Welcome to the 4th Quarter of the 2012 - 2013 school year!
Here's what's happening the week of 4/15/2013
Grade 5 Computers:
This week is the start of the new quarter. This group of
students will be with me everyday for the next 10 weeks! This week
we'll go over basic introductions, course outlines, grading policies,
rules and guidelines, and learn the new procedures expected in Computer
class! Welcome 5th Graders! Get ready for a great 10 weeks!!!
Grade 6 Computers:
With the start of the new quarter, the 6th graders will begin
their next level of computer education. They will be with me everyday
for the next 10 weeks. This first week, we'll go over the basics of
what will be covered in the 10-week course. We'll discuss the grading
policy and class expectations, and learn proper network and classroom
procedures. We'll kick off the quarter using Microsoft Office WORD 2010.
Proofreadeing, editing, timed typing drills, and document formatting
will be covered. These students should get ready for a busy 10 weeks of
computer instruction, which will cover WORD, EXCEL, and POWER POINT
applications.
Grade 7 Computers:
Welcome 7th graders! I will see you everyday for the next 10 weeks!
For the first week, we'll spend some time reviewing proper
procedures, getting settled into the routine of our classtime,
together, and getting ready to learn the ADVANCED features of the
various aspects of the Microsoft Office 2010 suite of programs.
Grade 8 Careers:
To my 8th graders...get ready! In the next 10 weeks, you'll learn so much
about the world of work, you'll be miles ahead of the competition!
We'll start this week with course outlines, grading policies, and
classroom guidelines. We'll discuss the requirements of your Job
Shadow Project, which is a MAJOR part of the next 10 weeks! You'll
have an opportunity to gather information about your "work-related"
interests this week, by using an on-line program called eChoices.
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Week #2...4/22/2013
Grade 5 Computers:
This week the students will learn proper posture and techniques to use
while typing. They will learn the homerow keys and a few others, as
well. Saving documents, opening documents, and editing documents in
THEIR OWN network folders will all be part of the lessons this week!
There's lot to learn!
Grade 6 Computers:
The 6th graders will begin the week by learning basic proofreaders' marks.
After that, we'll get into formatting personal business letters.
They'll practice timed typing drills to help increase their speed and
accuracy.
Grade 7 Computers:
The 7th graders will begin applying what they've learned last year, to
real-life situations. The focus of the lessons this week will be on
formatting and typing letters of praise/compliment to a business of
their choice. The letters will then be mailed to the businesses. It is
our goal to have the businessess respond to our letters in a timely
manner.
Grade 8 Careers:
The Job Shadow Project "parent permission slips" and the "top three jobs to
shadow" forms are due this week. Actual job shadow placements will be
finalized in the next couple of weeks! The students will use an
educational website to gain information about their work-related
interests and match those interests with job options. Exploring various
career options will be this weeks' focus.
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Week #3...4/29/2013
Grade 5 Computers:
We'll learn some new keys this week! We will also practice our
proofreading and editing skills this week. The students will be getting
ready to take their first Review Test next week!
Grade 6 Computers:
These students will continue their lessons on formatting Personal Business
Letters. Proofreading exercises and timed typing drills will also be
part of this weeks' lessons.
Grade 7 Computers:
Lessons in WORD will be the focus this week. Lessons on the advanced
features and enhancements will help us make professional-looking
documents! A "Class Quilt" project will have us using features of WORD
we haven't yet seen!
Grade 8 Careers:
The 8th graders will finish their lessons on "Career Clusters" this week!
Our next unit will have us learning all about "Finding and
Applying for a Job"! All aspects of the job search process will be
covered in this simulation unit that will take us a few weeks to
complete!
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Week #4...5/6/2013
Grade 5 Computers:
This week the students will learn more new keys and practice their
proofreading skills. Adding new keys to our growing list of alphabet
keys is helping to build our skills. Typing with proper posture is our
goal!
