Elementary (K-5) Tech News

Welcome to Mr. Martin's Technology Specials Class

The 2026-27 school year is Mr. Martin's eighth year teaching at K-5 Technology at American Academy.

Before coming to American Academy, he spent 20 years as the Library Media Specialist for a small K-12 school in Wyoming. In addition to library sciences, he also taught computer applications and typing.

Course Overview

In elementary technology students will constantly be working on keyboarding skills. We encourage students to practice typing daily, not just when they have technology rotation.

In addition to typing students will learn computer basics and how to use Google Workspace apps, including Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawing and Classroom. We will discuss digital citizenship with an emphasis on how to stay safe while online as well as thinking like a technology producer with beginning coding.

Grading

2-5 Grades: 50% of a student's grade is based on Engagement & Participation: Participation is more than attendance—it reflects a student’s presence, effort, focus, and willingness to grow.

Students are assessed on:

- Active involvement and engagement in activities
- Effort, perseverance, and responsiveness to feedback
- Collaboration and positive participation with peers
- Respect for materials, spaces, and expectations

Grades reflect demonstrated participation and growth:

- Students who consistently meet expectations demonstrate proficiency (94/100).
- Students who exceed expectations have opportunities to demonstrate deeper engagement, AA Character, leadership, initiative, and growth.
- Participation is not based on talent or performance level. Every student can demonstrate growth through effort, creativity, collaboration, discipline, and confidence.

50% of a student's grade is based on Skills, Projects, & Assessment, including how they do on individual assignments.

K-1 Grades: Students will receive: + (excellent), v (proficient), or - (not proficient) grading marks instead of points. Grading categories include Engagement which is based on behavior and participation in class; as well as Skills, Projects & Assessment.

Access Current Assignments from Home

All current classroom activities are listed under Learning.com which will take students to the necessary platform for the assignment. Follow these step-by-step directions to access from home:

Using a web browser, navigate to the American Academy website at www.aak8.org.
In the blue line at the very top of the browser, click Clever-AA.
When prompted, enter student's regular AA username and password.
- NOTE: The QR code you may have received is the login for Douglas County Clever, NOT the American Academy Clever site.
Once logged into Clever, locate the pink icon with the girl with the big hair and click it to go to Learning.com.
If a student is missing assignments they can click on them to complete.
- Learning.com: Students will earn up to 3 stars depending on how well they complete the assignment tasks. If a student does not receive any stars after completion, I recommend they redo the assignment.
- BrainPop / BrainPop Jr.: Students should always LOGIN (found in the upper right corner), using Clever.
  - Learning.com will display these with 3 stars no matter how well the student did on the work (even if not completed).
- Google Classroom: Students may have to login again using their email address and password.
  - Locate the student's Technology class and finally check for Coursework (at the top) to find all assignments.
  - Once completed students should click Turn In.
  - Learning.com will display these with 3 stars no matter how well the student did on the work (even if not submitted).
- Code.org: Login via Clever.
  - Complete instructions to turn each lesson a green color.
  - Ones appearing in light green mean too many blocks of code were used and should be redone.
  - Learning.com will display this with 3 stars no matter how well the student did on the work (even if not submitted).
Once a student has completed missing assignments, email Mr. Martin and let him know they are complete.

For additional assistance, please see the Student Google Chrome Browser Login (At Home) page.

Keyboarding Practice

Students should type at least 15 minutes every day (not just when they have technology specials) in order to become familiar with using Home Row to type on the keyboard. Use Typing.com (K-1) or Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding (2-5) for keyboarding practice, it is listed in Learning.com as assignment #1.

Students should meet or exceed these goals to meet typing proficiency:

Grade	Words Per Minute (WPM)	Accuracy
1st Grade	5	90%
2nd Grade	10	90%
3rd Grade	15	90%
4th Grade	20	90%
5th Grade	25	90%

If students do not have access to a computer for practice, parents can print the Chromebook Keyboard in landscape view and have students practice typing using their favorite books.

Parent / Teacher Conferences

K-5 parents may schedule to meet with me on Wednesday, September 30 or Thursday, October 1 from 4:30PM-7PM at Lincoln Meadows room 213.

Please use this link to sign up for a 10 minute, in-person, conference slot. In the additional information slot, please include the name(s) and grade(s) of each of your children.

You can also always contact me via email.

Volunteers Needed

We are looking for parent volunteers to clean the Lincoln Meadows Technology Specials classroom (room 213) on the last day of each week from 2:30PM - 3:30PM. Duties would including wiping down laptop screens, keyboards, mice and tables. If you are interested, please use this link to sign up. For additional information, please contact Mr. Martin.

What are we doing in class?

