Vocabulary introduction beginning week 2

This week:

Vocabulary
Create Wikispace accounts
Create a Classmarker account
Review of all keys learned
Learn N, G, Left Shift key, period (.)
Technique grade 

TODAY:
We are going to begin by talking about the vocab words and vocab lists for the class.  If you go to the vocabulary page on the blog youll see a variety of information - well be covering this today.  Additionally, youll need to have access to the wikispaces page so that you can submit vocabulary definitions (thats already been done by me - you will need to verify by checking your gmail, and well do that in a little bit).

The vocabulary for this class is really split into 2 parts - on one hand you will be responsible for knowing all of the vocabulary words for any given week, and you will demonstrate your knowledge by completing a vocab quiz.  On the other hand you will be required to find definitions for the vocab words and post them to the wiki for everyone to study off of.  This "research process" will be graded, just as the vocab quizzes will be graded (our first vocabulary quiz will be this Friday, and it will be taken online on a website called Classmarker).

When you post a definition to the Wiki, your definition should be easy to understand.  Sometimes, after finding a definition, you will see that the definition that you have found doesnt help you to understand what that vocab word means (or is).  Therefore, find definitions that are easy to understand, and if you cant find one that makes sense please see me so I can help you write an easy-to-understand definition.

Additionally, if you have a vocab word that is an acronym (GPS, WWW, or FAQ) then please include what the letters stand for (for example, WWW stands for World Wide Web, and when you enter your vocab definition on the wiki make sure to include that).
This will seem a little foreign to begin with, but we will be talking about this every day between now and the end of next week, which is when your first quiz will be.
You could set up a calendar reminder in Google so that you receive an email - this way you will be reminded several days in advance of when you need to have a definition posted on the wiki.  And, since you already know the words that you will be asked to define, you could find a definition for each of your words and save those definitions in a Google Doc - then when it is your week all you have to do is copy from your Google Doc to the Wiki.

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May schedule Excel project beginning

Im going to include in this blogpost the schedule for the remainder of the year.  Obviously this could change if needed; however, my hope is that with us being so close to the end of the year that we wont need to make any changes and that the rest of the year will run smoothly.

May 5 - vocab video, Excel project beginning (Homework - post any definitions to Wiki spaces)

May 6 - vocab video, Excel project work (Homework - post any definitions to Wiki spaces)

May 7 - vocab video, Excel project due (Mr. Pardoe gone 6th hour due to Medieval Times Feast)

May 8 - vocab video, final formatting activity beginning ("Design a Pizza Menu")

May 9 - Vocab quiz #10, Design a Pizza Menu work (Mr. Pardoe gone all day due to Medieval Times field trip)

May 12 - ASPIRE testing (Mr. Pardoe gone)

May 13 - Design a Pizza Menu work (Mr. Pardoe gone)

May 14 - Design a Pizza Menu due

May 15 - Our Town unit

May 16 - Our Town unit

May 19 - Our Town unit

May 20 - Our Town unit

May 21 - Our Town field trip all day

May 22 - complete missing assignments

May 23 - complete missing assignments - all assignments due by by this date!

Once we get done watching the video I will explain what you need to know in Excel for the formatting activity, which is a business called Funspots and their monthly admission ticket sales activity that you need to complete. 

Funspots ticket sales.docx

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Crossword puzzle due speed test tournament beginning!

Please make sure to hand in your crossword puzzle with your name on it.

We are going to begin the speed test tournament.  When we do this we are going to use the Typeracer website.  Here are the steps to follow:

1. On the half sheet of blue paper write both competitors names 
2. The competitor listed as Player #1 needs to go to the Typeracer website, click on the "Race your friends" link, then write down the entire URL - that means you also need to include the "http://" part of the URL.  Hand the blue sheet to Player #2.
3. Player #2 will enter the URL in the address bar of their browser.
4. When both players are ready, TYPE!!
5. When you are done, circle the winner and then give the blue sheet to Mr. Pardoe.
6. Names will be written in appropriate spots on the bracket, and then when the next round is ready youll complete these steps again with your next opponent.

This is meant to be an exercise in which you are keying, but ultimately this should be fun!  There is nothing wrong with being a competitor, but I do not allow putdowns in the room.  This should be a welcome diversion from the monotony of keying out of the book, not a way for you to make fun of someone else.

We will go through 2 rounds today - everyone will compete twice.  Once we get done we will review the keys we learned yesterday, and then if we get done with that youll have time at the end of the hour to play the keying games.

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