Facebook and under age 13 children

Several parents stopped by to voice their concerns about their children under 13 using Facebook.

The Facebook terms of service dictate that members be at least 13  years old to set up an account. A recent Consumer Reports survey indicates that as many as 7.5 million Facebook users are  under 13, and 5 million of those kids are under 10. Either they, or their
parents, simply lied about their age to set up the account.

Facebook requires individuals to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account. Providing false information to create an account is always a violation of Facebook's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. This includes accounts registered on the behalf of under 13 year old children by older parties.

“A million kids were bullied on Facebook in the last year," Jeff Fox, technology editor at Consumer Reports, told FoxNews.com upon the release of the study. "A 10-year-old is not well-equipped to deal with those things.”

"What's even more troubling was the finding from our survey that indicated that a majority of parents of kids 10 and under seemed largely unconcerned by their
children's use of the site."

If your underage child (child under the age of 13) has created an account on Facebook, you can show them how to delete their account by having them log into their account and following this link.

Facebook - 13 or older

I am happy to report that after my Parent Coffee on Thursday, Dec. 1 several student's Facebook accounts have become private and I can longer see their content. Also several have changed their profile photo to be a neutral picture that does not tell anything about themselves.

Remember that what goes online stays online!

Please continue to talk to your children about what is appropriate online. If they are going to have a Facebook account teach them to set their privacy settings to protect their information.

 

Digital Citizenship: Piecing It Together

[youtube AThDbRtpcKE?rel=0]

Mystery Photo

Respect

Think Before You Post

[youtube rbpKawqA6VQ?rel=0]

Student in Austria takes on Facebook privacy policy

The 24-year-old wasn't sure what to expect when he requested Facebook provide him with a record of the personal data it holds on him, but he certainly wasn't ready for the 1,222 pages of information he received.

Read More from China Post

What you put online is public and permanent!

What Respect Is

On a practical level respect includes taking someone's feelings, needs, thoughts, ideas, wishes and preferences into consideration. It means taking all of these seriously and giving them worth and value. In fact, giving someone respect seems similar to valuing them and their thoughts, feelings, etc. It also includes acknowledging them, listening to them, being truthful with them, and accepting their individuality and idiosyncrasies.

Respect can be shown through behavior and it can also be felt. We can act in ways which are considered respectful, yet we can also feel respect for someone and feel respected by someone. Because it is possible to act in ways that do not reflect how we really feel, the feeling of respect is more important than the behavior without the feeling. When the feeling is there, the behavior will naturally follow.

~Steve

Quote of the Day

re·spect

noun

1. a particular, detail, or point (usually preceded by in): to differ in some respect.

2. relation or reference: inquiries with respect to a route.

3. esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for her judgment.

4. deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect's right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly.

5. the condition of being esteemed or honored: to be held in respect.

Quote of the Day

He who does not have the courage to speak up for his rights cannot earn the respect of others.

~Rene G. Torres

Quote of the Day

Respect is a lesson that everyone should learn
Respect must be given before an expected return
Respect is something that’s given for free
Respect is about us and never about me
Respect is the basis on which relationships are founded
Respect is the anchor that keeps a person well grounded
Respect builds the character and defines who we are
Respect sets the standard and raises the bar
Respect is magnanimous and helps to fulfil
Respect is the partner that sits with good will
Respect is like honey so sweet it’s perceived
Respect a taste to savour for when it’s received

by Don Wilson

Quote of the Day

R-ender a helping hand,
E-mbrace the ones you love,
S-tand proud for your land,
P-ray to the One above.
E-ncourage the frail and sad,
C-onsole the lost, the weak. And be
T-ruthful when you speak.

~Unknown

Free To Be You and Me

[youtube Lshobg1Wt2M&feature?rel=0]

Simple Circuit

[local /files/2011/10/SimpleCircuit1.avi]

Using Animation-ish we created our own simple circuit. What is a simple circuit? you ask, well, read on and I will tell you.

First you will need some materials to build your circuit: D-cell (battery), wires, and something to turn on (fan, lightbulb, or a motor). How you construct your circuit is very important. First you need to connect one end of the wire to the negative side of the D-cell, the other end of that wire needs to connect to the side of the lightbulb. Take an additional wire and connect it to the bottom of the lightbulb while the other side connects to the positive side of the D-cell. Electrcity will flow through the wires causing the lightbulb to turn on. It runs from the negative to the positive. Once electricity is flowing the light will stay on.

I really enjoyed learning about electrcity and a simple circuit.

These are the words that I learned in relation to circuits.



This is a mentor post for 4th grade students.

The Sneetches - Dr. Suess

Don't Laugh at Me - Steve Seskin and Allan Shamblin

[youtube HTNVXlirF4Y&feature?rel=0]

Scary Movies - Common Sense Media

What are scary movies?