Grade 6 Computers:
The students will learn how to format and create formal Business
Letters this week. The kids will design their own letterhead stationery
to use with their letters. Graphic designs and layouts, fonts, and
enhancements are all part of this weeks' lessons. Of course, editing
and proofreading continue to be part of the lessons this week.
Grade 7 Computers:
It's amazing to learn how advanced features help us to be more productive
when creating documents. Learning short-cuts and features that help in
the world of work make things run so much more smoothly and
efficiently! That will be our focus with this weeks' lessons.
Grade 8 Careers:
The students will ALL be working on their Job Shadow Project on-site
visits! This is on-going and should be completed soon! In the
meantime, our classwork continues as we work on our "Finding and
Applying for a Job" unit. This simulation unit has students putting
together their own resumes, cover lettes, filling out job applications,
securing references, and preparing for a face-to-face mock interview!
This practical simulation unit will help prepare the students for
their real-life job search!
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Week #5...5/13/2013
Grade 5 Computers:
This week, we will learn a few more new keys. We will also learn how to
take timed typing drills and calculate typing speed and accuracy.
This is always a fun and enjoyable part of the curriculum! The
students will see great progress once the timed typing drills begin!
Grade 6 Computers:
Personal Business Letters and Business Letters continue to be our focus!
Proofreading and editing skills are also a large part of our lessons.
Timed typing drills will help us improve our speed and accuracy in the
coming weeks.
Grade 7 Computers:
These students have been working on a simulation project. This project has
the students using all of the advanced features of Microsoft Office to
produce
tables, outlines, multi-page reports, graphics, etc.
Grade 8 Careers:
The 8th graders continue their work on their "Finding & Applying for a
Job" unit. They are also wrapping up their on-site job shadow visits.
By the end of the week, all students should have shadowed someone in a
field of interest.
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Week #6...5/20/2013
Grade 5 Computers:
Students will make great progress in their typing speed and accuracy in
the coming weeks! New keys are part of the lessons this week. The students
will take Review Test #2 this week. News keys, marks of punctuation, proper
spacing, etc. are all part of our lessons this week!
Grade 6 Computers:
The 6th graders will use their creativity this week and be designing fancy
letterhead for some Business Letters! Importing and formatting pictures,
using fancy fonts and some new features will have the students' creative
juices
flowing this week! How fun it is to learn!
Grade 7 Computers:
The BEST thing about 7th grade computers lately, is the receipt of the
daily mail! By now, the students will be starting to receive responses from
the
companies they wrote to at the beginning of the quarter. While some students
receive a reply letter, other students will receive surprise packages filled
with "goodies" from the businesses they wrote to! Opening the mail and
sharing in front of the whole class is an exciting part of each day! Of
course, our simlulation unit continues in a very practical, hands-on style.
We're learning how to use templates, designs, and graphics to complete some
of the business-related documents of this simulation! What fun it is to be in
7th grade computer class!
Grade 8 Careers:
Finding & Applying for a Job continues to be our focus this week. Resumes
and cover letters need to be perfect, job applications and applicant tests
are being
completed, and we're getting ready for our one-on-one, face-to-face
interviews. We'll learn all about how to conduct ourselves in an interview
setting. These kids will be miles ahead of the competition because of this
simulation! Of course, our Job Shadow Project is about to get into full
swing. After we finish the Job Finding Unit, the rest of our time, this
quarter, will be spent on this major project!
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Week #7...5/27/2013
Grade 5 Computers:
Typing speed and accuracy are our focus these days. News keys and
another Review Test will keep us busy this week. The students are surprised
at
how many words per minute they can actually type! We'll make great progress
in
the weeks ahead!
Grade 6 Computers:
These students are using creativity to format fancy letterhead stationery
for Business Letters. They now know the difference between a Personal
Business
Letter and a Business Letter. These students are using the new Neo boards to
practice their speed and accuracy drills! This fun, new technology is
a great way to enhance our learning.
