ARTOTEMS CO: MARKETING, PUBLICITY AND WEBSITES FOR AUTHORS, NON-PROFITS, AND SMALL BUSINESS
  • Home
  • About
    • Santa Fe
    • Our Clients
    • Testimonials
  • News
  • Services
    • Marketing & Publicity
    • Design
    • Consulting
  • Author Services
  • Working With Artists
  • Sparks
    • Book Santa Fe
    • V Day UVM Hermosillo
    • SFYSA
    • Flamenco
    • Santa Fe Intl. Silk Fashion Show
    • Freud's Artifacts
    • Personal Artifacts
    • Wunderkammer - Artotems Co.
    • Dreams Revisted - Jung
    • Meet Artotem
    • Artistic Business Cards
    • Things on Adobe
    • It Was In Our Hands
    • A Vision of Crows
    • Look and Listen
    • Death of A Book
    • Alan Watts
    • Textures - It's Nature's Way
    • The Early Years
    • Things on Adobe
    • Our Customers Are Creative
  • Contact
Artotems Co. Blog MARKETING AND PUBLICITY
Find out What we are Up to at Artotems Co.

Power Up, Parents! Your Back-to-School Technology Plan

8/21/2013

0 Comments

 
By Mari Angulo for her Techie Corner in Tumbleweeds: The Quarterly Newspaper for Santa Fe Families
Picture
Picture


‘Tis the season for parents to brave the crowded store aisles, tax-free shopping days and school supply madness to ensure their child is prepared for the new school year. Everybody knows about notebooks and No. 2 pencils, but these days, children’s readiness for school also involves technology. In this fast-changing realm, it can be difficult for parents to keep an up-to-speed supply sheet and to-do list. Three Santa Fe Public School staff members explained that a “back-to-school technology plan” is actually more important for parents than it is for students.

What do students need, and at what age? At what point are they expected to have computers or access to the Internet at home? What resources do parents need to remain in the loop about their child’s education? How do families get information about programs for homework or online research?

What Technology? Where and When?
Ana Raquel Plaza, literacy and data coordinator at Sweeney Elementary and a former third-grade teacher in Santa Fe Public Schools, noted that students have access to computers in the classroom for research and educational games. They may read books on computers and even take quizzes online. Additionally, they have a weekly computer class that addresses different skills depending on their grade. In third grade, for example, students learn to type and how to look for “good” information to be used in their research projects.

At the elementary level, Plaza explained, the use of computers stays in the classroom: “Homework is still traditional and expected to be done in note- books.” As children move up through they grades, they can continue to expect computers to be available for their use at school. By middle and high school, when students are required to do more independent work, having a computer at home is convenient but not mandatory. Without one, the student will have to go to the library after school or come in early to complete assignments that are expected to be done overnight.

Since so many children have computers at home, even in grade school, Plaza believes that parents should “monitor their children and get them access to educational programs and not just ‘fun’ games.” These might include reading programs that highlight words as they say them aloud for the child. Plaza added that since “kids [now] seem to be less motivated to pick up a book and read, the hook to get them reading is to give them access to those types of programs. Shiny technology motivates them to read.” is type of program is particularly valuable for children with special needs, she said, as technology can offer an enhanced visual and auditory learning experience for children challenged by reading.

Raising Tech-Savvy Parents
Tips and recommendations such as Plaza’s are invaluable to parents, but the school district realizes the challenges teachers face in passing on this information. As another means
to enhance communication and support student achievement, the school district last year created the SFPS Parent Academy.


The Academy offers free classes that equip families with the skills, knowledge and resources they need to help students along the path to college and career success and that promote collaboration and community-building among parents and schools. Some classes are specific to the child’s grade; others have a broader scope. Some address technology and computer use. The Academy offers English classes for those whose language is primarily Spanish. Childcare is available, and all classes are bilingual.

Santiago Sanchez, a computer teacher for the Parent Academy and bilingual teacher for grades K through 8, explained: “Sometimes parents have good intentions, but they don’t know how to help their child use available resources in effective ways.” This past spring, the Academy held a pilot computer class to teach parents how to use and navigate the Internet, send email and perform other basic functions. One emphasis of the training is that parents are encouraged to communicate with teachers and principals online. “One of the first things
parents learned is how to create their own email address,” Sanchez said. The computer
class will be offered again in the fall. Interested parents can call 467-2059 to register.

