Keyboarding at Prairieview

We have begun our keyboarding program in all three grades at Prairieview. I cannot see the future, but unless there is some magical change, our students will have to do lots of keyboarding throughout their years in school and, most likely, in their jobs. It is important to learn to do it correctly.

Many students have told me it is like learning to play an instrument. They are right. It needs to be done the right way and it takes lots of practice. The launching pad is learning the home row position. Each finger has a home key and several other keys it is responsible for. Thumbs are dumb and they both live on the space bar. That is their only job.

Ideally, the students will practice enough and internalize the keyboarding so they can watch the screen while they are typing. We can't afford enough time to practice this skill adequately at school. It would help if parents would remind the students to use the home row position and to keep their eyes up on the screen as much as possible.

Sharing Books at Elizabeth Ide

Through the great generosity of the Elizabeth Ide P.T.O., we were

able to add seven new hard back books to our I.M.C. collection. This happened the morning after the book fair/ice cream social. Mrs. Drope gave these new gift books priority and we will soon have them processed, cataloged, and on the shelf. Thank you, P.T.O.

In my I.M.C. classes at Ide this week, I have been able to start one of our regular and most beneficial activities--reading to the children. They like it as much as I do. We love the books. The children are exposed to titles they might otherwise overlook. It is especially important to read to children, even after they have started reading for themselves. Please read to them and let them read to you. This will improve their reading skills enormously and you will both enjoy it.

Six sections of R.T.I. (Response to Intervention) have been added to my schedule this week. I meet with small groups of first and second graders. We do activities to help them with their reading.

The Computer Lab at Prairieview

This week we began our computer lab classes. We reviewed the rules which are most important in the lab. There are several, but one interesting one is that students are not allowed to go near the network printers anywhere in the district. Occasionally a staff member might make a mistake and send a confidential document to a network printer. Only adults are allowed to unload network printers.

We also assigned seats in the lab for homerooms. The students will also be assigned seats in their math classes. Finally, we explained and practiced using usernames and passwords. Every student has an account on the network. The passwords need to be kept secret. It might be a great temptation for another student or angry sibling to go into an account and change a file or two. We will meet in the computer lab for many weeks. I will report on what we have done in future blogs.

What a Week at Elizabeth Ide!

We have been very busy.  In our regular classes, we are working on the second section of the three-week orientation process.  The first section is about keeping the children safe in the library.  The second section is about taking good care of the materials.  The third section, which we plan to cover next week is about circulation rules and other things that don't fit into the first two sections.  We will send home flyers for the parents which give a bird's eye view of all of this next week.  Parents need to know what is expected.

In addition to my own lessons, I have had thirteen PBIS sessions this week.  The PBIS sessions in the I.M.C. are really just a snapshot of my regular orientation.  A few of the rules are highlighted.  These highlighted rules usually are the same in other areas of the school.  In the end, the children should be well indoctrinated on how they need to behave.  This afternoon, we will be celebrating PBIS with popsicles and extra recess.

Orientation at Prairieview

Our classes this week included a cool tool from PBIS-some important ideas for staying respectful, responsible, and safe. We also went over the basic I.M.C. rules. They cover the same topics, but in reverse order. Keeping the students safe comes first, taking good care of the materials comes second, and finally caring about the needs of others by returning things on time and sharing specific types of things. I sent home a note for the parents with each child. The note covered each point we shared in our classes. The parents need to know what is expected. I have had one mother report that she reread the information. She is now guiding her youngest child through Prairieview. I also heard from an assistant who was glad to be in the I.M.C. with a class to hear what was said. Thanks to all who care enough to get familiar with what is going on.