Sister Blog Post from Dear Jessi Lee

Have you ever found yourself feeling distant, perhaps even lonely, in house full of people you love dearly? I have. When it got to the point my 15 year old was texting me from her bedroom instead of walking out and talking to me; that my husband and son were so in-depth to the game they were both playing on their iPhones; when my 9 year old would flip out if she did not have her phone to watch Netflix on; and the fact that the only time we all came together was for dinner in which even there I fought everyone from having technology at the table; I knew we had a serious problem.

Do not take this the wrong way I consider technology of all kinds invaluable tools in our society. I would be unemployed if we did not have the Internet and technology since I am a virtual school teacher, but sometimes it becomes TOO much. Like anything else in life a little goes a long way and there needs to be limits.

How did I take back my family? Simple, I implemented some rules that everyone, including myself, had to follow. I did tons of research on programs, movements, trends, and more to find ideas on how to reconnect. Some of the places I viewed for research included:

• Tech Time Out by the Fosters If you get nothing else from this post at least try the one week pledge!
• How to Limit Screen Time by A Family Well Blended Really enjoyed the article, but found that it was so much more than limiting screen time for my family.
• 100 Fun Things To Do in for Kids by Mommy Bear Media Loved the ideas and activities included in this four part series.  I cannot say that any single program or sound bite that I read was a one hundred percent fit for my family, but when I pieced together all of the ideas here is what I came up with.

I cannot say that any single program or sound bite that I read was a one hundred percent fit for my family, but when I pieced together all of the ideas here is what I came up with.

Below is a small sample of my Technology Time-Out plan that I taped to a box. On the other side I made a No Technology image using the awesome Tagxedo website. When it is time for Technology to not be used all electronics go into the box! I have them bring their ipods, iphones, tablets, computers, game remotes, TV remotes, etc. It ALL goes into the Tech Time-Out box (make sure to make everyone turn all items off; nothing more annoying than the box chirping) no excuses.

Example Technology Time-Out Plan (Subscribe to the blog for the Full Template Free)

The McDowell family will participate daily in Technology Time-Out together as a whole unit. During the hours of No Technology we will not:

Use Television

Use Cell Phones

Use Tablets

Use Computers

Use Game Systems (e.g. Playstation, etc.)

1.       Kids no Technology between 4pm – 8pm. (4hrs)

a.       From 4pm – 5pm you complete your House Chores.

b.      After chores you will help with dinner. (set the table, wash any dishes, cook, etc.)

2.       Mom and Dad no Technology from 5pm – 9pm. (4hrs)

This simply was not enough though. Summer begins for my two oldest that are in traditional public school tomorrow and I knew I was going to homeschool my youngest year round. I refused to have them recede on what they learned this year and get lazy the rest of the day with technology use so I put into play our Summer Schedule.

Example Summer Schedule
(Want the entire Template? Subscribe to the blog today)

This is how our summer days will go. Arguments or not completing your schedule means loss of technology privileges and no time with friends. On weekends we will have Technology Time-Out but you will be free from Summer Schedule.

·         Wake-up & have Breakfast 8:00 – 9:30am

·         Activity Work Mom Assigns 9:30 – 11:30am

·         Quiet Reading Time 11:30 – 12:00pm

·         Lunch 12:00 – 12:30pm

·         Time with Friends 12:30pm – 3:30pm

·         Get Home 3:30pm – 4:00pm (Do not arrive later than 3:59pm)

·         Technology Time Out 4:00pm – 8:00pm (Follow Technology Time Out Schedule)

·         Bed Time 9:00pm

The important thing to do regardless if you follow my templates or create your own is to personalize it to your family. I was not too vague when setting the rules, but I also was not too specific so we had room for options on activities, etc. I sat down and considered what outcome I really wanted from having this time together and then made my rules around that. No person knows your family better than you do, use that knowledge to empower you!

     Stay tuned to see how The McDowell's are doing on their Reconnect by Unplugging journey!

Using Padlet Walls in the Classroom

Nothing hooks students more than innovative technology in their lessons. In a virtual classroom it is important to do more than require our students to attend class. Yes, they are graded on it so there is a consequence for not attending but who knows if they are truly listening on the other side of that computer screen?

Hook Them With Technology!

One of the easiest websites I use in my weekly virtual classroom time is Padlet! I've used this website since it came out but now they are making it 100% school friendly with their recent updates and creation of Padlet Backpack! It's completely free to use so try it out, play with it, and fall in love like I have.

How I use Padlet

There are so many uses for this website but one of the basic ways I incorporate Padlet is in the opening of my lesson. I use the Padlet Wall to find out exactly what my student's already know about the topic we are going to discuss that day.

This helps in two main ways:

1. You warm up your student's brains to a topic and you get them thinking about what they know. (Student's really love it when I start reading from the wall as they are typing and sharing what I find are excellent responses. Yes, student's love to compete against one another instead of fighting against this behavior encourage a healthy use for it!)
2. You as the teacher get instant feedback on what area(s) of the topic your student's are lacking in. (Invaluable for you as a teacher where in any classroom TIME is a precious commodity.) 

Using Padlet Outside of Live Classroom Time

My homeroom student's LOVE my Thought Walls. I send them a prompt, riddle, etc. and they can log onto the Padlet any time that week to post their idea, answers, and more. At the end of the week we view the Wall as a class and discuss.

I would love to hear what you use Padlet for below in the comments too.