Computer Lab Details!

Both of the computer labs are open for business!

The sign-up sheet is on the counter like it always is.

If you want my assistance with your projects, please note that in the center column!!  But it never hurts to also let me know face to face what your project is and how I can help!

I am going to try to be better at noting times when I am not available to help out...but you know how that will probably go!!!

NEW GUEST LOGIN!!!!

You might have noticed that the log in for the guest account has changed!!!!

It is NO LONGER     guest account

NOW it is simply the word    guest in lower case with no password needed.

We are in the process of changing the signs in the lab....there ARE stickers on the machines with the new info on them.....

If you would like stickers for your classroom machines, they are in the document holder by the door to the center.  Help Yourself!

REMEMBER!!!  All students should be logging into the computers as guest 

If you need to have something saved and aren't using GoogleDocs, come see me and we can make a plan!

A Helpful Hint When Scheduling Lab Time for Activities Involving the Printer!

If you are planning a project that will be printed.....the easiest thing for you is to sign up for the large back lab.  The computers in that lab default to the color printer with no extra step for you.

If you try to print from the computers in the center lab, they default to the small black and white printer and you will need to have the kids pull down the printer list and choose the color printer.

I KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO!!!!   More often than not, if the back lab is already spoken for, the person will probably be willing to switch with you....just ask them!

You might want to hurry and sign up.....Why???
MAP Testing will begin on September 15th....taking up an awful lot of lab times for 3 weeks!

Before you bring your students into the lab....please have a discussion about taking care of the spaces.

 Schedule a couple of minutes at the end of the session to straighten up the lab for the next group!

Some classrooms have an assigned "helper" who goes around and checks this.

• DO NOT HAVE STUDENTS LOG OUT of the guest account when you leave...this saves time for the next group!
• Remind students to NEVER turn off the computer unless they are instructed to do so!!

Hope to see you soon!

iPad Cart Information

Congrats on having your conferences over!!!

So now on to November!

I have finally posted the iPad sign out on Google Docs!

It is shared with you, but here is the link anyway!!!

IPAD SIGNOUT ON GOOGLE DOCS 

If you do put your name on the signout, please let us know if your plans change!

You may check the cart out for any length of time.

It works best to do half days so that you are able to find a time to come get it and return it!

PLEASE DO NOT have students transport the cart!

 While you all were busy with your conferences, I spent a considerable amount of time synching and organizing the apps so that each iPad should have a similar lay out on each window.

If you have any suggestions for great apps (especially Spanish Language) let me know and I will download them.

 

I am trying to resolve the issue of head phones for the cart.....so many of the apps have sound and when a whole class is using them it can get loud....

Any suggestions?.....the idea of sixteeen headsets all tangled up on the shelf inside the cart makes me crazy!!!!

Having them in baggies might work.....do you think that would be too cumbersome when you are managing the cart in your classroom?

HMMMM............

Anyway....the iPads await your clever instructional plans!!!!

Quick Tip for Adding Movies to a Web Site!

Lots of you are customizing your webpage with videos from You Tube!
There are lots of great Spanish Videos out there.....

Kim and I have been doing this for the new Interactive Kindergarten website and we are learning some tricks!

The problem we needed to solve was the fact that after the video we put on the site played...
a whole bunch of other videos show up as choices at the end of our chosen video.....arghhhh!

Here is the solution that we discovered!

Go to You Tube and select the video you want to use.


At the bottom of the video there is a button that says SHARE.

When you click it you get this at the bottom....

Click on the little button that says embed.... 

You get this screen with the html code you will need.....

notice the check box that says "show suggested videos when the video finishes.....

UNCHECK this box....

and THEN copy the new code that appears.....

Paste that code on your webpage and you will not see the suggested videos that are the problem....

Hurrah!  Success......

We are looking for a way to use You Tube videos that don't have all the You Tube stuff around the edges.....so if you discover a way to do this, let us all know!


Here is the link with complete directions for embedding a You Tube Video

http://support.google.com/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=171780&expand=UseOldEmbedCode#oldcode


As always....if you have questions about this, let me know!

Have a great day!

Jumpstart Information

It is time to start thinking about how 

Jumpstart will work this year!

Jumpstart will begin as soon as NWEA Map testing is completed.

The Morning Sessions of Jumpstart-from 8:15 until 8:45 are reserved for Grades 3 through 5!

These Morning Sessions will be devoted to MATH interventions.

• Once Grade 3-5 teachers have NWEA Math results, please meet as a group to identify those students who will be using Jumpstart.
• I will need some sort of identifier for RIT Score and Strand to work on.
• If you want students to use IXL, I will need to know what activities you want students to work on.
• It is recommended that students miss no more than 2 morning meeting times a week for Jumpstart. 

Afternoon Jumpstart for Grades 1-2

will start at the end of October.....

There are 24 spots each day! 

(12 per grade level....it could be 3 per classroom or the grade can determine the students who most need to come)

The focus of afternoon Jumpstart can be either Reading or Math

It will help me if you give some indication of the skills you want the students to work on.

I am working on the "Pass" that students will use.....If you have any specific ideas or suggestions for this.....let me know!

New Log In Procedure for This year!

Change is GOOD.....Right?
Really you are gonna like this...I PROMISE!

After lots of discussion (complaining!!!) with the tech department, we came up with a solution to the very long logging in issues students faced last year in the computer lab.


This year.....things are gonna be different!!!




When you come to the lab...the computers will most often be logged in to the guest account!

If they are NOT...please have your students log in as a guest!

Log In Name:  guest account   (all lower case.....a space between the words)
There is NO PASSWORD....just leave that blank and continue to LOG IN!

When you leave the lab....DO NOT log the computers out!

WHY?

Most often kids do not need to access their accounts....they just need to use the computers for access to the internet!

There is no need to take the time to sync to their accounts!!!

This will be a real time saver for most computer activities!!!


If they DO need access to their accounts...there is a share point on the dock to the K-5 sever.
That is not active at this point....but I am promised that it will work within the week!

If you are coming to the lab to do something that you want your kids to save.....
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...schedule this with me so that I can teach your kids the process!

The front lab is fully functional at this point and the back lab will be ready in a couple of days!!!!

The sign up schedule is the same as last year....

See you soon!

Computer Lab! Important Information!

The Computer Labs are open for business.

I have printed the stickers for student log ins for grades 1-2-3

I am assuming kids in grade 4 and 5 know their log ins.  If you would like me to mail the list to you let me know.

The sign up sheet for the computer labs is ready too!
I would ask that if you are bringing your kids to the lab log in to their own accounts, you pick a time that I can assist you. There are several set up activities that you will need to do with your students to help them work successfully.

                                                     The IXL accounts are up and running.

Brain Pop in Spanish is available  log in is the same as last year 
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The Libros Electronicos is available again this year







I have not checked every link on our site, so if you encounter links that no longer work, please let me know!
Would love to hear about any links you would want added to the Student Resource Page.

Computer Lab This Week!

Student Accounts are not ready for kids to use yet!

But....the computers are sitting there ready and waiting!

Every day this week and next week, I will load the computers with the a guest log in.

You may sign up to come in and use the computers.

When students use a guest account they CAN NOT save anything.

Think of activities that do not require a lot of instruction....
an internet site, electronic books, math games for instance

This IS NOT the time for you to have me do the "rules talk" for the computer lab...
you may sign up for a time that I am scheduled to help another class with book boxes, as you really won't need me.

As soon as I hear from the tech department about student accounts, I will let you know!
Enjoy.....