8th Grade
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August 2008
The 8th grade schedule will be different
this year. Since switching from a Jr. High to a Middle School, the 7th and 8th
graders will have four different exploratory classes for the year, each one
lasting for nine weeks. The schedule is not finalized yet; but this is known.
The 8th graders will have either the exploratory class or computers. So in a two
weeks time period, the students will have computers five times. This also means
that they will no longer have a whole period of FREE PLAY, as in the past. They
will have to meet deadlines for projects for computer class and for other
classes like Science Fair. I am very excited about this new change and will
encourage students to embrace this new Middle School concept, too! The 8th grade
students will
start keyboarding right where they left off last year. Please check their grades
in TeacherEase to see how many lessons or WPM (words per minute) your child has
completed by mid-term and again at the end of the quarter. Just a reminder about
how your child gets a computer grade as a middle school student. For the 1st
semester, assignments are worth 75% and keyboarding is worth 25%. The 2nd
semester assignments are worth 50% and keyboarding is worth 50% . So assignments
the first semester should be done with greater accuracy for a better grade.
Please help your child to understand this. Thank you! Since they studied Excel 2003 last year, they
will start out with an Excel project called Presidential Parade.
September 2007
The 8th graders continue to keyboard and are
getting pretty fast. Check out their mid-term grade on TeacherEase to see how
many lessons completed or WPM (words per minute) they are typing. Some of your
students are typing 50+ WPM. I'm so impressed!! They continue to work on Excel
projects such as Weighty Planets and Coins of the World. Details are VERY
important when creating a spreadsheet, especially since they will be using Excel
in their Science Fair project. Don't forget the details, 8th graders!
October 2007
The 8th graders are really getting fast at keyboarding! They are
researching their Science Fair topic, too. Yahoo!!! They have searched the
Internet and gotten books on their topic. All of their Internet references are
due this Monday, October 22. All 7 references are due Monday, Oct. 29. Much of this is done in the computer lab.
However, some of the research for their project and some of the typing can be
done at home. Here's where the jump drive or memory stick will come in Very
handy. Just remember--we are doing all work in Word 2003 and Excel 2003. One of
the
last Excel project is called Weekend Watch where all the TV watched all weekend
must be recorded. On Monday, your child must bring in this information, put it
into a spreadsheet, and create charts from it. After this is done, the students
will have an abbreviated test on Excel to finish the unit. If your child is
having difficulty with Excel, please have him/her talk to me so that I can help
your child.
November 2007
Science Fair is underway even though the
students didn't use the computer lab for much this month. If they needed more
references, they used the Internet to find more. The 8th graders have also been
working on activities in PowerPoint. They have done 3 different 5 minute timings
this month, working for that piece of candy. (By the way, they come to computer
class right after P.E. So they are sometimes starved!) Hope all had a Happy
Thanksgiving!
December 2007
The 8th graders are getting pretty fast at
typing their Science Fair Report. It will be due , Dec. .They have been doing this during Computer Lab time.
They also worked on the Purpose and Hypothesis, Procedures, and Safety and
Endorsement sheets. The students are also
diligently creating a Christmas present for you parents. So, please make a big
fuss about it and realize that much time and love was spent in the process. They
are still working, much slower, on the activities for PowerPoint. The program,
PowerPoint 2003, is rather new and there are some differences. But they are
doing a good job at completing the assignment. Have a Very Merry Christmas!
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008