Teaching - What works!

I know what works. I have used an approach in my classroom and now that same approach is being used in 1000s of locations nationwide.

My approach is based on how kids learn.

Think about how kids really learn. I mean really learn. Watch any baby learn to speak. First the child begins to babble, and then the child begins to form some recognizable word. The parent gets so excited. The child then makes the connection between the word and the object.

 OK.. so what's the big deal!

Well it isn’t happening in most classrooms around the country.  We may talk the talk, but hardly happening.  Kids need to be engaged or immersed in the learning process. In the case of the baby, he was hearing language all around him. He was immersed in the language. The person speaking has knowledge of the content, in this case the English language, so the child is learning English. The final step is to intervene with positive reinforcement.  Otherwise, the baby would just continue to babble and have no clue he was actually saying words that had meaning.

OMG…so simple.  It works. Immerse children in the learning process, so they see a reason for what they are learning, have high expectations, lead them to achieve success, praise them for their accomplishments.

These steps are the basis of the Imagine Tomorrow Approach being used in the Puterbugs Literacy based Technology program.  Our teachers are all trained and certified on how to implement the Imagine Tomorrow Approach.  Many have told me that the same techniques work for their own children at home.

Training doesn’t end with the Imagine Tomorrow Certification.  Our teachers are not left on their own in an isolated classroom.  Our network of teachers share best practices and receive on-going mentoring and support through our proprietary online system.  

Steps for successful Teaching:

1.      High expectations for each child

2.      Knowledgeable teachers who love what they are doing

3.      Make learning meaningful and challenging

4.      Positive feedback

5.      Mentor and support teachers

We see the results from around the country.  The Imagine Tomorrow Approach works!

Put down that Book - Pick up Technology

Have you ever told your child NOT to read a book or he can only read no more than 25 minutes a day?  Yet same remarks are being placed on kids using technology.

How about all those expert?  I haven’t been able to find one study that shows that kids who sit to read books are anti-social, can’t communicate with peers, less creative and will lead to childhood obesity.   Sounds absurd!  Yet it would be true, if kids found reading a book as engaging as using technology.

What is more isolating than watching a child sitting by himself reading a book?  How many times have you ever heard a kid telling another kid to get this great book?  Rarely!  I know moms this summer are not limiting their child’s reading time, but they are trying all kinds of bribes to get their kids to read. 

Yet they have the tool right at their fingertips.

Parents will hand their kids computers, tablets, smart phones for the purpose of playing games.  Then we have all these “experts” chiming in on how bad technology is for our kids, yet when used properly it is the best learning tool we have.

It doesn’t have to be a struggle to get your child to read.  Your kid is part of the digital generation and will read what is interesting.    Using technology is fun and kids really are naturally inquisitive.   Check out Shark Week on Discovery Website - http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/shark-week/.  Have your child watch the videos and read about sharks. Yes! Watch the videos and listen to the audio.  Really amazing what is at our fingertips and how much we can learn.  Reading and Listening Comprehension are literacy skills kids need to be successful learners.  For younger children, be sure to practice at www.discoverykids.com/puterbugs for the most innovative Shark Week learning experience for your kids! 
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Kids are putting down their book, but picking up technology.   Just as we nag our kids to read a book, when you hand over technology to your kid, do it with a purpose.  A quote from a child from one of our computer classes, “This is almost like learning.”  

Is Your Child At Risk?

No not my child...

We live in a nice house in a great neighborhood. My kids go to "good" schools and get good grades. They have all the latest gadgets. They know how to use my laptop, smart phone to access the latest apps, play video games and they have figured it out all by themselves.

Exactly! No one, probably not you, not their teachers, ever explained to them the risks of using this technology. Do you know according to a study by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that 1 in 5 youths online face invitations to engage in cybersex or receive other risque solicitations?

Sen. Judd Gregg, chairman of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funded the study said that, "If your child is using the Internet, it is very likely that your child has been solicited for activity of a sexual manner."

Wow! scary.

The report also went on to say that few of the children ever reported the incidents to authorities or even to their parents. The biggest surprise to me was that the profile of the typical sexual solicitor was a teen. Yikes, and you know how much kids are influenced with peer pressure.

WHAT'S A PARENT TO DO?
 START YOUNG!!! and follow this motto:  Expect + Respect = Success

Expectation
Before you hand your kids that cool technology make sure you set expectations of how and when it should be used.   Think about it.  Would you send your young child to play in a park without any rules or adult supervision?  Would you give your older child keys to the car just because he figured out how to drive?  Of course not, and it must be the same with technology.  

It is fun for young kids to IM and add smiley faces to grandma but this is a great time to start setting expectations.  Let your child  know you expect that he will only IM with some one he knows.  As your child gets older, he/she will text and most likely will have a facebook page.  Your child from a very young age must be told over and over again your expectations for posting and texting. 

Respect
Make sure your kids are taught at an early age to respect technology from the first time they grab your smart phone or tap the keyboard.  Respect for technology isn't natural to kids. It must be taught even though they are clicking and swiping faster than most adults.

Success
Setting high expectations and respect when using technology, kids will less likely be the victims of predators and more likely be the ones who will use it as a powerful tool for learning, self-expression and communication.

Technology is here to stay. Don't put your head in the sand and think by not letting your child use it, that's the solution,.  Believe me..It's way to cool and they are going to get their hands on it.

So ...What are you doing to prevent your child from being one of those kids who are at risk?

