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Mrs. Stepniewski – 4th – 8th Grade Computer

Posted on March 11, 2010, by Maureen Stepniewski, under Computer.

Our 8th Grade is finishing their Building-a-Computer Project by dismantling computers and re-assembling them.

7th Grade is working on a Pre-K MovieMaker/PowerPoint presentation as well as brochures about gaming systems and the States.

6th Grade continues its unit on the History of Computing learning about men and women important to technology.  They are also working on Scratch programming projects in anticipation of our upcoming Teen Tech Week Contest.

4th and 5th Grade students are working in Typingmaster, Mathscore, PowerPoint and LOGO.  We are creating a “What am I?” game using PowerPoint. Custom animation effects will make this project fun and challenging.

The school will hold its 3rd Annual Teen Tech Week the last week in March.  There will be contests and prizes for Pinball, Typing, and Scratch Programming.  Prizes will be awarded Wednesday of that week.  More information will be posted throughout the school and in the Thursday folder.

The school has two Watchguard fireboxes in good working order that we would like to sell. The licenses are not included.  If anyone is interested, please contact mstepniewski@stelizabethofh.org

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Mrs. Stepniewski – 4-8 Grade Computer

Posted on December 10, 2009, by Maureen Stepniewski, under Computer.

I hope you have a Blessed Christmas and a wonderful holiday vacation.

During this 2nd Quarter, we are focusing on skill drills in all classes.

4th and 5th Grade students devote one class per week to Mathscore:  http://elizabeth.tx.mathscore.com; All other classes have been working in the site for short periods of time.  They are welcome to visit the site at home.

4th Grade continues to learn programming using Microsoft Windows LOGO.

5th Grade will be reviewing LOGO and continuing programming in MIT’s Scratch.

6th Grade is continuing Computer History studies.

7th Grade is working on a unit about Computer Crime and Abuse

8th Grade is finalizing their project on Building a Computer.

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Internet Safety

Posted on December 10, 2009, by Maureen Stepniewski, under Computer.

Over the holiday vacation, you may want to visit some sites to help you decide what your child/children can do online.  Some good sites are:

The “thinkuknow” website originates in the United Kingdom and aside from using words like “mates” and “whilst” which our students don’t often see, the site has some good information/activities for adults and kids, tweens and teens.

Have a Blessed Christmas and a wonderful holiday!

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Mrs. Stepniewski – Fourth-Eighth Grade Computer

Posted on November 11, 2009, by Maureen Stepniewski, under Computer.

Fourth Grade continues to practice keyboarding from home row.  Most are progressing through capitalization.  Please remind them that the opposite pinky finger clicks on shift when typing a letter with the other hand.  So, if St. Elizabeth had learned to type,   :o she would hold down her right-hand pinky then click the E, with her left hand. Fourth Grade has also learned Find/Replace in Word and is preparing for a quiz on toolbar functions.

Fifth Grade has finished typing their book review on No Talking.  Their forms were well done right down to the extra lines and circles around their specific choices.  They worked patiently and meticulously to finish this assignment.  They have been researching their favorite saint and will use Word to finalize their report.
They will be reviewing their programming skills with LOGO and will create animations with MIT’s SCRATCH program.

Sixth Grade is well into their Computer History Unit.  They have uploaded their work to “Edmodo” to save the cost of printing each page.  They will next create PowerPoint slides about Computer Generations.

Seventh Grade has completed a review unit about Computer Generations and Binary Numbers.  They will be working on a unit about Computer Crime and Abuse shortly.

Eighth Grade has finished their Tech Terms Dictionary and has been diligently finding good prices for the various parts of a virtual computer they are building.  They are starting out “bare bones” with a tower that has no more than a power supply and building up from the motherboard, while staying under $1500.00 in total cost.

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Internet Safety – Using Technology Wisely

Posted on November 11, 2009, by Maureen Stepniewski, under Computer.