Kids love scary films. The trick is finding movies with age-appropriate thrills. Something that terrifies kids at 5 (ghosts, evil characters, major peril) will be a non-issue at 15. Scariness comes from fear of the unknown, from surprise, and from fears about the loss of a loved one. Depending on where your kids are in their emotional development, different things will affect them differently. Young kids are frightened more by creatures that older children know don’t exist. Abrupt noises, eerie sounds, and music create tension in both younger and older children. Psychological suspense, with its threats of impending doom, can terrify your middle-school kids.

Why they matter.

Movies with scary images, intense danger, loud noises, and — above all — blood and gore, can create all sorts of disturbances. Among them are anxiety, sleep disruption, and fears about possible situations. Children younger than 7 can’t easily distinguish between fantasy and reality — even if you tell them "it’s not real." You will know if your kids have become too frightened when they start having sleep problems, irrational fears, and obsessions with things like zombies. Scary and disturbing images and sounds can affect vulnerable kids for years.

Some facts

• The younger kids are when they see a scary movie or TV show, the longer-lasting the effects will be.


• Kids who watch scary material often have nightmares or anxiety.


• Kids ages 2 to 7 often can’t distinguish between fantasy and reality.

Parents check out the Scary movies tip sheet from Common Sense Media

 

The Kindness Seed

[youtube FtqxXDoHNBE?rel=0]

Kindness Thought Bubble

[youtube sU30nlcVSIg?rel=0]

The Kindness Song - Peter Ryan

[youtube 5OJ-C2B6M5M?rel=0]

Photos

[gallery]

Quote of the Day

What do we live for if it is not to make life less difficult to each other.

~George Eliot

Quote of the Day

Wise sayings often fall on barren ground; but a kind word is never thrown away.

~Sir Arthur Helps

Quote of the Day

Friendship is a living thing that lasts only as long as it is nourished with kindness, empathy and understanding.

~Anonymous

Quote of the Day

I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

~Stephen Grellet

Quote of the Day

The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but reveal to them their own.

~Disraeli

Quote of the Day

It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.

~Moliere

Quote of the Day

From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.

~Arthur Ashe

Quote of the Day

"Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life.”

~Dustin Hosterler

How Do You Find Your Way Around a Blog?

[caption id="attachment_2566" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Wikipedia, Markus Bernet, Narvik"][/caption]

When I go to your blog and want to find all the posts you have written about  Science or Social Studies  – how could I find it easily without looking through all your posts?

What if I wanted to find a post with a poem in it or a picture from Camp Taiwan – how could I find it easily without looking through all your posts?

I would use your categories and tags in your sidebar.

Categories are similiar to a table of contents but for your blog, a kind of general outline that directs visitors to general topics that you blog about. Tags are more like the index page of a book, a list of key words people will use to search for specific terms.

Remember that both serve one purpose: helping your readers find the information they need on your blog.

So all your posts should have 1 Category and many Tags so people can easily find your exciting entries.

That also means that you need to have the Category and Tag Cloud widgets in your sidebar.  Appearance -->Widgets, drag to the sidebar

Categories are:

1. Writing, Reading, Math, Social Studies, TAS Values, Internet Safety, Travels, Art, Mandarin, etc...


2. spelled correctly


3. use capital letters on the first letter of each word: Internet Safety

If you need to add a category:

1. Open the Dashboard


2. Select Posts


3. Select Categories




1. Type the name


2. Press Enter

Tags are:

1.  smaller identifiers: poems, graph, essay, kindness, respect, Wordle, etc...


2. used over and over again


3. spelled correctly


4. either use capital letters or don't but be consistent on the first letter of each word

Create Tags:

1. Open the Dashboard


2. Select Posts


3. Select All Posts


4. Quick Edit


5. Type in a tag name or choose fron the most used tags


6. Separate them with a comma: poem, cats


7. Update

Now categorize and tag each post you have already written:

1. Open the Dashboard


2. Select Posts


3. Select All Posts


4. Quick Edit


5. Update

Sept. 28, 2011

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.
~William Arthur Ward

Photos

Computer Lab on PhotoPeach

Sept. 27, 2011

A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.
~John Ruskin

Sept. 26, 2011

A laugh, to be joyous, must flow from a joyous heart, for without kindness, there can be no true joy.
~Thomas Carlyle

Sept. 30, 2011

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.
~Princess Diana

Sept. 29, 2011

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

~Leo Buscaglia

Sept. 23, 2011

How beautiful a day can be
When kindness touches it!
~George Elliston

ACC Reception Speech

Think back to when you were in elementary school.

Did you blog?
Did you upload videos you made for others to see?
Did you collaborate online with your teachers and classmates?
Neither did I, but, your children are!

I learned to type on a non electric typewriter when I was a senior in HS. Your children started learning Dance Mat Typing in 1st or 2nd grade.

I needed to carry coins to make a phone call at a pay phone; your children pull a phone out of their pocket.

I spent hours at the library researching outdated materials, your child Google’s Current Events.

The world that your children are learning in is very different from our own school years. Today, we live in a technology and media-driven environment, with an abundance of information, rapid changes in technology tools and the ability to collaborate on an unprecedented scale.

Technology -Anytime, anywhere.

In the 2010 Critical Skills Survey by the American Management Association, employers say they need a workforce equipped with skills beyond reading, writing and arithmetic to grow their businesses.

