As many of you know, I am expecting my third child on March 20th. Next week will be my last days with my students at St. Michael's. It has been such a joy working with your children this year. I am looking forward to bringing the baby in to say hello to the kiddos this spring. In my absence, I have arranged for Noralyn Pridgeon to be my substitute. She is an excellent substitute teacher who is very excited to teach the students at SMLS. I am planning on returning to SMLS in the fall to once again teach our first through fifth grade students.
Now, for your update: here is what we have been up to and what we are working on next week....
First Grade
Project #6: TumbleBooks from the Portage District Library
The first graders read their ABC picture dictionary today and talked about what other words we would find on those dictionary pages. We then went to the Portage District Library's website and began exploring the ebooks available through Tumblebooks. This is a great resource for promoting literacy. Student can listen to and follow along with stories that are animated and read to them online. There are also games and videos linked to the books to enhance the students understanding and comprehension. A wonderful resource students can use all year long: http://www.portagelibrary.info/parents-kids/tumblebooks/
Online Practice: www.scootpad.com
When students finish their assignments, I continue to have them work on scootpad.com to practice their reading and math skills. This is a great website you are welcome to work on at home as well.
Second Grade
Project #7: Google Docs - What is it?
The second graders learned about Google Docs this week. This is an online office-like suite of tools that the students can use anywhere they have an internet connection. They learned they can share their documents with the teachers and peers, as well as comment and critique their partners work. Next week we will be creating a document in Google Docs and beginning our project with Google Earth. Please send back your child's copy of the signed Google contract next week. Thanks!
Third Grade
Project #4: All About Me
The 3rd grade students continued to learn the ins and outs of their Google Docs accounts. This week we finished our All About Me paragraphs by editing our papers using the constructive criticism provided by our peers. We also learned how to add pictures to our Google Docs. Next week we will start a unit learning about the various components of a computer including input, output and storage devices.
Fourth Grade
Project #4: Class News
The fourth grade students are working on a project of creating a class newspaper/newsletter about what is happening in fourth grade at St. Michael's. Each child chose an area they wished to write about including everything from what they are learning in their various subjects to special, recess and lunch. This week we practiced using the commenting feature of the product to do final editing on our newspaper. Next week we will finish final editing and print out our class newspaper.
Fifth Grade
Project #4: Our Digital Footprint
The fifth graders are working on a project to explore the idea of our Digital Footprint. We are focusing on what information is okay to share online and what should be kept private. Students are learning that once they post something on the Internet it is practically permanent so they need to be very careful and deliberate about what they want to say. How they portray themselves online will be their digital legacy that will follow them through life. This week we edited our Google Presentation with a partner to illustrate the difference between a large and a small digital footprint. The students learned about the chat feature, commenting, and how to work simultaneously on a document. We finished our presentations and discuss how to use the commenting and chat feature in an academic way and foster constructive criticism. We also discussed some of the advantages and disadvantages of working together on a document.
Typing: Second - Fifth Grade
We have also been working on our typing skills. I am stressing to the students the importance of using the correct fingers while typing. This has been a bit of a challenge for some of the students. Please check out the Typing Practice tab for online resources your child can use to practice their typing at home as well.
If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Have a great weekend!
