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

My 2nd semester is definitely off to a rough start - I spent last Tuesday & Wednesday in the hospital with a myriad of stomach issues and was forced to miss the first day back. Thanks to the snow, though, I was able to rest Thursday & Friday without worrying about class activities. 
 
All of the classes started off watching a video about the International Space Station and all the computer power that it takes to run it. Analyzing data, operating a robotic arm, guidance & basic life support are all controlled by computers on board the ISS. 
 
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

Parents, did you know that there are parental controls available on all major carrier wireless phones? Not having children of my own, I was not familiar with this feature until I heard some other teachers talking about it just recently. 
 
Most carriers charge about $5.00 a month. The controls include blocking of certain numbers, blocking all photo sending & receiving, allowing only certain numbers to be called, time restraints (the phone is totally blocked at certain hours), plus various other features depending on the carrier. 
 
For Verizon phones go to https://wbillpay.verizonwireless.com/vzw/nos/uc/uc_home.jsp 
 
For AT&T phones go to http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/articles-resources/parental-controls/ 
 
For Sprint phones go to http://www.nextel.com/en/services/popups/phone_access_controls_popup.shtml 
 
http://www.mobile-spy.com/ works on smart phones such as BlackBerry, iPhone, or Android. 

Posted by: susanclark

Only 4 class periods left! 
 
The eighth graders had great job shadowing experiences including riding the rails at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, going to Hamilton County Court and jail, and being a volunteer at the Creative Discovery Museum! If you ate at the "Big Biscuit Barn" Friday morning, you may have eaten food prepared by our job shadowing students, too! Or maybe your elementary school child saw one of them at CVE or CRES.  
 
They are finishing up their portfolios this week. 
 
They will also work on a holiday or special occasion card next week using Microsoft Word software. 

Posted by: susanclark

Wow! I can't believe we only have 4 class periods left! Students will change to a different connection class after Christmas break (except band students. They will stay in band.)  
 
We are finishing up by working with the desktop publishing features of Microsoft Word. Need a flyer or poster created? Let your child do it for you using drawing tools, objects, WordArt, and all those other things they've learned about in class. Or let them create your family holiday card this year. We're learning how to do that next week. 

Posted by: susanclark

Wow! I can't believe we only have 4 class periods left! Students will change to a different connection class after Christmas break (except band students. They will stay in band.) 
 
We are finishing up by talking about Internet searches. Don't you just hate it when you do a search and come up with 35,400,802 hits? No way you can look through all those link! The video we're watching teaches students the "FOr SuRE" method - Focus, Strategize, Refine, Evaluate. Students are learning about other places to do searches on the Internet besides Google. 
 
Next week, students will create a holiday or special occasion card for a friend or loved one using Microsoft Word. 

Posted by: susanclark

The 7th graders are working on PowerPoint autobiographies. Students had their picture taken in class which then went onto the 1st slide of a presentation. Students have learned how to download pictures from the Internet to use in presentations. They have also learned how to animate the slides and do interesting slide transitions. 
 
Next, students will do the same thing using an online presentation software I learned about while at the Georgia Educational Technology Consortium conference last week. The software is called Prezi and is a really cool way to make presentations more interactive and interesting. 
 
Students will also learn how to download free music (instrumental music) from the Internet to use as background music on the presentation. 

Posted by: susanclark

Sixth graders are beginning to work on a short careers unit. They will complete two activities on GCIS (Georgia Career Information System). They will then use the 'Exploring Careers' textbook and read a chapter about planning a career.  

Posted by: susanclark

The 7th graders are starting the Excel unit today. While most of them are proficient on Word, using Excel is another story! Most have never had to do a spreadsheet and create formulas and functions and charts. 
 
The culminating activity in this unit is always the most fun. Students will get a package of M&Ms or Skittles candies to count and sort by color. They will then make a spreadsheet of the colors and create a pie chart. Then, they get to eat their work! 

Posted by: susanclark

Wow! Hard to believe only 9 weeks of school 'til Christmas! 
 
The 8th grade classes are starting to talk about "Getting Along With Co-Workers". They are watching a short video and answering and discussing questions about this important topic. "Co-workers" can also mean "classmates" and learning how to get along with each other now will most certainly help them get along with people in the future. 
 
Students need to begin thinking about job shadowing which will take place in early December. Begin making contacts and asking for permission now so you won't be waiting 'til the last minute to arrange a job shadow. 

Posted by: susanclark