October - Technology can be scary at first...

This month Kindergarten students have been working with color, shapes, and patterns in their classroom. We extend this work in computer technology class. We use a software program, Big Thinkers Kindergarten, which has a component that addresses all three of these. Kindergarten students also began to practice typing their first names. I have the keyboards set to type in all caps, since they are working with capital letters in the classroom. They continue to type their first name in Kid Pix several times. It is an important step for them to find all the letters of their name on the computer keyboard. They type their name on each lesson in computer technology class before printing. This month Kindergarten classes also drew a pumpkin and practiced with Halloween "stickers" in Kid Pix - resizing and moving them.


First Grade students did the following: They typed the number words from one to ten and draw tally marks next to each word. They had been learning how to spell number words in the classroom as well as learning how to illustrate numbers by drawing tally marks. They also drew a clock as they work on telling time. The clock is an extension of learning in the classroom. As we approach Halloween, students illustrated the 5 Little Pumpkins poem. That means that they will drew a picture to go with the poem. All of these lessons were done using Kid Pix, and were printed to bring home. Most classes began to work on spacial relationship puzzles in our Math Workshop program. Students move and flip the pieces to fit on the shape. They learn, while having fun. When completed properly, the puzzle animates for them!


Second Grade students continued to work on spacial relationship puzzles in our Math Workshop program. They have been studying about plants in their classrooms. In technology class, they did a 4 section page in Kid Pix, in which an apple tree was depicted in each of the 4 seasons. As we approached Halloween, students drew a picture to illustrate their choice of 2 Jack Prelutsky poems.

Third Grade classes finished doing media center searches by title, author, subject, and keyword, using the Knapp Forest Library webpage. They answered specific questions that required them to perform each type of search. I checked these, then gave the sheets to Mrs. Doctor so that she could see how they are doing. Then, they were released to use the computers in the media center to do book searches. After searches,they began UltraKey, our keyboarding program. They will work on keyboarding until December break. Keyboarding is an important skill, as it speeds up their work time in nearly everything, making them more productive. It is a life skill.


Fourth Grade classes practiced doing media center searches by title, author, subject, and keyword, using the Knapp Forest Media Center webpage. They answerd some questions that required them to do each type of search for themselves. I checked these, then gave the sheets to Mrs. Doctor so that she could see how they are doing. Mrs. Duffy's class and Miss Burn's class began using UltraKey, our keyboarding program. Mrs. Kaminsky's class, Mrs. Boersma's class, and Mrs. Johnson's class have been working on research for their assigned habitat field guide. These habitat field guides have been researched in their classrooms as well.