Welcome to the Library/Technology Media Classpage!  

 Ms. Sue Benson

 Jr. High kids (and parents):  

There is an expectation that you bring your homework to school ready to turn in on the day it is due. Your assignment should be printed at home. We understand that things can go wrong. If your home printer is not working or is out of ink, ask your parents to e-mail the teacher or send a note. You will then be allowed to print at school.

The kids in grades kids in grades 3-8 are keyboarding, keyboarding, keyboarding! Check the LINKS on this classpage for opportunities for practicing at home.

Technology…not just a “Special” anymore!

Gone are the days where teachers dropped their students off for a 30 minute computer class, never to use technology again until the following week. Along with the weekly class, teachers are utilizing the computer lab on their own, are using online tools such as video streaming, wikis and blogs, and are creating interactive classroom lessons using SmartBoard technology. Technology has now become an essential teaching and learning tool that children are using on a daily basis. Ms. Benson supports teachers and works with students in implementing academic projects using technology. As the school year progresses, you will notice technology standards/exit expectations linked to many academic subjects that appear in the Standards Score online grade book. Because of this deep integration across the curriculum you will no longer see a separate technology grade on the report card. Keyboarding is introduced in 3^rd grade. You will see keyboarding assessments under the Language Arts category beginning second semester for grades 4-8.

If you are interested in knowing the skills that the students will be learning and utilizing over the years, go to Ms. Benson’s Classpage, click on FILES and look for the Technology Skills file. Notice that the skills are cumulative. The skills are listed in the grade they are introduced. (Example: “Create a graph in Excel” is listed in grade 2, but that same skill will be reviewed and utilized in grades 3-8.)

Just as a reminder, please note that all students need headphones at school. Students in grades 6-7-8 need a flash drive as well. Also, know that children in grades 5-8 are welcome to stay after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays to work in the computer lab.

Thoughtful integration of technology into teaching and learning will result in higher achievement. We are fortunate to have so many technology resources at St. Mary’s Visitation and are grateful for the support and generosity of the school/parish community.

Click here for the "Encyclopedia" song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy2jWJtO3lE

Click here for a funny instructional video about Copyright rules!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn_jC4FNDo

Here is a funny video teaching about plagiarism.

http://library.camden.rutgers.edu/EducationalModule/Plagiarism/

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS!!!

Grades 4-5

Battle of the Books is a statewide program that we have adapted for our students here at St. Mary’s Visitation. All students in grades 4-5 have been placed in groups and given a list of twenty books.   The seven picture books on the list will be read to them in library class. The remaining books need to be read by as many group members as possible before the competition during Children’s Book Week in May. The teams will meet during library class in upcoming weeks to discuss their progress and write sample questions that will later be used in the competition.

Although all of the books are available in the school library there will be many students seeking out the same books. Please encourage your child to locate the books at the public library in your community.

See "files" to print out the book list.

Grades 6-7-8

WORLD BOOK ONLINE is now available at our school.

Students can research this database at home too!    

                    Go to: www.worldbookonline.com                                                    

The user name and password are BOTH smveg              

 Hey kids! Did you ever try to look for something on the Internet, only to be faced with thousands of websites on your topic? Here is a great website full of tips on how to do a good Internet search. http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/welcome/  Parents, look over this site as a family. It is really worth the time!

 Parents,

           www.getnetwise.org                 www.safekids.com            www.ikeepsafe.org   

                                               

A FEW MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
The technology vision of the school recognizes the impact of developing media on individuals, communities and families. Therefore we will: Continuously improve our hardware and software library, including access to emerging technologies. Teach students to be wise users of technology while maintaining ethical standards consistent with Catholic values. Challenge staff and students to explore and apply new avenues available through technology to enhance student achievement. Make use of state and national instructional media standards as our guide for developing curriculum that ensures student proficiency at appropriate developmental levels.	Smart Board Technology Interactive, computer driven whiteboards are energizing today’s classrooms and changing how students learn. These whiteboards bring the power of a computer and the Internet right to a large screen. A touch sensitive display board connects to a classroom computer and digital projector. Students and teachers use their fingers or inkless pens to write and draw on the screen, as well as to manipulate objects and words. Interactive whiteboards allow students to be more engaged in the learning process. Because students are not always isolated in front of individual computer screens, learning can become a collaborative process.
United Streaming With Discovery Education United Streaming, teachers gain access to a rich collection of more than 50,000 video segments from about 5,000 full length educational videos. As a standards based educational resource, Discovery Education United Streaming is proven to increase student achievement, and also helps schools meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind.	Badgerlink Badgerlink is a project of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The goal is to provide access to quality online information resources for Wisconsin residents. Through Badgerlink students access a variety of research databases including newspapers, periodicals, literature, reference materials and websites. Students have direct access at school, and can access Badgerlink at home using their public library card.

            Please Note 

 Students in grades 5-8 are welcome to stay after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for extra time in the Computer Lab. This is a great opportunity to work on assignments, especially if there is competition for your computer at home.  Please see the permission form attached to my files below. Please send written permission when you want your child to stay, or send me an e-mail. Thanks!

The Typing Hall of Fame! 

Watch for it in 2009-2010