*The following lessons are subject to change.

Rotation 1 Classwork

	Aug. 24-28	Aug. 31-Sept. 4	Sept. 7-11	Sept. 14-18	Sept. 21-25
K	Reyes	Krien	Dean	Baladad	Schneider
1	Yocom	True	Quinn	Paez
2	Tedesko	McNeil	Izzi	Crain
3	Wilson	Lederhos	Kennedy	Gappa
4	Wilson	Server	McKee	Canino
5	Tobler	Hunt	DeAmelia	Blocker

Kindergarten: Our first week in the lab we will start the year with an introduction to the class and then become familiar with logging onto the computers and using the mouse. We will begin using Typing.com for typing practice using home row.

1st Grade: Our first week in the lab we will start the year with an introduction to the class, taking a Technology Pre-test, learning the parts of the computer and review using the mouse. We will begin using Typing.com for typing practice using home row.

2nd Grade: Our first week in the lab we will start the year with an introduction to the class, taking a Technology Pre-test, learning the parts of the computer and review using the mouse. We will begin using Typing.com for typing practice using home row.

3rd Grade: Our first week in the lab we will start the year with an introduction to the class, taking a Technology Benchmark test, and learn some digital etiquette. We will begin using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice using home row.

4th Grade: Our first week in the lab we will start the year with an introduction to the class, taking a Technology Benchmark test, and review digital etiquette. We will begin using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice using home row.

5th Grade: Our first week in the lab we will start the year with an introduction to the class, taking a Technology Benchmark test, review digital etiquette, learn good file management, learn sending a good email and how to add to the calendar. We will begin using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice using home row.

Rotation 2 Classwork

	Sept. 28-Oct. 2	Oct. 5-9	Oct. 19-23	Oct. 26-30	Nov. 2-6
K	Reyes	Krien	Dean	Baladad	Schneider

	Sept. 21-25	Sept. 28-Oct. 2	Oct. 5-9	Oct. 19-23
1	Yocom	True	Quinn	Paez
2	Tedesko	McNeil	Izzi	Crain
3	Wilson	Lederhos	Kennedy	Gappa
4	Wilson	Server	McKee	Canino
5	Tobler	Hunt	DeAmelia	Blocker

Kindergarten: Our second week in the lab we will be going over parts of the computer; digital citizenship; practice being safe online; and cyberbullying using BrainPop, Jr.; and Learning.com lessons. We will continue using Typing.com for keyboarding practice.

1st Grade: Our second week in the lab we will be going over digital citizenship; practice being safe online; and cyberbullying using BrainPop, Jr.; and Learning.com lessons. We will continue using Typing.com for keyboarding practice.

2nd Grade: Our second week in the lab we will be going over digital citizenship; practice being safe online; and cyberbullying using BrainPop, Jr.; and Learning.com lessons. We will continue using Typing.com for keyboarding practice.

3rd Grade: Our second week in the lab we will practice staying safe online and using good netiquette by using Digital Passport. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

4th Grade: Our second week in the lab we will practice good netiquette and staying safe online by working through Digital Compass. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

5th Grade: Our second week in the lab we will be reviewing online safety by using Canva to create our own poster. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

Rotation 3 Classwork

	Nov. 9-13	Nov. 16-20	Nov. 30-Dec. 4	Dec. 7-11	Dec. 14-18
K	Reyes	Krien	Dean	Baladad	Schneider

	Oct. 26-30	Nov. 2-6	Nov. 9-13	Nov. 16-20
1	Yocom	True	Quinn	Paez
2	Tedesko	McNeil	Izzi	Crain
3	Wilson	Lederhos	Kennedy	Gappa
4	Wilson	Server	McKee	Canino
5	Tobler	Hunt	DeAmelia	Blocker

Kindergarten: Our third week in the lab we will learn word processing basics in Learning.com and then creating our own Google Doc that includes our name, an animal picture and basic formatting. We will continue using Typing.com for keyboarding practice.

1st Grade: Our third week in the lab we will review word processing basics in Learning.com and then creating our own Google Doc that includes our name, an animal picture and basic formatting. We will continue using Typing.com for keyboarding practice.

2nd Grade: Our third week in the lab we will review word processing basics in Learning.com and then creating our own Google Doc that includes our name, an animal picture and basic formatting. We will continue using Typing.com for keyboarding practice.

