Advent Slideshow Part 1

We have been collecting personal pictures of advent wreaths and nativity scenes.  We have had such a wonderful response to the project that we will be posting not one, but TWO slideshows on the project's wiki page.  You can see our first installment at http://advent-2010.wikispaces.com/California+-+Our+Lady+of+Mercy+School.  I'll be posting Part II very soon. 

It is simply wonderful to see these beautiful displays and share them with other Cathoilic Schools via this project.   While at the website, be sure to out the other schools contributing to this project.  The pictures are simply inspiring. 

Remember, grades 5-8, will get 10 extra credit points if I get your pictures by Monday, Dec. 13. 

See you Monday!!

Week of Dec. 5-9

As is typical for this time of year, my schedule is in a state of flux.  The following is what I believe will probably happen this week.  If it changes, you will see an update to THIS post. Also, pay attention for an EXTRA CREDIT opportunity at the end of this post.

Homework (grades 5-7 and 8K2 only, not 8K1):

In 50-100 words, tell me about your favorite family Christmas activities.  The title is "Christmas".

As always:

• 50-100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
• SLE: "Effective Communicators"
• Due Wednesday, Dec. 15.  Note: Don't be late on this one -- the quarter ends Friday, Dec. 17.  I cannot accept this assignment after the last day of the quarter.
• Include a full header, including your CLASS CODE.

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY (grades 5-8):
A teacher friend of mine in Nebraska is leading a wonderful project at http://advent-2010.wikispaces.com/.  She is collecting pictures of advent wreaths and nativity scenes from as many schools as she can on her wiki.  (A wiki is a webpage to which others can add content, in this case pictures).  What a wonderful way to prepare for the coming of our Savior.  To participate in this project, please send me your picture(s) via email at georgesomers@olmlancers.com by Monday, Dec. 13.  I'll put them in a slide show and add them to the wiki.  Plus, I'll give you 10 points extra credit for submitting your picture.  Check the wiki later to see all the pictures submitted.

UPDATE:  Mrs. Poole has some wonderful information on her blog about nativity scenes including a Nativity Scene Hunt contest and a bonus trivia question.  Check it out here. Thanks, Mrs. Poole! Nice job.

Week of Nov. 29 - Dec. 3

Only 3 weeks left in the second quarter.  I still have many students with missing homework and classwork.  Classwork can be made-up during Open Lab time (Wed./Thurs. at lunch recess).  Homework can be done at home or during Open Lab.  Parents, please check your child's status on Optionc.com.  If you have questions, please contact me.  Those students who did not turn in a signed Missing Work Report (if they got one) AND the missing work listed on that paper will be getting a detention slip soon from me.

Homework (grades 6-8):

This week's homework should answer the writing prompt below and meet the following requirements..

• 50-100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
• Title:  "Bravery"
• Please put a FULL header at the top of your paper, including your COMPUTER CLASS CODE
• SLE: Effective Communicators
• Due: Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

Writing prompt:

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, an African American, refused to give up her bus seat to a white man.  This was a brave action by Parks.  What is the bravest thing you have ever done?  Be sure to include details about the event and why you think you were brave.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Enjoy your week off with your family. God bless you all.

Week of Nov. 15-19

Progress Reports will go out this Friday and I still have a number of students who have missing work, mostly homework.  Last week I sent out Missing Work reports to all students who had not turned in some or all of their work.  However, this report did not include the "Thanksgiving" assignment which was due last Wednesday.  Those students who do not return this report signed by a parent or guardian by Wednesday (11/17) will have to serve a detention after school.  I have never had to do this before but, with the large numbers of students not completing their work, I felt it was necessary for the first time in my 10-years at OLM.  All missing work and the signed Missing Work report are due by Wednesday.  Also, note that any work given to me this week will not be posted in time for the printing of the progress reports this week but will be posted to Option.com.

Homework:
No new homework is assigned this week.  Just get any missing work in to Mr. Somers as soon as possible. Thanks!

Week of Nov. 8-12

We have had a larger than normal number of students with missing homework.  Homework is worth approximately 1/3rd of your grade so not doing your homework will definitely affect your grade negatively.  Check Optionc.com for your correct grade status.  Get those assignments turned in.  If I don't get them, I can't GRADE them.

While I am not giving any new homework this week, I am sending home a print out of missing work with each student who haven't turned in those assignments.  If you get one of these, you must get it signed by a parent and turned in by Wed., Nov. 17. Those who do NOT turn this in will be given detentions.  Plus, you need to get all missing work turned in by Wed., Nov 17 also.

PLEASE STAY ON TOP OF YOUR HOMEWORK!  Don't forget about open lab days, Wednesdays and Thursdays at lunch recess.  This is a great time to get caught up on missing work.

Note: the "C*" grade listed on your missing work report is your raw grade percentage (out of 100).

Week of Nov. 1-5

As you can guess from my last post, many students are having problems turning their work in on time or at all.  Please remember that Computers is a class like any other and that not doing your homework will affect your grade negatively.  Please get in your homework.  Late is better than not at all.  Use those planners!!

Homework (grades 5-8):

Thanksgiving is this month.  With that in mind, what are YOU thankful for.  Please list 3 to 5 things you are thankful for.  Explain why those things are important to you.

• 50-100 words with no spelling/grammar errors
• Title: "Thanksgiving"
• Due: Wednesday, November 10
• Use a complete header, including your Computer Class code
• SLE = "Effective Communicators"

Don't be a Bart!

'nuff said. :)

Week of Oct. 25-29

This is Parent-Teacher Conference week. As such, my afternoon classes will be cancelled.  I expect to see grades 6-8 this week.  Remember, even when we don't have Computer Class, your assigned homework from last week is still due.

