NEW COMPUTER BLOG

I have a new blog address beginning Fall 2011.  The new address is http://computersatolm.blogspot.com.  Please update your bookmarks/favorites accordingly.

Enjoying your Summer?

I can't believe June is almost over. Summer doesn't last forever so make the most of it. Let me know what you are up to this summer in the comments to the post. Remember, no personal information like last name, address, friend's name, phone number, etc.

Oh, and don't skip church!

May 2-6: Summer is coming!

Updated: Wed., May 11 @ 8:30 AM

Where did the time go?  THREE weeks and counting left in the school year. Unbelievable!

All assignments given to me by Wednesday morning (updated 5/11) have been graded and posted to OptionC.  Check optionc.com to see your status. I am working feverishly to get assignments graded and posted now within 24 hours.  Let's get those assignments turned in and finish the year strong!

The last Computer class will be Friday, May 13.  ALL ASSIGNMENTS/WORK MUST BE COMPLETED AND TURNED IN BY THIS DAY.

I will not be giving any more homework assignments this year.  Students who are behind should get caught up as quickly as possible.  Remember, I dock 10% of your grade for being one week late and 20% of your grade for being TWO weeks late.  After two weeks, late I will not accept any assignments unless you were absent, in which case you get an extra week. Also, I will still have open lab during lunch recess on the first two Wednesdays and Thursdays in May so students with limited access to the computers can get caught up.

Happy Summer!!

Week of April 18-22

Because next week is Easter Break, I am not assigning any new homework this week.  However, many students have missing work and should take this opportunity to get caught up.  Check OptionC.com to see your standing.  If you need a password, contact Mr. Somers (georgesomers@olmlancers.com).

After the break, we have only 2 more computer classes for the school year.  All assignments MUST be turned in no later than Friday, May 13th.  PERIOD.

Happy Easter!!

Week of April 11-15

The eighth graders will be taking their Computer Knowledge exam this week. Group 8K1 will take it on Tuesday, group 8K2 will take it on Friday.  This is one of six parts of the Central Catholic H.S. exam.  Those planning to attend CCHS in the Fall will need to schedule a time with me to take the remaining 5 sections.  These are brief (10-15 minutes each) covering word processing, spreadsheets, keyboarding and graphics (drawing).  By passing this test students will be able to take more advanced computer-related classes at CCHS.  I am confident our students will perform well on this test.

Homework (grades 5-8):

Write about a habit that you have that you find hard to break.

• 50-100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
• Title: "Hard Habit"
• Due: Wed., April, 20, 2011
• Include a FULL header at the TOP of your page, including your Computer Class code
• SLE: "Effective communicators"

Week of April 4- 8

This quarter is flying by.  Students, stay on top of your work. Get it in on time.  Check OptionC.com regularly for grade status updates.

Homework (5-8, except 8K2):

This week, I want you to write about your favorite Easter memory.  If you do not celebrate Easter, tell me about your favorite memory of summer.  Here are the requirements for this assignment:

• 50-100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
• Title: "Memory of Easter"
• Due: Wed., April 13th
• SLE: Effective Communicators
• Include a FULL HEADER at the TOP of your paper, including your Computer Class code.

Week of March 28 - April 1

What happened to March?  Soon, it will be Easter and before we know it, the end of school mass.  O my!


Homework (5-8):

As part of a carnival in Los Angeles, the first permanent movie theater opened on April 2, 1902. What is your all-time favorite movie and why?

The usual requirements apply:

• Title: My Favorite Movie
• Due: Wed., April 6
• SLE: Effective Communicators
• 50-100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
• Include a COMPLETE header, including your Computer class code

Week of March 21-25

Tuesday through Friday this week are minimum days due to parent-teacher conferences.  In addition, grades 5-8 are on cycles so some classes will have to be dropped.

Homework (6 and 7 only)

March 26th is “Make up Your Own Holiday Day.”  So, create your own holiday!  Keep the following in mind:

• The day
• The reason for celebrating
• Special events that will take place
• Any type of symbols that will be associated with your holiday

All the usual requirements apply:

• 50 - 100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
• Title: "My New Holiday"
• SLE: "Effective Communicators"
• FULL header at the top of your paper, INCLUDING YOUR COMPUTER CLASS CODE
• Due: Wed., March 30

Week of Mar. 14-17

It's a new quarter and everyone starts with a clean slate.  With only one quarter left in the year, students should make the most of this opportunity to finish the year STRONG!

