The Elementary Tech Times
A parent newsletter about technology in our schools
April-May 2017
Spring weather can help you break the tech tether
Spring is a great time to set new routines and limits. Encourage your child to get outside for some fresh air, sunshine, and movement instead of glueing their eyes to the screen when they get home from school. Take a walk before or after supper as a family.
Work with your child to set up new routines such as:
- spend half an hour actively playing outside to earn half an hour of tech time; or
- take a walk with the family (no complaints) to earn time on the iPad.
- Help out in the kitchen to earn time.
- Fold laundry.
- Play a board game together.
- Help a younger sibling read a book.
Eat your veggies to earn your brownie. :)
If you'd like more tips or info, check out the links below.
Tech Savvy Kids Require Important Conversations About Safe Choices Online
We're finding that children as young as first grade are already exploring YouTube. If YouTube is something your child is exploring, consider setting up an account for your child with approved channels and lay the ground rules for clicking on other videos and ads. YouTube does have a Kids app with additional options for parental controls that may be worth considering for your family.
Additionally, regular monitoring and conversation with your child about what they are experiencing in their tech lives is key to keeping communication on this topic open and honest in the future. See below for a few more resources.
3-6 Talking Safely Online
K-2 Staying Safe Online
Digital Parenting
Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2
Our youngest students have been focusing in two main areas recently: the earliest fundamentals of computer coding and using technology to record and share their learning.
Through code.org games and "unplugged" activities, students are learning to give step-by-step directions, be specific, and look at where directions need fixed to complete their algorithm (a list of steps to follow to complete a task). Most of the "plugged" activities have been done on the iPads. However, some classes have also had the opportunity to use Netbooks (tiny laptops) to practices typing and trackpad skills.
Many of our classes in these grades are also using Seesaw - an app that allows students to easily record and share their learning. Students can take pictures and screenshots, record videos or voice recordings, draw, and even type within the app. The finished "post" is sent to the teacher for approval before being published to the class feed. Each class uses Seesaw differently. Students can edit past work, reflect on work to make improvements, and even post "quality comments" on each others' posts. Teachers can also post questions, activities, videos, and links to the class feed for students to easily access resources within the Seesaw app.
Using a netbook trackpad
Giving directions to our "robots"
Drawing a diagram in Seesaw
Grade 3 & 4
Additionally, students work in Google Drive to build their skills and earn their Google Driver's License. The practice and test include skills such as text manipulation (size, color, style, orientation) as well as inserting and manipulating images and video into a presentation.
Grades 5 & 6
Our BIG topic of discussion in these grades lately has been "Fake News". How do you question what you are seeing, reading, hearing? How do you check it? Students (and adults) are encouraged to be SKEPTICAL and to NEVER share something online without being sure it is true.
Sarah Miller
Email: smiller@rsd6.org
Twitter: @skmillerteach