Teacher Laptops
 Every teacher receives a laptop for professional use while employed at Seven Hills Charter Public School. Currently, most teachers are given Dell Latitude 531 laptops. These have 2GB RAM and AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60 (2.00 Ghz) dual core processors (click for more info), and 80GB hard drives. A variety of software, peripherals, and services are available for use with teacher laptops.
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Student Laptops
 Every classroom receives laptops for student use. Each grade K-1 classroom receives 4 student laptops. Each grade 2-5 classroom receives 12 student laptops. Each grade 6-8 classroom receives 16 student laptops. Our student laptops are mostly Dell netbooks, but some grade levels have full size Dell Latitude laptops. All student laptops are capable of browsing the Internet, using office productivity software (Microsoft Office 2007 installed on all), streaming multimedia content, and more. A variety of software, peripherals, and services are available for use with student laptops.
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Building-wide Wireless Network Access
We have had building-wide wireless network access (wireless-G) since the start of the 2007-2008 school year. Prior to that, we had wireless access points travel with mobile laptop carts.
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Interactive Whiteboards
 Every classroom is equipped with a mounted interactive whiteboard and projector. Software and tools such as SMART Notebook and RM EasiTeach software are available for teachers to get the most out of their interactive whiteboards.
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Document Cameras
 Several document cameras are available for teacher use. These are useful in conjunction with the interactive whiteboard and projector. For example, focus the document camera over a piece of paper so students can watch how to solve a math problem from a worksheet or highlight keywords of an MCAS passage.
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Wireless Slates
 Wireless slates are available upon request from the tech department to allow teachers to utilize interactive resources on their interactive whiteboards while being able to move around the room.
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Qwizdom student response system
 The Qwizdom student response system is a set of handheld clickers that allows a teacher to get instant feedback from his/her entire class. They can be used for polling, dipsticking, and quick assessments.
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RM Easi-Speak Digital Audio MP3 Recorders
 MP3 recorders can be useful for projects and activities where students or teachers need to record their voices. Once recorded, the audio files can be inserted into videos, websites, burned to a CD, etc.
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Study Island – standards-based instruction and practice for students.
 Study Island provides web-based instruction, practice, assessment and reporting built from the state standards. Teachers assign standards-based work in Study Island. Then students look through the assigned lesson materials, answer questions, receive feedback and explanations for their choices. Teachers then have instant access to reports on student progress toward mastering state standards. A link to Study Island is available to all SHCPS teachers via the school website.
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BrainPOP – a collection of engaging, educational animations tied to state standards.
 BrainPOP offers a wide variety of engaging, educational animations that are tied to state standards. Our school has a subscription to this service, and a username and password are required to access most of it (contact Tech if you need it). BrainPOP features content in all subject areas. Showing a BrainPOP video related to a topic you are teaching is a great way to supplement what you are teaching. Most videos also have options for additional activities and interactives.
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SMART Notebook - interactive whiteboard software
 This software is designed specifically for use with interactive whiteboards, but students and teachers can also use it on their own laptops. SMART Notebook is similar to PowerPoint in that it allows teachers to present a collection of slides about a topic. However, it goes beyond the functionality of PowerPoint with tools and features that add interactivity to presentations to help teachers provide the most engaging possible visual and kinesthetic learning experience for your students. Thousands of existing interactive lessons are also available for free for teachers on the SMART Exchange website at http://exchange.smarttech.com. SHCPS teachers can access SMART Notebook software through the icon that you can find either on your desktop or start menu.
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RM EasiTeach – interactive whiteboard software
 Similar to SMART Notebook, this software is designed specifically for use with interactive whiteboards, but students and teachers can also use it on their own laptops. Like SMART Notebook, it includes tools and features that add interactivity to your presentation to help you provide the most engaging possible visual and kinesthetic learning experience for your students. Existing games are also available within the software as well as online. SHCPS teachers can access RM EasiTeach software through the icon that you can find either on your desktop or start menu.
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Lexia Reading – reading intervention software
 Activities within Lexia provide extensive practice in everything from basic phonological awareness to advanced word-attack strategies, as well as vocabulary development. As students progress systematically through the program, they gain a sense of achievement, confidence, and independence. It focuses on Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension.
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Fluent Reading Trainer – reading intervention software
 This is a reading fluency tool that has been designed to systematically increase reading speed while ensuring proficient reading comprehension. Layering these component skills provides each student with educationally sound practice in fluency. Measures and improves silent reading speed, reading fluency, retention, and comprehension. Reports on reading comprehension skills by class, student, and 18 specific skills including: main idea, context clues, inference, and author’s purpose. Recommended usage is 3 times per week at 30 minutes per session for most students. More info: http://www.mindplay.com/Default.aspx?tabid=124 This program is accessible via all school laptops, but you must submit Technology helpdesk ticket requests to set up accounts for specific students who you think would benefit from this program.
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Read Naturally – reading intervention software
 Read Naturally Software Edition (SE) develops fluency, supports vocabulary development,and promotes comprehension using the powerful, research-based Read Naturally strategy, taking advantage of the benefits and functionality
of computers. Text and audio prompts guide students through the steps of the program, maximizing their time on task. Read Naturally SE includes a modeling step (Read Along), a repeated reading step (Practice), and progress monitoring using computer-generated graphs of student scores. Students work in Read Naturally SE three to five times a week for at least 30 minutes a day. More info: http://www.readnaturally.com/products/se2info.htm This program is installed on all school laptops, but you must submit Technology helpdesk ticket requests to set up accounts for specific students who you think would benefit from this program.
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Accelerated Reader – test reading comprehension of selected books
 Accelerated Reader software works in combination with specially designated Accelerated Reader books that we have available in our school library. To use this, students must first select one of these specially designated books. After reading it, they then take an Accelerated Quiz on the book. This is useful for reading practice and for assessing reading comprehension. |
Fast ForWord – reading intervention software
 The Fast ForWord program is a reading intervention program designed for K-12 education institutions and clinical specialists, whose students are struggling and reading below grade level. The Fast ForWord program develops and strengthens memory, attention, processing rate, and sequencing—the cognitive skills essential for reading intervention program success. The strengthening of these skills results in a wide range of improved critical language and reading skills such as phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, decoding, working memory, syntax, grammar, and other skills necessary to learn how to read or to become a better reader. Our school’s URL for accessing Fast ForWord is here: http://ondemand3.scilearn.com/slc/learner?tenantId=119605_district
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Activities within Lexia provide extensive practice in everything from basic phonological awareness to advanced word-attack strategies, as well as vocabulary development. As students progress systematically through the program, they gain a sense of achievement, confidence, and independence. It focuses on Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Comprehension.
Read Naturally Software Edition (SE) develops fluency, supports vocabulary development,and promotes comprehension using the powerful, research-based Read Naturally strategy, taking advantage of the benefits and functionality
Accelerated Reader software works in combination with specially designated Accelerated Reader books that we have available in our school library. To use this, students must first select one of these specially designated books. After reading it, they then take an Accelerated Quiz on the book. This is useful for reading practice and for assessing reading comprehension.
The Fast ForWord program is a reading intervention program designed for K-12 education institutions and clinical specialists, whose students are struggling and reading below grade level. The Fast ForWord program develops and strengthens memory, attention, processing rate, and sequencing—the cognitive skills essential for reading intervention program success. The strengthening of these skills results in a wide range of improved critical language and reading skills such as phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, decoding, working memory, syntax, grammar, and other skills necessary to learn how to read or to become a better reader. Our school’s URL for accessing Fast ForWord is here: http://ondemand3.scilearn.com/slc/learner?tenantId=119605_district
