So it's come to my attention that many parents don't know what we do in the computer lab. Surely the kids are running home excited about what we do - so maybe not. There's too much exciting going on at school. I will highlight what we've done here and keep a blog next semester so you'll know week by week or month by month what all we've done!
PREK - yes, can you believe they come and stay 30 mins and do an amazing job each week! Mostly I pick online games that teach mouse movement but also ties into what they do in the classroom: colors, shapes, letters, manners.... Check out their web page to see all the sites we've visited: PRE K
KINDERGARTEN - kindergarten also does a lot of online games that tie into curriculum while learning mouse and computer skills. In addition they've learned a program called PIXIE. It's a drawing tool where they can write text, draw pictures using a paint brush or stickers. You may hear about it. It's a software package that only runs on MACs and is not free (FYI). Their page is here: Kinder Page
FIRST GRADE - In first grade we also do a lot of online games but it is really tied to curriculum. They don't get as much free choice in the lab as they did in Kindergarten. Usually I make them spend 10 mins. doing math/science/social studies games and then 10 mins. doing language arts activities. The reason for this is that the kids who are strong in math would only play the math games etc. This makes the kids explore and strengthen their skills. In the classrooms the teachers have a computer center and I believe the kids can go to my page and do any of the games. And of course they can do them at home!!! First grade has also done Pixie (see kinder above). This year first grade only has 30 mins. in the lab. We are finding that they need more time. We'll add another 5-10 mins. next year. FIRST GRADE
SECOND GRADE - In second grade we talk about logging into computers and saving files so we can start more involved projects. Every student has a login and password that will get them into any computer in AISD. They have an area on the AISD "cloud" where they can store their files from now until 12th grade! This year I've let the students see what the inside of a computer, camera, and flash disk look like. In second grade the teachers really direct what is covered in the lab. When they were studying money we did coin games in the lab. They created a drawing of a monster using only geometric shapes and then had to write the description using geometric terms. In the second half of the year, they will begin learning proper keyboarding. SECOND GRADE
THIRD GRADE - In third grade we keyboard every time they come to lab for at least 15 mins. They are doing great and will do better if they keyboard at home. I have two third graders keyboarding at 14 wpm!!! (they've been working at home to learn all the keys - most 3rd graders are not there yet). This year we've concentrated on learning word processing and researching on the web. They've learned about how to find good sites and not to believe everything they read on the internet (ask them about tree octopuses). They wrote the sweetest letters to the veterans for Veteran's day. We gave out some to the vets that came to our assembly. Two classes's letters are going to Afghanistan with Ms. Southwell's son who is serving there and another class's letters are going to Ft. Rucker in Alabama to my nephew and neice. THIRD GRADE
FOURTH GRADE - In fourth grade we keyboard everytime they come to lab for at least 15 mins. I have about 20 students who know all their keys and are typing from 8-30 wpm). In fourth grade this year we store our files on the AISD cloud and are using mostly google docs to get our work done. In the beginning of the year they did a "slide" presentation on themselves. They learned how to type in text, change the font, size, color, add a background, insert photos from a website, copy text from a website, and animate the words on the screen. They had fun. Next they created an online survey that the rest of the class answered. They took the results of the survey and made a pie chart. They went to one of Dr. Stroup's website and gathered the temperature and dew pt. data on their last birthday. They put this information in a line chart. Finally they created a Word document and incorporated text and the two charts. All of this to get them ready to create a science fair display if needed. Next semester if the teachers feel they are ready, we'll teach the students how to get to their files from home. FOURTH GRADE
FIFTH GRADE - In fifth grade we keyboard everytime they come to lab for at least 15 mins. Most students have been keyboarding for the past 3.5 years and so I have many who do over 20 wpm. I have one student who does over 40!!! This year the students have learned how to access their files on an AISD server. They can do this from home via "the cloud". This will be VERY useful to them as they move on to middle and high school and there will be a lot of collaborating on projects. This year every student has created a website of their own (locked down by password and with no mention of their names), played with google docs, learned some advanced word processing techniques, learned about cyber safety, made outdoor school memory books, and worked on their biography glogs, FIFTH GRADE
