Online Safety begins in Kindergarten

I would like to introduce a new technology program that our school district has adopted this year, it's called Learning.com.  This program provides lessons that we will use to educate our students about online safety and a wide variety of computer skills including keyboarding, research, and communication.  We believe in preparing our students for the technology-driven world in which we live.  Check it out, I think you'll be impressed: Learning.com

As I began teaching my first lessons on Netiquette and Cyber bullying this week, I was pleasantly surprised to find that these topics were easy - even with our youngest students, those in kindergarten.  There were very few that didn't raise their hand when I asked if they had played on a computer, a cell phone, or a tablet.   We discussed what makes someone a "good friend" and what makes someone a  "bully." I explained that regardless of where we are, on the playground, in our classroom, or on the Internet (yes, that concept was a little tricky), we should always be a good friend and treat others like we want to be treated.  The main point that I stressed the most, was that whenever, wherever you feel that someone is not treating you nicely, you should tell an adult right away.

These discussions with Kindergarten and First Grade were the simplest by far within Learning.com, but I am proud to be equipping them with knowledge and skills that will keep them safe online (and offline too). In the weeks to come, I'm looking forward to teaching similar lessons to the rest of the grade levels.

A related resource that I want to share with you is Common Sense Media. This website has everything you need to know as a parent in bringing up a child in our digital world. Just a few of the topics covered include: Parent Concerns (i.e. screen time, news and media literacy, character strengths and life skills, etc...); Top picks in Apps, Website, Games, etc...; and Reviews that help you make great choices for your entire family.

We already knew that kids learned computer technology more easily than adults, it's as if children were waiting all these centuries for someone to invent their native language. ~ Jaron Lanier

Book Care for Kids

Now that the library has opened and most of our students have begun to check out library books, I thought it might be useful to post the same rules that I teach the students on my blog for all the parents and caregivers out there. Following these rules can help you avoid having to pay for a lost or damaged library book. Ask your child to tell you about Mrs. Seidel's No, No, Never, Never Box and what is in it. These are Mrs. Seidel's Never Never Rules. 

1. Don't eat a snack while you're reading your book. Dirty or sticky fingers can ruin the pages of a book.
2. Don't drink water, milk, or other beverages while reading. Liquids instantly destroy pages in books. 
3. Don't leave your library book where a younger sibling can write, color, or draw in it.
4. Don't leave your library book where your dog can get a hold of it. Dogs love to chew on books.
5. Don't draw, color, or write in your library book. 

Those are the DON'TS,  but equally important is this one DO: Always keep your library book in a safe place,  preferably in a zipped up backpack off the floor where no one can step on it. If it's always put away, it's less likely to turn up missing. Try to establish a routine with your children to read books and immediately put them in backpacks. This way they have them at school daily to read and test on and of course, ready to return on library day.

Thank you for ALL you do to support your child's reading success!

Reading aloud with your child

Most everyone knows the importance of reading aloud to young children and that they usually love it, but did you know that being read to is something that older children enjoy?  Ask any elementary student to name their favorite story and quite often it will be one that has been read aloud at school. While rhyming and picture books are perfect for the little ones, you might want to try reading aloud as your child gets older. You can start off with thinner Easy to Read chapter books and progress to thicker ones. Take turns reading chapters or simply do all the reading yourself. Either way, your child will love it!

My list of favorites begins with books for Second Grade because these kiddos are always anxious to check out "bigger" books. However, if you feel like your first grader is ready for longer stories, dive right into the Second Grade list.

SECOND GRADE 
Series books
Henry and Mudge;  Annie and Snowball by Cynthia Rylant
Judy Moody and Stink books by Megan McDonald
Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
Ready Freddy by Abby Klein
Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

THIRD GRADE
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
James and the Giant Peach  by Roald Dahl
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Stuart Little by E.B. White

FOURTH GRADE
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
The One and Only Ivan  by Katherine Applegate
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynn Reid Banks
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

FIFTH GRADE 
Hatchet by Gary Paulson
Red Dog by Bill Wallace
My Side of the Mountain - Jean Craighead George
Wonder by Raquel J. Palacios
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Tuck Everlasting  by Natalie Babbitt

What is a ZPD?

As the librarian,  one of the ways that I support your child's reading achievement is through a district program called Accelerated Reader. Within the next few weeks, students in grades 1-5 will be taking the Accelerated Reader STAR test. This online reading test will determine an individual student's reading range, otherwise known as their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).  Basically, the ZPD identifies a range of specific reading levels that a child should read in order to demonstrate continuous growth and success.

Here's an example: Kirsten is a second grader who just took the STAR test. Her ZPD is listed as 2.5 - 3.1.  This means that Kirsten should be reading books from a mid-year second grade level up to beginning third grade levels.  Books in this range include 2.5, 2.6, 2.7. 2.8, 2.9. 3.0, and 3.1. In education, we call these books "just right" because the levels are specific to Kirsten and will support her growth in fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Kirsten's teacher will continually conference with her to set weekly goals and to revise reading levels as needed.

Now you know what a ZPD is and won't be so confused when your child comes home and says that they have  one.  Rest assured that as the librarian, I will be here to guide students in finding the kinds of books that they want to read as just the right levels.  Click here  to find out what you can do as a parent to support your child's reading growth.  If you have children's books at home and want to know if they are AR, you can use Accelerated Reader BookFinder on your computer.  If you frequent the public library or purchase a lot of children's books, you might want to get an app called BookScanner by If Then Dev, LLC for $1.99. By simply scanning the barcode on the back of the book, you can find out the AR level, the point value, and the quiz number.

For general questions about AR at Dawson, please feel free to contact me. However, for AR questions specific to your child, please contact his/her teacher.