Group items tagged

"iPhones and iPads are networked mobile computers, not LeapPads. Making it "kid-friendly" takes some customization. This App Friday, along with introducing some featured apps, we'll include a refresher on Settings > General > Restrictions. Fun fun!"

"Yet, despite rapid growth in society's use of digital technology, many children in low-income families in the United States are not able to access and use technology in the same ways as their more-advantaged peers. This means they have fewer opportunities to learn, explore, and communicate digitally, and fewer chances to develop the workforce skills they will need to succeed in later life. Early childhood education can play a valuable role in ensuring that low-income children can access technology and learn how to use it. However, there are a number of important issues that need to be addressed."

"I feel storytelling apps are one of the most powerful aspects of using the iPad. It allows for collaboration and creativity that I couldn't really achieve before using the iPad. Here are my 22 favorite Storytelling Apps. The list is constantly changing but the majority of them stay the same."

"The Young at Art® philosophy, as set forth in the books of the same name emphasizes that children's art is not a "frill", not merely "charming" but the very foundation upon which all education can be built. It was first introduced with the publication in 1978 of The Anti-Coloring Book®, railing against the proliferation of stifling "art" activities consisting of drawings created by adults that children were expected to merely color in; neatly and within the lines. The Anti-Coloring Books don't merely burst free of those lines, but eliminates them completely!"

"Kids practice essential skills as they play four exciting games per letter/number: INTRO - discover the letter's shape, name and sound TAP - learn where to start, change direction and finish by tapping the dots TRACE - learn the letter trajectory by tracing it WRITE - test your knowledge by writing from memory"

"The purpose of the Use of Technology to Support Head Start Practice project was to review the knowledge base related to the use of technology to support the practice of early childhood professionals who work directly with children and families. The results were intended to fill a knowledge gap regarding what technologies are currently available to early childhood programs; how practitioners are using these technologies; and the barriers to and facilitators for practitioner use. The review examined three topic areas of interest: 1) instruction and assessment; 2) parent, family and community engagement (PFCE); and 3) professional development and informal learning. It also outlined both the facilitators and barriers to effective technology use in early childhood settings."

"Have fun with these great lego examples for all ages. The lego instructions are explained step by step. Build your highest towers and fastest cars with these lego examples. Lego duplo bricks attract the attention from the youngest by their bright colors and the building possibilities. The building of lego duplo constructions add a lot the development of their motoric skills. Help you child and let them build small animals or big towers. It is fun! And more, they are available for android smartphones and tablets."

The Serious Need for Play\nFree, imaginative play is crucial for normal social, emotional and cognitive development. It

Lots of words have popped up lately to describe things you can listen to from the internet: MP3s, podcasts, audiobooks, etc. What's important about what's offered here is that they are in the MP3 format, and FREE. Your computer has software built-in to allow you to listen to MP3s. Most of you can just click a button below labeled "Read to Me" and everything will work just fine. If you DO run into a problem, click on the button marked Download to save the file to your hard drive, where you can listen on your computer, burn it to a CD, or listen on your iPod or other MP3 player.

"Nursery Rhymes to Sing See and Sign are free downloadable, web-based communication resources for all young children. It includes 14 favorite Nursery Rhymes. Nursery Rhymes to Sing See and Sign provide a particular focus on communication strategies known to help communication and language development in children with communication difficulties. "

For young children to use computers successfully, it is critical to select software that is developmentally appropriate, that is, consistent with how children develop and learn. Researchers agree that software for young children should: * Encourage exploration, imagination, and problem solving * Reflect and build on what children already know * Involve many senses and include sound, music, and voice * Be open-ended, with the child in control of the pace and the path

"Last night we led a round table on Twitter about a topic of interest to us: Apps and Autism. It was a thoughtful discussion about how iOS devices, particularly the iPad, have transformed the lives of many autistic children. Parents and special educators gathered together and talked intimately about the magical effect technology has on the autistic children in their lives. The group stressed improvements in independence, communication and life skills, as a result of their using apps, all leading to improved quality of life for a child and family."

"Night Light Stories is a podcast featuring original children's stories. These stories were all originally told by the friendly glow of a child's night light. We invite you now to share these stories with your own children, at night, in the morning, or anytime ... anywhere. You can download and listen to the stories from the links on the blog or download it free at iTunes!"

"Computer Ergonomics for Children with Kathy Moore As more children use computers for extended periods, it is important to help them achieve proper ergonomic posture to prevent injury. Learn some easy ways to help your child achieve A+ computer ergonomics. "

. Storybird is a great site that fosters creative student writing, and I have enjoyed great success when using it in class (click here for my tutorial on the site... click here or here to see some student work). During the conversation, Mr. Ury mentioned that the site had recently opened up a fundraising option. I was intrigued and decided almost immediately that I would make a Storybird fundraiser a priority going in to the 2011-12 school year.

"New science tells us that our children's first years are when they develop the foundation for all future learning. Every time we connect with them, it's not just their eyes that light up - it's their brains. In these moments, half a million neurons fire at once, taking in all the things we say and do. We can't see it happening, but it's all there, all at work. That's why Vroom is here. Vroom turns shared moments into brain-building moments. Whether it's mealtime, bath time, or anytime in between, there are always ways to nurture our children's growing minds."

" ZERO TO THREE has developed Screen Sense:  Setting the Record Straight-Research-based Guidelines for Screen Use for Children Under 3 Years Old. This new free resource, written in partnership with leading researchers in the field of media and young children, is an authoritative review of what is known about the effect of screen media on young children's learning and development.  It is designed to serve as a tool for guiding parents and professionals in making informed decisions about screen media use."

"Easily create videos in the classroom! Students as young as five can make videos to tell stories, explain ideas, or document their learning. 30+ lesson ideas supporting Common Core make it easy to get started!"

Know What's Inside gives parents the power to choose the best apps for their kids. We only feature developers committed to our high standards for protecting kids' privacy and building great family-friendly apps - and we always make it quick and easy to Know What's Inside every app we feature so that parents can decide if it's right for their kids.

The Council's eighteen members from academia, industry, and policy assessed current practices in early education and elementary school teaching and have designed a professional development "blueprint" to advance the use of effective digital media in teaching and learning, with a special emphasis on instruction for underserved students. This report, Take a Giant Step, represents the Council's multi-sector action plan to enhance teacher education and a higher quality, 21st century approach to the learning and healthy development of children in preschool and the primary grades. The report sets forth several goals for the nation to meet by 2020, including advancing technology integration and infrastructure; a more robust professional training program for early education professionals; the expanded use of public media as cost-effective assets for teachers; and the establishment of a Digital Teacher Corps.