No new homework this week.  Enjoy the break!

Week of Mar. 7-11

Well, things got a bit jumbled because I had to spend a few days at home with sick kids, plus being sick myself.  We're better now and I returned to school on Wednesday.  So here's the scoop...

1. No new homework this week.  As of this writing I know I won't be seeing grades 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8 this week.  I'm not sure about fifth yet. Either way, I'm not assigning any new homework this week.
2. This FRIDAY, Mar. 11 is the end Quarter 3.  Be sure to check OptionC.com daily and get any missing work turned in by FRIDAY in order for it to count for Quarter 3. (Three quarters down, 1 left.  Where the the time go?) 

As of this writing (Wednesday at 10 AM), I have posted everything that had been turned in on Thursday at 3PM (the last time I was at school).  There were quite a few papers in my box this morning and I will work very hard to get everything up to date before I head home today.  Your patience is appreciated.

Week of Feb. 28 - Mar. 4

This is an exciting week for me.  The Parent Club has provided us with enough money to purchase new computers for all the classrooms. It is very rare that we have to opportunity to provide the same level of technology to all the classrooms at once.  What a blessing!  The teachers have previously been getting new computers in piecemeal fashion, as fundraising dollars allowed us to replace older (or dead) models with new ones.  For many of of our teachers, these new computers are loooooong overdue.

I will be installing these new computers this week, so all Computer classes this week are cancelled to give me enough time to set up the new computers in the classrooms.  The computers are brand new 21" iMac computers, complete with webcams, DVD drives, camera card readers and the latest Microsoft Office.  And because they are Macs, they won't be getting any nasty viruses.  YES!!!  

Thank you, Parent Club!  You are helping us to provide the the technology tools of today to the leaders of tomorrow.

STUDENTS, DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT DUE THIS WEDNESDAY, "HANGING IN THE CLOSET".

Week of Feb. 21-25

Welcome back!  Once again, I have updated my grades.  I recommend all students check their status on OptionC.  Several students are still turning in work late or not at all and their grade reflects it.  Don't wait too long.  The third quarter will be over before you know it. It ends on March 11 and no third quarter assignment will be accepted after Friday, March 11.

Also, note that there will be no Computer classes next week so that we can install new computers in the classrooms for our teachers and students to use.

Homework (5-8):

How's it Hanging? Write about something hanging in your closet that you've had for a long time.  Write what memories you associate with that item.

• Title: "Hanging in the Closet"
• Due: Wed., March 2
• SLE: Effective Communicators
• 50-100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
• Include a complete header, including your class code

Week of Feb. 14-18

Homework (5-8):This Wednesday is International Night.  We hope you can come to it.  Here's your writing prompt about this event..

If you were able to attend International Night, what are some things you learned that you did not know about some of the countries.  Name the countries you are referring to.  

OR... 

If you were NOT able to attend International Night, what was your class's country to study and  what did you learn about your country that you did not know.  

• 50-100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
• Title: "International Night"
• SLE: "Effective Communicators"
• Due: Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011
• Please include a COMPLETE header, including your Computer Class Code.

8th grade only: For this week's class...

• Take my poll about your high school plans (see previous post)
• Watch some Mac videos at http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#switcher

Eighth Grade High School Poll

The eighth graders will be completing the following SHORT poll in class this week (2/15 - 2/16) so that I may know what their plans are for high school.  This information is very valuable to me in preparing my lessons between now and the end of the year. Thanks!!

Here's the link:  http://tinyurl.com/olmhspoll

Please note: Students planning to attend Central Catholic HS (Modesto) will need to take a Computer Proficiency exam before the end of this school year.  More details will be announced in Computer Class.  If you think you MIGHT be attending Central Catholic, you should plan to take this test.  Passing this exam will allow you to take more advanced (and more interesting) computer classes at Central Catholic HS. 

Week of Feb. 7-11

I hope you all enjoyed having Monday off after a busy Catholic Schools Week.  I know I did!

Progress reports go out on Friday.  Please go to OptionC.com if you are confused about your grade.

Homework (grades 5-8):

Here's your writing prompt for this week...

Last Sunday was Superbowl Sunday.  For this assignment you will make up your own sport and briefly describe how it is played.   Of course, please observe all the following requirements.