They need people who can:
• think critically and problem solve,
• communication effectively,
• collaborate,
• and be creative and innovative - The ability to see what’s not there and make something happen

The building blocks that we are laying, in the lower school, to support a solid foundation in technology skills for your children are stronger and more ambitious than ever before.

Your children are learning to:
• kindly and respectfully comment on other’s blogs
• to organize, evaluate and communicate using Google Apps
• to edit and revise their work online
• to research information using online resources
• to apply a fundamental understanding of the legal/ethical issues surrounding:
o email,
o abiding by copyright laws,
o following the age requirements of websites like Facebook, (13 or older)
o handling Cyber bullying,
o and last but not least to learn about Internet Safety

It is an exciting time to be a child in a world filled with PlayStations, Wiis, Xbox, and video games.
It is a creatively rewarding world where students edit stories, videos, or images and share them instantly across oceans with billions of people.

It is also a more challenging world where students have to learn to navigate the Cyber World, the online world.

So, I strongly recommend getting involved in your child’s online world; see who they are communicating with.
Ask for a tour of your child’s blogs, leave them a comment! Support the digital citizen your child is becoming.

I look be offering a parent workshop on Internet Safety in the future. Parents always find it a bit daunting.
But, I can teach you what you need to know to keep your child safe online. So, I hope to see you there.

Sept. 22, 2011

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.


~Epictetus

Mystery Photo

[caption id="attachment_2431" align="alignnone" width="207" caption="What Am I?"][/caption]

Sept. 21, 2011

By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.

~Winston Churchill

Check it out

Ann did a fabulous job on her About Page. She added loads of details about her favorite things but she added nothing personal. She even uploaded an avatar. Check it out!

You can get help on your About Page by going to my blog post.

Sept. 20, 2011

Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.

~Jesse Jackson

Screenshot an Image

You can take a "picture" of your work on the computer by using the Snipping Tool that is installed on Windows 7.  It should be located in Start, All Programs, Accessories or you can type it in the search option.



Once you open the application you can click, hold and drag over the image you want. Once you let go it will open the Snipping Tool application and you can save your "picture".



If you do not have the Snipping Tool you can use the PrtSc button on your keyboard and paste it into the Paint program.

1. You then use the selection tool and crop out what you want


2. cut the selection (ctrl + X)


3. open a new paint window (ctrl + N)


4. Don't Save


5. paste the image you cut (ctrl + V)


6. save it (ctrl + S)

Sept. 19, 2011

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

~Mark Twain

Sept. 16, 2011

Life is short but there is always time for courtesy.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Update Your About Page

On the left hand side of the Dashboard it says PAGES, click on the word PAGES or ALL PAGES

Click on the word ABOUT or SAMPLE PAGE

Change the title to be something like All About Me or About Me or Who I Am

Tell your readers your first name only, a bit about your interests but  remember to be Internet savvy and not give out any personal details. (age, school, city, parent's name, where parents work, telephone number, address, etc).

If you wrote your ‘About’ page last year, things will have changed – so update the  information or improve the layout of what you have written to make it  easier for your readers to understand.

Check spelling and grammar.

You can use your name piece, name poem or type a few sentences.

You can add an avatar by inserting an image.

Sept. 15, 2011

Have you had a kindness shown?
Pass it on;
'Twas not given for thee alone,
Pass it on;
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears,
'Til in Heaven the deed appears -
Pass it on.

~Henry Burton, Pass It On

Sept. 14, 2011

Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns.

~Anonymous

Mystery Photo

[caption id="attachment_2348" align="alignnone" width="701" caption="Can you tell what I am?"][/caption]

Sept. 13, 2011

Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how.

~Anonymous

Sept. 12, 2011

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

~Tao Te Ching

Keyboarding Posture

[caption id="attachment_2275" align="alignright" width="427" caption="Typing Pal Graphic"][/caption]

Posture:

The staircase position is the proper posture when working on a keyboard. Sit with your back straight, leaning slightly against the backrest at a 90° angle with the seat.

Your thighs and legs should form a 90° angle.

Your forearm should form an angle of approximately 90° with your arm.

Never bend your wrists. Repeated long periods of work in this position cause sharp pain in the wrist, also known as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Do not raise the top of the keyboard even if it comes with feet to do so. Raise the base of the keyboard instead.

Your neck should be straight. Do not have your head too far in front of the rest of your body.

What's Wrong

Can you identify all the things this computer user is doing incorrectly?[caption id="attachment_2278" align="alignnone" width="942" caption="Typing Pal Graphic"][/caption]

 

Free4Teachers

Check out Free Technology for Teachers!

Eight free guides will give you a sense of what this blog is all about. Every day Free Technology for Teachers provides teachers with free websites and resources that they can use in their classrooms.

Internet Explorer 9

Check out the video if you need help.

1. Show or hide the Favorites, Command, and status bars
Right-click an open space to the right of the New tab button, and then select a bar:

• Favorites bar


• Command bar


• Status bar

2. Change the location of tabs in Internet Explorer 9
Right-click an open space to the right of the New tab button, and then select or clear Show tabs on a separate row.

