December 11, 2008

Dear Carmody Computer Parents and Their Students:

Second Grading Period - Fall Semester Home Stretch:

More Excitement and Closure!

Several important points to emphasize in this, the 14th 2008 fall semester newsletter.

1. Thank you for a fantastic semester of instruction. Your children were and are wonderful. Dr. Data thoroughly enjoyed teaching the 7th grade Carmody Middle School Elective Computer class.
   
   
2. Check your child's grades at Carmody's Parent Portal. Seven days and counting!! Yes, there's still sufficient grades to assess your child's progress with expectations that grades can be improved significantlyl! All of Dr. Data's courseware are actually on-line for 24/7 for use in completing any and/or all missing class assignments and projects at home, public library, parent's work place, relative's neighbor's, friend's computers or even on vacation away from home.  But Dr. Data is also available for help every Monday through Friday between 2:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. Please encourage your child to take advantage of this "Golden" opportunity to "jump start" the second grading period with ample time to do the makeup work without pressure. Using Carmody's parent Portal is essential in staying up-to-date with the progress of your child's work. Go to: https://campus.jeffco.k12.co.us/campus/portal/jeffco_IC.jsp
   
   
3. Latest Curriculum Developments in 7th & 8th Grade Computer Classes
   
   
• 7th grade classes are concluding the last week Syllabus: Creativity With Graphics and Flexibilty in that the students can select which software application and which projects they want to do. ! Choose various projects with Microsoft Publisher, Band In-A-Box, Clarisworks, and Klik & Play. Instruction will involve any combination of doing creative, graphical projects: newsletters, web pages, computer music creation, painting & drawing, and/or computer game design. The purpose of this instruction is to develop artistic skills on the computer for designing music, painting and drawing and computer games with animation and special sound effects. Each day an assignment from the ones below when completed earn 100 points per day for a minimum of 800 points for the entire eight days! Final Projects are worth 300 points. Match your interests with these assignments and earn as many points as possible as needed to earn the next grade higher!. Go to http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/Final_Two_Weeks_Syllabus.html for details.
  
  
• 8th grade classes are "How To Start A Teenage Business!" 8th grades also have flexibility on which software applications and projects they want to specialize in this last week. The last week of instruction will involve any combination of doing creative, graphical projects: family history, newsletters, web pages, computer music creation, painting & drawing, and/or computer game design. The purpose of this instruction is to develop artistic skills on the computer for designing music, painting and drawing and computer games with animation and special sound effects. Each day an assignment from the ones below when completed earn 100 points per day for a minimum of 700 points for the entire eight days! Final daily projects are worth 100 points. Match your interests with these assignments and earn as many points as possible as needed to earn the next grade higher! For details, go to lesson 16 at: http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/business/Week16.html.
  
  
4. Still have a few vacancies for student assistants for Dr. Data during the 2009-2010 school year. There are many worthy 7th graders that Dr. Data would like to have as students. Requirements are as follows:

   Student Assistant Prerequisites!

   • Likes computers
   • Likes to help students
   • Doesn't get ill when Dr. Data speaks with your child.
   • Have all C's or higher grades in all of their classes.
   • No disciline problems in all of their 7th grade classes.
   • No attendance problems in all of their 7th grade classes.

   Student Assistant Scheduling Procedures

   Student assistants substitute one elective class either next fall or winter semester and meet with one of Dr. Data's 7th grade computer classes. A student assistant is expected to be able to assist students with their class work, trouble shoot hardware/software problems, do clerical work, design/type instructional materials, load software, print out instructional materials, answer student questions, run errands and post materials on the white board.

   In order for your child to be a student assistant, the parent must agree that the child can be assigned to one of my 7th grade classes either 1st or 2nd semester in place of one of their 8th grade elective classes. If you should any questions regarding how this scheduling takes place, please contact Mr. David O’Brien, 8th grade counselor, for details.

   All such student assistants for the 2009-2010 school year must read and complete the following student assistant contract form and return to Dr. Data by Wednesday, December 17, 2008. You can print out a student assistant contract at http://www.kuzmich.com/carmody/student_assistant_contract.html and if interested, please sign it along with your child and return to Dr. Data again, by Wednesday, December 17, 2008.

   Note: It is a prerequisites for a student assistant that the child both likes working at the computer and likes to help students. It is expected that a prospective student will have successfully completed the 7th grade Computer class elective class. Normally, Dr. Data selects “A” students, but on occasion he will select a student who would benefit from the peer to peer experience as a student assistant.

Behavior in a computer learning environment must be suitable for quality level instruction where the rights of the student and teacher are respected. Likewise, classroom rules and procedures must be respected so that the primary efforts of both the students and teacher are focused on the instructional process. I believe it is important that both the students and teacher have the expectation to be happy, safe and productive in the classroom. Since the 7th Grade exploratory computer class represents an introductory class in computer skills, the success of the class is not to be only measured by the computer skills taught but also respect for the high technology atmosphere. The PC Lab has 33 computer workstations for 30 students along with monitors, printers and other related equipment within a modest-sized room. This needs to be an orderly and secure environment. I will publish detailed expectations for each part of the general classroom procedures (entering the room, beginning of the period activity, administrative task, lectures, cooperative learning, testing, seat work, and others), including security expectations for students entering the room as well as for instructional period and wrap-up at the end of the class period. Students are not to leave their chairs during the period unless directed by the teacher.

Be aware that student assistants do not specialize in one kind of service. Be willing to engage in many different and interesting assignments from computer repair, software loading, doing errands, teaching one-on-one, passing out papers, and other necessary assignments based on the need at hand!

Hope this helps as we finish up an exciting semester in both the 7th and 8th grade computer classes.

Till next time,

Dr. Data