I'm a long-time fan of author Annie Fox, who teaches life literacy to tweens and teens through her writing and "Hey Terra!" advice site. So it was great to see she has a new book out: Real Friends vs. the Other Kind, the second in her new "Middle School Confidential" series. The book offers "insider information on making friends, resolving disputes, and dealing with common hazards of the middle … [Read more...] about Friends and ‘friends’: Advice for tweens
Youth
EFF’s copyright curriculum for students
"Youth don't need more intimidation - what they need is solid, accurate information," says the Electronic Frontier Foundation in its introduction to Teaching Copyright, a curriculum about students' rights and responsibilities when using technology. "When we surveyed existing digital education resources related to copyright, we were dismayed to find that much of the available material relied on … [Read more...] about EFF’s copyright curriculum for students
Webkinz for little kids
Now there's a Webkinz virtual world for preschoolers, the New York Times reports in its "Kid Tech" blog. The price of admission to Webkinz, Jr. "is a plush animal about a third larger than a traditional Beanie Baby, with a proportionally higher price of about $18." The games are good, as good as pricier sites for this age group, and parents have a good deal of control over their children's … [Read more...] about Webkinz for little kids
Undercover Mom in Poptropica, Part 2: The Apple Jacks of kids’ virtual worlds
By Sharon Duke EstroffLast week I detailed the good things I discovered in this popular kids' virtual world for 5-to-10-year-olds. This week...What I wasn't crazy about Video Game Overtones. Gallant educational effort aside, my suspicions were correct. Kids aren’t flocking to Poptropica.com by the tens of millions out of a quest for learning, they’re flocking there for the highly addictive video … [Read more...] about Undercover Mom in Poptropica, Part 2: The Apple Jacks of kids’ virtual worlds
Md. students seek cellphone rules change
Cellphones are banned from Montgomery County (Md.) schools, but there's still plenty of texting going on in the classroom. So, since texting is so inextricable from their lives now, the students - led by Quratul-Ann Malik, a high school senior - are taking a resolution before the county school board, asking it to allow high school students to use cellphones during lunchtime, the Washington Post … [Read more...] about Md. students seek cellphone rules change