September - Getting Started!

Welcome back to a brand new school year! I am excited to have your children in technology classes. I've created this blog to help you to know what your children are learning in technology classes at Knapp Forest Elementary. This year, for the most part, I'll be posting entries at or near the end of each month.

All computer technology lessons throughout the year are integrated into classroom topics when possible. Lessons also follow the Forest Hills Technology Curriculum. The technology curriculum follows the Michigan and National technology standards.


During the first week or two of September all classes are getting the year started by going over computer technology class rules and parts and terminology of the computer. This is in accordance with their grade level.

Kindergarten students learn basic parts of the computer only. After that, they practice drawing using Kid Pix, a great software program for younger students.
After the first week's class, Kindergarten students play a game on the computer called Facetoons. This is a freeware game that is an update of the old potato head game. It's very simple, but motivates these young students to move eyes, noses, mouths, ears, etc. onto the different fruits to make a funny face that moves. This is a fun way to give students practice in "click and drag" with the computer mouse. It does make a big difference in their confidence level. During the next class, students will draw a simple face in our Kid Pix program. It's different to draw on computers than on paper.

1st grade students review computer parts and learn about laptops vs. desktop computers, hardware vs. software, and what menus and icons are. After computer parts and terms,1st grade students begin practicing typing their first name, holding down the shift key to capitalize the first letter. Students draw a face (self portrait) in varying degrees in Kid Pix. This is to reinforce the skills of click and drag using the computer mouse. Our tech curriculum includes teaching skills of drawing using drawing tools. 1st grade students begin typing their color words using Kid Pix. They will draw a small rectangle beside each word to color in later, after printing. They have been working on spelling color words in their classrooms.

2nd Grade students review computer parts and computer terminology such as icons, menus, and desktop. Students practice typing their first and last names using Kid Pix. They practice holding down the shift key while typing the first letter to capitalize it. 2nd grade students learn how to change size and font. Then, students have some fun with puzzles in Math Workshop, a wonderful math software program. As each puzzle is completed, it animates in some way. This is very motivating for the students. We spend some time in math workshop puzzles of graduating difficulty. This is good for sequencing and spacial relationships.

The 3rd and 4th grade classes learn additional computer technology terms such as desktop, taskbar, shortcuts, and more in depth about the menu bars. Fourth grade classes discuss uses of technology in our world including advantages and disadvantages.
Grades 3 and 4 create their own folders inside their teacher's class folder, on our kfe elementary network, which is part of our district's technology network. With their own folders in place, they are ready to save documents. 3rd and 4th grade classes practice logging in and logging off of the laptops. They need to practice this right away, since at Knapp Forest, teachers use the carts of wireless laptops in their classrooms.

3rd grade classes will review graphing coordinates in preparation for the MEAP. This is done with some interactive games on the Internet. I will begin to give 3rd grade classes practice on doing searches for media center materials using the Knapp Forest library/media center website. Each student will answer questions that require a title, author, series and keyword search. When they complete the instruction, they will be released to use the computers in the media center to do materials searches.

4th grade math begins with geometric polygons in Unit 1. In technology class, they will do a polygons lesson using Microsoft Word autoshapes. Students will create the shapes, then label each in a text box, with the proper name, and fill the polygons with a light shade of color. They will save and print these when complete. I give these to the classroom teacher. This lesson reinforces the study of geometric polygons as well as the learning of new technology skills. I'll also give 4th graders practice using our Knapp Forest library/media center website. Students will answer several questions requiring various types of searches - author, title, keyword, and series. This allows each student a chance to experience doing searches.