Online, In The Loop
For kids, new technology is generally more ex- citing than intimidating. Raelynn Lujan, who has worked at SFPS for nine years, said, “Incoming kindergartners are already computer savvy. They know how to pull up the Internet and type in a web address, without even knowing how to write their own name.” This is why it has become so important for parents to maintain their techno- logical know-how. “We work really hard to convey the idea that technology is an important part of education,” she said.

Lujan, who still registers students the old-fashioned way in a teacher’s roll book, noted that parents can now register their kids online on the Santa
Fe Public Schools website (www.sfps.info). Registration is not the only thing parents can do online. In the “Student & Parents” section of the website, families can find school supply lists, bus registration forms and routes, district calendars, dress codes, safety policies, literacy resources and more.

Plaza, Lujan and Sanchez all recommended PowerSchool, an online tool that SFPS uses to keep parents informed about their child’s performance and to provide easy communication between teachers and parents. Parents can sign up for PowerSchool at sfps.powerschool.com and see their child’s attendance, assignments and even grades, instantly.

Advances in technology can be fast-paced and intimidating, but with all the tools that technology offers parents for being involved in their child’s education, parents should do their best to stay abreast of the changes. Given the undeniable role of technology in children’s education, “It is mandatory [for parents] to become more con dent in making use of it,” Sanchez said.

Lujan added, “[Technology is] the way of our future, and we try to set our students up to be ready for that future.”
0 Comments
    Picture

    Artotems Co.

    Sharing our creative efforts, work and travel.

    "Wherever you go, go with all your heart." -Confucius

    Follow me on Blogarama

    Archives

    December 2022
    July 2022
    October 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    June 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    April 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    February 2014
    August 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    April 2012

