Abbott and Costello Meet the Computer!

When I read this skit, I just loved it. I found only one reference for the skit so I am providing that website link. Enjoy!

http://www.ourtownforum.com/forum/m.aspx?m=2435&mpage=1&key=


You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this. For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on...

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on 'START'.............

Bob Love Chicago Bulls

Today, at Whittier School located in Blue Island, Illinois....Bob Love gave a speech on "Follow Your Dreams!" The students were extremely interested in everything that he had to say.

Mr. Love delivered a very positive and persuasive speech that provided the students with information that they will be able to use to make the right "choices" as they grow into adults. Read more here: http://www.sterlingspeakers.com/love.htm

http://www.stutteringhelp.org/default.aspx?tabindex=578&tabid=591

Google Reader

Google Reader

Twitter

Being a fan of Twitter, I was trying to explain what Twitter was all about and I came across two blogs that explained it perfectly. This is an excellent video that I found on Rachel Boyd's blog. Enjoy!
Rachel Boyd




More information about Twitter can be found at http://edorigami.edublogs.org/2009/03/02/twitter/

Why Blog?

One of the strengths related to blogging is that it reinforces writing and reading skills. Bloggers read, write, proofread, rewrite, reread, and write more. Bloggers write for a real audience and this is important for any writer to know that someone is going to read their hard work. Bloggers usually write daily regarding their thoughts, ideas, or concerns. Bloggers build their communication skills by writing clearly and concisely. Bloggers inform the public about issues that are happening now. Bloggers use critical thinking skills to analyze and synthesize informational articles on the web then sharing their impressions and concerns. For example, Will Richardson writes for educators  http://weblogg-ed.com/ . Bloggers write their personal thoughts like a diary; such as, Adora Svitak has a fantastic personal blog http://www.adorasvitak.com/ .

Blogging, Reading, and Writing

 If you want your children/students to become better readers and writers then let them read and write.

One of the best strategies for improving reading is ..........reading.

One of the best strategies for improving writing is ...........writing.

You need to provide many opportunities for learners to read and write. This can be accomplished by allowing the learners to blog and use the Internet.

The Internet is full of facts; for example, on web sites, blogs, and wikis that can be used to learn a broad range of information. By using the Internet, knowledge is a keyboard stroke away. It is fun to be engaged in a conversation with family or friends, discussing information, then someone mentions a topic or something they have heard but do not have all the facts. So, a family member or friend sits down at the keyboard, enters the Internet or World Wide Web, and searches for the missing information. The group discussion can continue, no waiting. This adds knowledge immediately. No waiting until someone has time to go to the library to look up the information or searching through old newspaper articles to find the topic.
The speed of access of information that is provided by the Internet is very exciting and very useful. As educators and parents, we need to tap into this informational age and embrace this new way of learning.

Here are a few definitions for Internet and World Wide Web.
Internet: global informational system
Wikipedia has an excellent definition of Internet!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/Internet.html
http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~hgs/internet/definition.html

World Wide Web
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Web
http://www.tekmom.com/buzzwords/zdwww.html
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/World-Wide-Web-WWW.html
http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/fs-1037/dir-040/_5901.htm


   

Learners blogging is another great way to support and encourage writing. Blogs can be private or public. It is your choice. Creating blogs requires research and reading many information articles from the World Wide Web. Being a blogger requires reading and writing skills. The more one reads and writes the better they are at reading and writing.

Blogs to Read:
Adora Svitak is a very young blogger. Read her story.
http://www.adorasvitak.com/
Benefits to Blogging for Kids
http://www.rss-specifications.com/kids-blogging.htm
Blogs for Teachers http://blogsforteachers.info/

Lois Lowry

The following is an example of how to write an informational article and supply links to what you are talking about. Links in your writing help the readers learn more about the information. It is a good idea to provide additional information by using links. Readers love the convenience of reading more about a topic they are interested in by just clicking on a link.



Lois Lowry is the author of two books we are reading in fifth grade. Here is an autobiography about her which is very interesting
http://www.loislowry.com/bio.html


Here is a list of her books. http://www.loislowry.com/books.html


As you read, Lois Lowry has written a lot of books over the years and her interests started when she was very little. During her life, she has gone through some trials of her own; for example, losing a son. She continues to write for her audiences and supplies her readers with many pleasurable hours of reading. I hope you enjoy reading about her.

Lois Lowry

An Interview with a famous author Lois Lowry!

