St. Christopher School

Welcome to the Computer Lab

I’m very excited about the new 2010-2011 school year and look forward to another year at St. Christopher School.  Over the past several months, I’ve been planning a new technology program and believe it will offer a fun and exciting learning experience for every student.  To offer the best technology education to our students, the program is designed in connection with the New Hampshire Curriculum Standards and National Educational Technology Standards (NETS). We live with technology all around us every day, so it’s my job to prepare children for that world.

Students will achieve a great deal this year in terms of academic growth, greater self-confidence, and improved social skills in the computer lab. This years’ curriculum in computers will include the integration of technology with Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and Religion. The students will produce in-class projects that demonstrate their understanding of various concepts and objectives in technology lessons.  The students will use various applications for their in-class projects such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe PhotoShop, Kidspiration and Kid Pix Deluxe.  Students will experiment and learn about photography and how to produce videos through computer applications. The upper elementary students will have the opportunity to create personal video portfolios using photographs and video editing. The enclosed syllabus and rubric will provide you with a general outline of what students will be learning in the computer labs and how the student will be graded.

Keyboarding/Typing Skills

Students in the lower grades are introduced to keyboarding and practice on a regular basis.  First and second grade students will practice their keyboarding skills using BBC Dance Matt Typing (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/) and the upper grades (3^rd to 6^th) will use Mavis Beacon Typing Deluxe. Students in the 5^th and 6^th grade will practice weekly by participating in a Typing Challenge, and they will even be tested to memorize the keyboard through blind typing.

One of the first steps to computer literacy is learning how to use the keyboard! The students in grades 5^th and 6^th are required to complete keyboarding lessons at home and submit bi-weekly assignments. The bi-weekly keyboarding homework will help a student develop accuracy and confidence with their typing skills.  According to Dr. Frye, Ph.D., the optimal schedule for a child to learn keyboarding is 15-20 minutes per day for three days a week beginning in the third grade.  Students are only in the lab once a week, so they need to practice keyboarding skills at home by completing the bi-weekly homework assignments.

Computer Lab Homework Policy

Homework assignments help students develop good work habits and self discipline, and it encourages a student to continually learn.  A student without his homework done for Computer class loses twice—both through reinforcement with reading and writing, and they lose valuable time in the computer lab if they don’t come prepared.  If an unusual circumstance prevents your child from completing the homework, please send a note to school, or you can send an email directly to me.

Each time a student has a homework assignment from the computer lab for an in-class project, a parent/guardian needs to sign the homework log to confirm completion of the homework. This is my way of communicating the importance of homework to your child and it keeps you informed of what your child is learning in the computer lab.

The 5^th and 6^th grade students will have bi-weekly keyboarding assignments to build on their skills, and parents will need to sign a homework log confirming the student completed the homework assignment. Please contact me if your child does not have access to a computer and printer to complete the assignments.  I would be happy to make special accommodations so all my students succeeds!

The students who complete the in-class project home and keyboarding assignments will be recognized in the Homework Club. When a student becomes a member of the Homework Club, they will be rewarded with a “free period” once a quarter in the computer lab.

Technology Grading

Assessing a student who visits the computer lab on a weekly basis can be challenging, so I’ve created a fair grading system for the curriculum.   Students will complete in-class projects and each will have a grading rubrics.  Students will also be evaluated with Effort and Conduct grades using a rubric that assess a students’ behavior.   For students in first through fourth grades, effort and conduct will be weighed in the in-class projects. Students in 5^th and 6^th grades will receive an effort and conduct grade in the computer lab per the school’s grading policy.

Communications

Good communication between parent, teacher and student is very important for your child’s academic growth. I will work diligently at updating our class web page to keep you informed of our projects in the computer lab.  If you have any special questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For parents who use e-mail, I normally check my e-mail daily, and this is often the quickest and most efficient way to get in touch with me to discuss any of your concerns. I will respond promptly.

Thank you for your time! 

Mrs. Tassoni