Category: Education

We live in a time and space where the ability to think critically has become an essential life skill. This doesn’t just apply to adults. Teaching kids to think critically equips them to make sense of the world around them in a more profound and nuanced way. Weaving critical thinking development into their daily life experiences cab be the very key to their lifelong success.

Critical thinking prepares children to approach problems logically and creatively.  They need to learn how to slow down, stop, and think about what’s in front of them.  And in an age where technology is ubiquitous, tools such as learning programming, engaging in toddlers’ games online, and taking coding courses online can prove instrumental to benefits all facets of their life.

Day-to-day interactions cultivate critical thinking skills, along with open-ended conversations and opportunities to experiment and problem-solve. Moreover, helping children learn coding is another effective strategy. Coding is a lot more than just learning a new language; it promotes logical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

Nurture Space for Critical Thinking

Parents and educators play an instrumental role in creating an environment conducive to critical thinking. A home or classroom that encourages curiosity, questions, and exploration becomes a fertile ground for the development of these skills.

Giving children the space and time to think, explore, and find solutions to problems on their own is essential. Providing constructive feedback and recognizing their effort, regardless of the outcome, can reinforce their self-confidence and encourage a growth mindset.

Encourage Open-Ended Conversations

The nature of the questions we ask our children can greatly impact their critical thinking skills. Instead of asking questions with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, opt for open-ended questions that prompt children to think and express their thoughts freely.

For instance, instead of asking, “Did you like the book?”, ask, “What did you think about the book and why?” This encourages children to articulate their thoughts, evaluate situations, and form opinions.

Incorporate Games and Play

Play is not just a source of fun for kids; it can also be a powerful tool to promote critical thinking. Integrating critical thinking skills into strategy games and creative play can make the learning process enjoyable and engaging.

Toddlers’ games online can be particularly beneficial in this respect, as they often require logical reasoning and problem-solving. Look for games that stimulate creativity, require strategy, and promote decision-making.

Introduce Programming and Coding

It’s no secret that this present day is increasingly dominated by technology. Equipping children with coding skills is not just about preparing them for potential future careers—it also plays a key role in developing their critical thinking.

Learning to code is like learning how to solve a puzzle. It requires logical thinking, patience, and perseverance. Through coding, children can learn to approach problems methodically and devise solutions, thereby enhancing their critical thinking skills.

Encourage Experimentation and Problem Solving

To become proficient critical thinkers, children need plenty of opportunities to practice. Encourage them to experiment and explore different ways of doing things. If they encounter a problem, resist the urge to immediately step in and provide a solution.

Instead, guide them through the problem-solving process, asking questions that prompt them to think of possible solutions.  This can help them build resilience, self-confidence, and ultimately, strengthen their critical thinking abilities.

In Conclusion…

Teaching children to think critically is a dynamic process that happens across different contexts and through various strategies. By integrating open-ended questions, games, play, coding, and problem-solving into their daily experiences, we can help them cultivate this vital skill for life. Remember, the goal isn’t to create child prodigies, but to raise future adults who are thoughtful, curious, and able to approach problems with a critical and creative mindset.

Additional Resources:

Learn how project-based learning helps kids think critically and problem-solve while working in a group setting.

As the world continues to evolve into a more digital society, the idea of what it means to be a responsible digital citizen has come to the forefront. Many people agree that some of the same laws and societal norms that we use to regulate how we interact with one another in the material world should somehow be shaped to be applied to the digital landscape.

It is important to have a standard code of conduct for how we behave when we are online to ensure the safety of everyone participating in the digital world, whether it be for education, work, or social purposes.

But what does it mean to be a digital citizen, and when exactly should we introduce and teach its ideals?

What would a middle school curriculum look like that taught digital citizenship, cyber security, and social media safety?

Let’s take a closer look at what digital citizenship means as well as the many ways educators have been tackling this topic to better prepare students for online life.

What is Digital Citizenship?

