Does your child love nonfiction books? Check out the selection of books at the Scholastic book fair. You can send in orders through this Wednesday, April 21.
Second Graders used what they’ve learned about 2D shapes to create some chalk art on our sidewalks during a mask break today ☀️
Family Tip #2 (Elementary): Play a game of telephone
Discuss how a message can change depending on the person delivering it or the delivery method. Read a question like "What are you doing?" with different tones of voice. Talk about how emoji and punctuation can help communicate tone and emotion in text messages.
First graders at Oly West were in awe today as they learned about coral reefs introduced by the fabulous book The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs. Now this is scientific storytelling at its best! #FutureScientists
Does your child need a new book to read this weekend? Check out the Scholastic book fair. Simply mark the books you would like to purchase on the “shopping list” your child brought home and return it along with the payment to the school.
The contactless Scholastic book fair is at West. This is a great opportunity to stock up on books for summer reading.
Games, social media, and other online spaces give kids opportunities to meet and chat with others outside the confines of their real-life communities. But how well do kids actually know the people they're meeting and interacting with? Help students consider whom they're talking to and the types of information they're sharing online.
In this video, kids hear from teens about the benefits and drawbacks of presenting themselves differently (or even anonymously) to others online, and consider what it means to "be yourself" in digital spaces.
Video Link: bit.ly/olyRCv3
*Keeping Games Fun and Friendly*
Social interaction is part of what makes online gaming so popular and engaging for kids. But online communication can come with some risks. Show your kids how to keep their gaming experiences fun, healthy, and positive.
Video: bit.ly/olyRCv1
Last week was National Library Week. Mrs. Lang has transformed our library to library on a cart this year giving students the opportunity to check out books each week. She has checked out 4,816 books so far this year! Thank you Mrs. Lang!
Family Tip #1: Give them the right words.
Kids learn about appropriate verbal and physical communication from watching you. But online conversations can be invisible. Occasionally, narrate as you're writing texts or social media comments when your kids are in earshot.
Second Graders have been talking about the effects that water flow has on various landforms. This week we were able to plan and conduct a STEM project building a barrier to save a sand castle from an "ocean tide."
First graders and Mrs. Ruppert discussed using positive self talk when we are feeling stressed
**Help Kids Make Friends and Interact Safely Online: Elementary**
Soon after kids start reading and writing, they often begin interacting with others online. Whether they're chatting within games or texting family members, kids need the skills to interact respectfully. These skills will help kids -- and the people they're communicating with -- have positive experiences online. Throughout April, be on the lookout for these 4 Family Tips for elementary families who are looking to build a strong foundation for online relationships and communication!
1. Give them the right words.
2. Play a game of telephone.
3. Help kids navigate online friendships.
4. Develop their instincts.
4th graders created and assembled roller coasters with hills and valleys to experiment with energy.
Family Tip 5: **Skip quizzes**
Help kids identify and avoid clickbait, quizzes, special offers, and anything that asks for personal or private information. This helps keep information secure and devices safe.
5 Myths and Truths About Kids’ Internet Safety
Help keep your kids' online experiences positive and productive by learning the truth (and ignoring the rumors) about what really makes them safe. Article by Caroline Knorr
bit.ly/olyDSA5
Parents' Ultimate Guide to Parental Controls
Do you need parental controls? What are the options? Do they really work? Here's everything you need to know about the wide array of parental control solutions, from OS settings to monitoring apps to network hardware. Article by Caroline Knorr
bit.ly/olySDA3
5 Surefire Ways to Protect Your Kid’s Online Privacy
Today's kids spend lots of time posting and sharing information online. Learn five surefire ways to protect their privacy.
bit.ly/olyDSv2
5 Ways to Make YouTube Safer for Your Kids
Kids love YouTube. Whether they're watching funny videos, learning cool stuff, or uploading their own creations, they can stay busy on the popular website. But not everything about YouTube is fun and games. Discover five ways to make YouTube safer for kids.
bit.ly/olyDSv1
Family Tip 4: **Power up passwords**
Work together with kids to help them come up with complex passwords. Think outside the dictionary. Use phrases and special characters that make passwords hard to guess but easy to remember. Remind kids to keep passwords private and change them regularly.
