New Blog Feature

On the left side of the page you will find some links of interest. I've included both the general AMPP blog (Arts, Music, Physical Education, and Performing Arts) for UPA Elementary, and the blog run by our Music teacher, Ms. Ginger. Our students will have Ms. Ginger's Music class for the first time on Tuesday, October 20th. These blogs are a good way for you to keep up on some of the content being taught in our AMPP classes.

Also included in the link list are two educational sites. Starfall.com and PBS Kids are both sites that we use in the classroom during computer activities. I encourage you to preview these sites and determine what best suits your child. Starfall.com is easy to navigate, but may be limiting as students advance beyond basic reading skills. The PBS site is vast and easy to get lost in -- but offers a huge variety of activities. Sample them both, and let me know what you think. Let me know what else you find that you think I should share with the class.

Some thoughts on the prevalence of technology in our children's lives: Unsupervised computer time is like any other time your child is unsupervised -- things outside of your control can happen. At the same time, you're not always able to monitor your child's computer usage, nor does your constant monitoring allow them to achieve true independence. I encourage you to preview all materials your child will work with, discuss your expectations for how they interact with the computer (time limits, appropriate sites, etc.), and take the time to understand some of the basic parental controls you can adjust on your computer. There is no denying that computers and all manner of technology constitute an essential part of our day to day life. Children need to be taught how to interact with technology in a safe, effective, and beneficial way.