Welcome to Chester Academy

Computer Literacy Program

2008-2009

Students and teachers have jumped right into the computer lab again this year and their excitement shows. Each grade is working on a different project that integrates technology with their classroom curriculum.

Students in grades 1-3 visit every other week with their classroom teacher. First graders are learning to use the computer by writing their name with a paint program and using a concept web to describe the 5 senses. Second graders saw a student produced video on hatching butterflies and then created a concept web to show the life cycle of a butterfly. Third graders are reinforcing their knowledge of place value using the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives ( http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vLibrary.html ).

Students in grades 4 – 6 come to the computer lab every week. Fourth graders are integrating their lessons on New Hampshire and the world by editing a PowerPoint slide show. Students in the fifth grade are typing expository essays and learning about formatting and document setup using word processing. Finally, students in Mrs. Zofrea's 6^th grade language arts classes are learning about logos and branding as they begin participating in the Exchange City program.

As always, students in the 7^th and 8^th grade attend computer literacy classes as part of their semester long rotation. This year the 7^th grade class is creating a podcast using the new grant funded rolling Mac Lab. Students are excited to be working with the Apple laptops as they explore new programs and learn first-hand how podcasts are created. Eight grade students have completed their “Dream Bedroom project”. Students were “given” a budget of $2000 to purchase ten required items including a bed, mattress, dresser and linens along with any extras such as laptops, MP3 players and video games. Students used the Internet to comparison shop while learning to decipher product advertising. They created a spreadsheet to track their spending and created formulas to total their purchases and calculate shipping costs. They completed the project with a picture of their dream bedroom. Some students used colored pencils to draw their picture and then scan it, while others used a paint program.

Many Chester Academy teachers will be furthering their own education as we begin implementation of our latest grant award. Teachers will be able to take free online courses through the OPEN NH program. They will also be able to receive graduate credit from Plymouth State University for less than 1/3 the cost of a traditional graduate course. In addition, Chester Academy will be one of the Open NH orientation sites for teachers in the Chester and neighboring communities. OPEN NH courses are available to the general public for a cost of $100 per course. Contact Mrs. Kessler if you’d like more information on OPEN NH.

Digital Portfolios – All students are required by the State of New Hampshire to keep a cumulative (K-8 and 9-12) digital portfolio which demonstrates the integrated use of technology in all content areas. The portfolios will be evaluated before the students go to Pinkerton Academy. If the students meet the requirements they will be able to take a higher level technology course at Pinkerton. They will not receive a half credit from Pinkerton for their work at Chester Academy. Students in middle school have saved their files on their personal drives. They will be reviewing the work and deciding which files/artifacts should be part of their digital portfolio. Students in the elementary school save their work to a personal folder which is stored in a class folder on the public drive. Each student’s folder has been moved from the previous class folder to the current class folder. For more information on the state standards, please click on the following URL: http://nheon.org/oet/standards/ICTquickref.pdf

Click here to learn about netTrekker, the search engine created by educators for students, parents, educators and librarians. Chester Academy has purchased a subscription to netTrekker for all students. The search engine is available to the students (and their families) at home as well as in school. For more information please email Mrs. Kessler at skessler@chesteracademy.org.

Our school is fortunate that Mrs. Warnke, the media specialist, has obtained a subscription to Tumble Books Library. We are using it in the computer lab with the students and they love it! The first graders saw Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin while learning about spiders. This humorous story follows a young spider as he goes to school and makes friends. Tumble Books Library promotes literacy as the children see the story, hear the story, and read the story! You can use Tumble Books Library at home. Check with Mrs. Warnke for the login information. J

Acceptable Use Policy 2008/2009