3. How to Turn AutoComplete On

Tools, Internet Option
Click on the Content tab, then click on the Settings button under AutoComplete.

Check at least the Address bar and Browsing history box, then click on OK.

Press Ok

Custom Guide Online Learning

You need to create an account to ask the Quick Refernce Guides. You can also walk through the tutorials.

Changing your blog password

[local /files/2011/09/BlogPassword.wmv]

1. Login to your blog


2. Click on Users (on the left)


3. Click on Your Profile (under Users)


4. Scroll to the bottom


5. Type in your password


6. Type it in again


7. Clcik Update Profile


8. Log off when done

Password Rap

Netsmartz Password Rap

[caption id="attachment_2215" align="alignleft" width="443" caption="Password Rap, Netsmartz"][/caption]

Faux Paw Meets the First Lady

[youtube iT8C7fxdnwA&NR=1]

 

Faux Paw the Techno Cat

Watch the movie and then write your own blog post answering the questions below.

[youtube D0pue0KoCPk]

What kinds of personal information should you KEEP protected, and never share with anyone on the computer? Why should you not share this information?

Who should you keep away from on thh Internet? Why should you keep away from strangers?

What should you tell your parents or a trusted adult? Can you give an example.

Keep it offline

• Though there are many benefits to sharing information online, the Internet should be considered public because: (1) “private” information can become public if passed on, and (2) posts in many online communities are public by default.


• Most information posted online: (1) can be searched, (2) can be seen by HUGE, invisible audiences, (3) can be copied, altered, and sent to others, and (4) is persistent – it’s almost impossible to take down, as it can start to spread the minute it is posted.


• Information that people post can get out of their control fast, so it is important to consider the consequences beforehand.

Poems about Values

Using Corel students created a video of their value poem.

Jasmine through Yvonne Videos

[youtube.com/watch?v=3Mz0KIH0nP8]

Ariel through Jacob Videos

[youtube.com/watch?v=RdkKCb58QGs]

Bloopers

[youtube.com/watch?v=vww08PQrujs]

Reflection

[caption id="attachment_2166" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Herald Tower Apartments, NY"][/caption]

Reflection is when you think about what you have done and what you wanted to do, what you have learned and what you wanted to learn, what you will remember as special and what you will want to forget.

Take time now to think about your fifth grade year. Please create a new blog post on your blog answering the following questions. You need at least three complete sentences for each question.

1. Something you did well is...


2. Something you wanted to do but didn't is...


3. Something you learned is...


4. Something you wanted to learn but didn't is...


5. Something about fifth grade you thought was special and will want to remember is...


6. Something about fifth grade that you would rather not remember is...

And now thinking ahead. Make a prediction about sixth grade.

You can add images from Student Photos if you want to.

Embed your project into blog from MIT World Scratch Day

1. Go to the TAS homepage for Scratch


2. Find your project and click it once


3. On the right hand side click EMBED


4. Select the code for AS AN IMAGE


5. Open a new post


6. Title it


7. Paste the Code


8. Write a short description of the project or a reflection


9. Categorize and tag it


10. Publish the post

MIT World Scratch Day

Saturday, May 21 at TAS

2nd and 3rd Graders (who are already registered)
9-9:30 in the small theatre
9:30-11 work in classrooms on a Scratch project
11-11:30 share what you created in the small theatre

4th and 5th Graders (who are already registered)
12:30-1 in the small theatre
1-2:30 work in classrooms on a Scratch project
2:30-3 share what you created in the small theatre

Check out these great video tutorials before you arrive on Saturday.

Examples of the project we will create: Nick, Julio, Justus, Patrick, Ruadhri, Karplus, Eilish, Alex, Chris

Pace, Pause, Pronunciation and Expression!

Crocodile's Toothache (By Shel Silverstein)


My First Day At School by Roger McGough

Is It Spam?

83% of all comments received are spam

Look at the Email Address
Legitimate companies send emails through a server based out of their company website (for example, support@microsoft.com). If you see a long string of numbers in front of the @ sign or the name of a free email service before the .com (or any other domain), you need to question the legitimacy of the email in question.

Look at the Content
Keep an eye out for emails that say you need to do something right at that second or within a certain number of hours. Also, be wary of any emails that include links. Most companies tell you what to do, but they never direct you to where to do it with a link.

Finally, rampant grammatical and spelling errors within the body of an email are good signs that it’s spam. Spammers don’t care enough about the actual messages they’re sending to take the time to make them make sense.

If It Asks for Personal Information
Most institutions you deal with come right out and say they’re never going to ask for personal information in an email. If you get an email that asks you for any personal information, no matter how legitimate it might seem, delete it right away. Personal information is only meant to be entered in secure, encrypted forms, not emails where anyone and everyone can get their hands on your information.

Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge

The FBI-SOS (Safe Online Surfing) Internet Challenge is designed to help students become responsible cyber citizens by giving them the tools to avoid and report online dangers and use internet resources wisely. There is a separate program for each grade, 3rd through 8th, and topics are introduced at grade-appropriate levels. For a complete list of topics click on the "Topics by Grade" link to the right.

