Crossword puzzle 1-7 due today

You need to hand in your crossword puzzle - please make sure that you have written your name at the top.

Your priorities for today are as follows:

1. Complete 3 of the timed writings on the Free Typing Game website.  Choose a different one of the Classic Tales (#26 - #35) stories to complete for each of the timed writings you do.  Write your best score on the sheet on the wall.
2. Complete test #25 - that's the 10-key lesson test - you'll use your keypad to complete this.  It's been a while since we've worked on these so this will be a good review.
3. Complete any missing work during class.  Check the pages on the wall - if you get anything done it might be wise to cross it off so you aren't confused the next time you look at the sheet on the wall (I can give you a Sharpie if you would like one).
4. If you do not have any missing assignments you can go to the practice websites.  I will be selecting individuals to compete in the bracket competition.  We have several individual competitions that need to get completed to get brackets updated.
5. If you have not yet posted definitions to the wiki spaces page for next week now would be a good time to get that done.  I don't normally offer class time, but I'll allow it since I'm in a good mood today  :-)

Vocab definitions; Crossword puzzle; FA9

There is no vocab quiz this week, so we will be having a crossword puzzle that I will hand out today. There will be vocab quiz #8 next week so if you have not yet posted any definitions for list #8 please get that completed as soon as possible (you have all day tomorrow - no excuses!).

Today we are going to start learning about inserting shapes into Word.  There are several different styles of shapes, and there are also many cool ways to format the shapes that you can insert.  We also will learn to insert WordArt, which is a uniquely formatted way to enter text into a document.


Activity 9.pdf

Happy Halloween! Crossword puzzle due

The crossword puzzle 1-6 is due today at the beginning of the hour.  If you have handed in the crossword puzzle you need to complete any missing work and get it handed in.

If you have everything done you can go to the following website where there are Halloween games to play.  The rule for today is that you can go to this website, but you are not allowed to click on any other link once you get to the game you are trying to play.

Halloween website

If you decide to go trick-or-treating tonight, stay warm, and have fun!!

Crossword puzzle 1-6; Create a blog

I will be handing out crossword puzzle 1-6 - it is a review of all words on lists 1 through 6 and is due Friday.  As usual, if you get it done before Friday you are welcome to turn it in early.

Today we are going to begin creating your blog.  We will need to go to Blogger's website - www.blogger.com.  This is going to allow you to be creative to a certain degree, and we will also have some assignments that will be required to be posted to your blog.  Since we are doing this at school you will have a few rules you will have to follow:

• Your blog will need to be school appropriate at all times
• There will be no games on your blog
• You will open your blog (or be on your blog) ONLY when you are told to.  You will not be on your blog during class changing designs or posting information (or for any other reason) without permission
• You are responsible for EVERYTHING that is on your blog, so be careful with what you do
• Once the semester is over you can do with your blog what you want.  You are the owner/creator, so you have full power to use it as you wish (continue to use it for whatever purpose or completely delete the blog)

Crossword Puzzle 1-5; Keypad

There is no vocab list for this week.  However, next week will be vocab list #6, and if you still have not yet posted definitions on the Wiki spaces page then you have plenty of time to get that completed.  When you post your definitions, you MUST make sure you put your name in parentheses, and you also must make sure that you save once you get done.  After saving check to see if your definitions are on the website - if not, then it is likely someone else is on the website and you'll have to enter them again.  Keep trying until they are on the page after you've saved.

One note as we continue with our formatting activities for this week...many of you are not including a greeting (it can be as simple as "Mr. Pardoe", but it MUST include the name of the person you are sending the email to) and/or a body (it can be as easy as "Here is my FA4") when you are sending emails.  This causes you to lose a point every time you do not include it in your email - and these are easy points to get.  Make a note to yourself to remember to include this when you are sending me assignments through your email.

I will be handing out Crossword Puzzle 1-5; this will cover vocab words from lists 1-5 and will be due Friday.  As always, if you get it done early and want to hand it in before Friday that is perfectly ok.  This is homework - we will not be working on this in class.

We will start today with learning the keypad.  When we practice with the keypad we are going to use Microsoft Excel, so before we start learning the keypad I want to introduce you to Excel.  With the keypad, there is a homerow just as there is with the alphanumeric part of the keyboard, so we'll cover that first.  After that we will begin learning the keypad.

Crossword puzzle due; speed test tournament beginning!

Please make sure to hand in your crossword puzzle with your name on it.

We are going to begin the speed test tournament.  When we do this we are going to use the Typeracer website.  Here are the steps to follow:

1. On the half sheet of blue paper write both competitors names 
2. The competitor listed as Player #1 needs to go to the Typeracer website, click on the "Race your friends" link, then write down the entire URL - that means you also need to include the "http://" part of the URL.  Hand the blue sheet to Player #2.
3. Player #2 will enter the URL in the address bar of their browser.
4. When both players are ready, TYPE!!
5. When you are done, circle the winner and then give the blue sheet to Mr. Pardoe.
6. Names will be written in appropriate spots on the bracket, and then when the next round is ready you'll complete these steps again with your next opponent.

