Friday, May 30, 2025
It's our final short, fun day! Thank you for being a part of this class!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: We have one final school days to finish all unfinished assignments. Remember, any assignments left unfinished by today will be counted as zeroes!
I CAN: complete all past assignments.
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Today is Alder Day.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: We have two school days to finish all unfinished assignments. Remember, any assignments left unfinished by May 30 will be counted as zeroes!
I CAN: complete all past assignments.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
We've got a shorten final period today to continue forward on Makeup Week.
Today's typing lessons are #398-400!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: We have three school days to finish all unfinished assignments. Remember, any assignments left unfinished by May 30 will be counted as zeroes!
I CAN: complete all past assignments.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
We're continuing forward on Makeup Week. Let's keep finishing our old assignments! If you're already done, I'll let you know about today's Pay It Forward activity.
Today's typing lessons are #395-397!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: We have four school days to finish all unfinished assignments. Remember, any assignments left unfinished by May 30 will be counted as zeroes!
I CAN: complete all past assignments.
Friday, May 23, 2025
We conclude our final assignment, A Brand Old Time, today!
Today's typing lessons are #392-394!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: We have five school days to finish all unfinished assignments. Remember, any assignments left unfinished by May 30 will be counted as zeroes!
I CAN: use brand management skills in order to market myself on the internet.
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Woah! A Brand Old Time! It's FUN!
The typing lessons today are #389-391!
I CAN: use brand management skills in order to market myself on the internet.
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Let's keep it up with A Brand Old Time!
The typing lessons today is #388!
I CAN: use brand management skills in order to market myself on the internet.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
We're continuing forward with A Brand Old Time all week!
The typing lessons today are #375-376!
I CAN: use brand management skills in order to market myself on the internet.
Monday, May 19, 2025
We are finally starting the A Brand Old Time project without reservation! We'll have right up until the end of class to finish this project. Let's go!
Today's typing lessons are #373-374!
I CAN: use brand management skills in order to market myself on the internet.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025-Friday, May 16, 2025
Washington DC trip!
Monday, May 12, 2025
Let's continue yesterday's branding exercises! We'll finish the Skills Inventory and begin watching a tutorial on how to create a logo.
Today's typing lessons is #370-371!
I CAN: use brand management skills in order to market myself on the internet.
Friday, May 9, 2025
Today, we begin our class' final assignment, which is about marketing yourself online! Today, we'll watch two short videos (1, 2) outlining what branding is and what it should look like in addition to watching a short PowerPoint--then, we'll start our Skills Inventory!
The typing lessons today are #368-369!
I CAN: use brand management skills in order to market myself on the internet.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Today's the last day to work on the Web Portfolio assignment! I'm so proud of everything I've seen so far.
The typing lessons today are #365-366!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: We have a new homework assignment, the Web Portfolio exit slip! Please complete it by the end of the quarter.
I CAN: use simple web development tools in order to build a simple and effective webpage.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
The Web Portfolio moves forward as you continue to write your wrap-ups of the assignments you've done this year.
The typing lessons today are #363-364!
I CAN: use simple web development tools in order to build a simple and effective webpage.
Monday, May 5, 2025
The Web Portfolio moves forward as you continue to write your wrap-ups of the assignments you've done this year.
The typing lessons today are #358-359!
I CAN: use simple web development tools in order to build a simple and effective webpage.
Friday, May 2, 2025
The more you poke around in working with your webpage in the Web Portfolio assignment, the more you'll find out! Please be creative and have fun!
Today's typing lesson is #357!
I CAN: use simple web development tools in order to build a simple and effective webpage.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
STATE TESTING DAY
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
The Web Portfolio moves forward as you continue to write your wrap-ups of the assignments you've done this year.
The typing lessons today are #355-356!
I CAN: use simple web development tools in order to build a simple and effective webpage.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
STATE TESTING DAY
Monday, April 28, 2025
You've done a lot of good work to be proud of these past weeks. Because we've done such awesome stuff, it's time to show off! We're going to build a webpage highlighting our strengths in the Web Portfolio activity. Today, we watch a short tutorial and figure out how to work with Google Sites!
