Internet Resources for Research and Other Activities
Below are a list of internet resources that you can access for free through the Michigan eLibrary site.
Here are two sites for elementary that you can use easily for searching just about anything you might be discussing at home. InfoBits is an easy to use site.
The other site is called BigChalk.com and works a bit differently but is still easy to access.
Also off of the Michigan eLibrary site is a "kids" area with games, Michigan facts, books, etc. Again, another area that you may want to look into for activities at home.
Resources and Family Connections for Services in Our Area
This page is to give you options to resources that people are asking me about or that I find that are relative to our classroom. I will put in this disclaimer......
I am in no way affiliated to or serving my own interests in posting these resources. Having a special needs child sometimes requires us to "search" for the right person to help with support, counseling, dental or medical care, etc and that can be very discouraging and frustrating. The resources here are ones that people have found that meet some of these needs and I am sharing them with you. I will not post doctors, facilities or resources where someone has had a poor experience. But that also does not guarantee that your experience will be the same as the person who made the initial recommendation to me. These are just some resources/choices that are out there for you. You need to make the choice that is best for your family and situation.
The Down's Syndrome Guild of Southeastern Michigan http://www.dsgsemi.org
For families blessed with a child with Down's Syndrome, this is a local resource. They offer a wide range of supports and activities to connect with other families with similar lifestyles. I have had a number of families connected to this organization.
MORC (Macomb Oakland Regional Center)
Digital Citizenship - Resources For Parent & Kids
So one of my "things" that I am learning about is Digital Citizenship. Sounds sort of complicated??? IT IS!!! With technology changing so quickly, and even daily, EVERYONE, parents and students alike need to know what they are doing when they go to internet sites, how they leave a "footprint", negative people out there who want to steal your identity, etc. But more than that, from a teacher point of view, students and parents need to know "how" to search and find materials that appropriate to a school assignment, where to get accurate research materials or appropriate gaming sites for a given grade level. There are a lot of sites that are fine for adult viewing or a high school student doing research on a give area for science, but are NOT appropriate for a second grader.
So according to the site 21 Things for Teachers (Oakland Schools), they use this definition of Digital Citizenship….
Digital Citizenship is a concept which helps teachers, technology leaders, and parents understand what students/children/technology users should know regarding appropriate technology use. Digital Citizenship is more than just a teaching tool; it is a way to prepare students/technology users for a society full of technology. Too often we see students as well as adults misuse and abuse technology because they are unaware of what is appropriate.
And there is a list of areas that go with digital citizenship. Again, from the 21 Things for Teachers website.
So according to the site 21 Things for Teachers (Oakland Schools), they use this definition of Digital Citizenship….
Digital Citizenship is a concept which helps teachers, technology leaders, and parents understand what students/children/technology users should know regarding appropriate technology use. Digital Citizenship is more than just a teaching tool; it is a way to prepare students/technology users for a society full of technology. Too often we see students as well as adults misuse and abuse technology because they are unaware of what is appropriate.
And there is a list of areas that go with digital citizenship. Again, from the 21 Things for Teachers website.
So I am going to add sites that I find to help you, as parents, find information about digital citizenship that you can do with your child. The first one that I have found is called Digital Passport. Here is a link to get you started. It is simple, with five modules, includes some educational materials, a video to watch with your child and some games. This particular site is geared to older elementary students, so it may work for a sibling. It's never too soon to learn! Sign up is FREE!!!!!
https://www.digitalpassport.org/educator-registration
https://www.digitalpassport.org/educator-registration