.
3. Technology labs free classroom teachers so they can focus on their goals and not loose valuable instruction time teaching computer skills.
4. Structure, consistency, and repetition build skills each year whether it is a new application, documents, presentations, or understanding and increasing their time and accuracy in mastering keyboarding.
5. The importance of the technology lab offers student support, skills, and the knowledge they need to use these skills beyond the classroom.

                                     Have a great and SAFE month!

Which Game is on Santa's List and is it Safe?
 The Christmas lists have started and I know video games are on that list. Before you make your video game purchase please check out the following link on my website (Common Sense Media) on how games are rated and the opinions shared by other concerned parents. Is the game age appropriate? Has it been rated? I hope this helps in the decision making process. See Common Sense Media.  They also have ratings on the new movies coming out and any new apps.