3rd Grade: Our third week in the lab we will review word processing basics in Learning.com and then demonstrate our skills using a Google Doc template. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

4th Grade: Our third week in the lab we review spreadsheets in Learning.com and create an Animal Research Google Sheets. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

5th Grade: Our third week in the lab we will begin our TechnoEntrepreneur unit where students use a variety of Google Workspace apps to assist them in creating a restaurant. To determine their kind of restaurant, students will use Google Sheets to survey their classmates and create a chart of their results. Students will then use Canva to create an original logo of their restaurant. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

Rotation 4 Classwork

	Jan. 4-8	Jan. 11-15	Jan. 18-22	Jan. 25-29	Feb. 1-5
K	Reyes	Krien	Dean	Baladad	Schneider

	Nov. 30-Dec. 4	Dec. 7-11	Dec. 14-18	Jan. 4-8
1	Yocom	True	Quinn	Paez
2	Tedesko	McNeil	Izzi	Crain
3	Wilson	Lederhos	Kennedy	Gappa
4	Wilson	Server	McKee	Canino
5	Tobler	Hunt	DeAmelia	Blocker

Kindergarten: Our fourth week in the lab we will learn presentation basics by creating a basic Google Slides that includes their name and an animal picture. We will continue using Typing.com for keyboarding practice.

1st Grade: Our fourth week in the lab we will review presentation basics by creating a basic Google Slides that includes their name and an animal picture. We will continue using Typing.com for keyboarding practice.

2nd Grade: Our fourth week in the lab we will learn the basics of using a web browser and navigating the Internet using Welcome to the Web. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for keyboarding practice.

3rd Grade: Our fourth week in the lab we learn animation basics in BrainPop and create an animation using Microsoft Paint and Pivot Animator. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

4th Grade: Our fourth week in the lab we review animation basics in BrainPop and create an animation using Microsoft Paint and Pivot Animator. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

5th Grade: Our fourth week in the lab we will continue our TechnoEntrepreneur unit where students use a variety of Google Workspace apps to assist them in creating a restaurant. This week students will use Google Docs to create a professional letter to potential investors. They will then use Google Draw to create their restaurant floor plan. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

Rotation 5 Classwork

	Feb. 8-12	Feb. 15-19	Feb. 22-26	Mar. 22-26	Mar. 29-Apr. 2
K	Reyes	Krien	Dean	Baladad	Schneider

	Jan. 11-15	Jan. 18-22	Jan. 25-29	Feb. 1-5
1	Yocom	True	Quinn	Paez
2	Tedesko	McNeil	Izzi	Crain
3	Wilson	Lederhos	Kennedy	Gappa
4	Wilson	Server	McKee	Canino
5	Tobler	Hunt	DeAmelia	Blocker

Kindergarten: Our fifth week in the lab we will create lines and shapes and use graphics software to create Farms and Animal pictures. We will continue using Typing.com for keyboarding practice.

1st Grade: Our fifth week in the lab we will create lines and shapes and use graphics software to demonstrate animal habitats. We will continue using Typing.com for keyboarding practice.

2nd Grade: Our fifth week in the lab we will create a Google Slides based on an insect website. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for keyboarding practice.

3rd Grade: Our fifth week in the lab we will review spreadsheets in Learning.com. Students will then survey their classmates' favorite planet and create a Planet Survey Google Sheet table and chart. They will then use a website as reference to create a Google Slides on their planet. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

4th Grade: Our fifth week in the lab we will begin coding using Code.org. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

5th Grade: Our fifth week in the lab we will continue our TechnoEntrepreneur unit where students use a variety of Google Workspace apps to assist them in creating a restaurant. This week students will use Google Sheets formulas to track business earnings. We will then complete our TechnoEntrepreneur unit where students will use Canva to create a commercial for their restaurant. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

Rotation 6 Classwork

	Mar. 1-5	Mar. 8-12	Apr. 5-9	May 3-7	May 17-21
K	Krien	Dean	Reyes	Schneider*	Baladad*

	Feb. 8-12	Feb. 15-19	Feb. 22-26	Mar. 29-Apr. 2
1	Yocom	True	Quinn	Paez

	Feb. 8-12	Feb 15-19	Feb. 22-26	Apr. 19-23
2	Tedesko	McNeil	Izzi	Crain

	Feb. 8-12	Feb. 15-19	Feb. 22-26	Mar. 1-5
3	Wilson	Lederhos	Kennedy	Gappa
4	Wilson	Server	McKee	Canino
5	Tobler	Hunt	DeAmelia	Blocker
*Final Week of Technology 2026-27

Kindergarten: Our sixth week in the lab we will begin to gain coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Typing.com for typing practice.

1st Grade: Our sixth week in the lab we will gain coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Typing.com for typing practice.

