Productivity [ELA]
Productivity [ELA]
Embedded Files
Follow the instructions from your teacher to enroll into your virtual ELA classroom space.
Join your Advisory class if you haven't already.
Your Gmail account is one of the main ways you will communicate digitally with your teachers and classmates.
You should check your Gmail account at least once per day.
You can personalize your emails by adding a message signature and also by adding a photo to your Gmail profile
Open Google Chrome and open your Gmail account
Follow these instructions to add an identifying image, and set an email signature.
Click on the cog icon
Select 'See All Settings'
Under the 'General' tab, scroll down to the 'My Picture' and 'Signature' sections
To change you picture, click on your Google Chrome profile picture/icon (top-right corner of the Chrome window) and select 'Manage your Google account'. Hover over your profile picture and click to edit
Type your email signature into the signature box. Your signature should be:
First & Last Name
Grade 6(A, B or C) student
Singapore American School
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click 'Save changes'
Want to add the school logo to your email signature. Copy and paste one of the school logos from the right
What makes a good email message?
Write a meaningful subject line. The reader should have a good idea about what the message is about before they open it.
Keep the message focused.
Avoid adding attachments if possible.
Identify yourself clearly.
Be kind. Show respect.
Proofread before you send.
Don't assume privacy.
Distinguish between formal and informal situations. Use language and style appropriate to to the person(s) you are writing to.
Show your learning #1
Show your learning #1
Write a short email to your advisory teacher.
Title it 'Boot Camp - Productivity [ELA]'
In the body of your email you should:
introduce yourself
share two or three things you have learnt today about improving productivity
share one thing that you are really looking forward to about having your 1:1 laptop
Address your message to your advisor and send.
ClassLink is the SAS app launcher, that gives you a quick way to open up and log into the many websites, apps and portals that you will use throughout middle school
ClassLink should already be one of your bookmarks. Open it up.
Let's use ClassLink to do two things together:
Log into PowerSchool
Log into the ELA skill-building websites and apps that you will be using this year.
PowerSchool is the system you can use to check your academic progress and read your semester report cards.
Login steps
Open PowerSchool through Classlink, or you can type in powerschool.sas.edu.sg to the browser address bar
Log in with your SAS. username and password
On the 'Current Grades' screen you can see how you are going in your courses for both
Learning Behaviors
Academic Standards
If you are interested, here is the PowerSchool user guide for students and parents.
PowerSchool is something you should check regularly, but there is no need to be checking more than once a week. Talk to your subject teacher if you are unsure about a grade or comment.
2. ELA Skill-Building Apps
2. ELA Skill-Building Apps
Your ELA teachers will guide you through the initial login and account setup to get you up and running with these online learning and skill-building resources.
You will use these ELA websites throughout the middle school, both at school and at home.
For one-click access, login to these site through ClassLink.
Now you try:
In your Drive, create a folder called 'Boot Camp'
In this folder, create a new Google doc. Name the file 'G6 Halloween Party'
Add a title called 'Halloween'
Change the font, size and color of the title. (TIP: Use the 'Add Font' option to find a cool, scary Halloween font!)
Use "Insert Image" and add an image you have permission to use to a Google Doc or Presentation. Watch the video to the right to lean about image usage rights.
Share your Google Doc with someone at your table. Both work on it simultaneously to create a list of appropriately named food for a Halloween party (eg. spider leg soup with crunchy cockroach croutons)
You've probably used various Google apps before. Do you have a productivity tip to share with others? In small groups take turns sharing a Google App tip or trick.
Watch this video to learn how to search for copyright free images (ones you can use without permission or citation)
Bookmark Management
Bookmark Management
Creating a website bookmark is easy. You can either:
click on the little star icon in the address bar, or
use the keyboard shortcut Command + D
But soon you'll have so many bookmarks that you still won't be able to quickly find what you need to open or access. A little bit of thought, time and effort can rescue you from bookmark chaos!
Watch the video to learn how you can edit and organize your bookmarks to create an awesomely productive bookmark bar that will be the envy of all your friends (and teachers!).
At your table group, compare your Chrome bookmark bar with others
Similar to you? Different?
Do you have any old bookmarks you don't want anymore? Delete them!
Modify your bookmark organization as needed.
For information on how to group your tabs see the Essential Skills section
Show your learning #2
Show your learning #2
Take a screenshot of your Chrome bookmark bar. If you don't know how, go to the Essential Skills page
Rename your screenshot file to 'My Bookmark Bar' (Can't find it? It should be on your desktop)
Open your Google Classroom Advisory class. Find the assignment 'Boot Camp - Bookmark Management [ELA]' and open it.
Submit your image file 'My Bookmark Bar'.
IMPORTANT - Make sure you click 'Turn In' and then also confirm by clicking 'Turn In' again.
Keyboarding
Keyboarding
Throughout MS you will do a lot of writing. In the digital world, and especially with your new 1:1 laptop, writing means 'typing'. How quickly and accurately you can type is going to be one of the factors that influences how well you can get your ideas down and your assignments completed. If you aren't already, you need to have a goal of being a proficient keyboarder!
If you are typing above 40 words per minute, with an accuracy of 95% or better, you are doing great!
Show your learning #3
Show your learning #3
How good are your typing skills?
Open a new browser tab and go to www.typingtest.com.
Set the typing test to 2 minutes and the test to 'Medium Text'.
Take the test.
Take a screenshot of your test results (Command + Shift + 4) and rename the screenshot file as "Typing Test - your name".
Open Google Classroom and click into your Advisory class
Open the assignment called 'Boot Camp - Typing Test [ELA]'
Submit your typing test screenshot. Click Add > File and drag the image file into the box and click Upload. Turn-In.
IMPORTANT - Make sure you click 'Turn In' and then also confirm by clicking 'Turn In' again.
Need to improve your typing skills?
In ClassLink you will find a folder called 'Keyboarding'. Try out Typing Club's series of lessons the build your touch-typing skill set.
You'll want to come back here regularly. (Maybe add a recurring weekly reminder to your calendar?)
Want a little bit of typing competition?
Create an account in NitroType and 'race' with other people. There are no typing lessons here but it is fun to test yourself against others!
Earn your Keyboarding badge
Earn your Keyboarding badge
The month of October will be our first 'Month of Typing'.
All students who are able to complete a supervised test at 40+ words per minute with an accuracy of 95% or higher will earn their badge sticker. We will have another 'Month of Typing' in January.
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