The typing lessons today are #353-354!
I CAN: use simple web development tools in order to build a simple and effective webpage.
Friday, April 25, 2025
We're all presenting for PIFCIR today! Come prepared!!
No typing lesson today!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet research, presentation creation, mapping tools, audio tools and video editing to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
We're all presenting for PIFCIR today! Come prepared!!
No typing lesson today!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet research, presentation creation, mapping tools, audio tools and video editing to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
It's the final day for PIFCIR! Upload everything and prepare to present after break!
The typing lessons today are #351-352!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet research, presentation creation, mapping tools, audio tools and video editing to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
I won't see my eighth grade classes today because of state testing!
Monday, April 21, 2025
We're nearly at the finish line with PIFCIR! One more day after today! Keep it up!
The typing lessons today are #349-350!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet research, presentation creation, mapping tools, audio tools and video editing to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Three more days to work on your video game with PIFCIR! Remember to get help if you need it. Feel like you're falling behind? Be aware: programmers, you can use Scratch from home; salespersons, you can use Prezi/Google Presenter from home; artists, Paint.NET is a free program your mom or dad can download and install at your house, OR you can use Pixlr/PixilArt for free! Do what it takes to finish!
Today's typing lessons are #347-348!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
We're nearly at the finish line with PIFCIR! We'll be going into next week! Keep it up!
Today's typing lessons are #345-346!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet research, presentation creation, mapping tools, audio tools and video editing to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Five more days to work on your video game with PIFCIR! Remember to get help if you need it. Feel like you're falling behind? Be aware: programmers, you can use Scratch from home; salespersons, you can use Prezi/Google Presenter from home; artists, Paint.NET is a free program your mom or dad can download and install at your house, OR you can use Pixlr/PixilArt for free! Do what it takes to finish!
Today's typing lessons are #343-344!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Monday, April 14, 2025
You're powering through. Six days left in PIFCIR. You can do this. Make absolutely sure to ask questions if you have them. I'd love to debug some games!
Today's typing lessons are #341-342!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Friday, April 11, 2025
Congrats! Today's the halfway point for PIFCIR. If you have any questions, please let me know, because we're getting down to the wire. If you feel like you are falling behind, much of this can be done online, so you can work a little from home!
Today's typing lessons are #339-340!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Thursday, April 10, 2025
PIFCIR keeps on moving!
Today's typing lessons are #337-338!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
PIFCIR continues as we move into day six. You'll have quite a while to complete this project effectively!
Today's typing lessons are #335-336!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
It's day five of PIFCIR! Let's keep going!
Today's typing lessons are #333-334!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Monday, April 7, 2025
Today, we, of course, move on with PIFCIR. I'm excited to see your final products.
Today's typing lessons are #329-331!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Friday, April 4, 2025
We're pouring ourselves into our work at this point. PIFCIR moves on, and we move with it. You are most likely working on your individualized sections (artist, programmer, and salesperson) today. Be sure to communicate well with your teammates to let them know what you think and what you need.
Today's typing lessons are #326-328!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Thursday, April 3, 2025
From today until April 23, you will simply be focusing on PIFCIR. Chances are some groups may still be deep in the storyboarding process, but if you are finished, then feel free to start working on the individualized sections (artist, programmer, and salesperson). Please let me know if you have any questions regarding any of these sections, as your teammates, who will be working on their own assignments, might be unable to assist you.
The last day to complete this project will be 4/23. Presentations will begin thereafter.
Today's typing lessons are #323-325!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Today, we continue on our PIFCIR road. If the students hadn't finished yesterday's Role Research document, they are more than welcome to finish that. Meanwhile, today we move onto the storyboarding process to determine concretely what the game should look/feel/sound like. Students who finish with this should check in with me for a process grade. Please check out my example of this assignment in case you need some inspiration as to how to accomplish this assignment in your groups. Finally, finishing this, students are free to begin the process in earnest! Programmers, get programming! Presenters, get researching! Artists, get drawing! Let's do it! We will be presenting at the end of the month.
