Technology/Library Fall 2013 Newsletter!
Kindergarten:
During our first technology rotation, students learned basic computer vocabulary, how to use a mouse and/or track pad, logged-in and out of their computer, created bookmarks, and adjusted volume. We also began basic keyboarding skills using typing games found on the abcya.com web site. I encourage your child to practice these skills at home.
Students also used a digital drawing program called Tux Paint. This is a free download if you would like your child to have access to it at home. We explored using tools such as paintbrushes, lines, shapes, letters, and stamps to create pictures.
Finally, we used online reading resources to support reading skills and to teach students how to navigate web sites using icons. Resources included: starfall.com and abcya.com
During the firsttrimester, kindergarten students talked about the differences between storybooks (fiction) and information books (non-fiction). Students practiced how to replace books on the shelves with the spine of the book facing out and continued using a shelf marker. Songs, movement, and choral "reading" activities were incorporated into this library learning time to promote literacy.
First Grade:
During our first technology rotation, students learned basic computer vocabulary, how to use a mouse and/or track pad, logged-in and out of their computers, created bookmarks, and adjusted volume. We also began basic keyboarding skills using typing games found on the web site. I encourage your child to practice these skills at home.
Students also used a digital drawing program called Tux Paint. This is a free download if you would like your child to have access to it at home. We explored using tools such as paintbrushes, lines, shapes, letters, and stamps to create pictures.
Finally, we used online reading resources to support reading skills and to teach students how to navigate web sites using icons. Resources included:
and
During the first trimester, first graders talked about the alphabet and the variety of ways it is used in the world. They learned that books in the library are organized in alphabetical order so that readers can find the book they are looking for in an efficient manner. They practiced listening to and identifying the beginning sounds of words. Songs, movement, and SMART board activities were also incorporated into this library learning time to promote literacy.
Second Grade: During our first rotation in technology, students were introduced to Schoology. Each student has a username and password which they use to log-in to the district’s on-line learning platform. Schoology is internet based, but password protected so nothing done on Schoology can be viewed publicly. Students will use Schoology in various courses throughout elementary, middle, and high school. To learn more about Schoology, please see the mission statement and view the website at
Students can log-in to their account from anywhere and from any device. Use the mycherrycreek site to log-in at . If your child does not remember his or her username or password, please have them see me or the classroom teacher. Once logged in, studentshave links to videos about internet safety. We viewed these in class, but you may wish to view them together at home to reinforce basic safety guidelines.
We also learned the difference between entering a web address and searching for a topic. When researching, we created multiple tabs and discovered how to navigate sites.
Finally, keyboarding skills were introduced and practiced. Please have your child practice at home using the keyboarding links found in Schoology!
During the first trimester, second graders talked about the alphabet and the variety of ways it is used in the world. So that readers can find the book they are looking for in an efficient manner, second graders learned that books are organized in certain sections of the library in alphabetical order based on authors’ last names Students listened and responded to a variety of picture books that used the alphabet as the “main character.” Songs and choral reading activities were also incorporated to promote continuing literacy.
Third Grade:
During our first rotation in technology, students were introduced to Schoology. Each student has a username and password which they use to log-in to the district’s on-line learning platform. Schoology is internet based, but password protected so nothing done on Schoology can be viewed publicly. Students will use Schoology in various courses throughout elementary, middle, and high school. To learn more about Schoology, please see the mission statement and view the website at
Students can log-in to their account from anywhere and from any device. Use the mycherrycreek site to log-in at . If your child does not remember his or her username or password, please have them see me or the classroom teacher. Once logged in, students have links to videos about internet safety. We viewed these in class, but you may wish to view them together at home to reinforce basic safety guidelines.
We also learned the difference between entering a web address and searching for a topic. When researching, we created multiple tabs and discovered how to navigate sites.
Finally, keyboarding skills were introduced and practiced. Please have your child practice at home using the keyboarding links found in Schoology!
In the library during the first trimester, third graders talked about the alphabet and the variety of ways it is used in the world. Students listened and responded to a variety of picture books that used the alphabet as the “main character.” Students started to notice and use the call number on the spine of the book as an important piece of information used to determine the book’s location in the library. They began to realize that a lot of information in the world is organized alphabetically.
Fourth Grade:
During our first rotation in technology, students were introduced to Schoology. Each student has a username and password which they use to log-in to the district’s on-line learning platform. Schoology is internet based, but password protected so nothing done on Schoology can be viewed publicly. Students will use Schoology in various courses throughout elementary, middle, and high school. To learn more about Schoology, please see the mission statement and view the website at
Students can log-in to their account from anywhere and from any device. Use the mycherrycreek site to log-in at . If your child does not remember his or her username or password, please have them see me or the classroom teacher. Once logged in, students have links to videos about internet safety. We viewed these in class, but you may wish to view them together at home to reinforce basic safety guidelines.
We also learned the difference between entering a web address and searching for a topic. When researching, we created multiple tabs and discovered how to navigate sites.
Finally, keyboarding skills were introduced and practiced. Please have your child practice at home using the keyboarding links found in Schoology.
In the library during the first trimester, fourth graders talked about the alphabet and its development throughout time. Students listened and responded to a variety of picture books that used the alphabet as the “main character.” As a class, students created an alphabet books modeled after George Shannon’s Tomorrow’s Alphabet. Students also practiced decoding messages from William Steig’s CDB!
Fifth Grade:
During our first rotation in technology, students were introduced to Schoology. Each student has a username and password which s/he uses to log-in to the district’s on-line learning platform. Schoology is internet based, but password protected so nothing done on Schoology can be viewed publicly. Students will use Schoology in various courses throughout elementary, middle, and high school. To learn more about Schoology, please see the mission statement and view the website at
Students can log-in to their account from anywhere and from any device. Use the mycherrycreek site to log-in at . If your child does not remember his or her username or password, please have them see me or the classroom teacher. Once logged in, studentshave links to videos about internet safety. We viewed these in class, but you may wish to view them together at home to reinforce basic safety guidelines.
We also learned the difference between entering a web address and searching for a topic. When researching, we created multiple tabs and viewed two websites at once on a split screen. Finally, keyboarding skills were introduced and practiced. Please have your child practice at home using the keyboarding links found in Schoology!
In the library during the first trimester, fifth graders talked about the alphabet and its development throughout time. Students listened and responded to a variety of picture books that used the alphabet as the “main character.” As a class, students created an alphabet books modeled after George Shannon’s Tomorrow’s Alphabet. Students also practiced decoding messages from William Steig’s CDB!