• 50-100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
• Due: Wed., Feb. 16, 2011
• Title:  My New Sport
• SLE: Effective Communicators
• Include a COMPLETE header, including your Computer Class Code

Extra Credit Opportunity!!
I will give you 3 points extra credit if you can correctly list the words Christina Aquilera mistakenly sang during the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl AND list the CORRECT words she should have sung. 

Week of Jan. 31 - Feb. 4

Catholic Schools Week is here!  My schedule can be unpredictable this week and several classes will be canceled so that students can participate in other activities.

SEVERAL students are still turning in assignments late or not at all.  Please keep in mind that not doing the homework or making up missed classwork can have a bad effect on your grade.  All students/parents should go to optionc.com and check out their status.  I do my best to post grades within a few days of receiving it.  If you don't have a grade for an assignment you turned in recently, please give me a couple more days to post it.  I'm good but I'm not THAT good.  :)

If these students do not start turning in missing work, I will be forced to issue detentions.  MAKE SURE YOU ARE UP TO DATE!! 

No new homework this week.  Enjoy Catholic Schools Week.  Oh, and GO TEACHERS!!

Week of Jan. 24-28

CONGRATULATIONS TO 6P1 for having 100% homework return rate on the DREAMS homework assignment.  Way to go, 6P1!!  You rock!! (corrected)

With next week being Catholic Schools Week, which is busy with many activities, I am assigning no new homework this week.  As a whole, we are doing better with missing assignments, however we still have many students who need to get caught up with both classwook and homework.  Please take this opportunity to check your grade on optionc.com and get yourself up to date before next week's events. 

Remember, I dock your assignment grade 10% if it is one week late, 20% if it is two weeks late.  You will get no credit for submitting work more than 2 weeks late, but some teachers require that EVERY assignment given this year be completed in order to go on the field trip.  So, turning in an assignment more that two weeks late will not help your Computer grade but will keep you on the field trip.

Let's wrap up all your assignments so far!

Week of Jan. 17-21, 2011

Homework (5-8):

Answer the prompt below. All the following requirement apply.

50-100 words, no spelling/grammar errors
Title: "The Future of Computers"
Due: Wed., Jan. 26.,2011
SLE: "Effective Communicators"
Include a full header, including your class code

Writing Prompt:

On January 22 , 1984, the Apple Macintosh was introduced. Since 1984 computers have evolved a great deal. What do you think computers may look like in the next 20 years? Be sure to include a sketch with your writing.

Week of Jan. 10-14

Homework (5-8):
Writing Prompt:
Jan. 13 is “Make Your Dreams Come True Day.”  What are your dreams?  Write about the dreams you have for your future.  Explain how you are going to make them come true.Title: "Dreams"Due: Wednesday, Jan. 19
50-100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
include a full header, including your Computer Class Code
SLE: Effective Communicators

Week of Jan. 3 -7

Welcome back, everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful Winter Break.  I can't believe the school year is half over already. Now that a new quarter has begun, everyone gets a fresh start, much like reconciliation.  I hope you will all make the best of this opportunity to get your work done and turned in ON TIME. Isn't it nice to start FRESH?

HOMEWORK (grades 5-8):
Before the break, many of you contributed to our Advent Slideshow project by sending me pictures of your advent wreaths and nativity scenes. OLM School contributed TWO slideshows to the project.  This week's homework will be to view the slideshows posted by OLM and other schools and reflect on them. Here's what to do...

1. First, go to Mrs. Poole's blog and read the interesting post she made about the origins of the nativity scene.  Her blog post is here.  (Please note that her contest is over.) She has some very interesting information there.
2. Then go to http://advent-2010.wikispaces.com/ and check out our slideshows and those posted by other schools.  You don't have to view them all but take a look at ours and at least two others.
3. Answer the writing propt below.

Writing Prompt:
After viewing our OLM slideshows and those of at least two other schools, describe some of your favorite pictures of nativities and/or advent wreaths.  Which schools' slideshows did you watch?  You do not need to identify your favorites specifically by picture number and school. Simply describe one or two that you saw and liked.  Why did you like them?  Explain.

As always, here are the requirements.

• 50-100 words, no spelling or grammar errors
• Title: "Nativity Project Reflection"
• Due: Wed., January 12, 2011
• SLE: "Effective Communicators"
• Include a COMPLETE header, including your Computer Class code