No typing lesson today!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
With very little precious time left in our quarter, we embark upon the journey of our big cumulative project: Playing Is Fun, Creating Is Rewarding (hereafter referred to by the less ridiculously long acronym PIFCIR). Today, we will take a tour of the entirety of the project to give students an idea of what will be required of them throughout this process. Once students have formed groups and determined their jobs, we will be working on the Role Research document to determine what the game will be about. I will check this document for a process grade after its completion. Here is my example, if you need to take a look.
No typing lesson today!
I CAN: use image manipulation, internet researching, presentation creation, and coding to create a project that cumulatively summarizes my experience this year.
Friday, March 21, 2025
We're continuing forward on Makeup Week. Let's keep finishing our old assignments!
Today's typing lessons are #320-322!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: We have ONE school day to finish all unfinished assignments. Remember, any assignments left unfinished by TODAY will be counted as zeroes!
I CAN: complete all past assignments.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
We're continuing forward on Makeup Week. Let's keep finishing our old assignments!
Today's typing lessons are #317-319!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: We have two school days to finish all unfinished assignments. Remember, any assignments left unfinished by 3/21 will be counted as zeroes!
I CAN: complete all past assignments.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
We're continuing forward on Makeup Week. Let's keep finishing our old assignments!
Today's typing lesson is #316!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: We have three school days to finish all unfinished assignments. Remember, any assignments left unfinished by 3/21 will be counted as zeroes!
I CAN: complete all past assignments.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Today is the final day to finish Turtle Power! I'm so excited to see your art!!
Today's typing lessons are #313-314!
I CAN: create art in a new programming language!
Monday, March 17, 2025
Turtle Power's almost done! Make sure to finish strong! Remember, you can work on this from home if necessary!
Today's typing lessons are #311-312!
I CAN: create art in a new programming language!
Friday, March 14, 2025
Heroes in a halfshell! Let's go! We're finishing the week strong with Turtle Power!
Today's typing lesson is #309!
I CAN: create art in a new programming language!
Thursday, March 13, 2025
You've never seen a turtle move so fast! Turtle Power goes yet another day.
Today's typing lesson is #291!
I CAN: create art in a new programming language!
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Today, we finish up our Python tutorial and start to dive into our assignment with Turtle Power! Make that little guy move!
Today's typing lesson is #289!
I CAN: create art in a new programming language!
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Pythons and turtles! Are we going to the zoo? NO! We're learning how to code in an all new language: Python! Today, we watch (most of) the tutorial on how it works!
Today's typing lesson is #287!
I CAN: create art in a new programming language!
Monday, March 10, 2025
Today, we finish A Unified Game! Finish strong!
Today's typing lesson is #285!
I CAN: execute higher-level coding functions in order to assemble a playable game in a professional engine!
Friday, March 7, 2025
Today and Monday will finish up the A Unified Game project! Work hard! Be tenacious!
Today's typing lessons are #283-284.
I CAN: execute higher-level coding functions in order to assemble a playable game in a professional engine!
Thursday, March 6, 2025
There are so many options for the A Unified Game project! Choose what excites you!
More typing lessons with #279-280.
I CAN: execute higher-level coding functions in order to assemble a playable game in a professional engine!
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
We're gonna be working on A Unified Game until next Tuesday, so let's get the party started!
More typing lessons with #277-278.
I CAN: execute higher-level coding functions in order to assemble a playable game in a professional engine!
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
You're off and running on A Unified Game!
Today's typing lessons is #275-276!
I CAN: execute higher-level coding functions in order to assemble a playable game in a professional engine!
Monday, March 3, 2025
You're choosing from the menu format for how you'll handle the A Unified Game project today! Choose wisely!
Today's typing lessons is #273!
I CAN: execute higher-level coding functions in order to assemble a playable game in a professional engine!