In our last newsletter we mentioned techniques that online predators use to persuade young girls and boys to listen to them, and ultimately, meet them.  Here are the last three typical stages used by online predators:

  • In Stage 4, they typically talk more about adult experiences and sexual topics, gradually introduce more sexual photos and pictures into conversations, encourage you to be sexually curious, and to believe that sex between adults and minors is normal.
  • In Stage 5, they typically use threats of violence or public humiliation if you stop communicating or refuse to meet in person.
  • In the Final Stage of the grooming process, Internet predators achieve their ultimate goal of arranging a face-to-face meeting with you. The text was taken from the website: http://www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/safety_teens.html

Has your child ever:

  • Communicated online privately with someone you’ve never met face-to-face?
  • Talked about meeting someone you only know from email, IM or online chat?
  • Used acronyms like PIR (Parent In Room) or POS (Parent Over Shoulder) to let someone know your parents are in the room so you can hide conversations from them?
  • Found out that someone you were talking to online was an adult pretending to be much younger?
  • Pretended to be older or younger than you really are in email, IM or online chat?
  • Answered personal questions about your age, sex or location in email, IM or online chat?
  • Sent a picture of yourself to someone you’ve never met face-to-face?
  • Created a profile that others can see or link to from your screen name?
  • Created a private email account with passwords that your parents don’t know about?
  • Opened email and attachments from strangers?
  • Talked online about sexual topics or received sexually explicit links in email, IM or online chats?
  • Been solicited by an adult online and not told your parents?

“If you answered YES to any of the questions above, then you are definitely taking risks online.”

We have heard about online predators for some years now, and often feel it happens to someone else who is more naïve and less aware, but we still need to watch what our children do online to keep them safe.  As always, be aware of changes in their attitude and “be there” for them.  When asked, many of our students say their parents are their heroes.  They will listen to you and are grateful that you care enough to safeguard what they do online.

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Computer – Fourth to Eighth Grade

Posted on September 24, 2009, by Maureen Stepniewski, under Computer.

Fourth Grade
4th grade is diligently practicing touch typing and doing well. It is a slow process at first and that is when many just quit. If they persevere at typing slowly, but correctly from home row, their speed will pick up dramatically. They have begun Mathscore, a math drill program, and seem to enjoy it.

Fifth Grade
5th grade is also practicing touch typing, but concentrating on using the various toolbars in Microsoft’s Suite of programs. They are creating a publishable Word document about the Prayer to St. Isidore. This class did so well last year with Mathscore, and they are continuing the program in 5th grade.

Sixth Grade
6th grade is concentrating on spreadsheet charts and formulas for the next two weeks or so, and will begin computer history and create a timeline as their next project.

Seventh Grade
7th grade is using Microsoft Access to study some of the influential people in the history of computing.

Eighth Grade
8th grade is finishing their autobiographical, “High Profile” project and will begin building a computer – virtually.

All Middle School classes are also using Mathscore to improve their basic math skills, as well as learning about Internet Safety.

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Internet Safety

Posted on September 24, 2009, by Maureen Stepniewski, under Computer.

Did you know…

If your child types PIR or POS in an instant message, they may be telling their friend that there is a “parent in the room” or there is a “parent over their shoulder.” Do you know how to take care of your child online? You may want to tell them to follow the 4R’s:

Recognize, Refuse, Respond, Report
According to iSafe online, there are six stages that you need to recognize.

  • “In Stage 1 of the grooming process, Internet predators typically collect information from your profile or chat, disguise their own identity, and pretend to have common interests with you.
  • In Stage 2, they typically support your point of view in online conflicts or offline arguments that you tell them about, pretend to be the only person who understands you, and become your IM or chat buddy.
  • In Stage 3, they typically ask you to keep the friendship a secret, exchange email addresses and phone numbers with you, and use more adult-oriented language and materials.”

If you want to know all six stages visit iSafe, an Internet Safety Project endorsed by the Diocese of Dallas, or read our next, “Did You Know…”

Just reading some of this can send chills up our spines, I know. Be aware and know what your child is doing online and on their cell phone, but also have faith. Sometimes PIR just means “pizza in the refrigerator.”

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