We encourage parents to review the links on the FBI-SOS Scavenger Hunts to become more familiar with the information presented in the program. The FBI-SOS program administrators support and respect each family's right to decide whether or not their child may participate in the FBI-SOS program.

7.5 million Facebook users below minimum age

A survey published in the June issue of  Consumer Reports found that "of the 20 million minors who actively use Facebook," 7.5 million were younger than 13 and more than five million were younger than 10. Facebook's terms of service require that users be at least 13.

The report tracks with other studies including a 2010 study by McAfee that found 37 percent of 10 to 12 year olds are on Facebook and a study (PDF) released in April from the London School of Economics EU Kids Online project that found that 38 percent of 9- to 12-year-old European children used social-networking sites, with one in five using Facebook, "rising to over 4 in 10 in some countries."

Jeff Fox, technology editor for Consumer Reports, said it was troubling that the survey found "a majority of parents of kids 10 and under seemed largely unconcerned by their children's use of the site." In a press statement, Consumer Reports said that "Using Facebook presents children and their friends and family with safety, security and privacy risks" and that, "In the past year, the use of Facebook has exposed more than five million online U.S. households to some type of abuse including virus infections, identity theft, and—for a million children—bullying."

In an statement issued ahead of the report's release, Facebook said that "recent reports have highlighted just how difficult it is to implement age restrictions on the Internet and that there is no single solution to ensuring younger children don't circumvent a system or lie about their age." The company said that "we appreciate the attention that these reports and other experts are giving this matter and believe this will provide an opportunity for parents, teachers, safety advocates, and Internet services to focus on this area, with the ultimate goal of keeping young people of all ages safe online."

Source: CNet

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-20061298-238.html#ixzz1LwdmFCyw

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

[caption id="attachment_1981" align="alignright" width="60" caption="BrainPop Activity"][/caption]

1. Go to BrainPop! Recycling


2. Login and watch the movie.


3. Then watch the movie Waste Management


4. Create an infographic from the facts found below: 
   
   
   
   1. from the FYI link off BrainPop,  click on the graph at the top called:
   
   
   2. Graph, Stats, and Numbers from Recycling or
   
   
   3. Graph, Stats, and Numbers from Waste Management or
   
   
   4. Select facts from Recycling Revolution, or Recycling Guide
   
   
   
   


5. Use Word - I will show you examples

An infographic is a visual representations (images) of information, data or knowledge. These graphics are used where complex information needs to be explained quickly and clearly.

Examples:

[caption id="attachment_1978" align="alignnone" width="331" caption="Today's Communication"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1979" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="Video Games"][/caption]

Student Blog Challenges

Check out the new challenges:

1. Write a post about one of the things you have done in life, that make you glow with pride.


2. Write a post about a move you have made...moving to Taiwan or some other country.


3. Write a post about animal migration. Have you noticed any animals in your area which are there at certain times of year but then they disappear?


4. Write a post about any special celebrations in your country to remember those who have fought for your country?


5. Write a post about Earth Day (week)


6. Write about something important you have learned outside of school – remember we should all be life long learners not just learners while at school. How did you learn it? Why is it important to you? Who or what taught you about it? How has this learning helped you in your life?


7. Write a post about testing - How did you feel? Where you prepared?


8. Write a post about your favorite color. Add 3 images (remember copyright and citing sources)

Keyboarding Posture

•  The screen should be 18-30 inches from your eyes, or about an arm's length.


• The top of the monitor should be at eye level because the eyes are at their most comfortable position straight ahead but slightly downward.


• The knuckles, wrist, and top of the forearm should form a straight line.


• The elbows should form a 90 degree angle


• Feet should be flat on the floor.


• You should change your sitting position at least every 15 minutes.

Facebook Privacy Settings

Be aware of your Privacy Settings when using Facebook. Set your preferences to protect your information.

Once logged in look in the upper left corner and click once on Account, then click on Privacy Settings



Select each area individually to check the settings with "Connecting on Facebook"



Select each area individually to check the settings with "Sharing on Facebook"



Select each area individually to check the settings with "Apps, Games and Websites"



For more information click on Contolling How You Share and read the sections to better understand how information is dis

Internet Monitoring Software

K9 Web Protection (recommended my middle school for laptops)

Webwatcher

SniperSpy


Spector Pro

Spytech SpyAgent

Spy Agent

How facebook is reshaping college admissions

Safeguarding Children - Websites

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/
www.connectsafely.org
www.stopcyberbullying.org
www.ikeepsafe.org
www.netsmartz.org
www.isafe.org
www.webwisekids.org
www.childnet-int.org
www.csriu.org

Cyberbullying

Watch BrainPop Cyberbullying and create an Animation-ish depicting what you learned.

