SPECIAL SECTION: TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
Book bags, pencils, pens, lunch boxes, school clothes: Check!
Your kids are ready for the school year with their shiny new school
supplies. But are they ready? Often we equate preparing for school
with shopping and making sure our kids have enough school supplies.
When the purchasing frenzy is over, what is left to do? Quite a bit,
actually.
Those weeks before the start of school are a perfect time to mentally
prepare your children for the school year and to create your own game
plan for a smooth year. Here are some tips to keep in mind during your last
weeks of summer vacation.
GET PREPARED FOR TECHNOLOGY
PowerPoint presentations in 4th grade? The 3 R’s now have a T…
Technology, our newest form of literacy. The accessibility of
technology increases daily and with it comes the expectation that
students are also technologically savvy. Many school districts expect
children to know how to use the basics of the Microsoft Office Suite:
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Pencil and paper are no longer the preferred means of communication.
Writing assignments must be typed, presentations are designed using
PowerPoint, and homework is often accessed through iPads. Even
kindergartners are tapping away at computers equipped with skillbuilding software. Investing wisely in technology prevents much of the
lag that comes from not having basic keyboarding skills or computer
knowledge.
Technology is rapidly changing and the availability of products
is always increasing, so parents can find inexpensive tablets, iPads,
and laptops for half the price from even five years ago. Printers and
scanners are remarkably affordable these days, allowing students to
print, scan or email assignments to teachers.
Don’t be surprised if teachers ask your fifth grader to make a
PowerPoint presentation about Abraham Lincoln to present in front of
the class.
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