Word Processing Test Passed in Flying Colours

My grade 2s and 2s wrote a True/False quiz on the basics of a word processor today. They learn so quickly. If I could only get ALL of the primary kids on equal time with this stuff, we could build some basic skills into them BEFORE they hit the junior grades.

Watching a fourth or fifth grader hunt-and-peck their way through a paragraph causes me great consternation. It is painful. Then, they get into grade six and it's too late.

These game boy wizards with their amazing hand-eye coordination should be flying through the keys by the time they're twelve. Even if the ONLY reason for expanding library/IT time into the primary grades was for the purpose of grounding them in word processing skills, IT WOULD BE WORTH IT. Sorry for shouting, I can't help it!

One of the blocks in kids using the computer properly for writing is that they can't get the words on the page fast enough. So, they copy and paste.

Book Posters- Cool Idea

So, these days I continue to wrap up the loose ends of a project with my grade six and sevens where they've each been making a poster about a book they have enjoyed reading. Each poster contains the genre, the reading level, a rating system and comments in the student's own words, as well as a scanned picture of the cover.

I put them all in a big binder together. These will make a fabulous display as is, or they can be removed and put up on a bulletin board.

Promoting reading is wide with possibilities.

Book Fair- Wow

We earned $1800 in product credit by working for 3 days at the book fair.
Payoffs:
- new books for kids
- new books for the library
- new books for teachers
- parents and kids choose books together
- make connections with parents
- work with volunteers
- have fun at a common project

Lesson for next year:
- select the materials carefully; avoid the trinkets