Friday, February 28, 2025
We're jumping into an all-new project that's loosely linked to Begin The Game--it's called A Unified Game! Today, to prepare, we watch a short Unity tutorial, and begin to prepare to blast off!
Today's typing lessons are #271-272.
I CAN: execute higher-level coding functions in order to assemble a playable game in a professional engine!
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Today is the final in-class day for the Shopping Spree assignment! If students do not finish this today, they will have to come in during intervention, homeroom, before school, or after school. DO NOT PUT THIS OFF! We are inching ever closer to the end of class, and if you delay in making up your old assignments, it is possible that you may end up not finishing them and earning a zero. No one wants you to get a zero. That would be sad.
Don't forget!: Today, we have a new homework assignment: the Google Sheets exit slip.
Today's typing lessons are #269-270.
I CAN: use spreadsheets to create real budgets to use in your everyday life.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
It's the week of the Shopping Spree! We'll have it until tomorrow. Go hard!
Today's typing lessons are #267-268.
I CAN: use spreadsheets to create real budgets to use in your everyday life.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
You're likely done with buying stuff by now--concentrate on making your Shopping Spree beautiful!
The typing lessons today are #265-266!
I CAN: use spreadsheets to create real budgets to use in your everyday life.
Monday, February 24, 2025
We are knee-deep into the Shopping Spree assignment, and will be working on it for quite a while. Students are to have Google Spreadsheets open during the course of this week and start their shopping, formatting, and editing.
The typing lessons today are #263-264!
I CAN: use spreadsheets to create real budgets to use in your everyday life.
Friday, February 21, 2025
We have finished with tutorials, and will be working on the Shopping Spree assignment for most of next week! Students will be putting finishing touches on their assignments by 2/27, hopefully.
The typing lessons today are #261-262!
I CAN: use spreadsheets to create real budgets to use in your everyday life.
Thursday, February 20, 2025
On this, the final day of Shopping Spree tutorials, we handle the the final part of the tutorial, in which we discuss charts and graphs within the program. Once students have a professional understanding of this topic, they are well prepared to begin the actual assignment. This assignment will continue into next week!
The typing lessons today are #257-259!
I CAN: use spreadsheets to create real budgets to use in your everyday life.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Today, we learn the ins and outs of Google Spreadsheets today as we move further into the program. We watched the the second third of the tutorial as we moved along. Today, we also formally introduced the Shopping Spree assignment in class, and gave the students a chance to understand how they're applying the skills they've been learning to the assignment itself.
The typing lessons today are #254-256!
I CAN: use spreadsheets to create real budgets to use in your everyday life.
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Now that Drawn To Animation is complete, we begin a new project, the Shopping Spree! Today, we watch the first third of the tutorial video that is going to teach us how to use Google Sheets, the program we'll be concentrating on with this assignment. We will be doing a bit of practice with the program.
The typing lessons today are #251-253!
I CAN: use spreadsheets to create real budgets to use in your everyday life.
Thursday, February 13, 2025
It's the last day for Drawn To Animation! Exciting!!
DON'T FORGET: You have a new homework assignment, the Frames Exit Slip!
The typing lessons today are #248-250!
I CAN: Learn how to create fluid animations that communicate a message effectively!
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Keep going with Drawn To Animation! I'm proud of you!
Today's typing lesson is #244!
I CAN: Learn how to create fluid animations that communicate a message effectively!
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Make sure you're good with Drawn To Animation before the end of our time with the assignment!
Today's typing lesson is #242!
I CAN: Learn how to create fluid animations that communicate a message effectively!
Monday, February 10, 2025
We're closing in on the end of Drawn To Animation. Have fun and take your time!
Today's typing lesson is #240!
I CAN: Learn how to create fluid animations that communicate a message effectively!
Friday, February 7, 2025
We've got five more days with Drawn To Animation. Yeah!!
Today's typing lesson is #238!
I CAN: Learn how to create fluid animations that communicate a message effectively!
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Continuing on with Drawn To Animation. Let's go!
Today's typing lesson is #236!
I CAN: Learn how to create fluid animations that communicate a message effectively!
