Hello Everyone,
I want to take this time to wish you all a very wonderful summer ahead and get a much deserved rest with family and friends. Just a reminder that all TTL4 accounts will remain active unless you are not a returning family. In mid June I will move all active accounts up one grade level. If your child finds the need to type and logs on with a pre-test, it is because they are in the next grade level.
I will end the last post for the school year with one of my favorite quotes:
"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."
See you next year!!!!!
Take care,
Rasha Sachdeva
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Update from the Mouse Pad!
Hello All,
I can't believe this year is winding down. A reminder that I will keep all TTL4 accounts active if your child is a returning student. I will upgrade them to the next grade level so they will need to take that initial pre-test to see where the program places them. If your child finishes their grade level over the summer and wants the next grade level access, please just email me and I'll be able to bump them up.
Kindergartners this month got to explore the SmartBoard tools. They've seen it in action but this time they got to explore with the actual software. They created pages in a single document, used tools such as text, color, lines, fancy pens, shapes and their most favorite, the magic pen. Be sure to ask them about it. This was a great introduction to the tools as they will surely be using the SmartBoard in their homeroom classrooms in the future years.
First Graders got to explore with Pixie. It's a wonderful software where I like to describe it as an adult version of KidPix! Pixie lets them use their imagination and creativity to create slideshows. The kids all made an art show slideshow. They had numerous slides with such great art work with the help of elements such as symmetry, animations, clip art, mixers and transitions. These slides can definitely compete with Jackson Pollock's work!
Second Graders were introduced to PowerPoint. We will go in dept with a project of their choice in Third Grade but this year, they got to see how powerful presentations are made! They each chose any subject of interest and used many of the programs tools such as inserting pictures, text, animations, transistions, sound and voice recordings to create a wonderful and colorful presentation.
Third Graders were introduced to digital storytelling site called Little Bird Tales. Students wrote fiction, non-fiction, poems or how-to books and then had their stories digitized with a final result of a video. They illustrated their own drawings and incorporated their voice as narration. We have budding authors in the Third Grade for sure! They all love to see their stories made into a video. Please ask your child about and even show you as this can be accessed from home.
Fourth Graders are busy making animated videos using their account on GoAnimate. They love being able to log on from home as well to continue their videos. All students got a lesson on ground rules for videos before posting on our platform (note, only myself and OWS 4th Graders can view the videos). GoAnimate lets you create skits from their apps, create characters and make a full blown video using all the bells and whistles. Be sure to ask your child about it and log on using their ids. I will remove their access sometime over the summer to prepare for the new Fourth Graders.
As usual, if you have any questions, please just send me a quick email! Take care.
Rasha Sachdeva
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Update from the Mouse Pad!
Hello All,
We've had a very busy April month. All of K-4 have started new projects. Here's a recap:
Kindergartners are continuing with their TTL4 practice. Many have downloaded this wonderful program at home and are continuing their typing practice. If you haven't yet, I strongly encourage you to download TTL4. The instructions are on your child's teacher's website under the document section. In addition to typing, they were introduced to the MS Paint program. They learned to zoom in on a page and create wonderful abstract art. I loved seeing the great designs created. They are pretty much a pro on the program as they used most of the tools such as paint bucket, shapes, text, paint brush strokes and the paint dropper.
First Graders have gotten their introduction to MS Word. They each created a document that included adding background colors, borders, wordart, clip art, resizing, use of control functions (delete, copy, paste and save) and using page layouts. They especially loved the clipart and searching for their favorite items. Resizing was a challenge but in the end, they all became pros at it!
Second Graders were introduced to video animation. We went on a wonderful site called domo animate and they created up to 30 second videos. They had a blast using the functions to create several scenes. They added background, chose characters with various actions (you must ask them about some of these actions), props, music and speech bubbles to name a few. In order to save work, this web 2.0 tools needs user logins. I did not create individual logins but advised the kids that if they wanted to continue at home and save their videos, they needed parent permission to set up an account and to continue this wonderful program at home. Please ask them to show you the site.
Third Graders were introduced to a popular simulation called SimSafari! Here they are safari owners and they must run a successful safari to survive. They have three zones which must run successfully, the park, the camp and the village. This simulation uses all their knowledge on math and the sciences. The goal is to obtain 5 stars and many are well on their way. Ask them about it!
Fourth Graders became entrepreneurs! They were engaged in a simulation where they were owners of a hot dog stand. They initially had a monetary goal that they had to meet. In doing so, they needed to successfully run their stands at various events. This required math and logic skills as well as good common sense. All students started out at the beginner level but soon most students got up to the advanced levels.
Ask your students about the addicting music that comes along with this simulation!
As always, please feel free to contact me if you every have questions
Regards,
Rasha Sachdeva
We've had a very busy April month. All of K-4 have started new projects. Here's a recap:
Kindergartners are continuing with their TTL4 practice. Many have downloaded this wonderful program at home and are continuing their typing practice. If you haven't yet, I strongly encourage you to download TTL4. The instructions are on your child's teacher's website under the document section. In addition to typing, they were introduced to the MS Paint program. They learned to zoom in on a page and create wonderful abstract art. I loved seeing the great designs created. They are pretty much a pro on the program as they used most of the tools such as paint bucket, shapes, text, paint brush strokes and the paint dropper.
First Graders have gotten their introduction to MS Word. They each created a document that included adding background colors, borders, wordart, clip art, resizing, use of control functions (delete, copy, paste and save) and using page layouts. They especially loved the clipart and searching for their favorite items. Resizing was a challenge but in the end, they all became pros at it!
Second Graders were introduced to video animation. We went on a wonderful site called domo animate and they created up to 30 second videos. They had a blast using the functions to create several scenes. They added background, chose characters with various actions (you must ask them about some of these actions), props, music and speech bubbles to name a few. In order to save work, this web 2.0 tools needs user logins. I did not create individual logins but advised the kids that if they wanted to continue at home and save their videos, they needed parent permission to set up an account and to continue this wonderful program at home. Please ask them to show you the site.
Third Graders were introduced to a popular simulation called SimSafari! Here they are safari owners and they must run a successful safari to survive. They have three zones which must run successfully, the park, the camp and the village. This simulation uses all their knowledge on math and the sciences. The goal is to obtain 5 stars and many are well on their way. Ask them about it!
Fourth Graders became entrepreneurs! They were engaged in a simulation where they were owners of a hot dog stand. They initially had a monetary goal that they had to meet. In doing so, they needed to successfully run their stands at various events. This required math and logic skills as well as good common sense. All students started out at the beginner level but soon most students got up to the advanced levels.
Ask your students about the addicting music that comes along with this simulation!
As always, please feel free to contact me if you every have questions
Regards,
Rasha Sachdeva
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