Tear Down the Walls

Imagine a School without Walls

It was 1968, I had just graduated from college, and I was ready to shake up the world. I heard about this new approach to teaching being used in Britain called “Open Classroom.” The more I read about it, the more natural it seemed to me. It was kid centric--children actively involved in the learning process. Schools would take down walls between the classrooms and kids would be learning in hands-on small group instruction, instead of a teacher standing in front of room teaching all the kids the same thing at the same time. I embraced the Open Classroom approach and even had the opportunity to teach in the environment. The problem – teachers in my district were not properly trained and many resisted the change. It was considered another teaching “fad” and within a few years the walls went back up.

Today I hear the same thing that was said when we returned to our isolated classrooms in the early 70’s. We need to get back to basics. Our schools are failing. Kids aren’t learning. But today it is so different. Huge changes to education are possible--without physically taking down walls--so kids can learn at their own pace.

How? Technology!

Technology is not going away, and it isn’t a fad!  We do face challenges when trying to change a mindset of educators who see themselves as the deliverers of all information and expect students to give back same information on a test and parents who think their kids are computer savvy just because they can play video games.    

Let’s not lose a generation of kids! For years, I have seen the positive results of using technology with young children, and I keep imagining a tomorrow in which all children will have access to technology, the best learning tool we have.

Should a Test Detemine a Child's Future?

Our Kids Deserve Better!

I recently went to a local Education and Technology Conference in the NY area, hoping to hear about exciting new things going on in the field.  But I was disappointed to find the latest things being discussed there were smart boards, and a program to track students' grades and their interests... Really!?

I am OK with them discussing the pros of using smart boards, but this is not new or very exciting to me.   The presenter then went on to describe this tracking system being used throughout this large district in the city.  I couldn't believe what I was watching and hearing.  She pulled up on the screen  a  profile of a 6th grade girl.  She explained how the testing can identify the child's interest and how they would encourage the child to follow a particular path based on this test.   Since this girl showed an interest in drawing, they would encourage her to take art classes and that she should follow a career path that had an art focus.  Perhaps work at an Art Museum was one option.   

First of all she is in 6^th grade.  Do you know how many 6th grade girls like to draw and doodle?   Second, why wouldn’t they suggest a math or science career?  We sure do need creative people in those fields.  It is the people who can think outside the box who will come up with the new cure for diseases or new energy sources.  Sadly, they are relying on testing to determine a child’s future without giving the child the proper guidance.

This really hit home for me.  Many, many years ago when I started high school, I was placed in a vocation track instead of the academic track, which would enable me to go to college.  It was probably based on the entrance exam without ever looking to find that I had graduated at the top of the class.  I was told that the classes I needed to be a teacher were too difficult for me.  I didn’t believe them, and I made sure I took those “difficult” classes.  I went on to college, finished in 3 years, but I often think about other kids who did believe what they were told, and as a result never achieved their full potential. 

It is so crucial to have high expectations for every child and not to set limitations--based on a test, a label, or other judgement.  They are our future-- Our kids deserve better!

Choosing Tech Gifts

"I want... an iTouch, a laptop, a new Wii game, a membership to my favorite website, and...."
It's the holiday season, and parents often have questions about choosing the right technology-related gifts for their young children. Here are some tips we have shared with parents of Imagine Tomorrow students, that may help with the shopping!

Choosing a Computer:

• At home or on the go? Before purchasing a computer, think about where you will have it set up in your home. We recommend setting it up somewhere that young children can easily be supervised or given assistance, like a family room or den (rather than a bedroom). Selecting a laptop versus a desktop really depends on whether or not you prefer to be portable. Regardless of the type of computer you choose, remember that young children can be taught to respect this new gift. So after the gift is given, be sure to remind them of "the computer rules"--such as how to gently tap the keys, how to take turns with siblings...and not to use it as a place mat when eating & drinking!
• A mouse in the house? Children adjust very quickly to different control mechanisms--whether it's a touchscreen, a touch pad, or a mouse. As a matter of fact, the hand motions to control touchscreens are very intuitive to many young children, so this is often not a limiting factor in your choosing.
• "Hi Grandma! Do you see me?" Consider whether you want a web cam that comes with many systems--a nice addition if you have friends or family that use Skype.

Games/Apps/Software/Website Subscriptions:
Games, software, and websites can be educational, entertaining, or hopefully both! When deciding which ones to choose, do a little research. Look at product descriptions and information online, and read user reviews. Here are a few things you can ask yourself:

• Is it age-appropriate? Check the recommended age, read reviews, or even ask other parents for feedback on the product. For the same reason that you wouldn't hand a 1st grader a book that a 6th grader is reading, you should take the time to carefully choose the right level game or program. This can prevent a lot of frustration.
• Is there violence? Are there darker 'mean' characters? If so, how does it fit into the values and standards you have set in your home?
• Is there educational value? Straightforward academic enrichment? Or problem solving and critical thinking skills? Does it look like it will inspire creativity???
• Does it seem to be positive/rewarding? Does it look like it gives positive feedback, such as "Good Job!" or "You did it!", leading the child to success? Please be aware that there are games out there that challenge children to "beat a level", but are negative, even labeling attempts as "Failure" on-screen. This type of negative feedback frustrates children (young and old), so try to avoid these types of games when possible.
• Does it look like FUN? That's an important question too--because that's what will put a SMILE on the face of the child receiving the gift!

Happy shopping!

What is the right age for starting a child on the computer?

The answer to this question can vary, but some children as early as 2 ½ years have the attention, understanding, and eye-hand coordination to make them “ready” for the computer. Others need a little more time, but often sometime between age 3 and 4 they are ready to get started.

Of course, learning happens best in a setting where there is structure – rules, respect, and balance. So if you are ready to have your preschool age child explore and learn using technology, you should be ready yourself to be involved firsthand in the process. The right software or website selection may keep your child occupied and learning, but don’t underestimate your role as their coach and teacher right at their side, to set the rules, guide them through whatever they are working on, and to praise their accomplishments!