This is meant to be an exercise in which you are keying, but ultimately this should be fun!  There is nothing wrong with being a competitor, but I do not allow putdowns in the room.  This should be a welcome diversion from the monotony of keying out of the book, not a way for you to make fun of someone else.

We will go through 2 rounds today - everyone will compete twice.  Once we get done we will review the keys we learned yesterday, and then if we get done with that you'll have time at the end of the hour to play the keying games.

Crossword puzzle 1-4; FA3

I will be handing out a crossword puzzle today that will be a review of vocab lists 1-4 - this will be due on Friday.

Today we are going to work on FA3.  I have a few things to go over first before you will be able to start on FA3 - do not start working on this while I am explaining what you need to do.


  Activity 3.pdf

Friday finally! Crossword puzzle due

Please hand in your crossword puzzle - when you do make sure your name is at the top of the paper.

Today we are going to do a little competition, and instead of trying to describe it here I will explain what we are doing in class so you have a better idea of what you need to do.

Learning the keypad

As a reminder there is no vocab quiz this week.  However, this is a great time for those of you who still have vocab definitions to post to get those completed.  There are 4 vocab weeks left, so that means that most of you (if not all of you) will still be responsible for defining words on at least one occasion.  Please use this time (meaning this week when you don't have a vocab quiz) to get these definitions posted so it isn't hanging over your head and you don't have to scramble on the last day possible to get your definitions posted.  Trust me...you'll feel much better knowing that you've got it done and out of the way!

For today we are going to start with learning the keypad numbers.  This is the completely separate set of number keys out to the right of the alphanumeric keyboard.

The crossword puzzle that you are getting in class today will be due Friday.  It covers lists 1-6.

Crossword puzzle due; learn 3, 6, and 2

You need to turn in your crossword puzzle at the beginning of the hour.  Please make sure your name is on your paper.

We will review the numbers that we have learned so far, then we will learn the last 3 numbers - the 3 (L2), the 6 (R1), and the 2 (L3).

This is the end of the 3rd quarter - believe it or not we are 75% of the way through the school year!!

Crossword Puzzle due; Internet safety

Please hand in your crossword puzzle to the gray tray on my desk.  You will need to make sure your name is on the handout!

Today you will use the hour to work with your partner(s) on your Internet Safety project.  If you haven't created an account at GoAnimate! you may want to get that done ASAP.  

As you are creating your movies/videos, here is a suggestion to help you simplify what you create:  list the topic you are going to cover, next explain what the topic is, then provide as many details as you can about the Internet safety topic, and if you haven't already provided details on how a person can avoid having that happen to them.  

There has been a change to the vocab lists - I found out yesterday that the week of ISAT is the week of March 10-14.  Originally the ISAT testing was scheduled for the week before, and when the vocab weeks were setup the week of March 10-14 was a vocab week while March 3-7 was not a vocab week.  We will now have to switch those weeks - for those of you who were originally responsible for week 5 vocab words you are still responsible for the same words, it's just that you now have one less week to complete your definitions.  If you had followed my advice early in the semester and entered your definitions for all of the weeks as early as possible you have nothing to worry about.  If, however, you have not posted your definitions for week 5 you will need to have them posted by Tuesday, Mar. 4th.

Crossword Puzzle; Learn apostrophe ('), hyphen (-), and quotation marks (")

Today you will be receiving a crossword puzzle that will be due this Friday.  This crossword puzzle contains vocab words from vocab lists 1 through 3.  This is a homework assignment - you will not receive class time to complete this.  Additionally, you are welcome to turn this in anytime before Friday, but it must be turned in no later than Friday to earn full credit.

Today we are going to learn 3 new symbols on the keyboard, but you'll only be learning 2 new keys.  The apostrophe (R4), the hyphen (R4), and the quotation marks (Left Shift + R4) are the new symbols.  As you will notice from above, you also will be using your right little finger on all three of these symbols - it's going to get a workout today!

Just to give you an idea of where we are going - tomorrow we are going to start our Internet Safety unit.  When we work on Internet Safety you will be working on a website to create a short video.  The website will require a username and password.

After the Internet Safety project we will head back to learning the ten numbers across the top of the keyboard and the symbols on the numbers.  That should get us pretty close to the end of the first 9 weeks of second semester.

Crossword puzzle; complete work

With only 4 days remaining the key is to make sure that you have everything completed and turned in.  If you have any missing assignments (check the board) you'll want to get those in…getting 50% on an assignment is much better than getting a zero.

