The students have been hard at work these past nine weeks.  We have been working on gathering information, organizing it and making a document containing images. 

The first graders will take it a step further these next nine weeks and learn to edit their documents using the special function keys on the keyboard.

Our Kindergarteners will begin to make graphs using the mouse with Graph Club.  Most of the Kindergarteners can log on now without using their cards.  A big sign they are ready to tackle first grade in the lab next year. 

Take a look at some of our work in the Kid’s Corner!

I hope everyone enjoyed their winter break and the brief snow we had.  I am glad to be back and to begin working with the students on the next 9 week standards. 

In first grade we will use Microsoft Power Point and Kidspiration to make documents that contain both text and images.  We will also learn how to go back and edit our paper using the special function keys on the keyboard.  We have already begun by writing some stories:  All About Me and My Family.  We are off to a great start.  We will incorporate our writing standards in the classroom also.  We will work on “How to” writing and then shift to Informational.

Our Kindergartners are working on making documents with  text and images as well.  We started off the new year by taking the STAR Test .  This helps the teachers see how each child is reading and starts us off on our AR reading goals.  Last week we used KidPix to draw a picture in response to Snowmen at Night and wrote a sentence about it.  This week we will respond to Penguins Big Surprise.  Beginning in February we will write some narrative stories and include pictures or images.  I can’t wait to see what they will do!

Welcome to Internet Island. 

We are working hard to meet the Technology Standards.  We are having a great time learning about the computer.  We continue to learn the different parts to the computer and the special function keys as well.  Our lab consists of 30 Dell Computers.  The children come to the lab as part of the Specials rotation, so they come at least once a week for 40 minutes.  Classroom teachers have the opportunity to come into the lab during open times to work with the children as well. 

Our Kindergarten Standards for this nine weeks is to be able to create an original illustration.  We are using the software program KidPix to work on this standard.  So far the children have made number pictures, drew a picture in response to a book, Fall pictures, turkey pictures and things they are grateful for.  I encourage the children to work hard and put details into their pictures.

First graders are learning to create electronic graphs.  We are using the program Graph Club to work on our graphs.  We have made graphs about the Class’ Favorite Sports and Pets.    We have done surveys, collected data using tally marks and made a graph using the information.  We are working on using the information found in our graph to draw conclusions and write about it.  While writing our sentences, we are focusing on the elements of a good sentence.  (Starts with capital letter, spaces between words and punctuation at end.  The sentence needs to be a complete thought and contain correct information). We are also using MEGA Math / White Water Graphing to practice our graphing skills.