Kindergarten: I am so amazed at how proficient the kindergartners are becoming in opening up folders, Internet sites, and programs on their own! Each week they open and navigate within an Internet site. They have learned and practice two online rules: don't click ads and take an adult! Please reinforce these safety rules at home. They continue to practice their mouse skills in Millie Math House and Sammie Science House. In April, the children will begin to use the keyboard. They will type their first and last name, using the Shift key to create a capital letter and the Spacebar to create one space between their names. They will learn the Enter key to move to another line.
First Grade: The first graders have been learning and practicing drawing tools in Microsoft Paint for several weeks. Now they are ready to type in Microsoft Word. They are typing and printing their address so that you can check the address for accuracy. If we have errors in your address, please email me or return the paper with address corrections to their teacher. We will use the software package Neighborhood Map Machine to draw a map of their neighborhood with their home address. You will find it interesting to see how your child views his/her neighborhood! After this unit, the students will be introduced to several online safety rules. Finally, the first-grade students will create a Mother's Day project in Microsoft Word.
Second Grade: After Christmas, the students reviewed and learned networking and window management skills: how to shut down, turn on, and log into a network; and how to open, minimize, maximize, restore, move, resize, and close windows. They currently are completing the last of three publishing projects this year: All About Me at Schaefer School, and How to Build a Snow Pal at Evans School. After this Microsoft Word project, the students will learn to identify the difference between private and public information. They will recall that they should ask for adult help so that they only give public information when online. Next, the students will research and topic and create a PowerPoint presentation with their information and pictures. Finally, the students will create a "Best Things in Second Grade" document in Notebook Software that they will print on archival paper for a second-grade memory scrapbook page!
Third Grade: As the students practice their new skills in Microsoft Word, each "tool expert" has an opportunity to model for the class the lesson's formatting and/or graphic skill. The students are learning and practicing more drawing tools in Microsoft Paint. Then we will complete state-mandated online Internet safety topics per SB2512. Finally, the students will complete a Microsoft Word project. It will be a third-grade memory page that includes monthly events/learning and a class picture. You child will print it on archival paper so that you may cherish it forever!
Fourth Grade: The fourth grade is learning how to insert and edit existing graphics and ClipArt to create their own design in Microsoft Paint. As they work, they multitask between programs to copy and paste graphics. They will learn and apply new formatting and page layout skills in Microsoft Word. They will learn to proofread and analyze documents in Microsoft Word to determine whether or not the spellcheck feature finds all errors. They, too, will complete state-mandated online Internet safety topics per SB2512, and they will learn to apply the copyright law as they research topics on the Internet. Finally, they will create signs in Microsoft Publisher, which contains an entirely different software environment.
Fifth Grade: The fifth grade students are completing their PowerPoint project. They will create signs in both Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher in order to compare and contrast the differences in tools, navigation, and layouts between the two programs. They, too, will complete state-mandated online Internet safety topics per SB2512. We will specifically focus on these topics: safe and responsible use of social networking sites; recognizing, avoiding, and reporting online solicitations; recognizing the risks of transmitting personal information on the Internet; recognizing and avoiding unsolicited or deceptive online communication; and recognizing and reporting online harassment and cyberbullying.
