Before Thanksgiving Break Continued

4th Grade students used a few web sites, learned about Pages (Microsoft Word), Keynote (Microsoft PowerPoint) and used KidSpiration.  They are becoming experts in using the laptops fluently and being able to login to any computer with their own account information so they do not have to use the same computer each time.
Their online activities were:
http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?resource_type=16
Pages
Keynote

5th Grade students used a few web sites, learned about Pages (Microsoft Word), Keynote (Microsoft PowerPoint) and used iMovie to create mystery book information.  They definitely are experts in using the laptops fluently, being able to login to any computer with their own account information and are quickly starting to learn all of the keyboard shortcuts to use the laptops more efficiently.

Their online activities were:

http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?resource_type=16

Pages

Keynote

iMovie

4-5th Middle School TAG students are starting to use iMovie to create digital portfolios with Mrs. Braun.  They just started but I can't wait to see their finished products over time with the information they include and with their final revised product with iMovie.

Before Thanksgiving Break

Well, I almost reached my goal of showcasing technology skills to all Kindergarten - 5th grade classrooms, 26 of them, before Thanksgiving break, but came 2 classes short.  Thank You so much to all of the classroom teachers that replied back to my email and set up a time with different technology activities and skills.  Hopefully I can catch all of the teachers next time I set up this endeavor, maybe between the start of the New Years and Valentine's Day.

Kindergarten classrooms focused on a couple online activities, but more importantly how to use the laptops, plug in the headphones, how to get to the Internet, and how to put them away.
Their online activities were:
http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?resource_type=16
http://www.abcya.com/

Hearing from the Students

You would seem that my presence in the elementary classrooms, related to using technology, has been assumed for a couple years.  I say this because the students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade already know my name for being in their classrooms 1 maybe 2 times so far this year, my first year.  That has been a huge inspiration as it tells me the students are sincere, they understand my purpose when I am in their classrooms to teach and/or help out and they enjoy what they are learning from me.  Case-in-point is today when I visited the same 3rd grade classroom I visited 2 days ago to do Keyboarding, and this time to assist with using KidSpiration.  I had so many kids come up to me stating they used the Keyboarding game/activities at home on their computer or at the library the past couple of days because they enjoyed the time they spent using the technology in their classroom.
This is what I want from the students when using technology.  A chance to take what they learned and apply it at home, at the library or anywhere they can get on the computer, and to be excited about it.  Then coming into their next time to see my introducing another piece of technology that they could effectively use on their own at home or again in the classroom.
A great surprise.

3rd grade keyboarding

The 3rd grade students have finally started keyboarding. They have been introduced to the names of their fingers, the 4 good keyboarding habits, the home row and have started typing the A and J key respectively.

The 4 good keyboarding habits should be practiced at home if the students are typing in any capacity at home. The four include:

1) CLEAR-work area

2) SEAT-sit up comfortable, not too close or too far away from the keyboard

3) FEET-close to the floor

4) FINGERS-wrists flat, fingers curved, typing with our fingertips

They also took a handwriting rate test for the purpose of understanding that they need to be able to type as fast or equal to what they can write by the end of third grade. For example: if they write 5 words per minute (wpm) they should be able to type 5 wpm or more by the time they finish third grade.

Once your students learn more keys please have them practice at home, library, friend's house, or grandparent's house at least once a week. Thanks.