Grade 7 Computers:
The 7th graders will finish up their simulation unit this week. They have
been creating documents using the ADVANCED features of WORD, EXCEL, and
PowerPoint. The daily mail brings excitement and enthusiasm as the students
await replies from the businesses they wrote to early in the quarter.
Students are getting letters and packages on a daily basis! It's so fun to
see who gets mail each day!
Grade 8 Careers:
We start our week with a guest speaker! New York State DEC Officer, Kevin
Budniewski, will be here to give the students a great presentation on his job
and
what it takes to be a Conservation Officer.
The students will also finish up their "Finding & Applying for a Job"
simulation this week. Mock interviews will be held this week as we wrap up
this unit.
The students have learned every step in the process of finding and applying
for a job.
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Week #8...6/3/2013
Grade 5 Computers:
These students continue to learn new keys this week. Increases in typing
speed and accuracy are being achieved by all students! Only three weeks left
in the quarter and we still have lots to do!
Grade 6 Computers:
These students have mastered all aspects of properly formatting personal
AND business letters. This week we'll learn how to format reports--single-
page
and multi-page, format a bibliography, as well as continuing our timed typing
drills!
There's still lots to learn and (counting THIS week) we only have three weeks
left in
the quarter.
Grade 7 Computers:
The 7th graders have finished their simulation and are concentrating on
EXCEL this week. Spreadsheets, various formulas, and charts will keep us busy
this week!
Grade 8 Careers:
We begin the research portion of our Job Shadow Project this week. All
students will be researching the various aspects of the jobs they shadowed.
They'll each gather information about the job they shadowed and put together
an outline that details everything from the schooling required for the job
they shadowed, the expected salary, the future outlook, similar jobs, and
what the work environment will be like. All of this information will be
gathered
and included in their typed report! There's lots of work to do this week,
as we prepare for our upcoming Job Shadow Project presentations!
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Week #9...6/10/2013
Grade 5 Computers:
We have seen great progress in our typing speed and accuracy, lately!
Of course, we'll learn a couple more new keys this week. Internet Safety will
be a topic of our lessons this week. Keeping ourselves safe while we're
online
and on other devices will be our focus.
Grade 6 Computers:
The 6th graders will conclude their lessons on Microsoft WORD and move
into EXCEL for a few lessons. Internet Safety will be one of our topics this
week. We all need to know how to keep ourselves safe while online.
Grade 7 Computers:
This class has learned so much about the advanced features of EXCEL during
the past week. They can create functions and formulas such as AVG, MAX, MIN,
and SUM to help with all sorts of mathematical tasks! Internet Safety and
some
online streaming videos will help us understand the simple ways to keep us
safe on our technological devices.
Grade 8 Careers:
Job Shadow Project presentations begin this week. In the meantime,
the students are focused on their research and are typing up their final
reports as part of this big project. There is so much to learn about the
world of work! The presentations will help us learn about all the
opportunities available to us!
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Week #10...(The final week of the quarter.)
Grade 5 Computers:
Ten weeks have gone by so quickly! We have just a couple more keys to
learn and one final test to take. We'll try to fit in one or two more timed
typing
drills before the end of the week. We've learned a lot this quarter! The
computer
skills we learned this quarter will help us in every class!
Grade 6 Computers:
This last week of the quarter will find the 6th graders creating
PowerPoint
presentations! The kids will learn all about PowerPoint basics and be able to
give
a complete presentation to the class.
Grade 7 Computers:
The 7th graders have learned so much this quarter! They have created many
real-life documents and have learned that their advanced computer skills will
come
in handy in every aspect of their life. This final week of the class will
have the
students learning and creating a web-based presentation from a program
called PREZI! It is SO cool!
Grade 8 Careers:
Job Shadow Project presentations round out the quarter for the 8th
graders.
The entire class will learn all about the various jobs that their classmates
shadowed
and researched. What types of jobs are in YOUR future? Job shadowing helps us
learn
about our many career options.
Thanks for a GREAT quarter! I will miss you :)
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