Typing!

Strawberry students getting into their "first day" of typing

Whether a student struggles physically with the task of writing words on paper or writes fluidly in cursive,  students feel empowered while practicing and eventually learning to type.  Cerrito took a field trip during this morning's math time (their Lewis and Clark field trip that we'll do in January) so we used part of the time to formally begin typing.  We'll continue this practice through January usually once or twice a week after lunch.  .  We plan to use the Herzog approach to typing in addition to freetypinggames.net.  Here are more pictures of typing.

Listed to the right are good online typing sites (a great down time during the break).  Students received this form today while using freetypinggame.net to track their progress.  They begin on lesson #1.  Fourth graders set their goal at 15 wpm while fifth graders tried for 25.  After students complete a lesson, they are allowed to play a typing game.  (Often, students need reminders to keep their fingers in the home row position, just in case they practice at home).  While working on a Powerpoint Presentation, a fifth grader looked at a fourth grader and gently said, "Practicing typing is going to really help you."  It's always nice to hear that practice pays off.

Bake sale reminder:  Strawberry students teamed up with their Laurel Creek buddies to raise money for the Family Giving Tree, an organization that allows less fortunate children to post their holiday wish list.  Although it's not mandatory, students should try to bake something--it would be nice to have lots of goodies to sell.  The money we raise will be counted by buddy groups on Friday; next, we'll choose two or so items to purchase for a child via the site.

Homework for tonight is to:
1.  Be prepared for reading groups (completing reading and job).  Terebithia groups should read up to chapter 5.
2.  Spelling
***plan ingredients to bake something on Wednesday night for the bake sale
Have a good night!

Jed