Literacy and Technology News
2nd Trimester - March 2016
Technology News
Keeping Kids Safe in the 21st Century
- 63% use them for playing games
- 50% use apps, 47% watch videos
- 38% watch TV/movies
- 30% read books on their devices.
Here are some tips for increasing security and privacy when your child is using the internet or a mobile device:
- Check-in with your child often when they are using their devices.
- Set "screen time" guidelines and collect devices before bedtime.
- Check app and website ratings on Common Sense Media before making purchases.
- Monitor who your child follows on sites like Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and YouTube.
- Enable parental control settings on YouTube to filter video content.
- Set your child's social media accounts to private, so unknown users cannot view their information.
- Turn off location sharing settings in apps.
- Disable in-app purchases.
- Block "chat" features in video games like Minecraft (or find a child friendly server)
- When purchasing free apps that have ads, check the ads that are showing up before allowing your child to use the app.
- Talk to your children about who they are talking to online- anyone can pretend to be someone else on the internet.
- Pay attention to your child's mood when they are using their devices. Talk to your child and watch for signs of cyberbullying.
For more tips and tools for keeping your children safe online, check out the following resources:
Read Across America
You can also access the videos by scanning the QR code beside the Cat in the Hat. Happy Reading!
Literacy News
Be a Reading Role Model
Being a good reading role model is a great way to help children become better readers. Scholastic.com shares several ways parents and teachers can set an example of
a reader for kids.
* Surround yourself with reading material (books, magazines, etc.)
* Draw attention to things you have learned from reading
* Visit the library together
* Talk about what you’re reading
* Read for fun – show that reading isn’t always work
* Bring something to read with you when you go places
Reading Aloud to Children
- Kelly Kline and Rosemary Sargent (Forge Road Reading Specialists)
We read to children for all the same reasons we talk with children:
* to reassure
* to entertain
* to bond
* to inform or explain
* to arouse curiosity
* to inspire
But in reading aloud we also –
* condition the child’s brain to associate reading with pleasure
* create background knowledge
* build vocabulary
* provide a reading model
* develop listening comprehension
* help to develop longer attention spans
It is also important to know that children can listen to books two or more years/grades beyond their reading level.
Scholastic Book Wizard
Holiday Reading Bingo
680 elementary students completed holiday reading bingo cards during the winter break! Thanks to all who participated. We hope you had fun reading and writing!