Words to consider:

Cyberbullying
Rumor
Harassment
Impersonate
Anonymous

Blog Badge

1. Create a new post
   
   [caption id="attachment_1972" align="alignright" width="154" caption="Challenge Blog Badge"][/caption]


2. Insert an image


3. Browse to Student Group Work\LS\IT Upload


4. Select the file called Student Badge.PNG


5. Click Insert into post


6. Click on the HTML tab


7. Copy all the code


8. Paste into a text widget under Appearance-Widgets


9. Save


10. Check your blog see that it works.

Delete the post

Got Green?

Taipei American School
Geo Week
April 18th-22nd, 2011

Join the GEO Week and Earth Day celebrations next week by wearing colors and giving voice to Green Values.

Green Club is selling a T-shirt created by a collaboration of student artists who used original motifs to communicate values in the living of a green life. Please support their fund raising efforts in order to help animals and people in need.

We need your help:

• 
  
  Kindly help each other remember to wear the color of the day


• 
  
  T-Shirts go on sale in the lobby on Tuesday for NT300 and they will be on sale throughout the week


• 
  
  Celebrate with us by wearing the Got Green? Geo Week t-shirt on Friday, April 22nd

Have a healthy and happy EARTH week,

The Green Team

Blog Challenge

Here are the tasks you need to complete. Remember you do not need to do them all. Only the ones you feel comfortable with.

Go to the Challenge Yourself to Blog to find out more details about what you need to do.

Go to Mrs. Gorneau’s blog to find out how to complete a challenge. Use the Search widget to find what you need. (Google Translate, Avatar, Clustr Map).

Email me if you need help.

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Items you can have on your blog for the challenge:

1. About Page (no personal details-last name, address, phone number) – Pages - About

VISUAL LOOK

1. Changed Theme (must allow widgets….Goodreads)


2. Header (source cited) if theme supports one     - Appearance-Header    (text widget)


3. Background (source cited) if theme supports one  - Appearance-Background    (text widget)

Categorize and Tag all posts. You might want to create a category for Blog Challengeand add the posts that are relevant to that category.

WIDGETS

1. Tags (2 per post) (Tag widget)


2. Categories (1 per post, Not uncategorized)     (Categories widget)


3. Links  (FOSS Science, Math Connects, etc…)     (Links widget)


4. Avatar     (Blog avatar widget)


5. Goodreads     (HTML Javascript Adder widget)


6. Clustr Map     (text widget)


7. Google Translator     (HTML Javascript Adder widget)


8. Comments (10 people, 10 different countries, from: Challenge Blog)


9. Get your badge and add it as a widget (text widget)

POSTS

1. Write a post about your favourite colour and include at least three images. (Copyright and caption)


2. Write a post about a global activity you have taken part in


3. Write a post in another language


4. What is a digital footprint?


5. Write a post about why students and classes should visit your blog.


6. Write a post about the importance of tags and categories


7. Miss W needs to find her way to your community


8. Where in the world would you like to find your way to?


9. Add a Wordle, ToonDoo, Your own images, create an image (paint program or similiar)

OTHER

1. Create a poll


2. Create a slideshow or gallery of avatars or images



Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover

Anatomy of a Landfill

Follow the Waste Stream

Roscoe's Recycle Room Fun Facts

EcoHouse Game

A Day Made of Glass by Corning

[youtube 6Cf7IL_eZ38]

5th Grade Test Taking Vocabulary

Go to the Spelling City link to practice vocabulary.

Mystery Photo

[caption id="attachment_1907" align="alignnone" width="358" caption="What am I?"][/caption]

I took this photo at Taroko Gorge. Can you tell what it is?

Challenge Yourself to Blog

[caption id="attachment_1818" align="alignright" width="157" caption="Blogging Badge"][/caption]

Student Challenge EduBlogs information.

Student's Register

This has already started so you need to play catch up. Some of the activites take minutes others are more time consuming. Shoot me and email or comment if you need help.

Participants can complete as many of the tasks as they like and in any order.

The Student Blogging Challenge is coordinated by Sue Wyatt, Sue Waters and Ronnie Burt.

10 weeks of challenges

Improve student commenting and blogging skills

Interact with classrooms all over the globe

Student's Register

Here is an overview (not complete)

Check the Student Challenge EduBlogs website for things you need to accomplish.

Challenge Week 1 go to the post for more info.

Activity 1 – Write your ‘about’ page (Be creative but internet savvy when writing your about page, no personal information)

Activity 3 – Change your Theme if you want to (Make sure it can have Widgets and you re-add them if they delete)

Activity 3 – Write a post about why students and classes should visit your blog.

Activity 4 – Visit the student list then leave a comment on the challenge post…

Check out the page called ‘Students – March 2011’ and visit ten blogs  where students have similar interests to you and leave a comment on their blog. Then come back here and leave a comment mentioning a blog you found really interesting – remember to tell me the student’s first name, country and blog URL so I can then go and visit them as well.

Challenge Week 2 go to the post for more info.

Activity 1 & 2– Make an avatar add it to your blog (Lego or Go Wild) and  write a post describing your avatar. (Be descriptive)

Activity 3 – Create a slideshow or gallery of avatars (Use the Image Gallery) add  descriptive captions. (Be descriptive)

Activity 4 – What is a digital footprint?

