Finding a "Just Right" Book

What do you look for in a good book? How do you choose what to read? First graders have been working on answering that question and have come up with the Goldilocks Rules for Finding a Just-Right Book!

Each child typed his or her book-finding tip on a Powerpoint slide, then posed while a friend photographed them demonstrating it. Pictures and slides were combined, a background color was chosen, and some even inserted a decorative line around their photo. All slides were combined into a show that will be copyrighted to the first graders. It will be saved and played from year to year to show other students some of the steps to take to find that "just right" book!

Scanning

Fourth graders have been scanning artwork done with Mrs. Plante-Renault for use in an ICT project. Wait til you see where it ends up!

Facebook

Most adults will admit that Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with the lives of friends and relatives. Some in my generation think it's downright amazing! But as adults, we understand well the permanence of placing pictures, words, even private thoughts on Facebook. We know that we need to word our status updates and comments carefully since the message will not have the support of vocal inflections, facial expressions, and body language. We understand privacy issues and the likelihood that we may be targeted by ads or have our information searched out or shared by others. We are aware of what we can and can't, what we should and shouldn't, post online.

Facebook's Terms of Service, aka Statement of Rights & Responsibilities state that "You will not use Facebook if you are under 13." Did the folks at Facebook arbitrarily choose this number? Or did they know something about preteens? Although children this age are fearlessly able and adept to make almost any technology work, they do not always know or understand the subtle details and ramifications of what they've done.

As an ICT Specialist, I would like to be able to use authentic tools like Facebook to teach children about the ethical and moral aspects of social networking. Unfortunately, due to school policies (and the above mentioned age restriction, of course), that's not possible. If your son or daughter has a Facebook page, I trust you as parents are instilling that important piece of online responsibility.

If you're not sure if your child has a Facebook page, just ask. If s/he does, ask to see it. From time to time, do a Google search with the term Facebook and your child's name to find out what's publicly available about your child online. Monitor your child's computer use and have family guidelines related to technology. And above all, always know what all your children are doing online.