How much screen time is the right amount of screen time? This question has been plaguing parents and child care professionals for years. Now, the American Academy of Pediatrics has shifted their original stance from a 2 hour limit to screen time to something more nuanced.
“In a world where ‘screen time’ is becoming simply ‘time,’” they (AAP) write, “our policies must evolve or become obsolete. The public needs to know that the Academy’s advice is science-driven, not based merely on the precautionary principle.” Of course, that’s exactly what most experts in children and digital media previously thought, that the AAP guidelines seemed like they were the result of familiar technophobic paranoia that always accompanies new technologies.
RIS Tech Blog
Information and support on the current trends in technology in education, 21st century skills and best practices for children up to middle school level. This blog is designed for parents as well as educators.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Digital Citizenship - How Do You Treat Others Online?
As with face-to-face play, online games still have the same rules; treat others as you want to be treated.
This digital citizenship video from Common Sense Media is a good reminder of how a child should behave when online.
Check out Common Sense Media for more videos, blog posts and articles for parents and teachers about how to help children navigate the online community and use digital tools in a safe and effective way.
Labels:
Common Sense Media,
digital citizenship
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Summer Learning Ideas and Resources
For children, summer is a time for relaxing and exploring, playing with friends, meeting new ones, spending time with your family, traveling or staying at home. The unstructured time of summer can be a good time to inquire and learn new things as well as sharpen skills and knowledge gained this past year.
Here are some resources and ideas for parents to engage in with their children to keep their acquired skills and knowledge sharp as well as to allow for some new learning.
1. Common Sense Media has a Summer Learning Guide which has ideas for digital learning such as coding, language, science, tinkering and more. Click here for the link.
2. Ms Mairi, PYP Librarian, put together some ideas for supporting language learning over the summer. These are separated by grade levels and include a list of resource links. See below.
Summer Language Learning
EY to Grade Two
Language Activities for the Summer Vacation
Reading
-
- Beginner phonics books (http://www.progressivephonics.com/phonics-
books/beginner-phonics-books)
-
- Starfall- Online phonics: http://www.starfall.com/
-
- Reading signs, symbols, everyday objects
-
- Sight word games: http://creatingalearningenvironment.com/20-ways-to-help-
your-child-learn-their-sight-words/
-
- Visit a library
-
- Link to RIS Language blog with more ideas:
http://languageris.blogspot.ae/p/reading.html
Writing
-
- Make invitations for friends and family to visit
-
- Making a nature journal (http://www.startwithabook.org/summer-writing)
-
- Writing a recipe for their favourite food together
-
- Talk about simple instructions for everyday things, e.g. how to wash the dishes,
make the bed. Include each step clearly and include time order (First, Next, After
that) and what they action verb is (Wash, Dry, Make, Rinse, Mix).
-
- Trip reviews-write a simple recount about an activity they have taken part in.
Focus on including who, what, when, where, why and how.
-
- Make a short story book, either their own idea or a retell of their favourite story.
Create new pictures, write sentences to match the picture, write a blurb on the
back and create a front cover.
-
- Writing letters or emails to friends and family e.g. pen pals
-
Speaking and Listening
-
- Describing pictures or scenes that they can see
-
- I spy
-
- 20 Questions
-
- One sentence/One word stories: Retell a favourite story one sentence or one
word at a time
-
- Describing pictures or scenes that they can see
-
Viewing and Presenting
-
- Charades
-
- Handwriting worksheets (select Print or D’Neailan):
http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/
-
- Charades
Grade Two to Five
http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/ , http://www.first- school.ws/theme/handwriting.htm
General Websites
-
Reading
-
- eBooks
-
- Free eBooks from https://www.gutenberg.org/
-
- Signs, maps, travel brochures
-
- Current events- newspapers, Online news for kids:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/news , http://www.dogonews.com/
-
- Link to RIS Language blog with more ideas:
http://languageris.blogspot.ae/p/reading.html
-
- Comprehension activities: http://reading.ecb.org/
-
- Parent guide to reading comprehension:
http://www.readingrockets.org/helping/target/comprehension ,
http://resources.clee.utk.edu/print/SIG%20Reading%20Strategies.pdf
-
- eBooks
-
Writing
-
- Create a how to guide for appliances around the house e.g. how to work the
washing machine, how to make the bed
-
- Be a journalist- write a newspaper article about a current event (local or global)
-
- Research and write a biography about their favourite author or celebrity
(http://people.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/authors.html)
-
- Create comic strip (Comic Maker app - free)
-
- Interactive writing games: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-
resources/student-interactives/ and
http://www.languageisavirus.com/writing-games.html#.VX53n_mqqko
-
- Create a how to guide for appliances around the house e.g. how to work the
-
Speaking and Listening
-
- Interviewing a family member or friend about their life or job
-
- Preparing a speech: http://www.write-out-loud.com/howtowritespeech.html
-
- Interviewing a family member or friend about their life or job
-
Viewing and Presenting
http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/ , http://www.first- school.ws/theme/handwriting.htm
General Websites
-
Monthly calendar of Reading and Writing activities to do at home: http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-
resources/activities/monthly-activity-calendars.htm
-
Summer writing activities: http://www.startwithabook.org/summer-writing
-
Online reading: http://www.sunshineonline.com.au/,
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/play/stories , http://www.storylineonline.net.
