Does technology have a place in the
classroom? The answer is inevitably yes. The fascination your child has to
technology can be leveraged for learning. Of course you must tailor each
child’s daily dose of screen time to their age and to recommendations from
professionals, but you can use their tech time for teaching.
Active
engagement: Choose games and apps that are
educational and require input from your child. Apps and games that require
tactile engagement and manipulation of objects around the screen help your
child to remember and work on their fine motor skills.
Make
screen time interactive: Stop them from time to
time and ask them to explain the story or the game, ask questions and get them
to retell bits of each story to help with communication and comprehension
skills.
Problem
solving skills: Pick a range of apps and games that
require different skills and work different parts of the brain. When you select
games that require your child to solve problems, you help them to develop their
analytical skills.
Make
technology fun: There are games for every skill
your child needs to acquire, so make tech time fun. For each new math concept
or language skill, you can choose from a plethora of different games and apps
to find the one that your child enjoys the most.
Start by looking at the curriculum to see
what skills and concepts will be taught over the coming academic year. Then
download a number of games and apps for each one that your child can choose
from.
Set
times for technology: Set a timer on your tablet or
smart phone to switch off when the allotted screen time is up. This will help
to alleviate any arguments that will ensure when you want to end a session.
Ask
your teacher: If you aren’t sure what apps are
appropriate tools for teaching, ask your child’s teacher for help. Teachers can
help you to get the best apps to teach the skills and concepts that they will
be covering in their curriculum or apps that they already use in the classroom.
Stick
to the limits: Too much technology, even if it is
educational, can lead to behavioral problems, obesity and an inability to
socialize well with others. It’s important to keep track of how much time your
child is spending on computers, tablets, smart phones and in front of the TV.
Pediatricians from the American
Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children should have no more than 2
hours of screen time a day and should not have computers or TVs in their rooms.
Of course it’s difficult to limit screen time to just a couple of hours,
especially as children get older. However, the more time they spend outside and
engaged with physical, academic and family activities, the more likely they are
to be healthy and well adjusted.
STEM Tutoring
In December 2012, St. Vrain won $16.6 million in
Race to the Top funds. The U.S. Department of Education chose 16 districts
nationwide; St. Vrain was the only district in Colorado honored. St. Vrain's
application was praised for its plans to broaden STEM (science, technology,
engineering and math. Students apply science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) concepts using 21st century skills and inquiry-based design
thinking models to create innovative solutions to authentic problems enhancing
post- secondary and career readiness. STEM curriculum provides students the
skills to succeed in advanced education and a fast changing and highly
competitive global economy. Not only do students need to science or math concepts, but they need to know how to write to communicate and prepare
papers Does your child attend a STEM
school and need help to succeed?
Grades in STEM courses must be a C
or better to be eligible for certificate.
These schools include:
Race
to the Top STEM Schools
- Alpine Elementary
- Columbine Elementary
- Fall River Elementary
- Indian Peaks Elementary
- Northridge Elementary
- Rocky Mountain Elementary
- Skyline High School
- Timberline K-8
- Trail Ridge Middle School
STEM
Focused Schools
- Erie Elementary
- Longmont High School
- SPARK! Preschool
- Westview Middle School
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