Another year, another successful bunch of students who beat their end of year typing goals.  Over 100 students (114 to be exact!) from grades 3-5 practiced their home row hands and overcame their goal of being a better, faster, and stronger typer.  Congratulations to all my typers!  Here are this years winners of the grade level and school wide competitions for fastest typers:

Congratulations to the winners of the grade 3, 4, and 5 Typing Hall of Fame!  These students were the best in their grade level.  PLUS: the top five typers from all grades were in their own category of School leaders.  Let's see the winners:

Grade 3: Aiden, Miles, SJ, Kieran, and Gavin (not pictured)

Grade 4: Mackenzie, Amelia and (not pictured) Alex, Alec, and Julianna

Grade 5: Amelia, Philip, Gavin, and (not pictured) Gabriel and Ashlynn

School Leaders: Victoria, Grayson, Ronan, Katie, and Malachi

Top Typer for 2022-2023: Victoria Miller! Great job Victoria!

Hello MKG!
A big push over the past month and the next few classes will be on the idea of how to use the Internet for GOOD.  In the upper grades, we are focusing on Smart Searching - using the TRAAP method of website evaluation and how to Google properly.  In the younger grades, we are revisiting topics like Password Safety and Cyberbullying.  In first grade, we are also doing a mini lesson on the importance of being KIND online.

Please talk to your students about online safety and if you have any questions, please reach out!

Now that the MKG WIFI issue is resolved, the technology lab is back into full swing.  We continue coding and learning to use our home row hands in all grades.  Grade 1 begins Typetastic this week as they start their journey to being touch-typers extrordinaire!

Coding Resources for Home:
Code.org: https://studio.code.org/users/sign_in
Scratch: ​https://scratch.mit.edu/

Typing Resources for Home:
Typing.com (grades 3-5): ​https://www.typing.com/student/login
TypeTastic (grades 1-2): ​https://typetastic.com/learn.html

... and what a good time to practice typing!  Every student in grades 3-5 is encouraged to keep practicing their "Home Row Hands" on typing lessons, games, or tests on Typing.com.  Grade 2 has now or will very shortly learn to type (at a very basic level) all three rows of letters using their Home Row Hands on Typetastic.com - Keep Practicing!

A new prize for the end of the school year is being introduced over the next week or so:
1. The top 5 third grade typers will receive a Bronze Medal
2. The top 5 fourth grade typers will receive a Silver Medal
3. The top 5 fifth grade typers will receive a Gold Medal
4. The top 5 typers in the whole school will receive a Golden Laptop Trophy
5. The top typer in the whole school will receive the Golden Keyboard

Whole school leaders are exempted from the grade level prizes to make it fair.  The top typer gets two though!

Get those Home Row Hands going!

Cyberbullying: If you are looking for more information on the topic of cyberbullying, here is a video from Common Sense Media
​

There's nothing scarier than forgetting where your home row hands go!  Make sure you don't get spooked by your own fingers this Halloween and practice your keyboarding using Typing.com, Nitrotype.com, or Typetastic.com

The school year is off and running.  In technology class, we will be working hard to grow our skills on our devices. 

Each class will be strengthening their keyboarding skills - from learning letter placement on the keyboard in 1st grade, to racing against the clock with their classmates in 5th grade.

Internet safety and digital citizenship will be a big focus this year again, especially in September.  Grade-level appropriate topics will be covered including keeping personal information private, avoiding scams, and safe searching.

Each class will also tackle a series of interesting activities including coding, making slideshows, formatting documents, and collaborating with classmates online.

Cheers to a great year!
- Mr. Steinberg

We are in the last few months of school and I hope you are all enjoying the warmer weather!  Our students are hard at work in the Technology Lab working on their typing skills, research skills, and their artifact creation skills. 

​Remember to encourage HOME ROW HANDS at home if your student is typing on a keyboard!  Budget about 10-15 minutes three times a week for students to practice their typing - they can use typing.com, nitrotype.com, or typetastic.com (for grade 1).

The school year is about to begin in a few weeks.  How prepared are you?  I hope you and your family are safe and staying healthy.  When it comes to technology at home, each student needs:

- Internet access (LAN or Wifi)
- Computer/laptop/tablet with keyboard
- Webcam (integrated or USB attached)
- Microphone (integrated or USB attached)
- Headphones

Email your teacher if you are missing any of these things.  I will be coming to each Online Academy classroom during "specials" within the first week or two of school to help everybody get set up with the different online platforms as well as start instruction on other topics like: Internet Safety, Keyboarding, and Coding.

Please reach out to me as well if you have any questions: 
Email: [email protected]

​See you all soon!