Switching to First Class email

All teachers must use the First Class email, starting this September. The First Class "client" is installed on all the school internet workstation. You'll find the shortcut to it in Bulletins > Programs. Your user ID is your first initial followed by your last name. If others in the board share the same first initial and last name, then you'll have to add your middle initial to the ID. For example, my ID is not gbrown, it is gtbrown because there is more than one "gbrown" in the HWDSB. To find out what your starting password is, email me.

To install First Class email client on your home computer.

1. The installation file is downloaded from this URL: http://w3.hwdsb.on.ca/resources/informationtechnology/software/fcsetup.exe
2. Save the file to your desktop or to some other location on your computer that you can locate.
3. To install, double click the file you saved.
4. The installer program will begin. Click Next > Next > Next > Finish to install.
5. Find the First Class icon on your Start menu.
6. Type your user ID and password. Click Login.

What shows up first is your "First Class Desktop". You'll notice a Mailbox there. Open it by double clicking. This is your Inbox.

Your new email address is yourfirstname.yourlastname@hwdsb.on.ca

For example, my email is glen.brown@hwdsb.on.ca

K-12 model computer curriculum

This document is from the Computer Science Teacher's Association: http://www.acm.org/education/k12/k12final1022.pdf

Teachers Get Ready!

Thus endeth the daze of summer. Six days before the kids return to class. I dunno about you, but I honestly NEED to get back into the classroom. My training and my profession have got me in the habit of thinking ahead and making plans for students...when there are no students, what are all my little brain cells supposed to do?

There's only so much puttering one can do around the house fixing this, painting that, tidying the other thing. Not to mention that $$ becomes an issue at this time.

So, today's task is to think back...what was one satisfying memory from your teaching last year?

For me, it was being able to take our school band to MusicFest, and to see them achieve a silver award. They worked so hard to get ready, and they did a great job.

How about you? Your comments are welcome.

Great Teacher Resource for teaching Recorder

http://www.angelfire.com/nb2/musicedresources/Record.html

Getting Your Mouthpieces Clean

Teachers of instrumental music are looking for an easy routine for disinfecting mouthpieces. With a high volume of students moving through the classroom and more than one student using an instrument, the mouthpieces still need to be soaked in disinfectant for sufficient time.

These pictures show the basic steps and equipment needed to do a soaking and rinsing of instrument mouthpieces.

The items were all purchase at Dollarama.

The steps are as follows:

1. Have the students place their mouthpieces in the basket which will immerse them in the disinfectant.
   
   
2. After the designated time for disinfecting, lift the basket out and rinse under water.
   
   
3. Put the basket on the drainage tray.
4. Brass and woodwind mouthpieces can be separated. The mouthpiece rack is actually a tie rack but it should hold brass or woodwind mouthpieces.

The brush's small end is for scrubbing out inside mouthpieces as needed.

Please add your comments and questions so I can keep this relevant and to all. First question: What is the disinfectant that meets the approval of the Public Health department?