Things have been busy on the home front lately, and the dishes are piled up and the kids are wearing the same jeans they had on earlier in the week. It is definitely not the worst its been, but hopefully I can manage to finish up my IRB application (due last month) and finish homework due in the next few weeks so that I can focus on my project soon.
With that in reach, I’ve decided to focus some attention on gearing the kids up for starting their own blog. I’m slowly teaching each of them (8 & 5) about internet safety, what you shouldn’t be clicking on, how to use search engines, etc, and I’ve recognized a few things.
(1) This would go much smoother if we had a project in mind. Right now the kids aren’t 100% on board with the blog idea, so I think I will have to make it a whole family site. I envision that if they can have their own sections, then they will feel some ownership over the project, making the learning process a little more intriguing for them.
(2) There’s only 24 hours in a day. Well, between school, homework (theirs and mine), work-work, moving, family time, dinners and cleaning, there’s precious little time for real one-on-onen mini-tech lessons. This planned activity for me cuts into their television time (ha) and my relaxing time, so we have to find ways to learn that satisfy all of us.
——So far, the only one getting to work on stuff is my 5 year old. She goes to work with me until she has to be at school at 11. So she has about two hours of time she can spend on my laptop while I am at work. We’ve used this to help her master the mouse, and currently we are working on touch typing. We’ve used some resources I saw recently on a blog I follow, and she’s doing okay. Its not what we would call FUN, but for a few minutes each morning she can work on her home row keys, and eventually will get it. I’ve put little sticker letters on her fingers, and that helps keep her from lifting her hand placement to see the key she’s touching. The rest of her time is spent playing games, and navigating the Nick Jr website.
(3) Since my laptop is operating Windows 7 – I’ll have to upgrade my desktop soon so that I can really utilize the Homegroup capabilities, which should make life a little easier.
(4) I recently decided to spend a little more time to personally exploring iPod Touch capabilities in the classroom, which requires me to purchase one, and then see how the kids are with it, among other things….so that is something else I’ve added to the list for things to do.
——-Guess that’s enough whining for now. I need to get to work 
My Google Reader just told me that 50 new posts have been added since I started writing this post…..
Posted by Kelly Tenkely on February 1, 2010 at 1:22 am
You are busy! I think it is great that you are working to make blogging a family affair. Once you get into it, I suspect the kids will catch on and take off with it. Best of luck!
Posted by Chollingsworth on February 2, 2010 at 2:49 am
My 11 year old’s eye lit up when I suggested he follow the http://www.dailyshoot.com photography prompts with me and start his own blog with his photos. Maybe your kids would like to post their photos on a blog, too.
It’s great you’re involving them with technology!
Posted by get appy! « Education as a Portal on February 5, 2010 at 9:10 pm
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