What a STRANGE year it has been.  We as teachers have been asked to accomplish the impossible and parents life as you know it, daily schedules, workload (both your's and your childs') etc. have been upended for the unforeseeable future!

Although WE have not functioned perfectly I must say I am blessed to work with such an amazing group of people and that goes from the front and back office all the way down to the janitorial and kitchen staff. 

As the year comes to a close I want to share the following:

1) In January (not sure exact date) you should be able to sign up for next year's elective courses (if you are in 6th or 7th gd.)  I teach Typing in the fall to 7th grade who have never had it and Introduction to Office Productivity (aka Google Apps) in the fall and spring to 7th grade WHO HAVE HAD KEYBOARDING.

For 8th grade I offer Computer Science Discoveries which is an introductory Coding class.  There are NO prerequisite classes for Computer Science Discoveries!

2) I still need Kleenex and Clorox wipes for my room.  If you are so inclined please bring these items by the school and drop them off at the front office.  Please indicate they are for Mr. Hamlin

Thanks for teaming with us as a concerned, involved and loving parent.  We couldn't do it without you!

Mr Hamlin

Welcome back!  I post 'announcements' on my website from time to time so check back often!  

I need : Clorox wipes, kleenexes, and hand sanitizer Corona Virus or not - all the time!  Feel free to send in some with your child for my classroom.  I also need candy for rewards.

I have a Donors Choose project that expires on September 7, 2020 and I only have $57 still needed - see here The Cost of Classroom Resources - IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD JUMP ON THE LINK AND GIVE THUS HELPING ME TO FUND THIS PROJECT.  The materials will be used for my classes this year.

I will be sending out my 'distance learning plans' to all students via their school emails on Monday, March 30.  Please be on the lookout for this email!

If you do not have internet access at home no worries, you have a paper based 'learning packet' available to you to cover you for Phase 2.  The school will be in touch regarding the paper based packet.  I hope all of you are well.  We are thinking of you during this difficult time!

Mr. Hamlin

IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE BRING IN A COUPLE OF CONTAINERS OF CLOROX WIPES AND KLEENEXES FOR MY ROOM.  I PARTICULARLY NEED THE LATTER!

Thanks,

Mr. Hamlin

PS-Progress Reports come out 2/18

Good morning!

As evidenced by the Title of this announcement, the 1st semester has ended and the 2nd semester is upon us.

For my 1st semster students, well done on completing the semester!  If you were in a typing class, hopefully you now have a skill that will assist you as you travel through the remaining years of your education.  Although technology is rapidly changing, we are not at the point where we are simply dictating words via our mouths into a microphone, only to see them appear on our computer screens.  The technology is there but good old fashioned typing remains a critical skill for now!  For my 2nd semester students, welcome to Keyboarding 101!

Google Apps students, we have worked on a little bit of everything, from Google Sites to Forms, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, etc.  You remain my most flexible class so for you, 2nd semester Google Apps students, put on your seat belts.  There is no telling where we will go!

Finally, for Computer Science Discoveries students, I hope you have learned the value of teamwork, patience (as it applies to problem solving) persistence and the ability to accept failure as a door to improvement.  We have also learned a good deal of introductory HTML coding.  For my 2nd semester students, we will add new languages that apply to Animation and Game design.

For all of you (has beens and yet to be's) I hope you have learned your way around various computer systems specific to Lincoln county (and beyond).  Your orientation and user comfortability with Gmail (student accounts) Google Drive, Canvas, Rapid Identity, and Classlink will follow you throughout your Lincoln county school years!

Mr. Hamlin

My oh my, how time flies!  Tomorrow is the start of the 2nd Quarter.  Report Cards will go home on October 21.

To date here are some of the things your child has learned:

KEYBOARDING - We've worked through most of the Beginner Lessons on Typing.com - For those that have not they must wrap up all Beginner Lessons by October 25.  By completing the Beginner Lessons they should know all the alphabetic keys, Space - Period - Comma and Enter keys.  Also the colon/semicolon key.  PLEASE WORK WITH YOUR CHILD TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE USING THE PROPER FINGERS PER KEY!  You can do this by jumping on Typing.com with them and having them show you what they've learned.

Google Apps - This class has completed a couple of computer modules, one on Computer Security and the other, Screen Time vs. Offline Time.  We then dove into making our own Personal Finance web sites via Google Sites.  Two of the sites I gave awards to, one for being the most creative and the other for following the directions to a 'T.'  Here they are https://sites.google.com/students.lincoln.k12.nc.us/ex2/home and https://sites.google.com/students.lincoln.k12.nc.us/ex1/home - The first site is by Blake Rowe and Justin Horne.  The second, Madelyn Peart, Angelica Nikitchuk and Isabella Scotto.  We will be diving into Google Forms (among other things) for the 2nd Quarter.

Computer Science - The students have learned what a computer is and therefore, what it is not!  We have also learned about iteration and algorithms.  We will be developing our own Apps (on paper) the 2nd Quarter as well as building actual websites to conclude.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child's learning!

Mr. Ham

Parents,

Progress reports will be given to students on Tuesday, September 3.  I teach the following courses per grade level:

6th & 7th - Keyboarding (Typing)

7th - Learn By Doing: Google Apps

8th - Computer Science Discoveries

For Keyboarding, students are being graded on establishing Typing.com and Canvas accounts. 

In 7th Grade we are still waiting for the core curriculum to arrive so we have established Canvas access (what they are being graded on thus far) as well as Chrome browser and Google Drive setup.  Most recently we completed our first module on Computer Security and Privacy.

8th Grade is being graded on establishing Canvas and Code.org accounts.

***Canvas, Typing.com and Code.org are all available online.  Therefore, your child should be able to log on from home and show you what we are learning.***

Best,

Mr. Hamlin