Tuesday, April 11, 2017

"Everything's blocked!"

Hello, Parents and Friends,

We are moving apace in the computer lab as we head into the last 6 weeks of school. All students are learning much more after our adoption of the "Structured Learning" curriculum for computer labs which we purchased around the start of the calendar year.

I want to share a perspective with you. If you have heard from your child that "everything is blocked" in the computer lab, it's because I take very seriously my charge as "in loco parentis" in the computer lab. No, that doesn't mean "crazy parent," it means the adult in the room who is in charge of children.

Students may exercise all sorts of online entertainment options on home computers or other devices, at home or out in the world, which are not permissible in the school setting. I utilize LANSchool in the lab to control what is possible to visit here at school. This is in addition to the ENA blocklist, which limits access to many websites for students of the entire state of Tennessee.

Just so you know, my criteria for blocking websites is fairly straightforward. I block access if...
  • There is profanity, including in user comments
  • There are inappropriate images of any kind, including
    • violent
    • profane
    • bloody
  • There are unsettling images, perhaps not any of the above, but ones which could lead to unsafe feelings or confusion in children--this includes inappropriate ads
  • The site is known to have been unsafe for security reasons, including a history of hosting malware, spyware, or other "scumware" (e.g. ggkids, Roblox)
  • The site is so bandwidth intensive that it threatens the vitality of our internet bandwidth (e.g. Spotify and Pandora)
  • The site is one that is a "clickbait" site--e.g. one that seems to offer games but just leads from webpage to webpage, rolling up click totals in order to charge advertisers for views
In addition to ENA's already extensive list, I have continually added to the local Warner computer lab list as our days have gone by this year and I have seen the need. I just added a site today. In the interest of open communication, I think I'll share it with you here:

http://ggkids.com
http://www.netflix.com
http://spotify.com
http://pandora.com
https://www.spotify.com
https://www.pandora.com
http://pandora.com
http://kidsgamesheroes.com
http://play.google.com
http://www.happywheels-2.com
http://www.fynsy.com
http://buttonbass.com/
http://www.gamedesign.jp
http://s.update.moatads.com
http://cm.g.doubleclick.com
http://www.autochow.com
http://us.battle.net
http://a10.com
http://www.mafa.com
http://playallfreeonlinegames.com
http://www.ggkids.com
http:/www.freegames.net
http://smosh.com
http://kissanime.com
http://shootinggames.org
http://shootinggamesfree.org
http://ballerarcade.com
http://genius.com
http://bing.com/video
http://happywheels.us.com
http://www.mad.com
http://runningfred.com
http://runningfredgames.com
http://magickeys.com
http://happywheels8.com
http://electricman2.info
http://share-game.com
http://action.goodgame.co.in
http://www.agame.com/game/dead-zed-2
http://vidsn.com
http://www.dabidoo.com
http://www.7go.com
http://roblox.com
http://mx44.com
http://mx44.info
http://bing.com
http://www.zoxy.me/
http://messenger.com
http://123movies.to
http://youtube.com
https://youtube.com
http://poki.com
http://image.iheart.com

Feel free to copy and use this list in any security software you may have. It's continually being updated. That's all for now. And visit my Tizmos safe-start page, which I use in the lab for the scores of websites that aren't blocked!!!

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

3rd Grade Self-Portraits in Art Class

In a series of posts dedicated to highlighting the good things going on in other parts of Warner Enhanced Option Elementary School, I offer you today the stellar, evocative, thoughtful, and heartwarming self-portraits 3rd graders created under the guidance of (can I overuse this word?) stellar Elementary Arts teacher Ms. Sheila Crenshaw.

I'll put a few of them here, but you may see the whole set by visiting this Dropbox link. Enjoy!




 

April Showers Bring May Progress

Hello, Parents,

Just dropping into the blog to note that we are making progress with our technology knowledge and skills, and that the Spring semester change to Professional Learning Communities schedule has given me the opportunity to offer extended ixl.com time to my "class," the K, 1, 3, and 4 homerooms that meet with me at the end of the day once a week in computer lab (while their homeroom teachers spend quality time planning and conferring over data toward improving student learning).

It is beginning to pay off for these children and I'm of the believe that it will do so at testing time. Though I'm not a big fan of standardized testing I realize it has its place as a formative assessment tool, and ixl.com practice will ensure that our kids with that experience are more familiar with online testing and thereby will have an edge come testing day(s).

Just look at this certificate that flew into my inbox just yesterday:
Now, this certificate will live on the wall in our computer lab until it is replaced by one recognizing even greater achievement. We're getting them ready, and we appreciate your sending them to us with positive attitudes and a yearn to learn. On good days during PLC time, we end the sessions by venturing out to the playground for some extra outdoor recess, something else our kids really need. It's a win-win!