Education Special Section
According to the National Association for the Education of
Young Children, there are a variety of ways to implement effective
classroom practices involving technology and interactive media.
As preschoolers are immersed in the use of technology at home—
with their parents on their phones, siblings on their tablets, and
watching others use the computer—they are curious about the
technologies around them. From a young age, they are encouraged
to communicate using a variety of expressions; whether it is
through coloring, painting, creative movement, singing or talking,
children look to the world of possibilities to be creative.
Digital technology is another outlet for learning and creativity,
and with its inherent use throughout homes in the U.S., children
are learning to explore touchscreens and other forms of interactive
media. Educational daycares are utilizing digital technologies to
explore e-books, watch educational videos, and explore places and
things that children may not see within their own environment
(videos about visiting a factory, or pictures of people and places
that are foreign to them). Programs that allow students to freely
explore these types of digital media are designed to facilitate
active and creative use and are encouraged to be done with other
children and adults as a form of social engagement.
Use of technologies is only one of the variety of options that
figure into the aspects of choosing a classroom that is right for a
young learner. Parents are playing a larger role in shaping their
early learners with the choice of play-based learning programs
versus academic learning programs. Play-based or child-centered
programs focus on the current interests of the child. Classrooms
are set up in different sections, such as a kitchen, home, science
area, reading nook, or water area, for kids to engage in social
interactions with others and learn valuable skills based from play.
Academic or didactic, teacher-directed programs are structured
with a curriculum involving planned activities guided by teachers
and designed to prepare students for a kindergarten-type setting.
Either method for learning prepares young children for their
future interactions, both socially and educationally. Finding the
learning style that best suits your own child’s needs will set him/
her up for success.
Cardinal Wuerl
North CatholiC
HigH SCHool
OPEN
HOUSE
Making a
difference in
your community,
and the world
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
1:00 - 3:00 pm
JOiN OUR
WiNNiNg
TRADiTiON!
20
724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
CWNC - Sewickly quarter ad.indd 1
CWNCHS.org
❘
K-12 Education
It is early in education that students start to
become competent in utilizing the tools needed in
our society. Reading, writing, math and language skills are all
core competencies that need to be mastered at a young age and
are critical for a student’s success. Education is being shaped
by incorporating different styles of teaching, accessing new
technologies to enhance learning, and ensuring that students leave
high school with a sense of confidence to enter the workforce or to
continue on to higher education. A variety of trends, disruptions
and technologies are shaping the way K-12 schools face their
biggest challenges.
Engage Parents and Caregivers
Parents can’t advocate for their children if they aren’t given the
tools to do so. The National Education Association states that by
monitoring, supporting, and advocating for their students, parents
and caregivers can ensure that their children have an opportunity
to be successful in school. By working with your students to set
goals, make sure they are on track for academic success, holding
icmags.com
7/23/18 8:49 AM