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
We're working through the Drawn To Animation assignment now, and I'm excited to see how you handle it!
Today's typing lesson is #234!
I CAN: Learn how to create fluid animations that communicate a message effectively!
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Today, we begin to watch the tutorial for Frames, a new project we're starting in relationship to our Digital Citizenship unit. Pay close attention and then read the Drawn To Animation assignment.
Today's typing lesson is #233!
I CAN: Learn how to create fluid animations that communicate a message effectively!
Monday, February 3, 2025
The students are now moving into the final small Digital Citizenship lesson. Today's Digital Citizenship discussion is, in a way, a review of last year's ideas as we close the book on this very short unit. Come equipped with ideas about what's right and wrong to do on social media as we chat as a class.
Today's typing lesson is #230!
I CAN: practice safe and responsible use of technology and become an informed, responsible digital citizen.
Friday, January 31, 2025
We're continuing along with our examination of Digital Citizenship today as we have a discussion about...well, discussions! Today, we'll talk about what's safe to chat about online and when you might feel uncomfortable. Here's the video to watch today!
The typing lesson today is #228!
I CAN: practice safe and responsible use of technology and become an informed, responsible digital citizen.
Thursday, January 30, 2025
What happens when someone from the internet asks you to meet in real life? What should you do? We'll talk about it as we move along today. Here's a video for today.
The typing lesson today is #225!
I CAN: practice safe and responsible use of technology and become an informed, responsible digital citizen.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
We're going to make a little turn here and use the next few days to talk about Digital Citizenship. We'll watch a short video and discuss it, in addition to having some discussion about what's okay to share and not okay to share online.
The typing lesson today is #223!
I CAN: practice safe and responsible use of technology and become an informed, responsible digital citizen.
Tuesday, January 28 2025
It's career exploration day; no class!
Monday, January 27, 2025
Today, we finish the Begin the Game activity.
Today's typing lesson is #220!
I CAN: learn simple coding concepts and functions.
Friday, January 24, 2025
Begin the Game continues to move forward! Remember, if you're kicking butt, try to move to a different section of the assignment!
Today's typing lesson is #218!
I CAN: learn simple coding concepts and functions.
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Still moving forward with Begin the Game! I am super excited to see the results of your hard work. We'll have until Thursday to work on it!
Today's typing lesson is #213!
I CAN: learn simple coding concepts and functions.
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
SNOW DAY!
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
SNOW DAY!
Friday, January 17, 2025
We're continuing our work on Begin the Game! If you love coding, awesome! I'm down with that. You can try to do all five of the criteria listed on the assignment page for a fun challenge! If you hate coding, that's okay! Thank you for trying it out with me. Do, at minimum, two of the criteria on the assignment page, then move on to anything else on the What Do I Do board.
Today's typing lesson is #211!
I CAN: learn simple coding concepts and functions.
Thursday, January 16, 2025
It's a quick project, but next Thursday will be the the final day to work on Begin the Game! It's short and simple, and is meant to be a quick primer on coding to see if you're interested in moving on with the activity at the end of the year. We'll talk more about that soon!
Today's typing lesson is #209!
I CAN: learn simple coding concepts and functions.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Today, we finish the basics of the Scratch activity. Now that we've learned some very rudimentary skills of programming, we'll see if we can refine them by doing an assignment that dives further into Scratch from Thursday to Thursday.
Let's start the typing lessons with #205!
I CAN: learn simple coding concepts and functions.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Let's start off with a fun mini-activity: coding! Today, we're doing an activity on MIT's Scratch program that teaches us how to make Pong (well, Breakout, really, but let's not split hairs) on our very own! We'll be focusing on this activity today and tomorrow.
Let's start the typing lessons with #203!
I CAN: learn simple coding concepts and functions.
Monday, January 13, 2025
Welcome to Computers with Mr. Alexander! Today, we simply went over the guidelines and regulations of the classroom. I handed out the syllabus and we discussed various classroom rules.
I CAN: learn about my classroom.
I CAN: familiarize myself with a webpage.