    Categories

    All
    1937
    Acting
    Adobe
    Allen Long Author
    Amsterdam
    And Gray
    And Pink
    Andrea Cassutt
    Andy Warhol Mao
    Apps For Kids
    Apps For Learning
    Architecture Exhibit
    Art
    Art Book
    Art Bookstore
    Art History
    Artist
    Artist Marketing
    Artist Publicity
    Artists
    Art Museum
    Art Museums
    Artotems Marketing Clients
    Art Tucker
    Athor
    Author
    Author Blog
    Author Headshots
    Author Hugh Fritz
    Author Marketing
    Author Michael R. French
    Author Photo
    Authors
    Author Services
    Authors Writers
    Author Video
    Back To School Santa Fe
    Banksy Cardinal Sin
    Banksy Love Is In The Air
    Beastly Books
    Bed And Breakfast Website
    Black
    Blue
    Blue And Yellow (with Viewers Reflection)
    Book Promotion
    Books
    Book Santa Fe
    Bookstore
    Book Trailer
    Book Video
    Cabaret Voltaire
    Carl Knauf
    Case Study
    Centre Georges Pompidou
    Champaign Urbana
    Change
    Charity
    Children
    Cliff Hanger
    Cliff Hanger Jump Before You Get Pushed
    Climate
    Collaboration
    Contemporary Art
    Creating Art
    Creativity
    DADA
    Dadaism
    De Stijl
    DYING
    Encaustic
    Explora Albuquerque
    Fiction
    Fiona Simon
    Francisco Benitez
    Francis Picabia
    Fthwer
    George R R Martin
    Georges Braque Mandora
    Georg R. R. Martin
    Geri Rietveld Red And Blue Chair
    Granola
    Green
    Grey
    Headshots
    Henri Matisse - Back 1 From A Series Of 4
    Hermosillo
    Hero Journey
    Himalayan Youth Foundation
    Hopi Chief White Eagle
    Housing For Everybody Moderna Museet Architecture Exhibit
    Hugh Fritz
    Hugo Ball
    Illinois
    Inside The Van Gogh Museum
    Internet Safety
    Internet Safety For Kids
    Jay Womack
    Joy
    Kids Apps For Learning
    Kids Summer Activities Santa Fe
    Kids Technology
    Kurt Schwitters
    Kurt Schwitters The Workers Picture
    Larry Silverberg
    Learning
    Learning Apps
    Leonardo Da Vinci La Gioconda (Mona Lisa)
    Life
    Light Box
    Literature
    London
    Loss Of Child
    Louvre
    Love
    Loving Child
    Made Roe Broken
    Made To Be Broken
    Making Your Mark
    Man Feeding Pigeons
    Man Ray Rayogram
    Man Ray Transmutation
    Marcel Duchamp Fountain
    Marcel Duchamp Fresh Widow
    MARIACHI
    Marketing
    Max Ernst The Elephant Celebes
    Merketing
    Mexico
    Moco Museum
    Modellarum
    Moderna Museet
    Modern Art
    Moments
    Mondrian Composition With Yellow
    Mondrian Paintings
    Murals
    Musee Du Louvre
    Music
    Nanoscience
    Nepal
    New Mexico
    New Mexico Author
    New Mexico Museums
    Non Profit
    Non-Profit
    Non Profit Marketing Santa Fe
    Novel
    Objects
    Olafur Eliasson
    Olafur Eliasson - Art Space "Modellrum"
    One Minute Of Moments
    Painting
    Pandemic
    Parenting
    Parents Guide To Social Media For Kids
    Paris
    Paul Klee Forest Witches
    Paul Klee Jumper
    Paul Klee Moleskin Notebook
    Paul Klee Portrait Bust Of Gaia
    Paul Klee Rose Garden
    Paul Klees
    Performance
    Persistence
    Photography
    Piet Mondrian Composition In Red
    Poetry
    Pompidou
    Powerschools Santa Fe
    Praying For Restraint
    Promote Your Book
    Publicity
    Raphael Portrait Of Baldassare Castiglione
    Reading
    Rebecca Pott Fitton
    Red
    ReDING
    Resilience
    Roy Lichtenstein As I Opened Fire
    Salvador Dali Caring For A Surrealist Watch
    Salvador Dali Industrial Life- Prémonition De La Guerre Civil
    Salvador Dali The Enigma Of William Tell
    Santa
    Santa Fe
    Santa Fe Artists
    Santa Fe Author
    Santa Fe New Mexico
    Santa Fe NM
    Santa Fe Public Schools
    Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association
    Sfps Technology
    Shirley Melis
    Social Distancing
    Social Media
    Sonora
    Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
    Stockholm
    Sweden
    Sylvia's Irish Inn
    Systems Biology
    Tate Modern
    Techie Corner
    Technology
    Technology At School
    Techno Tourism Santa Fe
    Ted Karpf
    Temoral Modeling
    The Road
    Things
    Things Cubed
    Thriller
    Totem Poles
    Travel
    Tumbleweeds Santa Fe
    TV Appearances
    Van Gogh Museum
    Van Gogh Museum Digital Mosaic
    Victor Pasmore Abstract In White
    Video
    Virtual Reading
    Vista Living Care
    Website Design
    What Is Technology
    Whole Foods Market
    William Waag
    Writer
    Writers
    Writing
    Zurich

    RSS Feed


Site Design by Artotems Co.
​Copyright © 2020 Artotems Co. All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • About
    • Santa Fe
    • Our Clients
    • Testimonials
  • News
  • Services
    • Marketing & Publicity
    • Design
    • Consulting
  • Author Services
  • Working With Artists
  • Sparks
    • Book Santa Fe
    • V Day UVM Hermosillo
    • SFYSA
    • Flamenco
    • Santa Fe Intl. Silk Fashion Show
    • Freud's Artifacts
    • Personal Artifacts
    • Wunderkammer - Artotems Co.
    • Dreams Revisted - Jung
    • Meet Artotem
    • Artistic Business Cards
    • Things on Adobe
    • It Was In Our Hands
    • A Vision of Crows
    • Look and Listen
    • Death of A Book
    • Alan Watts
    • Textures - It's Nature's Way
    • The Early Years
    • Things on Adobe
    • Our Customers Are Creative
  • Contact