FrontPage

Directions for Media Center
**************************************************

Open FrontPage

Then choose

File

Open

Open your student page

Check to see if you have the following: background color: If you don't then Format

Background

Choose a color

**************************************************

On the Formatting Toolbar

Choose Comic Sans MS, 6 (24pt), bold, center,  choose a color,

***************************************************

Writers' Workshop Stories:

Once you finished writing a story and you have had someone proofread it for you then you can:::::

Turn your Word document into a Web Page

Choose File

Save as type: choose Web Page

click Save

Close your document



****************************************************

Links

type name of document with 6 (24pt) font size

highlight name

click on Insert hyperlink

Insert hyperlink window opens

Look in: (this is where you choose your file to be linked to)

click on OK

click on Save

*****************************************************

Images



Find the image you want to use

Save it into your image folder



Inserting Images

Insert

Picture

from file

choose your image folder

Reading Comprehension

This year, my students have enjoyed working on the following websites:

Into the Book is a Website featuring eight reading comprehension strategies: prior knowledge, making connections, questioning, visualizing, inferring, summarizing, evaluating, and synthesizing. Students use headphones to listen to the videos and audio recordings at this site. This site is full of interesting information, images, videos, and audios.

Free Rice features language arts and mathematics. Motivation is answering questions correctly so that rice is donated to the United Nations World Food program.

Each website is full of interesting facts and questions.

Technology and Reading Defined

What does the phrase technology and reading mean?
For educators, this may mean using technology for reading instruction or using technology to enhance learning or it could mean both. Also, it could be referring to reading information from the Internet on websites or blogs?  Or it could mean reading information that has been enlarged with overhead projectors? In addition, it could mean using various software programs and other types of technology to promote reading?
The phrase technology and reading could be referring to very, very
simple integration of technology and reading to very complex uses of
technology to support reading. It could mean how does technology
support reading instruction or what are the best ways to integrate
technology with reading?

No matter what form technology and reading takes, shouldn't the technology be so integrated
that it becomes "the tool" and is not emphasized because the learner is
so involved in reading to learn or learning to read. The technology should become a
part of the learners life so integrated that it becomes like the clothes chosen for the day or the coats worn for different activities. Just like a car allows the learner to travel faster or glasses allow the learner to see better. Technology allows the learner to do things more efficiently.



One of the goals for this blog is to report on how technology can be
used in educational settings. The following Website is an excellent example.



http://mrsdell.org/reading/index.html





http://mrsdell.org/resources.html

Health, Science, and more Websites

Teachers at Whittier School put together this list of  Websites for students to use while in the media center conducting research.

Body Systems Websites

Human Body Online http://www.innerbody.com/image/nervov.html

Human Body Adventure http://vilenski.org/science/humanbody/hb_intro.html

Get Body Smart  http://www.getbodysmart.com/

ASTRONAUTS 2008

Human Space Flight NASA

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/home/index.html

NASA Solar System Interactives

http://solarsytem.nasa.gov/multimedia/interactive.cfm

Astronomy Picture of the Day

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080123.html

SOLAR SYSTEM Interactive website

http://www.iknowthat.com/com/App?File=ScienceLab.htm&Type=S&SWF=solarsystem%

Phases of the Moon diagram

http://www.astro.umd.edu/education/astro/moon/phases.html

Moon Phases Excel Activity

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/excel_files/moon_phases_to_drag.xls

SCIENCE

World Biomes and Climate

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org

http://www.worldbiomes.com

What is it like where you live?

http://www.mbgnet.net

Mr. Banks Trees of the World

http://www.hipark.austin.isd.tenet.edu/arc/projects/fourth/trees/main.html

Enchanted Learning

http://www.zoomwhales.com/biomes/tempdecid/tempdecid.shtml

SOCIAL STUDIES

Native American Site

http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/index.htm

Interactive PBS re-enactment of colonial times:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/history/index.html

U.S. State Government site with brief historical timeline:

http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/histryotln/index.htm

State history timelines:

http://www.shgresources.com/resources/timelines/

National Geographic article for kids on the Lost Colony of Roanoke

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/kids/2004/03/lostcolony.html

National Geographic interactive book on the first Thanksgiving

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngyoungexplorer/

Mr. Donn American History Sites

http://www.mrdonn.org/americanhistory.html

Clip Art, Paint, and Google Docs

The students will insert images for their Word documents using Clips Online from Microsoft .
Once they find an image that they want to use, the image can be copied/pasted into Paint. Paint allows you to change the background color. This is a great feature, especially if you want to match your Web page backgrounds. On some images, you can change more than just the background color. Notice the background color for the laptops. Then, look at the colors I change on the book image. The book image allows you to change the background color in three areas and the book color can be changed in many areas too. The one thing to remember is just to play with it and have fun!

First Day of Testing

Whittier School started the ISAT testing today. ISAT stands for Illinois Standards Achievement Test. The fifth grade students were given Session I of the Reading and Math during the morning. On Thursday, they will take Session II of Reading and Math. The school will have make-up tests on Friday for those that missed testing on Wednesday and Thursday.
Next week, the school will test again on Tuesday and Wednesday. The fifth grade students will be given Session III of reading and Math on Tuesday and the ISAT writing on Wednesday. This will complete the tests for fifth grade. Make ups will be on Thursday of next week for Session III and writing.