Be sure to check out of Book Fair this week!

Sixth Grade notes:  
In class, set the photos on the Polartrec website.  Can you find some of OLM's Tear Drops?
Continue with classwork as assigned.

Seventh/Eighth Grade notes:
Check out the abovetheinfluence website.

Homework (6-8 only):

Elections are coming up.  If you were running for an elected office (local, state or national), what five things would you like to change (on a local, state or national level) if you were elected. Explain your responses.

• 50-100 words with no spelling/grammar errors
• Title: "Elections"
• Due: Wednesday, November 3
• Use a complete header, including your Computer Class code
• SLE = "Effective Communicators"

Week of Oct. 18-22

Homework (Grades 5-8):

In 50-100 words, please tell me about something that you learned last week in school.  Sixth grades, please tell me something that you learned at camp last week.  Please tell me why it is important to know what you learned.  (And, yes, it IS important.)  
 Please be sure to do the following:

• Use 50-100 words
• Check for spelling and grammar 
• Use the title "Last Week
• A complete header, including your computer class code
• SLE = "Effective Communicators"
• Due Wednesday, Oct. 27th. 

Week of Oct. 11-15

This is the last week of the Quarter 1.  Please make sure all assigned work is turned in by Friday. Late work lose 10%/week but after two weeks late, the assignment will need to be done but will not receive any points.

Homework:
No homework this week unless you have work to finish up.   :)

Week of Oct. 4-8

The first quarter ends next Friday (4/15). Please make sure all work in completed by that date or it cannot be considered for the first quarter report cards.

NO HOMEWORK this week.

Sixth grade, enjoy your time at camp next week.

Open Lab:
Wednesdays/Thursdays 12:25 - 12:55

Week of Sept. 27 - Oct 1

Grades 6-8 will be taking their Keyboarding Chart Test this week.  Students can use the completed and blank keyboarding charts in my blog's link section to study as needed.  Those who got 100% on practice test will not need to take it again.

HOMEWORK (5-8):

In 50-100 words, please tell me about your favorite technology, gadget or website.  Please tell me why you like it so much.

Please be sure to do the following:

• Use 50-100 words
• Check for spelling and grammar 
• Use the title "My Favorite Technology"
• A complete header, including your computer class code
• SLE = "Effective Communicators"

Week of Sept. 13-17

Next week is ITBS Testing so I am assigning a minimal amount of homework.  I do not expect to see grades six and eight next week.  Students are doing a practice keyboarding chart test this week.  Those who don't get 100% on the practice test will take it again at our next class, which is next week for grades 5 and 7 and the following week for grades 6 and 8.  Study if you need to.

All classes are still refocusing on keyboarding skills. I look for 3 main things when they are typing:

1. Using the home row keys
2. Using the correct keyboard fingerings
3. Not looking down at the keyboard while typing

These are the ways that students can learn accurate typing skills.  Speed will increase once they learn to be accurate slowly.  Parents, please watch for these methods anytime your kids type on the computer.

Week of Sept. 6-10

I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend in honor of the working men and women (like your parents) who make this country great!

For the next couple of weeks, grades 5 through 8 will be reviewing keyboarding skills and the order of the letters on the keyboard.  This week, I will give them all a completed keyboard chart and a blank one to practice with.  Next week, we'll have a practice test consisting of filling in the letters of a blank chart.  In two weeks, we'll have the real test.  If they get a perfect score on the practice, of course, they won't need to take the second test.

If you need another copy of either the blank keyboard or the completed keyboard chart, you can download it from the LINKS section in the right column of this blog page.

HOMEWORK (Grades 5-8):
Review for keyboard chart practice test next week.  If you need more blank sheets to practice with, you can download and print the one in my LINKS section.

Also if you haven't done so already, please return your signed Syllabus and Acceptable Use Policy forms as soon as possible. See my links section if you need another one.

Welcome Back - Week of Aug. 30 - Sept. 3

This is the first week of computers. It's good to be back in the swing of things after a busy 2 weeks of administrative responsibilities.

All K-8 students will be receiving an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) form in the family envelopes this week. Please return them as soon as possible. They seek permission for your child to access the Internet and online resources and outline acceptable uses of those resources. In addition, it explains the consequences of using these resources inappropriately.

Homework (5-8):

Signed Syllabus and AUP form is due by next week's class. See my links area in the right column of this page to download these items again if they have been lost.

I am looking forward to a wonderful year!

Meet and Greet Presentation

In case you didn't get a chance to stop by the Computer Lab this eventing, below you will find the presentation that I prepared for the event. It includes some Youtube clips that illustrate some of the software we use in the Lab. Feel free to advance the slide when you have seen enough of the video. Enjoy!

OLM Computer Lab on Prezi

Fuzzy Math?

Sometimes our math skills can get a little fuzzy over the summer.  Don't let this happen to YOU!!

Xbox Kinect Demo with Becky Worley and Leo Laporte: TWiT Live Specials #23

This is very cool. I wish I had an Xbox 360. Looks like a lot of fun! Enjoy!!

Recycling Class Totals

The Recycling Contest is now over.  Each printer cartridge (inkjet and laser) and cell phone counted as one (1) unit.  Here are the final results...

(Click picture to enlarge)

Congratulations to Mrs. Keeler's, Ms. Pedrozo, and Mrs. Elam's class.  They will be getting a class pizza party (TBA).  

Thanks for all the donations.  Not only does this program help the environment but it helps us greatly in raising funds for necessary technology.  

Hold those cartridges over the summer and bring them in when school resumes in the Fall.   HAVE  A GREAT SUMMER!!