- PreK - most of the PreK students came in not comfortable using a mouse. This is because these days most of the devices they have been using at home are cell phones or tablets. They want to use their fingers on my screens but can't. It took them only a couple weeks to get comfortable with the mouse! There are still a few that need more practice, but not many! Using a mouse is good fine motor practice. In August and September they have been playing educational games on the internet. The teachers tell me what they are learning in class and I put links to web games that reinforce the concepts.
- Kinder - man of the kindergarteners also had trouble using a mouse coming in to school but have quickly adapted. They have played games online that reinforce concepts learning in the classrooms. They are also starting to use a program called PIXIE. Pixie is a drawing package that we've purchased for the computers in the lab. The students are learning how to use the tools inside the package and soon you might see some work come home (if the teachers don't keep it for decoration in their rooms!)
- 1st - first grade spends 1/2 their time in lab doing language arts games and 1/2 the time doing math and science sites. They also used Pixie to create a math problem. This next week they will get a chance to use the ipads during class.
- 2nd - second grade has done some online games. They've also learned how to take their photo, erased everything but their head, then created a drawing in Pixie of a community worker. They put their head on this community worker and then we recorded them telling us why that particular community worker is important to society. It is SOOOO cute and we can't wait to share it with you online soon (those that have permission).
- 3rd - Third graders were told to memorize their login and password starting the first week. This login information will be theirs from 2nd grade through 12th grade. Every lab day, the students login and do 15 minutes of keyboarding. The most important thing 3rd graders need to learn is what finger types what keys. They are doing really well! One week we did a lesson on cyber bullying. We've started a long term project to create a movie about scientists. Each student will research different kinds of scientists and then we will create a video interviewing them dressed as the scientist. We will get back to this project after Veteran's Day. Third graders are currently learning how to create a Google doc on the AISD cloud. They are learning about Word processing and creating and editing documents. Third grade also had a lesson on using the 3rd grade laptops. 3rd grade has two carts of 10 ASUS pc laptops. The teachers check these computers out to use in the classrooms for specific lessons.
- 4th - Fourth grade does 15 minutes of typing in computer lab. They are required to do 25 mins/wk - their lab time goes towards this. The goal of 4th grade typing is to end the year typing 15 wpm. By the end of 5th grade 24 wpm. This so that by the middle school they can take a fun elective instead of keyboarding! If they finish all the lessons in the typing program they usually come out typing at least 10 wpm. In class we did a lesson on cyberbulling. We are currently working on a project about Texas landmarks. The students did research on the web, then in writing wrote a report. In the lab they typed up their reports to be used with an Art project they've done. These will be on display for the 4th grade project. Also with this information they are creating on online presentation using PREZI. Hopefully you'll see these soon!
- 5th - Fifth grade also does 15 minutes of keyboarding in class that goes towards their 20 mins of keyboarding homework. Once students test at 20 wpm or greater, they no longer have to do homework. Again, we are stressing good keyboarding skills (correct fingering without looking at their hands) so that when they go to middle school next year they don't have to take an hour long class in keyboarding but can take a fun elective instead. 5th grade got a lesson in cyber safety and bullying. They did some science work, some math sites and have started a Native American project. This will take us to the end of November. They will learn about a tribe and then write journal entries like they are the indian themselves. They will learn a little Photoshop and some graphic design as they create a polished brochure as the final product.
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October 2014
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