If you have all of your assignments in, and you have completed your Alice project, I will allow you time in class to go to the Computer lab and complete your podcast.  See me during class and I will write you a pass to the computer lab.  However, if the computer labs are being used by classes then completing the podcast will not be a possibility and you will have to work on it outside of class (as you were originally supposed to do).  Remember, the podcast is due Wednesday.  If you turn in the podcast on Thursday you'll lose 10% of the grade, but you'll at least get a grade.  Anything turned in after Thursday will be graded at a 50% reduction.

You will have a crossword puzzle the you will get in class today…it will be due Thursday - no exceptions.  I will not accept this after Christmas, so if you don't turn it in by Thursday you will not get any credit for the crossword puzzle.  This puzzle only covers lists 1-9 (NOT list #10).

Completing FA5

Today you need to finish FA5.  Please note that this formatting activity is to be printed out instead of emailed as many of the other formatting activities have been.

Also, your crossword puzzle is due today at the beginning of the hour - make sure to put your name at the top of your page.

If you are done with both of these assignments you should work to complete any missing assignments you have.

If you are completely caught up with everything we've done then you need to type the lines below in Word with your speed skin on your keyboard.  If you get these done, raise your hand so I can see that you have completed these lines - then you can go to the practice websites:

The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body that it could squirt blood 30 feet.

The flea can jump up to 350 times its body length. For a human, that would be equivalent to jumping the length of an entire football field.

The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.

The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.

Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

Starfish have no brains.

The average bed is home to over 6 billion dust mites.

Just twenty seconds worth of fuel remained when Apolo 11's lunar module landed on the moon

Ten tons of space dust falls on the Earth every day

If you attempted to count the stars in a galaxey at a rate of one every second it would take around 3,000 years to count them all.

There are 333 toilet paper squares on a toilet paper roll.

Every minute in the U.S. six people turn 17.

It takes about 20 seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body.

There are more than 1,000 chemicals in a cup of cofee.

On average, a 4-year-old child asks 437 questions a day.

Termites eat wood twice as fast when listening to hevy metal music.

Finish FA5; crossword puzzle due tomorrow

As you work to complete FA5 today during class you will work with your speed skin on your keyboard.  The instructions for FA5 are still on yesterday's blogpost.

Additionally, the crossword puzzle given to you on Tuesday is due tomorrow.  If you have completed it you may turn it in at anytime.

Lastly, don't forget that all of the vocab words are on the wiki spaces page…therefore, if you have definitions that you need to post for either week #8, #9, or #10 you can do that now.  If you are responsible for week #8 words (the week 8 vocab quiz is next week) those definitions need to be posted by next Tuesday.

History of the Internet

There is no vocab quiz this week, so instead there will be crossword puzzle that will need to be completed by Friday.

Today we are going to watch this video on the Internet.

Finish FA2; crossword puzzle 1-4

**THIS IS ANOTHER REMINDER TO GET YOUR VOCAB DEFINITIONS POSTED TO THE WIKI SPACES PAGE IF YOU HAVE VOCAB WORDS YOU NEED TO DEFINE FOR NEXT WEEK!!**

Today you need to finish FA2 that we started yesterday.  Please read the instructions carefully!

After completing the formatting activity you will need to complete a crossword puzzle.  The crossword puzzle is a vocabulary review from the first 4 vocab lists that we have had.  You will be given class time to complete this as well, but if you are not able to get this done in class today then it is homework over the weekend.  It is due at the beginning of the hour on Monday.

If you get done with both the formatting activity and the crossword puzzle you need to go to the practice websites on the blog and practice your keying.

Crossword puzzle due! "The Internet - Behind the Web" video

You need to hand in your crossword puzzle today - please make sure to put your name at the top!

Today we will be watching a video - "The Internet - Behind the Web"

Crossword puzzle; Finish FA7; Keypad practice; Alice

I will be handing you a crossword puzzle today during class - this will be due this Friday, May 3rd.

If you have not yet completed FA7 you need to get it done immediately and emailed to me.  If you have completed that assignment you need to grab a green, keypad handout and type it in Excel.

If you have everything done (including missing assignments) you can work on the Alice project - the dragon world (on the blog from last Wednesday).

Reminder - your podcast is due a week from this Friday (May 10th).  You still have plenty of time to get this done, but time will quickly get away from you.  Make plans to get this assignment completed soon so you aren't scrambling at the last minute!

New symbols; Crossword puzzle 1-6

We will be learning 3 new symbols today.  They are the @ (right shift + L3), the left parentheses (right shift + R3), and the right parentheses (left shift + R4).

Also today I will be handing out a crossword puzzle that will be due Friday.  We do not have a vocab quiz this week so the crossword puzzle takes place of the vocab quiz (this will work as a good review of all 6 vocab lists that we have had up to this point).

Even though we don't have a vocab quiz this week (and the corresponding definitions on the wiki page), for those that are responsible for defining words for week 7 (that will be the week that starts on April 8) you can post your definitions anytime between now and then.   This means you will have 3 weeks to post a definition - more than enough time to get your job done!