June is Internet Safety Month
June is Internet Safety Month and in many places, the beginning of summer vacation. For us here at NEA HIN that means a renewed focus on helping kids be safe and smart online. That can be a challenge. I became a parent in the days before the Internet, but my children are digital natives. They have grown up with access to an online world that I could not have imagined 27 years ago. This world allows them and us to reach out to people all over the world. I have used it to build friendships with people five time-zones away.
But this world has its risks and part of our job as educators and parents it to help our children build the skills they need to be successful adults. This includes understanding and following the common sense safety tips that all of us should follow on the Internet, whether we get there by means of a desktop computer or the latest smart phone or tablet.
Over at our [email protected] website, Summertime in Cyberspace, provides important tips for helping your child be safe this summer. My top tip is know what your child is doing and where she or he is going online. Have a happy summer.
Be A STAR
In partnership with the Be A STAR Anti-bullying Campaign, the National Education Association Health Information Network is proud to introduce a new complimentary teaching resources for educators. The compelling new film, That’s What I Am, touches on the problem of bullying in schools and communities. Staring Academy Award-nominated actor Ed Harris, the film presents a moving and thought provoking exploration of the ways that bullying can impact people of all ages. It also shows the courage of students and educators in the face of bullying.
The instructional activities presented in this resource guide help teach middle school students about bullying and cyberbullying, the pillars of good character, and social equality. Through self-reflection about the positive examples of moral character represented in the movie, students can begin to develop the skills and tools to prevent bullying, to not be a bystander. The program features:
- Free downloadable clips from That’s What I Am for classroom use
- Free Educational Resource Guide with film synopsis, classroom lessons, and resource section
- Nine cross-references learning themes with instructions activities and student activity sheets
- That’s What I Am reflective journal
- Suggested inter-disciplinary anti-bullying framework
- Tied to national education standards in Language Arts, Social Studies, and Health
- Suggested for grades 6-8
To access the Educational Resource Guide visit Be a STAR. To take a stand against bullying visit the NEA’s campaign, Bully Free: It Starts With Me. More resource on cyberbullying and digital safety can be found at [email protected]