Google Accounts

The past two weeks our class has been doing some exciting work with Google. Our district has a Google Education account that provides each student with a Google account. Room 109 was selected to be the first classroom in the district to work with these accounts. At this point, we have used the accounts to create and share "Google Docs" within the Google Drive app. The benefit is that the software is free and all work is stored in "the cloud". Using Google Drive, students can share their work with me without email. They simply put me as a partner on the document and I can see their work from my Google Drive account. Students can also collaborate on the same document from multiple devices at the same time! The possibilities are endless.

After break, we will look into using these Google accounts to make students authors on the classroom blog. Instead of typing their blog post and emailing it to me to put in Blogger, students will be able to type their entry right in Blogger and submit the draft for me to review before publishing it. The students will love this!

Another benefit to the Google account is that it gives students access to Khan Academy. Khan Academy is an excellent online tool to help students hone their math skills while I monitor their progress as the coach. We will begin working on this in the new year. Look for more to come.

I am bringing this to you because I am going to give students their Google account username and password prior to break. This will allow them to access their documents from home via Google Drive. This can be done using a desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone. Students are excited about being able to access their files from home without the issue of flash drives or email.

To access Google Drive from a desktop simply go to Google and log in. The menu bar at the top has many options, select Drive. At this point, students can create, revise, and share documents. If you have any Apple devices, use the Google Drive app. I would assume that Droid devices also have a Google Drive app. I will review this with students.

In addition to the how to, we will discuss appropriate use of the Google Account. Please remind your child that this is an educational account that is ultimately monitored and controlled by the district. Students must use it responsibly. The password should not be changed under any circumstances. If a password is changed or the account is used inappropriately, the district will suspend the account.

I am excited that the students have this opportunity. Cloud computing is becoming a popular way to easily create and share information. Students are developing skills that will position them well as they continue to move through school and into the workplace.

Mitchell Technology Survey

Please take a moment to complete this brief survey. Thanks for your help.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mitchelltechsurvey

Parent/Student Emails

As students learn to use the iPads, they are looking for more ways to use the iPads. One idea that has surfaced is the ability for students to email parents and parents to email students. This would provide students with another opportunity to use technology in an authentic, appropriate way. If you are interested in exchanging email with your child at school, start the process by emailing your child and I will help them add your email address to their contacts. Your child's email address is written in the inside cover of their assignment notebook.

A Message from Mr. Hill

The cold weather is fast approaching.  We ask parents to dress their youngster as warmly as possible prior to their leaving for school.  Even though some children ride the bus to school, they still will be spending a considerable amount of time outdoors on the playground, particularly during the noon hour.  Our school district policy states that when it is not raining or when the temperature is 10 degrees or above, pupils are not permitted into the building until the usual time of 8:25 AM (unless they are having breakfast) and 12:45 PM for 4K so be sure to dress your youngster for our Wisconsin winters.  On rainy days or when the temperature is below 10 degrees, pupils are permitted to enter the building at 8:15 AM and will spend the noon hour indoors.  A red flag will be placed on the doors indicating early entrance due to inclement weather.  Please be sure your child has a hat and a pair of mittens.  PLEASE LABEL THEIR ITEMS SO IT’S EASIER TO RETURN IF THEY ARE LOST.

Free Apps!

There is an app in the Apple App Store that is a must have for anyone that uses an iPad, iPod, or iPhone. The app is called "Apps Gone Free". It is a free app that gives you a daily list of paid apps that are free for the day. There are all types of apps available from games to educational apps. I have found some pretty cool apps that have made their way onto the iPads at school. Just be sure to grab them while they are free!

Northeast and Southeast Inquiry Unit

Last Friday, we began Northeast and Southeast Regions. This is a big inquiry unit that encompasses many important topics in United States history. Based on our gallery walk on Friday, student interest is high! Here are the key topics we will cover:

• Colonization
• The American Revolution
• Slavery
• The American Civil War
• Economies

The essential question that will drive our unit is:

"How does where someone lives affect how they live, the careers they choose, the beliefs they hold, and the decisions they make?"

Ask you child about our unit in the coming weeks!

Inquiry Gallery Walk

Friday, students in Ms. Dierbeck's class joined us to kickoff our new inquiry unit. We looked at various photos that depicted events and objects related to our new unit: Northeast and Southeast Regions. Instead of writing down background knowledge and questions on post-it notes, students met in a "backchannel" chat room on a website called "Today's Meet". Using Today's Meet, students shared their thoughts, questions, and answers to questions. Mr. Hill and Ms. Nuss even joined the students in the chat. The students had a great time and benefited from the real time chat with classmates! Check out our Posterous page for photos.

Winter Sing Update

Dear Mitchell Families,

Last week your child should have brought home a gold information sheet regarding the upcoming winter sing. We would like to add some more specific information to the sheet that went home last week to help clarify things and help the whole event run smoothly.

First Half Students: Ashenberg 138, Berka 140, Gale 130, Kendall 136, Pemberton 132, Reichert 135, Reiser 134, Richards 137, Rostermundt 125, Zelinski 124

These students/families should arrive between 6:00pm and 6:15pm. They will begin performing at 6:30pm and will be finished by 7:00pm at which point one parent should retrieve them from the cafeteria to either finish their time at the concert or join you in the auditorium for the rest of the performance.

Second Half Students: Carson 101W, Ceel 111, Dierbeck 108, Franz 101E, Germain 104, Graff 110, Hansen 122, Hart 106, Krupar 109, Leal 123, Nowak 121, Vasta 120

These students/families should arrive between 6:30pm and 6:45pm while the first group performs. Parents/families will be allowed to take their seats at the intermission between 7:00pm and 7:15pm but not before. The second half will begin at 7:15pm.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hill

5th Grade Individual Planning Conferences

Today, Mr. Taube sent home a note regarding individual planning conferences for fifth graders. Please read it over an return it to school as soon as possible. This year, all 5th graders are required to have a conference because scheduling for 6th grade courses will occur during the conference. Mr. Taube will start scheduling conferences as soon as the slips are returned.

Nature's Vision Fundraiser Update

Just a quick reminder, order forms with payment are due tomorrow. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Graff or me. Thank you for your support with this fundraiser!