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.
