Computer Coding

The students have been learning about computer programming and coding this month.  We are using a variety of websites to do this that your student can also try at home :)  You can find Code.org on the Shepard website under Student Resources.

Keyboarding and Word Processing

Our 1st - 5th grade students are practicing keyboarding skills and word processing these days.  We are using Dance Mat Typing to start learning the QWERTY keyboard, and 3rd - 5th grade will transition into Typing Club for practice the rest of the year.  Using the Keyboarding folder in Schoology, the students will be able to test their typing skill and speed whenever desired.

We are using Microsoft Word to start word processing skills like changing the font style, the font size, the font color, etc.  The 3rd-5th graders will also practice these skills using Google Docs.

We will then practice highlight, copy and paste skills using text and images. Learning these skills will make research and writing easier.

Kindergarteners Rock!

Our Kindergarteners are learning to log into the computers with the help of some wonderful 5th grade students.  Practice makes perfect, and I hope that the students can learn to log in by Christmas break so that they can access the CPS Portal at home!

I love the concentration.

Happy Student!

Useful Information

Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes worked on a website called Interland - an internet world that teaches good digital citizenship skills.  The website's address is :  g.co/interland    You can check it out!

Our students have access now to the CPS Portal, a place that holds many treasures!  The Everyday Math books can be found here in the Schoology icon.  If you click on Schoology and then choose McGraw-Hill, you can find the text book and several online math games for practice.

The portal also has Capstone Books, an online reading source.  Students can find many great titles here that will read aloud to them.  ST Math can be found in the portal as well.

To get to the CPS Portal, go to the CPS website and click on the CPS Students and Faculty Portal Login button.  Your student will need to enter the username and password that they use to log into the computers at Shepard.

Finally, a few fun pictures of 5th graders who won a game challenge during the Fall Party week!

 

Time for Keyboarding!

                                                     


Our students are now working on a program called Dance Mat Typing which will help them learn the skills of keyboard typing.  In between the Dance Mat lessons, some of the classes will continue to explore safe uses of the internet; some of them will listen to award nominated books; and some will work on math skills on the computer.

Our kindergarteners will continue to work on keyboarding skills as well.  The students are  using games to learn where the alphabet letters are on the board so that they can log onto the computers for themselves in a few weeks.  Learning their student username is very important because they will continue to use that username at Columbia Public Schools until they graduate high school :)

Digital Citizen Graduates!

Our 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are finishing up learning about digital citizenship.  We have used the Be Internet Awesome website created by Google and iKeepSafe to learn about keeping private and personal information safe.  They also learned about how to be careful opening and sending emails and text messages and how to create a good password.  Cyberbullying and being kind on the internet rounded up our lessons on keeping a small, responsbile digital footprint.

Meanwhile, our kindergarteners are learning how to find alphabet letters on the keyboard.  Soon they will be logging into the computers on their own!

We are Great Digital Citizens!

Shepard students will be learning about how to create a small digital footprint and how to be great digital citizens.  We will be using the Google project Be Internet Awesome to discuss personal information, cyberbulling, and other issues regarding digital awareness.

Passwords, Eclipses, and Camp - Oh My!

We have had two very busy weeks!  The classes all reviewed expectations in the computer lab, and the third, fourth, and fifth grade classes practiced good digital citizenship by changing and securing a new password.

We all went outside to enjoy a day of the solar eclipse :)

We spent two days at Camp Shepard where the students reviewed good practices and behaviors in the classroom, cafeteria, hallways, bathroom, assemblies, etc.

Now, on to Digital Citizenship!

Ready!!

The Shepard computer lab is ready and waiting for students :)

See you tomorrow!

Happy Summer!

Congratulations Shepard students! What a wonderful year full of hard work and fun❤️. 

See you in August!!

Bots! Bots! BOTS!!

Our 2nd - 5th grade classes had the opportunity to work with Ozobots - small robots that students can use to code paths and actions. Ozobots are a part of the Maker Space collection, and we all had a good time!

Catherine showed her classmates how to use Dash and Dot, robots who move by student coding. 

She did a great job!

QR Codes Part 4!

And here are today's photos of our fabulous 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders...

QR Codes Part 3

Here are today's wonderful 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who tried out QR codes:

QR codes Part 2!

Here is Tuesday's group of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders:

QR codes!

This week the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades will be working on iPads. We are exploring Scratch Jr and QR comes this week.

It is a Grand Night!

On April 13, Shepard hosted Grandparents Night. It was an opportunity for our grandparents, parents, or special older friend to come and see what our students do and learn at Shepard. It was wonderful!

So many students brought their "friend" in to see what they can do on the computers!

Research Rocks!

Our students are learning the basic research skills in lab for March and April. We used the acronym RADCAB to help us remember those skills:  Relevant, Appropriate, Detail, Current, Authority, and Bias. The students keep these in mind as they research US states, weather, and animals. 

We will then create a Google Slide, PowerPoint, or Word document to share with the class.

February Rocks!

Our Shepard students are hard workers! They are learning touch typing by first working on Dance Mat Typing. When they complete this program, they are moving into Typing Club - keep those fingers on home row! 

First, second, and third graders are also listening to books from the Show Me Readers award nominees list. In a few weeks, they will vote on their favorite book of the ten books they heard.

Students are also working on ST Math and Microsoft Word this month. We will later start working on Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. Later on, Google Docs and Sheets 😊

Busy, happy days of February❤️

January Learning

Our classes will be working on a variety of projects this semester, so we will focus on touch typing in January, using the Dance Mat Typing program. Learning to type with dancing goats, sheep, cats, roosters, and flamingoes can cheer up gray January days 😊