2nd Grade: Our sixth week in the lab we will gain coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Tedesko's class will also complete Rotation

3rd Grade: Our sixth week in the lab we will learn how to navigate and use the tools available to them for the upcoming CMAS testing. They will then gain coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

4th Grade: Our sixth week in the lab we will learn how to navigate and use the tools available to them for the upcoming CMAS testing. We will use Google Docs to create a Colorado History brochure. They will then continue gaining coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

5th Grade: Our sixth week in the lab we will review navigating around and the tools available to them for the upcoming CMAS testing. They will then gain coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

Rotation 7 Classwork

	Apr. 12-16	Apr. 19-23	May 10-14
K	Krien	Dean	Reyes*

	Mar. 1-5	Mar. 8-12	Mar. 22-26	May 3-7
1	Yocom	True	Quinn	Paez*

	Mar. 1-5	Mar. 8-12	Apr. 12-16	May 17-21
2	Izzi	McNeil	Tedesko	Crain*

	Mar. 8-12	Mar. 22-26	Mar. 29-Apr. 2	Apr. 5-9
3	Wilson	Lederhos	Kennedy	Gappa
4	Wilson	Server	McKee	Canino
5	Tobler	Hunt	DeAmelia	Blocker
*Final Week of Technology 2026-27

Kindergarten: Our final week in the lab we will resume gaining coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Typing.com for typing practice.

1st Grade: Our seventh week in the lab we will resume gaining coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Typing.com for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Yocom will also complete Rotation 8 assignments.

2nd Grade: Our seventh week in the lab we will resume gaining coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Tedesko's class will skip this lesson.

3rd Grade: Our seventh week in the lab will resume gaining coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Gappa's class will skip this lesson.

4th Grade: Our sixth week in the lab we will resume gaining coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Canino's class will skip this lesson.

5th Grade: Our sixth week in the lab we will begin or resume gaining coding and problem solving experience by working through Code.org lessons that include AI Machine Learning. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Blocker's class will skip this lesson.

Rotation 8 Classwork

	Apr. 26-30	May 24-28
K	Krien*	Dean*

	Apr. 12-16	Apr. 19-23	Apr. 26-30
1	Yocom	True	Quinn*

	Mar. 22-26	Apr. 26-30	May 3-7
2	McNeil	Izzi	Tedesko*

	Apr. 12-16	Apr. 19-23	Apr. 26-30	May 3-7
3	Wilson	Lederhos	Kennedy	Gappa*
4	Wilson	Server	McKee	Canino*
5	Tobler	Hunt	DeAmelia	Blocker*
*Final Week of Technology 2026-27

1st Grade: Our eighth week in the lab we will review and take our Technology Post-Test. This is the same test taken at the beginning of the year so we will be able to compare scores to show growth. We will continue using Typing.com for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Yocom will complete these assignments during Rotation 7.

2nd Grade: Our eighth week in the lab we will review and take our Technology Post-Test. This is the same test taken at the beginning of the year so we will be able to compare scores to show growth. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

3rd Grade: Our eighth week in the lab we will review and take our 5th Summative Test. This is a similar test to the one taken at the beginning of the year so we will be able to compare scores to show growth. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Wilson's class will complete these activities during Rotation 9.

4th Grade: Our eighth week in the lab we will review and take our 5th Summative Test. This is a similar test to the one taken at the beginning of the year so we will be able to compare scores to show growth. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Wilson's class will complete these activities during Rotation 9.

5th Grade: Our eighth week in the lab we will review and take our 5th Summative Test. This is a similar test to the one taken at the beginning of the year so we will be able to compare scores to show growth. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Tobler's class will complete these activities during Rotation 9.

Rotation 9 Classwork

	May 17-21	May 24-28
1	Yocom*	True*

	May 10-14	May 24-28
2	McNeil*	Izzi*

	May 10-14	May 17-21	May 24-28
3	Wilson*	Lederhos*	Kennedy*
4	Wilson*	Server*	McKee*
5	Tobler*	Hunt*	DeAmelia*
* Final Week of Technology 2026-27

1st Grade: Our final week in the lab we will wrap up the year with doing computer activities that the students enjoy the most. We will continue using Typing.com for typing practice.

2nd Grade: Our final week in the lab we will wrap up the year with doing computer activities that the students enjoy the most. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice.

3rd Grade: Our final week in the lab we will wrap up the year with doing computer activities that the students enjoy the most. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Wilson's class will complete the Rotation 8 activities.

4th Grade: Our final week in the lab we will wrap up the year with doing computer activities that the students enjoy the most. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Wilson's class will complete the Rotation 8 activities.

5th Grade: Our final week in the lab we will wrap up the year with doing computer activities that the students enjoy the most. We will continue using Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding for typing practice. Due to CMAS Testing, Tobler's class will complete the Rotation 8 activities.