Computer Class Update: Weeks 17-19

What a month it has been! Between all these snow days, we were able to fit in a few computer classes. Here is what we are working on....

First Grade:
Follow the Digital Trail from Common Sense Media
Screen out the Mean from Common Sense Media
The students have been learning that every time we interact on the Internet we leave a footprint.  We discussed what information would be okay to share online (ex: your favorite color) and what information needs to be kept private (ex: your full name and passwords).

We have also started learning that it is very important to treat others respectfully online, and also what to do if someone is treating us in a non-God pleasing way.

Second Grade:
Our lessons the last couple weeks have focused on the importance of keeping our private information private when online.  The students discussed which information they need to keep private, and what is okay to share.  They also played a couple online games, which can be found on the Project Resources tab under 2nd grade, to help practice this skill.

Third Grade:
Rings of Responsibility from Common Sense Media

The third graders completed their New Years Resolution presentation and began a lesson on the Rings of Responsibility.  In this lesson, they learned about ways they are responsible for themselves, their friends and family, and the community at large.

Fourth Grade:
The fourth graders are in the midst of a very exciting project.  They are learning how to become respectful, responsible bloggers!  During this lesson, they wrote their own paper blog post.  We then discussed the art of commenting and practiced by using post-it notes to comment on our classmates blogs.  The students have been developing wonderful writing skills, such as how to disagree in a respectful way and how to back up their thoughts with facts and evidence.  Next week we will be taking our project to the next step by practicing commenting on the comments in order to further conversation.  The goal at the end of this project will be for the students to be able to respond to posts on our classroom blog, as well as discuss the topic via the comment feature with their classmates.

Fifth Grade:
Talking Safely Online from Common Sense Media
The fifth graders had some wonderful discussions this week about who is and is not safe to talk to online. They discussed the difference between an Internet only friend, and an in-person friend. We discussed what information should ALWAYS be kept private and what to do if someone online started asking them for private information. To culminate this project, the students created posters using LucidPress to illustrate what information should be kept private and what is okay to share.

Computer Class Update: Weeks 15 and 16

Welcome back to school!  I hope everyone enjoyed their extra long Christmas recess.  I feel blessed to have had so much time with my family, but I am very happy to be working with your wonderful children once again.  For the new year we are starting many new projects.  Here is what we have been working on the last two weeks.

First Grade:
Going Places Safely from Common Sense Media
The students have been learning how the Internet is an amazing tool that allows us to visit amazing places without ever leaving our home or school.  They also learned that, just like on real field trips, there are specific rules that we need to follow when we go online in order to stay safe.  These rules include: Always ask a teacher or parent first before going online, only talk to people you know, and stick to places you know are just right for you.  We went on virtual field trips to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and the San Diego Zoo - Check out the project resources page to see the links the students used.  We also visited with my grandpa over face time.

Second Grade:
Staying Safe Online from Common Sense Media
The students have been learning  the importance of choosing websites that are good for them to visit, and avoiding sites that are not appropriate for them.  First students learned about the similarities of staying safe in the real world and staying safe when visiting websites.  Next they learned about the website traffic light to decide if a site was green (good), yellow (use caution and ask an adult), or red (stop and exit out).  Our next lesson will be on the importance of keeping our private information private when online.

Third Grade:
New Years Resolutions
The third graders have been working on setting goals for computer class for the new year.  Several students had goals pertaining to becoming better keyboarders.  They created drawings using Google Drawing to show what resolution they chose.  Then we are inserting all our drawings into a class Resolutions presentation.  If your child would like to work on their typing skills at home, please check out the typing tab of the class blog.

Fourth Grade:
Digital Citizenship Pledge from Common Sense Media
The fourth graders have been learning about what makes up a community, and how to create a positive online community.  We worked on establishing expectations for online behavior and we collaborated on a class motto.  Our next lesson will take what we learned about positive online communities and transfer that knowledge into how to write and comment on a blog post.

Fifth Grade:
Talking Safely Online from Common Sense Media
The fifth graders had some wonderful discussions this week about who is and is not safe to talk to online.  They discussed the difference between an Internet only friend, and an in-person friend.  We discussed what information should ALWAYS be kept private and what to do if someone online started asking them for private information.  I was really proud of the insight and positive discussion from this group this week!

Computer Class Update: Weeks 9 and 10

First quarter has come to a close and you should have received your child's report cards.  Every child has received credit this quarter for computer class.  I am very proud of the level of participation the students have shown thus far this school year.  I am looking forward to three more great quarters.

Now, on to the updates for our in class activities...