[youtube 79IYZVYIVLA?version=]

You can also do this at home with permission from your parents/guardian. If you're interested in the current size of your own digital footprint, you can download a copy of the Personal Digital Footprint Calculator. This tool walks you through a questionnaire that calculates your impact based on the responses to questions about your computer usage, email usage, digital camera/camcorder usage, web downloading habits, potential surveillance areas, and geographical information, among other things. You could then upload to the blog a screenshot of the answer.

Challenge Week 3 go to the post for more info.

Activity 1 – How do you know where your visitors are coming from? (Add Clustr Map as a widget, takes 24 hours to show who is looking)

Activity 2 – How do you read a blog written in a language other than your mother tongue? (Add Google Translator Mini)

Activity 3 – Write a post in another language (copy and paste something from Mandarin or post something in another language besides English)

Activity 4 – Write a post about a global activity you have taken part in

World Maths or Spelling Day

World Water Day – this is happening on Tuesday, March 22 – theme is water for cities

Earth Hour – this is happening on Saturday, March 26 – see video in class section of challenge

Activity 5 – Leave a comment on ten blogs (you need to leave a comment on the appropriate post here at the challenge, or include a link in your own post so I get a trackback or pingback.)

Each blog must be from a different country of the world. Check out the list of students and classes taking part. Remember there are actually 18 countries represented – some have only one person taking part, so you might need to check carefully. Students in the challenge

Challenge Week 4 go to the post for more info.

Activity 1 – Create link categories (Homework, Blogs I like, Resources, Fun Sites)

Activity 2 – Add some more links  (should have FOSS Science, Math Connects, Mrs. Gorneau's Blog, Teacher's Blog, Challenge Yourself to Blog) Any other's you want.

Activity 3 – Creating at least 4 post (Reading, Writing, Science, Math, Social Studies, TAS Values, Internet  Safety)

Activity 4 – Write a post about the importance of tags and categories

Activity 5 – Miss W needs to find her way to your community -

Write an interesting post about your community. You might want to include a slideshow of nearby landmarks or important buildings in your community.

Activity 6 – Where in the world would you like to find your way to? -

Write a post leaving some questions for your readers to answer. Think about the countries where our student blogging challenge bloggers are from. They should be able to answer your questions.

Activity 7 – Create a poll

Good Luck!

About Page

[caption id="attachment_1887" align="alignright" width="153" caption="Mrs. Gorneau's Lego Avatar"][/caption]

Update your About Page so people know a little bit about who you are, what you like, how you spend your spare time.

Be creative: add a poem, song, video, or image.

Remember to be Cybersmart and do not put personal information on your page. No last names, addresses, school info, friend's last names, etc...

1. Login to your blog


2. Click on Pages


3. Click on About
   
   [caption id="attachment_1895" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="About Page"][/caption]

Prezi on Blogging

Here is my Prezi that I presented for the In House Institute for teachers. Please let me know if you need help with your blog or adding any of the features you saw in the presentation.

Blogging on Prezi

Upload ToonDoo to Blog

1. Login to ToonDoo Account


2. Click on Toons


3. Click on My Toons


4. Click on Goto Page


5. If it does not open right away loook for a yellow bar at the top and Allow pop-ups (repeat steps 2-4)


6. Click on the embed tag <> it will copy the code


7. Login to Blog


8. Add New Post


9. Switch to HTML side of post


10. Paste


11. Title, Categorize, Tag


12. Publish

Online Safety – BrainPop

1. Watch the movie on Online Safety, on BrainPop!


2. Open the Document, 3 OnlineSafety, in Student Group Work


3. Post the completed work to  YOUR blog, under the Internet Safety category.

Realistic Fiction

[local /files/2011/02/RealFict.avi]

Wallwishers for students

Let me know what you would like me to teach you. Click on "Post a sticky" at the bottom. It brings you to a new page so you can leave your opinion. Type in your first name so I know who you are. Then tell me what you want to learn. Press OK at the bottom.

Spiral Stories

You can create a spiral story or poem using Text Layout. When you have finished typing or copying and pasting click layout text. It will open in Adobe Reader. You can screen shot the image to save it to upload to your blog. You can export it as an image too. This example is font 32 the highest size you can have.

Teachers- What training do you want?

4th Grade - A Basic Electrical Circuit

[local /files/2011/02/Circuit1.avi] 

Created with Animation-ish software by Nancy Gorneau

1. 
   
   Open Animation-ish


2. 
   
   Select the middle choice: FlipBook-ish


3. 
   
   Create


4. 
   
   File - Save


5. 
   
   File - Export as an AVI
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      
      Name the file
   
   
   2. 
      
      Choose Location to save it
   
   
   
   


6. 
   
   Upload to Blog
   
   
   
   
   1. 
      
      Use the TV icon (Embed Video Plugin)
   
   
   
   


7. 
   
   Write a reflection

ToonDoo-Responsibility

[caption id="attachment_1614" align="alignnone" width="471" caption="I take care of things"][/caption]

Students can create a ToonDoo about one of the TAS Values.

