Super Computer Shortcuts!

Super Computer Shortcuts!  It's amazing for me to see my students struggle with the computer commands that would make their life easier - but they have no idea what they are!  A lot of kids think they are "Computer Experts" but there's a lot they don't know!




This file has the majority of controls that the students don't know!  It's clear and easy to see how they can add these tools to their computer tool belts to make their computer experience smoother and much happier.

I'm a fan of CTRL + F when searching web pages, because you can add in what exact words what you're looking for and then they become highlighted on the page.  Saves you so much time!  I have this file available over at my Teacher's Notebook shop for $2.00.

Packing & Moving

Over the course of the 2011-2012 school year, I will have packed up and moved my classroom...

wait for it....

THREE TIMES!!

Yes.  I'm the packing and moving champion!  (Sadly, there's no award for this.  Maybe increased muscle tone from picking up boxes?)

As this year comes to an end (I only have NINE days left - thank god) I finally received my official assignment from our Administration.  I know I've mentioned this, but a few months ago, I offered to my principal to move from the 7th grade math/science position to the Computer Elective position.  The current elective teacher wanted to switch... and I decided to go for it!

Now, I know I'm moving AGAIN - gotta go to the Computer Elective classroom (which is a GIANT room with a woodshopish area in the back) with all of my things.  I've been busy sorting and deciding what materials I can "pass on" to the teacher moving in and what things will come with me.   Also, it's a key idea to start throwing a lot of stuff away because I really won't need extra math worksheet copies in the computer room.

Over the summer, I'll be busily revamping the current websites and pages for the technology class.  Plain black 12 times new roman font on a white screen does NOT do it for me!  All of these ideas (with pics) will be in more detail for the linky party over at Miss Kindergarten's site.

Also, it means I'll probably change the focus of the blog just a little to more of an educational technology point of view.  I'm still going to work on taking all my older materials and forms, sprucing them up and uploading them for everyone.

Ultimately - it's definitely more "Life in Middle School" because I'll be hitting ALL three grade levels and really seeing ALL types of learners from the Technology Elective.

Position Change... and NETS

Recently, I put in at my school site to switch to the Computer Elective position for next year.  This is a little bittersweet for me, because my friend who teaches this position offered to switch with me last year and I had declined.  If I had agreed to move LAST year, I would have been "saved" from my moving nightmare this year.

So, moving to electives (where I have my supplementary credential) should take me out of the multiple subject credential switcheroo madness.

At least I hope?!

Tonight I decided to make some posters that I could set up in my new computer classroom next year.  I designed a set of NETS (National Educational Technology Standards) posters.  They are very much inspired by Ladybug Teacher's CRAFT bulletin board.  I sat around and wished that I could teach Language Arts again after I saw her work, it was so freaking awesome.


If you teach technology in your classroom, go and take a look.  I'm trying to put more of my teaching resources up on Teacher's Notebook to try and make a little bit of extra money, but so far I can't even buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks! (Hahaha!)