-
Online literacy games: http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/literacy/index.htm
_________________________________________________________
3. Ms Penny, Grade 4 teacher, has put together a list of math activities, by grade level, to engage in some fun math learning over the summer. It includes online resources for more ideas as well.
EY- Grade Two
Playing Shops
Playing Shops
-
- Practise using coins and notes.
-
- Order coins and notes from lowest to highest value.
-
- Set up kitchen scales to weigh products.
Cooking
-
- Using measuring tools such as scales, measuring jugs and spoons.
-
- Setting the oven timer.
-
- Setting the table for a certain number of guests.
-
- Sharing food between people in a group.
-
- Make playdough (http://theimaginationtree.com/2012/04/best-ever-
no-cook-play-dough-recipe.html)
-
- Search for easy recipes to make together as a family (for example
http://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/occasions/cooking-with-kids)
Patterns
-
- Look for patterns in natural or built environments. Eg tiles, animal
footprints.
-
- Make jewellery from beads, dried pasta, toys etc.
-
- Decorate cards and letters for family members with patterns.
-
- Create a rap or chant that uses repeated sounds and actions.
-
- How are numbers used around you? Go on a number hunt at home, at
the mall, at the airport etc.
-
- Pick a ‘number of the day’. How many times do you see that number
written down? Look in the newspaper, on car licence plates, on clocks
etc.
-
- Count the number of cars of a certain colour that you pass on a
journey.
-
- Sort your toys into categories and count how many are in each.
-
- Find a calendar and count the days until a certain event.
Grade Two to Five
Sports
(or find weather maps online). Make an iMovie weather report as a summary at the end of the week. Include graphs and charts to help present your information.
Cooking
Sports
-
- Make a scrapbook about your favourite player or team, including
statistics and other mathematical information.
-
- Keep a record of how many goals or serves (tennis) you can get in a
row. Try to improve each day!
-
- Watch a game that is played in thirds, halves or quarters. Make a
poster with key information for each section of the match.
-
- Time how long it takes you to run a certain distance or bounce a ball a
certain number of times. Make a graph comparing your results against
someone else.
-
- If you have the chance to go bowling or play mini golf, take charge of
the scoring.
Weather
(or find weather maps online). Make an iMovie weather report as a summary at the end of the week. Include graphs and charts to help present your information.
Cooking
-
- Find recipes online and make them. Be careful with your measuring!
-
- Estimate the cost of buying all the ingredients you’ll need.
-
- Double or halve a recipe.
-
- Invent your own salad, sandwich or smoothie. Write out a recipe so
that anyone else could make your dish- you will need to make sure
you include accurate measurements.
-
- Design your own pizza. Divide it into fractions and plan a different
topping for each section.
Shopping/Money
-
- Ask your parents whether you can be in charge of a cash transaction.
Calculate how much your items will cost and what change you will
receive.
-
- Create your own clothes or toys catalogue. Include ‘specials’ (50% off,
$10 discount, 2 for the price of one etc) with the full and reduced
price.
-
- Plan your dream holiday or birthday party. Include a budget and
information about timings of activities.
Websites
http://nzmaths.co.nz/maths-our-house http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/parents/primary/20 1literacymathstips2011.pdf http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/index.html http://www.education.com/activity/math/ http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/maths-owl/fun-activities http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/math/activities/
Labels:
language,
math,
summer learning,
technology
Monday, May 4, 2015
Parent iPad Survey Responses
The responses from parents regarding iPads for their child’s education at RIS are very positive..
Responses were received from 75% of the parents in grades 1-4. This was not taking into account the families who may not be returning for the next school year.
Of those who responded, 84% said their child would have an iPad for educational purposes next school year and 77% of those who responded said they are willing to spend up to 200AED on apps.
This is a positive outcome as we plan for next school year.
By early June, there will be a parent information session outlining the educational technology plans for next school year.
Watch the school calendar, 6Delta, Twitter @Raha_school and RIS Facebook page for the date!
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Google Can Help Parents Be Tech Geeks
....and possibly stay ahead of their kids!
I recently came across a post on the blog, Digital Literacy, created for parents at United World College in Asia. It has tips for parents, well anyone, on the importance of updating your browser regularly to how to delete cookies. It also has a series of videos explaining simple things such as changing the date on your computer, changing your wallpaper, taking screenshots and much more.
I recently came across a post on the blog, Digital Literacy, created for parents at United World College in Asia. It has tips for parents, well anyone, on the importance of updating your browser regularly to how to delete cookies. It also has a series of videos explaining simple things such as changing the date on your computer, changing your wallpaper, taking screenshots and much more.
It's worth the read. Save it to your bookmarks so you can access it easily.
Monday, March 23, 2015
Tech Purchasing Advice for Parents at RIS
Frank Peterson, Digital Tech teacher for MYP and Integration Specialist at Raha spoke at the monthly Parent Tech Talk on March 24, 2015.
To view his slide show presentation, click here
To view his slide show presentation, click here
Sunday, March 8, 2015
YouTube Kids app for Tablets (it's free!)
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