PREK - yes, can you believe they come and stay 30 mins and do an amazing job each week! Mostly I pick online games that teach mouse movement but also ties into what they do in the classroom: colors, shapes, letters, manners.... Check out their web page to see all the sites we've visited: PRE K
KINDERGARTEN - kindergarten also does a lot of online games that tie into curriculum while learning mouse and computer skills. In addition they've learned a program called PIXIE. It's a drawing tool where they can write text, draw pictures using a paint brush or stickers. You may hear about it. It's a software package that only runs on MACs and is not free (FYI). Their page is here: Kinder Page
FIRST GRADE - In first grade we also do a lot of online games but it is really tied to curriculum. They don't get as much free choice in the lab as they did in Kindergarten. Usually I make them spend 10 mins. doing math/science/social studies games and then 10 mins. doing language arts activities. The reason for this is that the kids who are strong in math would only play the math games etc. This makes the kids explore and strengthen their skills. In the classrooms the teachers have a computer center and I believe the kids can go to my page and do any of the games. And of course they can do them at home!!! First grade has also done Pixie (see kinder above). This year first grade only has 30 mins. in the lab. We are finding that they need more time. We'll add another 5-10 mins. next year. FIRST GRADE
SECOND GRADE - In second grade we talk about logging into computers and saving files so we can start more involved projects. Every student has a login and password that will get them into any computer in AISD. They have an area on the AISD "cloud" where they can store their files from now until 12th grade! This year I've let the students see what the inside of a computer, camera, and flash disk look like. In second grade the teachers really direct what is covered in the lab. When they were studying money we did coin games in the lab. They created a drawing of a monster using only geometric shapes and then had to write the description using geometric terms. In the second half of the year, they will begin learning proper keyboarding. SECOND GRADE
THIRD GRADE - In third grade we keyboard every time they come to lab for at least 15 mins. They are doing great and will do better if they keyboard at home. I have two third graders keyboarding at 14 wpm!!! (they've been working at home to learn all the keys - most 3rd graders are not there yet). This year we've concentrated on learning word processing and researching on the web. They've learned about how to find good sites and not to believe everything they read on the internet (ask them about tree octopuses). They wrote the sweetest letters to the veterans for Veteran's day. We gave out some to the vets that came to our assembly. Two classes's letters are going to Afghanistan with Ms. Southwell's son who is serving there and another class's letters are going to Ft. Rucker in Alabama to my nephew and neice. THIRD GRADE
FOURTH GRADE - In fourth grade we keyboard everytime they come to lab for at least 15 mins. I have about 20 students who know all their keys and are typing from 8-30 wpm). In fourth grade this year we store our files on the AISD cloud and are using mostly google docs to get our work done. In the beginning of the year they did a "slide" presentation on themselves. They learned how to type in text, change the font, size, color, add a background, insert photos from a website, copy text from a website, and animate the words on the screen. They had fun. Next they created an online survey that the rest of the class answered. They took the results of the survey and made a pie chart. They went to one of Dr. Stroup's website and gathered the temperature and dew pt. data on their last birthday. They put this information in a line chart. Finally they created a Word document and incorporated text and the two charts. All of this to get them ready to create a science fair display if needed. Next semester if the teachers feel they are ready, we'll teach the students how to get to their files from home. FOURTH GRADE
FIFTH GRADE - In fifth grade we keyboard everytime they come to lab for at least 15 mins. Most students have been keyboarding for the past 3.5 years and so I have many who do over 20 wpm. I have one student who does over 40!!! This year the students have learned how to access their files on an AISD server. They can do this from home via "the cloud". This will be VERY useful to them as they move on to middle and high school and there will be a lot of collaborating on projects. This year every student has created a website of their own (locked down by password and with no mention of their names), played with google docs, learned some advanced word processing techniques, learned about cyber safety, made outdoor school memory books, and worked on their biography glogs, FIFTH GRADE