Online Presentation Programs

This week in Comp Lit, we are learning about presentation software like PowerPoint and Impress. If you are working on a class project, there are many interactive online programs like Prezi and Glogster... and they are free! Check out the presentations below. These autobiography book reports were created by my English students last year.

Anne Frank Timeline by Kennedy

  Soul Surfer by Cody

View more PowerPoint from rsol68

Anne Frank by Alyssa

Anne frank on Prezi

  American Sniper by Mackenzie

View more PowerPoint from rsol68

 Nikola Tesla by Logan

Excellent work!

If you create an online presentation, send it my way and I will post it here!

Teens + Digital Media

As a "teen between the ages of 13-17"...
What are your thoughts on the information posted above?

Sharing is Caring

Well kids,

We have successfully completed Sections 1 - 3 and are half-way through the Comp Lit course! Now it's time to share.

What was your favorite Class Connect, lesson or activity in Sections 1 - 3? 
What did you like about it?

I look forward to your answers!

Formatting The Outsiders

In Computer Literacy, we are learning about formatting pages and text in word programs like Microsoft Word and Writer. The 3S Assignment within the course was much too confusing, so to check for understanding, I created this end of unit assignment using an excerpt from The Outsiders (one of my favorite books!).

You will need three files for this assignment.

Instructions:

Original Text File:

Sample of Completed Page:

 

This assignment asks students to change the margins, format text, create columns and add a header and footer. I have gotten positive feedback from my Comp Lit kids AND it's a fun one to grade!

If you would like to download a printable copy of the instructions and the sample, click the link below.

The Outsiders Text Formatting Instructions

Then, copy/paste the excerpt below into a Word or Writer file and format away!

An Excerpt from The Outsiders

By S. E. Hinton

Dally was waiting for Johnny and me under the street light at the corner of Pickett and Sutton, and since we got there early, we had time to go over the drugstore in the shopping center and goof around. We bought Cokes and blew the straws at the waitress, and walked around eyeing things that were lying out in the open until the manager got wise to us and suggested we leave. He was too late, though; Dally walked out with two packages of Kools under his jacket.

            Then we went across the street and down Sutton a little way to The Dingo. There are lots of drive-ins in town--- the Socs go to The Way Out and to Rusty's, and the greasers go to The Dingo and to Jay's. The Dingo is a pretty rough hangout; there's always a fight going on there and once a girl got shot. We walked around talking to all the greasers and hoods we knew, leaning in car windows or hopping into the back seats, and getting in on who was running away, and who was in jail, and who was going with who, and who could whip who, and who stole what and when and why. We knew about everybody there. There was a pretty good fight while we were there between a big twenty-three-year-old greaser and a Mexican hitchhiker. We left when the switchblades came out, because the cops would be coming soon and nobody in his right mind wants to be around when the fuzz show.

            We crossed Sutton and cut around behind Spencer's Special, the discount house, and chased two junior-high kids across a field for a few minutes; by then it was dark enough to sneak in over the back fence of the Nightly Double drive-in movie. It was the biggest in town, and showed two movies every night, and on weekends four--- you could say you were going to the Nightly Double and have time to go all over town.

            We all had the money to get in--- it only costs a quarter if you're not in a car--- but Dally hated to do things the legal way. He liked to show that he didn't care whether there was a law or not. He went around trying to break laws. We went to the rows of seets in front of the concession stand to sit down. Nobody else was there except two girls who were sitting down front. Dally eyed them coolly, then walked down the aisle and sat right behind them. I had a sick feeling that Dally was up to his usual tricks, and I was righte. He started talking, loud enough for the two girls to hear. He started out bad and got worse. Dallas could talk awful dirty if he wanted to and I guess he wanted to then. I felt my ears get hot. Two-Bit or Steve or even Soda would have gone right along with him, just to see if they could embarrass the gurls, but that kind of kicks just doesn't appeal to me. I sat there, struck dumb, and Johnny left hastily to get a Coke.

Everything you need for this assignment was also k-mailed to you. 

Have fun!

Be Cyber Safe!

Last month, in Computer Literacy we learned about Internet Safety. When I was looking for information on the topic, I came across this nifty poster created by CTAP. If you would like to print a copy and post it in your work area or near the family computer, click here.

Share something you learned about Internet Safety or "Netiquette" 
 by leaving a comment below!

Funny Stuff

Doodles --> Clip Art

Many people have asked me about the images I have on my webpages and blogs. It's fun to search the web for clip art and I also enjoy making my own. I love drawing and doodling, so I try to use my own graphics when I create PowerPoints, worksheets, web pages and blogs. I created the Godzilla image on this blog header using only 4 tools:

1. a piece of white paper
2. a black felt tip marker
3. a scanner
4. a free online photo site called Pixlr

 If you would like to create your own clip art, I'm here to tell you that you don't need fancy programs to do so!

Just draw a picture (use black pen, so that it really shows up). Then scan it as an image. Upload the file to Pixlr and have fun! You can color in your image, add text, crop it down, etc.

 

 

 

WARNING: Making images may become a time-consuming hobby. Please get your schoolwork done before attempting this at home.

If you create a graphic, please e-mail or k-mail it to me. I would love to see it! I can even post it on this blog for others to admire.

Enjoy!

Let the Games Begin!

And they're off!

Computer Literacy starts this week! I am excited to work with all of you this semester. We are going to learn a lot about computers, word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, blogging and other tech-eriffic stuff.

I will give +5 Extra Credit points per month to those of you who comment on this blog (no last names please). Make sure you bookmark it and check back often. You can also join the site by clicking on "Join this site" under Befriend on the left of this page.

Check your Comp Lit course on Tuesday for calendars and assignments. Then, let me know if you need help with anything.

What do you think about this blog? 
Are you ready to get started?

Have a great semester!

Techie Cheat Sheets

I found this cool list of cheat cheats on a site called Design Bread...

Cheat sheets are a great way to have references on hand for everything from shortcuts and hot keys, to handy tips to improve your workflow. Be sure to browse the whole page and see all of the categories! Book mark this page also so that the next time you are looking for a particular cheat sheet you can just come right here and find it quickly!

Find cheat sheets for Video programs, Image Editing Programs, Web Languages, SEO, Social Media, and even Photography. They will add more, so check back occasionallly.

I'll add the link to our Resources page too.

Enjoy!

Welcome!

Welcome to godzillagrams! If you found this blog, you are probably in my class this year. My name is Mrs. Sol and I am a high school Computer Literacy, Creative Writing, and Yearbook teacher.

We will use this blog as a way to communicate with each other.  I will post helpful ideas, assignments, student projects and other resources throughout the semester.  Please check back often and join in the fun by leaving comments (using your first name only). Extra credit will be granted to those who choose to participate. It will be interesting to see what other students have written as well. If you would like to post some tech-related awesomeness on this blog, just k-mail it to me!

When you leave a comment or feedback for another student, please remember to be thoughtful and appropriate. Your comment will not post on the blog until I approve it.  I am the only one who will see it before it is approved, so keep it positive! 

Are you ready to join the blogging world? Check your k-mail for more information. Then stay tuned for our first official post in September.