Hello Everyone,
Hope you all had a restful Thanksgiving break. For my 3rd and 4th Grade families, please keep in mind that when we have holiday breaks, I do not expect typing homework logs the following week. Many people travel and may not have that access.
Kindergartners have completed the robotics unit by virtually seeing their BeeBots on the screen. They loved being able to see their actual instructions come to life (which is basically what programming is all about). Many students took it even further and added lovely patterns in the background and had their BeeBots go to specific colors. I hope they told you all about it. Next, they were introduced to our art program called KidPix where they created digital masterpieces and even got to record their own voices on their drawings. They loved hearing themselves.
First Graders delved deeper into the Microworld's Jr. program and created animation using the turtle graphics. Their animation included at least 3 moving objects, a background, a textbox and a recording which could be composed music of their own or their own voice recording. They became pros at opening up the turtles backpack and adding code into it. They did not even realize that they were programming the turtle. We had a showcase in class where students got to walk around and see their peer's animated turtle and had questions answered. Stop by and see their saved animation.
Second Graders completed their KidPix slideshows and shared with their peers using the smart board. They loved presenting their creation. Many students even added music and their own narration on each slide for a more dramatic effect. I was so proud to see the audience be so attentive and respectful as their peers were presenting. These kids have such great confidence in public speaking. We then began our programming unit using Alice. It's a wonderful 3-D graphics program where you can drag and drop code to make your objects move. Alice is available free to download. Just search for Alice and choose the elementary version.
Third Graders are continuing with their Pixie project. They each chose a topic of their choice to present it as a slideshow format. They love being able to search the programs' controlled Internet gallery of pictures.
Students are using many if not all of the options to create their slideshows. I can't wait to see the finished products.
Fourth Graders completed their dream homes using SketchUp. I was really amazed to see their creativity. I was equally impressed to see that many students created their own structures without the help of the Google search option. Our next unit will be an introduction to word clouds which is a great way of putting words into a graphical format. Stay tuned for that....
As usual please feel free to email me whenever you have any questions. Take care!
Rasha Sachdeva
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Update from the Mouse Pad!
Hello All,
We have been certainly keeping busy here in the lab! Here's a recap:
Kindergartners have started our robotics unit with the BeeBots. I'm sure they have told you about our friendly yellow bees in the lab. The students programmed an actual, not virtual, robot to move using simple commands in a repetitive motion such as forward, back, left and right. The challenge was to move the robots anywhere on the mat but they must come back to it's original spot. They had a ball trying this. Please ask them about it. Next we will take this concept and watch our BeeBots move virtually. Stay tuned!
First Graders completed their self portraits and they are now hanging up in the lab. It's a joy to see the artwork. They are now into our programming unit in which they are programming a virtual turtle and creating an animated picture. They have learned to program with simple commands to watch their picture come to life. I can honestly say that we have a hidden programming talent in all of our 1st Graders. They are so clever! Ask them about the turtle's backpack and what's in it.....
Second Graders are wrapping up their slide show project and will begin to share it with their peers using the smart board. They can't wait for this. Some students have really challenged themselves and added sound effects and amazing transitions to their slides. If you have KidPix at home, please let me know that I can email you the file or just pop in here when you get the chance. I'll be happy to show you their creation!
Third Graders are wrapped up their short story using our book publishing software. They did a fantastic job sharing their stories and watching them come to life on the SmartBoard. It was great to see them use just about all the tools the program has to offer. That was the point of this so that they can delve into an unknown software and create something animated and magical. Students got an introduction to our new software called Pixie. It's so much fun. I would say it is a cross between KidPix and PowerPoint. So you can see the kind of fun they will have with this program. Stay tuned!
Fourth Graders are having a ball with SketchUp. If you have not downloaded it, please do, so that your child can continue creating 3-D structures. They've been introduced to the 3-D Warehouse so that they could download components into their dream home. Students are really creating some virtual futuristic homes. Ask them about their dream homes...you may be surprised by what they say!
As always, please feel free to contact me anytime. Take care.
Rasha Sachdeva
We have been certainly keeping busy here in the lab! Here's a recap:
Kindergartners have started our robotics unit with the BeeBots. I'm sure they have told you about our friendly yellow bees in the lab. The students programmed an actual, not virtual, robot to move using simple commands in a repetitive motion such as forward, back, left and right. The challenge was to move the robots anywhere on the mat but they must come back to it's original spot. They had a ball trying this. Please ask them about it. Next we will take this concept and watch our BeeBots move virtually. Stay tuned!
First Graders completed their self portraits and they are now hanging up in the lab. It's a joy to see the artwork. They are now into our programming unit in which they are programming a virtual turtle and creating an animated picture. They have learned to program with simple commands to watch their picture come to life. I can honestly say that we have a hidden programming talent in all of our 1st Graders. They are so clever! Ask them about the turtle's backpack and what's in it.....
Second Graders are wrapping up their slide show project and will begin to share it with their peers using the smart board. They can't wait for this. Some students have really challenged themselves and added sound effects and amazing transitions to their slides. If you have KidPix at home, please let me know that I can email you the file or just pop in here when you get the chance. I'll be happy to show you their creation!