First Grade: In the last couple weeks, we finished up our lesson on word processing and began a unit on the 7 days of Creation.  For this unit, students watched a short video on the creation story, then we outlined what God created on each of the seven days.  Our next step was to begin creating pictures to illustrate each day using Tux paint.  This program helps the students to work on their hand-eye coordination and using the mouse.  Once they complete a picture, we insert it into a PowerPoint slide which they then label.  When they are finished, they will have an eight page book illustrating each of the 7 days of creation.  We have also begun to learn how to keyboard using the correct fingers.  We are using typing web for our practice and instruction.  Students are welcome to practice using this online program at home, as well as in class.

Second Grade: Last week our second graders also began to learn how to keyboard using the correct fingers.  We are using typing web for our practice and instruction.  Students are welcome to practice using this online program at home, as well as in class.  This coming week, we will be meeting on Thursday with the first graders and working on a new unit about Technology and how it has changed over time.

Third Grade, Fourth and Fifth Grade: We continue to work on our digital passport project. This week we learned about cyberbullying.  The students played a game called E-volve and worked on learning to be an upstander instead of a bystander.  Please feel free to ask them to tell you the difference between the two.  The next time I see the students, we will begin our lessons on Searching the web.  Students will learn how to choose effective keywords for searching online. They will practice selecting keywords that are most relevant to a search prompt. Along the way, students will discover hints for narrowing their search results. To check out the project, click here.

NOTE: I will not be here Tuesday because I will be at a technology coaches training, so I will see my second, fourth and fifth graders on Thursday.

Have a great weekend!

Computer Class Update: Week 5

We had another fun and educational week in Computer Class.  Students have been finishing their projects about the rules of the lab, learning how to be good Digital Citizens, working on their typing and beginning to learn the parts of the computer.

First Grade: Finished our unit on Parts of the Computer, and took a quiz on the computer parts.  Our next lesson will work on learning how to use a word processing program.

Second Grade: We finished learning about the parts of the computer, including watching a video on the parts of the computer, and playing a game at http://www.abcya.com/computer_vocabulary.htm.  This week we will be discussing care and proper hygiene in the computer lab.

Third Grade: We worked on our group presentation for the commandments of the lab using Google Presentations.  This week we will edit our presentations and begin our digital passport project.  To check out the project, click here.

Fourth and Fifth Grade: Last week we discussed cell phone use and the hazards of multi-tasking.  We also played a game called Twalkers and part of our digital passport project.  To check out the project, click here.

Computer Class Update: Week 3

This past week I only met with my Tuesday classes (2nd, 4th and 5th grades).  We continued to work on our Commandments of the lab projects.  Second grade finished their word clouds and we saved them to their network drives.  In fourth and fifth grade we worked on logging in to our Google accounts in order to make sure we were all set to begin our projects this coming week.

The fourth and fifth grade classes also set up their Class Dojo avatars.  Class Dojo is a great, engaging behavior management tool.  The students earn positive points for on-task, appropriate behaviors.  They can also lose points for negative behaviors.  Students should have brought home a parent access code for you to use to check on their Dojo points.  If you did not receive your code, please let me know.

Welcome to Technology/Computer Class at St. Michael's Lutheran School 2013-2014

Dear Parents,

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.  My name is Jessica Winstanley and I will once again be your child’s technology and computers teacher this school year.  I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with the students at St. Michael’s again and help them to hone their technology skills.  Depending on your child’s grade level, we will be learning many exciting new skills this year, including:

·        How to identify the parts of the computer, how to care for it and do basic functions such as powering on, logging in, opening programs and shutting down.

·        How to stay safe while using the computer, including Internet safety.

·        How to find quality reference materials using the Internet.

·        How to use basic programs like: Paint, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and many quality web-based programs.

·        How to type effectively.

I am sure you are also curious to know a little bit about me.  Here are some basics:

·     Elementary-certified teacher

·        Bachelor’s of Science in Education degree from Central Michigan University, majoring in science and language arts.  

·        Master’s of Science degree from Walden University specializing in integrating technology in the classroom. 

·        Taught third grade at Amberly Elementary in Portage for nine years. 

·        Now the technology integration specialist for Portage.  I spend most of my days coaching and supporting teachers as they work to integrate technology into their classrooms. 

On a more personal note, I am married to an amazing man and we have three wonderful children.  Bryant attended pre-school and pre-kindergarten at St. Michael’s and this year our older daughter, Clara, is in the pre-kindergarten program.  We have always been very impressed with the quality of education our children received at St. Michael’s and I enjoy being a part of that.

I feel very blessed to have this wonderful opportunity, and I look forward to working with your children this school year.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at: jwinstanley@portageps.org. 

Communication is very important to me.  I will be posting helpful information on our class blog: http://mrswinstanley.blogspot.com.  If you would like to be included in my email distribution list so you can receive updates on what we are working on in computer class, please email me from your preferred email stating your child’s name and grade, along with your name.  Thanks!

May God’s blessings be upon you,

Jessica Winstanley

jwinstanley@portageps.org

269-350-3369

“Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.” [Proverbs 22:6]