8th graders have begun registering for GACollege411.com This program is much like GCISJr. that was used last year. You can create a parent account on this site and explore career options with your child. 
 
Students will also start exploring what work is all about later in the week. They should be bringing home a worksheet called "Why Do People Work?". They will interview someone with a job to find out different reasons people work. This is one of the only homework assignments they will have to do this semester so look for it! 

Posted by: susanclark

7th graders will begin working with Microsoft Word on Wednesday of this week. We will begin learning how to format documents - editing, moving text, using Spell Check and many other features of Word. 
 
Remember, if you cannot afford the Microsoft brand program, you can download a FREE program that is almost exactly the same as it. Go to http://www.openoffice.org/ to find out about this great FREE program. Documents can even be saved in Word format (.doc) so that they will open on another computer which has Word installed. Open Office also includes presentation and spreadsheet software much like PowerPoint and Excel. 

Posted by: susanclark

It's already time for a quiz! 6th grade classes only will have a quiz on the classroom rules and procedures either Tuesday (A day) or Wednesday (B day). Students copied these rules onto notebook paper in class. 
 
Speaking of notebook paper, be sure your child has a folder or notebook for computer class. I have already had to give out notebook paper to students who were unprepared for class. This will not continue. If students continue to be unprepared, discipline will be administered in the form of sentences or a phone call home. This rule was made clear the first day of class and was written on the computer class information sheet I gave out. 

Posted by: susanclark

Does your student have a social networking site such as a Facebook page or a MySpace page? These are fun sites for kids (as well as adults!) but there are some things you need to remember about these pages to help keep your child safe. 
 
You can go to http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.netsmartz.org/downloads/tipsheets/SocialNetworkingGuide.pdf  
to see a great tip sheet published by NetSmartz.org. It is only 2 pages and shows you some things to look for and ways to help your child keep from giving out too much personal information. 
 
One of the most important tips is to KNOW YOUR CHILD'S PASSWORD. There are many areas that you might not see when viewing the public profile page. You should make this a condition of your child having the page! 
 
Please take a minute to look at this tip sheet. You'll be glad you did! 

Posted by: susanclark

Welcome to Mrs. Clark's Business and Computer Science class! I will use this blog regularly to let you know what is happening in my class. I will post notices of tests (and there aren't very many written tests!) or tidbits of information about computers in general. I hope you will check back every week or two and see what's going on in class. You may find out that your child has learned something in class that they can teach you! 
 
I will give out a syllabus on the first day of class which gives more detailed curriculum information.  
 
Basically, each class will begin with typing. Typing, or keyboarding skills, are VITALLY important. Students who do not have a good foundation in keyboarding will be very limited in what they can do in higher grades or even in a job. In class, students must use keyboard covers which hide the letters to force them to memorize the position of the keys.  
 
Speaking of keys, I require the students to use hand sanitizer when entering the classroom every day. This way, they keys stay relatively germ-free. I do clean them with anti-bacterial cleaner some but the hand sanitizer really helps cut down on germ sharing. If you would be so kind as to donate a bottle of hand sanitizer, that would be fantastic. Next time you're at a store, pick up a bottle, please. Thanks!  
 

Posted by: susanclark

Seventh graders will continue working with Microsoft Word software for the next two weeks. They will be producing desktop publishing-type documents: signs, a timeline, and a newsletter incorporating borders, dividers, graphics, columns, text boxes, and arrows. 

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Students are learning about our economic system and will begin reading about personal financial issues. 
 
This unit is always fun because the kids suddenly realize how incredibly hard it is to live in the 'real world'! Activities include learning how to keep a checkbook register, fill out a check, and read a credit card statement. The interactive game, "On Your Own", will be utilized at the end of the textbook work.  

Posted by: susanclark

Students have been assigned an email address for use at school. They have been discussing Internet use and safety and have learned how to format an email properly and add an attachment. 
 