Third Graders are wrapped up their short story using our book publishing software. They did a fantastic job sharing their stories and watching them come to life on the SmartBoard. It was great to see them use just about all the tools the program has to offer. That was the point of this so that they can delve into an unknown software and create something animated and magical. Students got an introduction to our new software called Pixie. It's so much fun. I would say it is a cross between KidPix and PowerPoint. So you can see the kind of fun they will have with this program. Stay tuned!
Fourth Graders are having a ball with SketchUp. If you have not downloaded it, please do, so that your child can continue creating 3-D structures. They've been introduced to the 3-D Warehouse so that they could download components into their dream home. Students are really creating some virtual futuristic homes. Ask them about their dream homes...you may be surprised by what they say!
As always, please feel free to contact me anytime. Take care.
Rasha Sachdeva
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Update from the Mouse Pad!
Hello Everyone,
We have been busy with all kinds of programs in our lab. The main program we've been focusing on in all of the K-4 Grades is typing. Our 3rd and 4th Graders will be required to turn in a typing log starting in October. If you are a 3rd or 4th Grade parent and you have not yet downloaded our typing program, please do so. This is the only way I can keep an accurate WPM count of your child's progress. The directions to download this program (free of charge) is found on your child's teacher's website in the document section.
Here is a recap of other programs that we are working on:
Kindergartners have gotten an introduction to all of our equipment in the lab. It was so cute how most Kindergartners thought the monitor was touch screen and would tap on the icons with their fingers expecting it would open, thanks to the IPad revolution! Now that they know the difference, we began our keyboarding skills with Type to Learn Jr. Many have already received completed certificates and many are close to receiving one. Stay tuned for our robotics program in October!
First Graders have all taken the initial pre-test for TTL4. They are moving right along with the lessons. They are also working on creating a self-portrait using KidPix. These kids are amazing...there are no stick figures here. I've been so impressed with the quality of artwork that they are displaying. Stop by in October to see their completed portraits on display. Next we will begin our programming unit programming a turtle!
Second Graders have also completed their initial typing pre-test. Some have gotten practice over the summer that they were able to skip several of the initial lessons. Way to Go! They have also been working on KidPix but creating slide shows. They are working on a practice one and will now work on one that they will share with the entire class using my smart board. They can't wait for that. Please ask your 2nd Grader about their slide show.
Third Graders have also completed their initial typing pre-test and as I mentioned above, they will start turning in a typing log starting in October. Please support your child in their typing practice as this will ensure that they reach our typing benchmarks of 15-20 WPM by the time they exit 3rd Grade. Along with typing, students have been introduced with digital storytelling. They are using a wonderful program that lets them be the illustrator as well as the writer!
Fourth Graders have completed their initial pre-test in typing and are also moving right along. Please also ensure that they continue to practice so that they meet the 4th Grade benchmarks of 20-25 WPM. Students were introduced to our online message board on wallwisher.com. Please ask them about it. They got to post what they most enjoy in technology. Please note that no real names were used as always in our cloud based programs.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me as that is the best way to reach me.
Regards,
Rasha Sachdeva
rashas@ows.org
We have been busy with all kinds of programs in our lab. The main program we've been focusing on in all of the K-4 Grades is typing. Our 3rd and 4th Graders will be required to turn in a typing log starting in October. If you are a 3rd or 4th Grade parent and you have not yet downloaded our typing program, please do so. This is the only way I can keep an accurate WPM count of your child's progress. The directions to download this program (free of charge) is found on your child's teacher's website in the document section.
Here is a recap of other programs that we are working on:
Kindergartners have gotten an introduction to all of our equipment in the lab. It was so cute how most Kindergartners thought the monitor was touch screen and would tap on the icons with their fingers expecting it would open, thanks to the IPad revolution! Now that they know the difference, we began our keyboarding skills with Type to Learn Jr. Many have already received completed certificates and many are close to receiving one. Stay tuned for our robotics program in October!
First Graders have all taken the initial pre-test for TTL4. They are moving right along with the lessons. They are also working on creating a self-portrait using KidPix. These kids are amazing...there are no stick figures here. I've been so impressed with the quality of artwork that they are displaying. Stop by in October to see their completed portraits on display. Next we will begin our programming unit programming a turtle!
Second Graders have also completed their initial typing pre-test. Some have gotten practice over the summer that they were able to skip several of the initial lessons. Way to Go! They have also been working on KidPix but creating slide shows. They are working on a practice one and will now work on one that they will share with the entire class using my smart board. They can't wait for that. Please ask your 2nd Grader about their slide show.
Third Graders have also completed their initial typing pre-test and as I mentioned above, they will start turning in a typing log starting in October. Please support your child in their typing practice as this will ensure that they reach our typing benchmarks of 15-20 WPM by the time they exit 3rd Grade. Along with typing, students have been introduced with digital storytelling. They are using a wonderful program that lets them be the illustrator as well as the writer!
Fourth Graders have completed their initial pre-test in typing and are also moving right along. Please also ensure that they continue to practice so that they meet the 4th Grade benchmarks of 20-25 WPM. Students were introduced to our online message board on wallwisher.com. Please ask them about it. They got to post what they most enjoy in technology. Please note that no real names were used as always in our cloud based programs.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me as that is the best way to reach me.
Regards,
Rasha Sachdeva
rashas@ows.org
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