Getting Ready for MACC at Citadel (2017/18) Instructions for the first two weeks (Reproduced, with permission, from www.braingarage.ca): 1) Show up! As a parent, I remember thinking how the first week of school seemed sort of silly. There were no Math or Science classes, so was it really that important? Now that I am a teacher I can say categorically yes! The first weeks are so important, especially for Grade 6’s. Explaining to 30 students at the same time how to use the pencil sharpener is a 30 second mention; training 30 individually is a half hour of wasted time better spent on teaching. The first weeks are about everything from learning how to open a combination lock to determining the number of teachers in the school. Really. In essence, it is like learning the rules of the game: who you are playing with, what to do and not to do, and how to play the best you can. Your presence is important.
2) Acquire your school supplies. A laptop While MACC students still use pen and paper at Citadel, especially in other classes, we try to be as pragmatically paperless as possible in the MACC program. A laptop capable of running the latest version of Microsoft Office is the key tool we use. (Aside: In 2015-2016, we will use cell phones and tablets in the classroom only sparingly.) For a Windows PC, it should be capable of running Windows 10; Apple Macs should be able to run OS X 10. A used laptop is totally OK (even recommended) as long as it meets these standards and can hold a charge. Ideally the computer should also have an HDMI port (or dongle adapter) and at least one USB port. Virtually every new laptop (aside from Chromebooks and Linux computers) meet these specs, even the $325 laptop I recently saw at Costco or any of these sub-$500 laptops at Walmart (except for the Chromebook). Students should also come to school with a pair of inexpensive headphones/earbuds with a microphone that will work with their computer. One parameter to consider when purchasing a laptop is its size. A smaller laptop is generally better, especially if the student intends to bring it home each night. It also should be able to fit in a locker. Do not bring your tech to school the first day of school. In fact, unless you are told otherwise, you likely will not need your tech the first week. Low-Tech Essentials While we try to be as paperless as possible, your student will work with many teachers and on many different projects. They will need many of the regular supplies. The following annotated supplies list is a modified version of the regular Citadel 6/7 list:
pencils. I find disposable mechanical pencils are less disruptive. If a student tends to lose things, make that LOTS of pencils.
blue or black pens.
a good quality eraser, especially for art
pencil crayons (please sharpen at home)
a red pen
a pair of scissors
a 30 cm ruler
lined paper. I have a bin of lined paper in my class. Students who take paper from the bin are expected to replace what they use.
graph paper – 1 cm
a highlighter (yellow, orange, or green preferred)
a geometry set. Students may have one at home already. The compass in the set must be functional and easy to use.
a pack of 3-4 whiteboard markers (avoid yellow; blue, black, and red are best)
a glue stick
a few black fineliners. (If your student is prone to losing things, buy a pack so you can keep some in reserve at home.)
a calculator. A dollar store calculator is sufficient. Most of the time students will use their computer, but there are times we need to guarantee they do not have access to the Internet while doing calculations.
Duotangs (at least 6) in a variety of colours. I rarely use these, but other teachers your students encounter likely will.
something to hold all of these. Students should not keep things in their desks, so they need to be able to take their supplies with them to their locker.
a way to organize and transport paper and duotangs. For most students this will be a zippered, three-ring binder with subject dividers. A folding portfolio that fits in a section of a laptop case is also a great option especially if a student is prone to just jamming things in a binder . (Please note that backpacks are not permitted in the classroom as they create a tripping hazard.)
a 1 GB+ USB memory stick (aka flash drive)
1 plastic sleeve for Home Arts
gym bag, shorts, t-shirt & runners for PE
a box or two of tissues.
DO NOT BUY:
unlined paper for school (we try to be as paperless as we can); you may need some for home
coloured markers
extra large stretchable covers for covering textbooks
reinforcements
“white out”
Webster’s New World paperback dictionary/thesaurus
Supplies should be maintained throughout the school year. Please note that, at best, the custodians put pencils and pens found on the floor on the teacher’s desk. If there is no name on the item and it is not easily identifiable there is no way to return it to your student. They do not use a specific desk to store things so, as such, it is essential that all items have a name on them. 4) Do prepare your tech at home. If the following sounds like Ancient Greek to you, don’t worry either. However, if you have a computer for school (highly, highly, highly recommended) and are tech savvy, please download and install the following at home where your internet connection is likely to be much, much better than at school. See the lists below. Where possible, I have included links to safe download sites. Unless noted, the free versions are adequate. PC Users
OFFICE 365 will be provided free to students in September. Details will be provided then.
Scrivener – Download the file but do not install it yet (If you do, you will use up your 30-day free trial;). Just stash the install file where you can find it later.
Scrivener – Download the file but do not install it yet (If you do, you will use up your 30-day free trial;). Just stash the install file where you can find it later.
To be granted permission to be on the school internet, the laptop must have virus protection. As I will be providing tech support in the classroom as needed, the computer’s menus and dialogue boxes must be set to “English.” 5) Plan for a 3:00pm end of school. While school at Citadel technically ends at 2:50, if possible try and organize a schedule that leaves room for a student to stay for at least a few minutes after school for one-on-one interactions with the teachers. Nothing is more frustrating than offering a student assistance and having them tell you they can’t stay because they have to run and meet a ride. So if there are options for start times for extra-curricular activities, try and leave just a little wiggle-room.