Visitor Counter

You can add a visitor counter to your blog so you can see how much traffic (visitors) you are getting.

[caption id="attachment_1527" align="alignright" width="158" caption="WordPress Image"][/caption]

1. Settings (in the leftside bar)


2. Hit Counter


3. Select from several different options by clicking in the circle


4. Save Changes at the bottom of the window

Your hit counter will appear in the footer of your blog. The footer is at the bottom.

Boracay

[caption id="attachment_1520" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Taken with permission from WikiTravel"][/caption]

I went to Boracay for Chinese New Year! We stayed in the White Beach area and had fun on the beach reading and making sand castles and in the water, body surfing. We went out on a catamaran to go snorkeling and sailing. Half way through the trip we hear snap, boom, bang...the mast broke and came swinging towards my friends who ducked quickly. We all got really wet and had to make a crash landing further down on the beach. We had fun and walked home instead of sailed.

Create a Strong Password

1. Use a strong password. A strong password contains a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols (@ # $), punctuation (. , ! ?) and numbers.  Using all types of characters works the best. For example instead of using welcome use W3Lc0mE^9.


2. Passwords should be six (6) or more characters in length. The longer the password, the harder it is to crack.


3. Do not use common information in your password, such as name, birthdate, phone number, or other information directly related to you.


4. Passwords comprised of characters rather than proper words are more secure.


5. Refrain from writing passwords down and do not login to accounts via a public computer (e.g., at the library or Internet cafe) that save the password details in the browser.


6. Never click an e-mail link and log into a secure site from an e-mail. Even if the e-mail looks legitimate, always type the URL into a browser yourself, then log in to your account. This will help you avoid phishing attacks.


7. Do not allow applications to store your passwords online, and remember to clear your browser cache, history and clear passwords frequently.


8. Remember to change your passwords frequently. The more important the account, the more frequently the password should be changed.


9. Never communicate a password to anyone, except your parents, especially via e-mail or instant messenger. Passwords should always be kept private.


10. No one should ever ask for your password. A teacher, friend, or online service -Google, Hotmail, Yahoo, Webkinz.

Formulas in Excel

1. Formulas always begin with an equal sign =


2. Formulas always specify the cells (A2) or numbers (23) needed to calculate the answer.


3. Formulas always use mathematical operations: Addition (+), Subtraction (-), Multiplication (*), and/or Division (/)


4. The use of a semicolon : menas it is a range of numbers. A1:a10 means all the cells between A1 and A10 --- A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,A10

Example:

=A1+A2  this translates to: add whatever is in cell A1(54) to A2 (34).



When you press Enter the formula goes to work and returns the value.



There are almost 400 different formulas.

Here are some you can use:

• =average(cell:cell)      this is the Mean or Average formula, it gives you the sum of the cells divided by the number of cells


• =mode(cell:cell)     this is the Mode formula, it gives you the most frequent number used


• =median(cell:cell)     this is the Median formula, it is the middle number


• =sum(cell:cell)     this Totals the cells, it adds all the numbers together and gives you a total

Digital Citizenship

Interesting 2 page spread about Raising the Digital Child by Dr. Mike Ribble.

Copyright

Directions:

1. Watch the movie Copyright on BrainPop  


2. Use your own words to define these terms from the movie


3. Have your teacher proof read your answers


4. Copy and paste the answers to your blog
   
   
   
   1. Title the post Copyright
   
   
   2. Select a Internet Safety Category
   
   
   3. Publish
   
   
   
   


5. Find a header picture that you want on your blog and upload it.
   
   
   
   1. Search images using Creative Common Search, Free Digital Photos, or  Google Images Creative Commons
      
      
      
      1. Save Picture As…
      
      
      2. Save to Desktop
      
      
      3. Appearance - Header
      
      
      4. Browse, Upload, Save Changes
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   


6. Check your blog to see how it looks


7. Make sure that you give credit to the artist/photographer
   
   
   
   1. Add a text widget containing the copyright information
      
      
      
      1. Copy the URL from where you got the image (NOT GOOGLE)
      
      
      2. Find out who is the artist/photographer
      
      
      3. Appearance -  Widgets
      
      
      4.  Drag Text Widget to the TOP of the Sidebar
      
      
      5.  Title it Header taken from
      
      
      6. Or if you are also using a background image: Header/Background taken from:
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   


8. Format the body of the Text box to show a name not a URL
   
   
   
   1. You need to write in HTML cod
      
      
      
      1. <a href="URL Address">Name of Website</a>
      
      
      2. Example:    <a href="http://www.google.com/imghp">Google Images</a
      
      
      3. Also include the artist/photographer’s name
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   


9. Comment on 3 other peoples’ blogs.

 

Copyright on BrainPop
WORD	DEFINITION
Copyright
Creative Work
Exclusive
Tangible
Infringement
Fair Use
Repurpose
Parody
Public Domain
Derivative

Wordle Idea

Take a passage from your favorite book, a poem, or your own writing. Type it into Wordle and create a graphic.

My favorite poem: Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken"

This is Martin Luther King's I have a Dream speech.