Posted in Salem City Schools

Changing Network and Email Passwords

Posted on by Tina Coffey

You should periodically change both your network and email passwords.  Remember that good, strong passwords contain numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and characters.  

Click here to read a great article on how to create a strong password!      

To change your network password:

(1) log in as usual
(2) press Ctrl+Alt+Delete
(3) click Change Password in the Windows Security dialog box
(4) type the information needed in the boxes for your Old password, New password, and Confirm password 
(5) click OK

To change your email password:

(1) open a web browser
(2) go to https://mail.salem.k12.va.us (make sure you type the “s” in “https”)
(3) log into webmail as usual
(4) click on the drop-down arrow beside Settings and select Change password
(5) type the information needed in the dialog box–Old password, New password, and Confirm password
(6) click OK

Posted in Salem City Schools

Clearing Locks in Accelerated Reader

Posted on by Tina Coffey

In Accelerated Reader, students are locked out if they enter their password wrong too many times.  This prevents students from trying to guess each other’s passwords. If a student is having trouble logging into Accelerated Reader, use these steps to clear all locks.

  • Log in to Accelerated Reader Management
  • Click on Go / Students
  • Click on Students / Clear All Locks

    • If a student continues to have difficulty logging in, and you know they are using their correct login name and password, please let me know via help.  Thanks!

    Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Links, Salem City Schools

    Way to go Teacher Bloggers!

    Posted on by Tina Coffey

    Some of your colleagues have just started using blogs with their classes.  Check out the links below to see what they’ve done and how they are using them!  Make sure to look at the students’ comments!

    4th Grade Example (click on the article title or on “Whee!” to see student comments)

    5th Grade Example 

    4th Grade Typing Penpals

    3rd Grade PenPals

    If you are interested in trying this with your class, feel free to contact me.  I’ll be glad to help you get started!

     

    Posted in Links, Salem City Schools

    Roanoke Reads Website

    Posted on by Tina Coffey

    Roanoke Reads (http://www.roanokereads.org.vt.edu/) 

    I very rarely recommend a single website for you to view…I usually like to put together collections that you can look at when you need them.  BUT, I have to make an exception this time for two different reasons:  

    1)  One of our own teachers helped create this awesome parent resource and will presenting it at the Virginia Roanoke State Reading Association Conference. 

    2) It’s sooo well designed!  We can all take tips on how to lay out an attractive, easy to navigate website from this example.  

    It’s a super resource for parents (and you too)!  Be sure to check out the second grade section to see our own contributor to this great resource! 

     

    Posted in Salem City Schools, Web 2.0

    GWC FLASH students create two podcasts!

    Posted on by Tina Coffey

    During the FLASH program (Fun Learning After School Hours) at GWC, six students in grades 3-5 worked together to write, record, and produce two podcasts and a promo!  The students learned how to use a program called Audacity to record and edit audio.  They also worked together to pick a theme for their podcasts and to devise segments for each theme.  They even researched information, wrote a script, and recorded audio for their own segments!  While we ran out of time and they were unable to put all the segments together themselves, they had input on how that would sound too.  They were very proud of their hard work (I wish you could have seen their faces as they listened for the first time)!  If you’d like to listen, visit the podcast section of the GWC website http://www.salem.k12.va.us/gwc/podcasts/CarverCast.htm. These podcasts were purely fun (since this was a FLASH class), but just think how neat it would be to have your students create a similar podcast on an SOL topic!  Contact me if you are interested.  If you teach grades 3-5 at GWC, you may already have an “expert” student in your class to assist!