State of the “Tech Connect” Address: Part 2- Projects

Projects we have been/ are working on…

Pre-Kindergarten has been working on mouse control skills through a painting program such as Kid Pix. They have started checking out the AlphaSmart Neos to get the students comfortable with the keyboard and practicing capital and lower case letter recognition.

Kindergarten classes are participating in the November task of the Voices of the World by singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and illustrating the song with KidPix.

Find more videos like this on Voices Of The World

They are actively following the Teddy Bears Around the World blog and have already commented to Sunny, another Kindergarten bear from South Carolina
First graders have started exploring Microsoft Word by typing riddles about their favorite animals, then inserting an illustration created in KidPix. They are learning about basic text editing, backspace, deleting, font size and style.

All lower level grades have adopted and integrated a Webkinz into their classrooms. Some have created a special blog were the Star Student of the week journals their time with the critter at their home Other teachers are getting comfortable using the check out projector cart to go online to earn money together as class and then to design and furnish their pets’ virtual rooms. We have also spotted their Webkinz getting ready to go on fieldtrips. Can’t wait to see the photos taken on their websites.

All classroom teachers have had a classroom blog installed and are ready to start communicating with parents and students. Many are already spreading their wings and embedding Animoto videos, uploading class pictures or student work. I am trying to keep up with the demand of WordPress plugins and themes for the diverse needs and taste of each teacher.

Fourth, fifth and sixth grade writing teachers have worked with their students on Chris Craft’s Life ‘Round Here project. Sixth grade was able to finish close to the deadline of the project, while fifth and fourth graders are continuing to work at their own pace. We will upload their winning entries on their classroom blogs or on the school’s Tech Connect blog.