*Communication
– Talking With Kids About Tough Issues
– Top 10 Tips for Nonverbal Communication
– Improving Your Nonverbal Skills
*Articles
– Good Parents Make Better Teachers
– Students gain independence through technology Special-education students at a New Jersey elementary school are using iPads, laptops and other technology to learn and communicate. “Using technology like this fosters independence and that’s what we want for all of our children, regardless of what grade they are in,” said Jill Troisi, a physical therapist and member of the district’s Assistive Technology Team. “We would rather provide students with a device than send them out of district to a private institution,” she added. Patch.com/Wayne, N.J. (1/30)
– How technology has transformed learning The emergence of widespread Internet connectivity, social networking and mobile computing all have contributed to the creation of a new type of learner, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. “These three elements together have changed the context of learning,” said Lee Rainie, director of the center’s Internet and American Life Project. Students today are more self-directed, more inclined to collaborate and rely on feedback from peers, and are better-equipped to obtain information, the article states. T.H.E. Journal
– A Parents Guide to Twitter and Education As more and more people join the world of Twitter (460,000 sign ups per day), school parents and teachers are more seeking this global social media tool. According to a recent Pew Internet Study, 84% of all Twitter users are between the ages of 18-49. Why is this important to school officials? The age range includes the majority of our school parents.
– Edudemic, an education technology website, put together a list of 25 education blogs for parents with topics ranging from how to increase learning outside of school to preparing for the college application process: edudemic.com/2012/08/25-education-bogs-perfect-for-parents-and-just-about-anyone-else.
– Penn State University recently did a study about parent/teen relationships and found that teens want more interaction with their parents. During this period in their lives, teens often resist parental assistance and crave for their independence. This is just a part of the developmental stages of life. However, they not only need parental interaction, they actually want it: http://live.psu.edu/story/60790.
– Did you know failure (making mistakes, trying again) is a natural part of the learning process? As painful as it may be at times, it’s important for us to allow ourselves to make mistakes and even more important to let our students make mistakes. The following article lists three ways parents can let their child make mistakes: huff.to/R5Ow5S.
– There are many methods of communication these days and it’s extremely hard for us to keep up. However, more and more students have turned to social media, such as texting, tweeting, and posting on Facebook to interact with their friends and express themselves. It’s important for us all to help them develop a positive digital footprint. This requires us to monitor their interactions. Following is a neat blog post by a member of my Professional Learning Network about knowing what your kids are tweeting and texting: http://www.principalspage.com/theblog/archives/do-you-know-what-your-kids-are-tweeting-and-texting
* College
– 25 Financial Terms Students Should Know Before Taking Out a Loan
* SAT/PSAT
-SAT/PSAT Prep – Free resources for students at Belmont Public Library. TERC (Testing & Education Reference Center) offers online access to practice tests for the PSAT, SAT – general & subject specific, & AP tests, as well as test prep ebooks available 24/7. TERC can be accessed through the Belmont Public Library website, www.belmont.lib.ma.us, then the database tab, and the education links. The first time a student accesses the site, they will be required to type in a Belmont library card number, but after that, they should be good to go.This alternative link will bypass the library webpage & go directly to the login page.
