Digital Citizenship

"Digital Citizenship is a concept which helps teachers, technology leaders and parents to understand what students/children/technology users should know to use technology appropriately."

This a VERY important topic to instill in children in today's society. It's important that they are aware of the proper ways to interact online. When I taught elementary computers, we would revisit this and Internet Safety a few times a year. I always told my students that just because you're "hiding" behind a computer screen doesn't mean that the rules of safety, courtesy, and anti-bullying don't apply. 

I am including the links below to many resources to help teach this concept to students. It's never too early to teach them how to be safe online. 

Digital Citizenship: BrainPop

5 Videos for Teaching about Digital Citizenship

Free Digital Citizenship Posters

How Students View Digital Citizenship

Ways to Be Kind on Social Media

I Am a Digital Citizen

Digital Citizen Curriculum for grades K-2

Classroom Posters

Don't Be A Bully!

I hate bullying! I hate all kinds of bullying! I do not like the fact that this issue is increasingly becoming more and more of a serious problem in our society. I worry for my own kids as well as all kids that I know and love. 

Bullying is mean, hurtful, dangerous, unnecessary, demeaning, cowardly, and just plain DUMB! I have already begun to instill into my own kids that bullying will not be tolerated. Whether they are bullied themselves or they become a bully, I will not tolerate it! 

Bullying has had some serious repercussions in recent times. Some kids even go as far as taking their own lives because of being bullied so severely. It's time to make this epidemic STOP! 

It's gone too far and we all need to work together to educate everyone about why bullying is not okay, how to stop it, what to do if it happens, and how to recover from it. 

Just because bullying is mostly seen in a school setting, does not mean that it does not exist in the adult world as well. 

ALL BULLYING is NEVER OKAY! Let's take a stand. 

Below are many resources for educating people of all ages on this disturbing trend. 

Cyberbullying

Bullying Prevention

The Bully Bucket

How Will I Stop Bullying?

The Thumper Theory

Stop Bullying: Speak Up

Anti-Bullying Awareness Video

Bullying IS a BIG Deal!

Too often lately, we hear horrible stories about kids who are constantly bullied, yet nothing is done to help them. Bullying is happening everywhere: online, in schools, in the workplace.

 

What can we do to stop this?

 

I say the first thing that needs to occur is education. It is VITAL that all students, employers, and employees are educated on bullying, how to recognize it, and what to do if it occurs. While schools are taking a tougher stand against bullies, it's the workplace that is becoming a bigger issue as well. Just because the bullying is between adults, does not mean that it is okay.

 

Bullying can affect a person's health, mental state, and day to day life. NO ONE should tolerate bullying, no matter what the age or situation.

 

While these links may not give all the answers on what can be done, I hope they give some insight as to the bullying problem that is continuously growing in our society.

 

Please, if you or someone you know is being bullied, REPORT IT! You are important and do not have take that kind of abuse from anyone. You matter!

 

 

Workplace Bullying Institute

School Bullying Outbreak

Don't Be a Bully: ClipArt

Cyberbullying

Bullies Beware

Anti-Bullying Network

Nick: Anti-Bullying

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My New Bulletin Board!

I decided that since the school year is half over, that it was time for a new theme for my bulletin board outside my computer lab. It's a very large board, so the possibilities are endless!

 

My previous board tied in with my lab's Social Media theme. It was a giant Facebook page.

 

Well, my new board is as close to a Pinterest page as I could create. Each board is a different grade level, featuring projects that students have created in the lab. I also have a board titled "I Heart Technology". This is a board that features hearts from teachers. On the hearts they wrote various technology related tidbits: favorite websites, technology goals, memories of technology as a child, etc. This way the students can see that teachers and staff use technology often as well. I will post some pictures of those hearts in a different post.

 

I will also post more details about some of the student projects in a future post. For now, enjoy these pictures. I am super proud of my students and their hard work!

 

 

P.S. On a personal side note, Happy 5th Birthday to my beautiful daughter, Elizabeth!! Daddy and I are so proud of you and love you lots!

No Cyberbullies Allowed!!

October is National Bullying Prevention month. It's nice to see that there is a whole month dedicated to  bringing awareness to this growing problem.

Whether the bullying is occurring face to face or via electronic means, it's still a serious problem in today's society. In my computer classes, we cover both Internet Safety and Cyberbullying throughout the year. It's important that students are aware of Online dangers and what to do should something unsafe or inappropriate occur.

I stress to my K-4 students that bullying to someone's face is just as serious as bullying them through electronics. This includes via social media, text messaging, email, chat, etc. Bullying is NOT allowed in my classroom and is not tolerated at our school. It can have such damaging effects on a person, sometimes fatal.

With all of this in mind, I am including many links below to help teachers, students, and parents learn more about Cyberbullying and ways to both prevent and deal with it. I pray that this epidemic is one that can be tamed sooner rather than later.

• Cyberbullying Research Center
• Cyberbullying Resources
• National Crime Prevention Council: Cyberbullying
• Common Sense Media: Cyberbullying Toolkit
• Cyberbully Not
• Stop Cyberbullying
• Cyber Cafe
• Stop Bullying: Cyberbullying

All Things Computers

I am working on a review activity for my 3rd-5th Graders. It has caused me to revisit some sites that we've used this year in the computer lab, to help teach about various computer and technology concepts. Here are three really great resources below:

Computers for Kids

Webonauts

Technology for Grades 3-6

For more Great Links, check out my Live Binder site HERE!

Safer Internet Day!!

So, I just found out that today is Safer Internet Day!! Please check out these great resources to help teach kids about being safe online. Luckily today, my second graders were already doing an activity to show their Cyberbullying knowledge.

Enjoy the links below (sorry this post isn't too fancy)!

What Should I Click On?

Safer Internet Day Website

Internet Safety Resources

Garfield's Online Safety

Bad Guy Patrol

Zoe & Molly