Are You Addicted to Your Device?

I think this is a perfect time to share this, right before teachers and parents are gearing up for SPRING break! I ran across 4 videos from Common Sense Media that will make you take a step back and evaluate your technology use around students/children. Be honest in your evaluation of yourself. Do you see yourself in any of  these clips? Can you find moments where you are guilty of any examples? I you have an empty nest (no children home) you can easily relate it to your spouse. Well, don't sit there and beat yourself up, get a grip and make some much needed changes. I know it may be helpful to just say, "I AM A ADDICT" and need HELP! Find someone that that will make you accountable. Limit your technology use around your children or spouse. They need YOU! 100% you without any device. Can you manage?  Don't just watch one of these videos, watch all four!

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Posted in addict, attention, common sense media, family, modeling, parent, parenting, role modeling, techno-phobia, technology, time, training

Rose, Thorn, Bud

I have read several different articles on this neat activity for parents to use with children or for teachers to use in their classroom as a reflection. Parents can do this around the dinner table or as a bedtime activity. It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes for each child. I wish I would have done this with my children while they were growing up. Teachers can use this activity for students to reflect after a long day or week. For the rose, they share their best part of the day. For the thorn, they share the worst part of the day. And then for the bud, they decide on what they look forward to the next day. Isn't this a great idea to use? I love it and will share this with my grown children to use with my grandchildren. I hope that they like it and to tie it to the rose is a perfect visual.

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Posted in Activity, bedtime, parent, reflection, share, students, teacher, writing