The email program that we use, Gaggle.net, is very restrictive. Many slang words and instant message abbreviations are forbidden. When a student types an email using forbidden words, the email is blocked and sent to me. I can then read it and talk to the student about it. Many students think it is o.k. to use vulgar or curse words with one or two letters left out. If the reader knows what the 'left out' letters are and what the word should be, it is the same thing as using the actual word. This kind of language is not allowed on Gaggle.net. We have discussed 'cyberbullying' in class. Name-calling and the use of bad words are a couple of things that are a big 'no-no'. Students will be counseled if this occurs but if it continues to occur, the email account will be suspended indefinitely. 
 
Students will also have an opportunity to learn how to use a message/discussion board. Each student will post messages to the board, properly written, expressing a personal opinion on the newly announced school calendar for next year. 

Posted by: susanclark

Students will begin working on a PowerPoint presentation on Internet Safety for the next couple of weeks. This presentation includes animations, slide transitions, and adding music to the show. 

Posted by: susanclark

8th graders are working on career skills. 
 
They started last week creating posters on the 16 career clusters and finding out detailed information about each cluster.  
 
They are watching a video called "Communication: The Number 1 Job Skill" which satisfies our Business and Computer Science Standard 3:2 - "The student will demonstrate effective communication skills used to succeed in the business world." They answered factual questions about communication and were then divided into groups to answer though-provoking questions about various job scenarios in which proper communication is necessary. 

Posted by: susanclark

7th graders have been working with Microsoft Word, learning how to do tables and outlines just recently.  
 
They will take a break for a few days to work on another Business & Computer Science Standard, "The student will examine educational requirements, job responsibilities, employment trends, and opportunities for careers in networking, programming, and computer science." 
 
They have already picked one job from this Information Technology cluster to focus on. Students have created a table containing pertinent information about that job and will write a short report using that info. 
 
Next, they will watch a video called "Careers for the 21st Century: Computer Occupations". They will have questions to answer on that as they watch. 

Posted by: susanclark

Wow! With all the crazy weather, I haven't updated in a while. I keep having to postpone my lesson plans for a day or two! 
 
6th graders are starting on a unit about the Internet - the history of it, how it works, HTML, etc. They will have a test on Internet vocabulary terms next week.  
 
After that, they will start a unit on Internet Safety (including cell phone & networked video game safety). Students will learn how to use PowerPoint and will create a presentation on Internet Safety. 
 
These activities fulfill the Business & Computer Science standards 1: 5, 6 & 12 - "Students will discuss Internet safety and security issues" and "Students will utilize the Internet as a resource" and "Students will acquire basic knowledge and skills of multimedia/presentation software." 

Posted by: susanclark

The 6th grade classes are concentrating on proper typing procedures and also on learning about how computers work. They have complete several worksheets on computer processes from the Kid's Caboose site http://parenting.kaboose.com/education-and-learning/learning-resources/brain-computer-lesson.html 
 
They are now watching a video about how computers work and writing definitions of computer terms. There will be a test some time next week on these terms. 

Posted by: susanclark

Seventh graders have started working with Microsoft Word word processing software. They are learning how to format colors, sizes, different fonts, and how to easily & quickly make corrections. 
 
If you do not have the Microsoft Office suite at home, you can download a TOTALLY FREE suite called Open Office on your computer. It is almost identical to Microsoft Office & includes a spreadsheet program (like Excel), a word processing program (like Word), a presentation program (like PowerPoint) and other stuff. 
 
You can go to http://www.openoffice.org/ to download it. (You'll need a high-speed connection - it's a large file.) The site even includes free tutorials for learning more about the products. 

Posted by: susanclark

The 8th grade classes have started off by registering for the Georgia Career Information System. This website is highly informative and useful for guiding students in career choices. It includes various types of career quizzes and tests to help direct students towards a career that fits their personalities and educational aspirations. 
 
Students can access the site any time they like, even at home. Just go to http://www.gcic.peachnet.edu/  
 
Parents interested in changing jobs or pursuing higher education may also be interested in the site.  

Posted by: susanclark