Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Just Keep Typing, Just Keep Typing...

(Think of the tune from "Finding Nemo" - Just Keep Swimming...)

On Monday, 6E finished up their MS Word Challenges, and on Wednesday, we continued using Type to Learn (with keyboard covers!)  I am being very picky about those keyboard covers - and working hard to coach kids to keep fingers on the home keys.

After the students have spent 30 to 35 minutes on typing, they are able to have a little free time to try some of the games on my blog.  This week, Cool Math for Kids (IQ Ball and Sugar, Sugar) and Free Rice have been popular choices.
Happy Typing,

Mrs. Morell

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

A Microsoft Word Challenge

This week, we will be exploring the many functions of Microsoft Word.   We will review the basic functions of MS Word - changing font colors and sizes, cutting and pasting, using bullets and number sequences.  Next, we will explore inserting clip art, shapes, WordArt and symbols.  For some of our new students this might be completely new.  We do use MS Word quite a bit in the Upper School, so it is important the students familiarize themselves with the program.


A Challenge has been placed in each student's network folder.  Part of the challenge is following the instructions!  The text of the challenge is as follows:

6th Grade Microsoft Challenge
Your Name:
Insert Date and Time Here:

-         
Make this quote bold and change the font to Bradley Hand:
I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me.
-          Winnie the Pooh

Change the font color to red, and center this quote:
"All the secrets of the world are contained in books. Read at your own risk."
-          Lemony Snicket

Put this in italics and change the font to Comic Sans:
It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.
-          Albus Dumbledore

Underline this quote and make it 10 point:
"The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings."
-          J.M. Barrie

Change the font color to blue, and change the font to Juice:
"A person's a person, no matter how small."
-          Dr. Seuss (Horton Hears a Who!)

Highlight this quote in green, and change the font to ITC:
"It is one of life's bitterest truths that bedtime so often arrives just when things are really getting interesting."
-          Lemony Snicket (The Grim Grotto)

Highlight this quote in yellow, and change the font to Berlin Sans FB:
"There's a name for people with an interest in the moon," Alex said. "They're called lunatics."
-          Anthony Horowitz (Crocodile Tears)

Change the font color to orange, and change the font to Garamond:
"The more men see of the world, the bigger their hearts"
-              Avi (Crispin: At the Edge of the World)

Highlight this quote in green, and change the font to Century Schoolbook:
"You can't keep the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair."
-          Sharon Creech (Walk Two Moons)

Change the font color to red and make it 14 point:
“Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing.”
-          from The Lightning Thief  by Rick Riordan

Put the following characters in a list with bullet points.  Change the color to purple, and the font to Papyrus.

Gilderoy Lockhart
Minerva McGonagall
Poppy Pomfrey
Pomona Sprout
Sybill Trelawney

Put the following characters in a list with numbers.  Change to color to blue, and the font to Comic Sans.
Godric Gryffindor
Helga Hufflepuff
Rowena Ravenclaw
Salazar Slytherin

Spell check the next three quotes:
“You mustn’t dispair!” cried Mr. Wonka. “Nothing is empossible! You wotch!”
-          from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

“Luc  had nuthing to do with this,” said the gose. “It was good manigement and hard woork.”
-          from Charlotte’s Web by E B White

“Menewhile,” said Mr. Tumnus, “it is winter in Narnia, and has been for evir so long, and we shall both cath cold if we stand here taling in the snuuw.”
-          from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis

Insert a clip art picture of an apple here:

Insert the shape of a square here:

Insert a call-out from the shapes menu here.  Insert the word Expelliarmus:

Insert a piece of work art here:

Insert an alphabet text box here: 

Insert five letters of the alphabet with accents on them:

Put a page number at the bottom of the page.

Delete All the Instructions.
Move your favorite quote to the top of the page
Save your work and ask Mrs. Morell to print it.

Monday, September 12, 2011

6E will finally have technology class!

This week, 6E will meet for the first time, so we'll review the rules and expectations for the year (see the Technology Agreement on the page to the right), and try to find time for a timed typing test. 

6F will continue to type this week using Type to Learn (and keyboard covers!)  We have a lot of work to do, but it will be fun.

Happy Third Week of School!

Mrs. Morell

Sunday, September 4, 2011

This Week, We Begin to Type!

Dear 6th Graders,

Today, we will begin our class by taking a timed typing test.  This will give me a sense of how quickly you have learned to type, and how much work we need to do this quarter!

We will be devoting much of the first quarter to keyboarding, and will be using keyboard covers in class, so that you are sure to learn proper finger placement.

By the end of 6th grade, the goal is that you should be typing at least 30 words a minute.

Each of you will have an account on Type to Learn.

Your account name will be:
LastnameFirstinitial (CookL)
The password is: htstype
The account code is: 10092

If you would like extra practice to reach that goal, you may take home a copy of Type to Learn to install on your home computer.  You must have your parents Email me on: mbmorell@htsdc.org to do so, as I would like their permission before you install new software on your home computer.

Happy Typing,

Mrs. Morell