Digital citizenship is the ability of individuals to recognize the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living in a digital world, while at the same time, acknowledging that the words they say, and the actions they take online, are recorded into a permanent record that will follow them for the rest of their lives. It is because of this permanence that children and adolescents need to be taught what it means to be a responsible digital citizen from an early age.

The Foundations of Good Digital Citizenship

In short, being a good digital citizen requires individuals to conduct themselves in the digital space in a way that is safe, legal, and ethical, while at the same time, operating within a basic level of morality. Although morality is somewhat subjective, there are still basic norms that people follow in the material world that should apply to the digital world.

The Consequences of Poor Digital Citizenship

Far too many times when we see instances of cyberbullying or online harassment, the perpetrator feels that because they are hiding behind a screen, they are free to act and say things that they may not do or say when in the real world and face-to-face with the victim. A large part of being a good digital citizen is understanding that there really is no difference between your online persona and who you are in the material world.

The Role of Parents and Educators in Promoting Digital Citizenship

So, although parents and educators can take steps to educate our youth and help them to become responsible digital citizens, what about other people? What about bad actors who may not adhere to responsible digital citizenship, and instead, use the digital world to victimize people?

By far, the largest space that our youth occupy in the digital world is social media. As an educator or parent, it is critical to understand that social media safety is a fundamental part of teaching digital citizenship. Many of the best private schools have recognized this and are leading the way by incorporating comprehensive digital citizenship programs into their curricula.

Adolescents and teenagers who use social media on a regular basis are at a higher risk of online threats such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and online predation. Not only that, but most younger internet users may also lack basic cybersecurity knowledge which can leave them more vulnerable to phishing, ransomware, and other more general cyber threats.

Integrating Digital Citizenship into Education

Fortunately, more school districts across the country are starting to add digital citizenship curriculum in middle school classrooms across the country. Middle school seems to be the ideal time in an adolescent’s life to prepare them for the digital landscape as this is the time in their life when internet use begins to increase greatly for everything from online classes and homework support to messaging peers and social media use.

So, now that educators have had some practice and experience implementing these new types of digital citizen curriculum into the classroom, what seems to be working and what are the most critical components to include?

Let’s take a closer look at what educators are finding to be some of the most critical components of a well-rounded digital citizenship curriculum.

Key Components of a Digital Citizenship Curriculum

In addition to some basic cybersecurity education, because teenagers spend a good amount of their time in the digital world using social media platforms, developing a well-rounded digital citizenship curriculum requires a strong focus on the risks associated with social media use to ensure social media safety for kids.

Also, keep in mind that when broaching the topics of cybersecurity and digital citizenship with younger learners, it is important to make sure you are finding and using engaging methods to teach these topics. There are a number of incredible resources available online to help educators and parents find materials to teach about cybersecurity and social media safety.

Here are some of the most critical components that should be included in a well-rounded digital citizenship curriculum.

Privacy and Security

Privacy and security are by far the most important topics to cover when discussing cybersecurity basics. The first thing that students should know is how to set their social media accounts private and the importance of disabling location sharing and the risks of geo-tagging photos. Online predators and scammers can use location data to stalk or learn more about the people they are targeting.

Another important aspect of privacy to discuss with students is the importance of not oversharing personal information on social media or to unsolicited messages. Information like addresses, legal names, online passwords, birthdays, social security numbers, and more, if posted online or sent in a message, can be used for a number of malicious purposes including identity theft.

When it comes to security, a basic overview of cybersecurity fundamentals is essential. Topics like how to avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading harmful software, how to install and use antivirus programs, and what to do in the event of a cyber attack, are good places to start. The depth and technicality of the subjects you cover will depend on the age group, however, everyone should have a solid foundation of the basics of being safe online.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious problem that many teens do not think about because they do not yet participate in the credit economy. However, students should have a basic understanding of how cybercriminals can use personal information that is shared online to open accounts in their name and destroy their credit or financial life before it even begins. Additionally, the advantage of a digital signature over an e-signature for signing important legal and financial documents is another basic understanding to have to help prevent identity theft and other types of fraud.

Relationships and Communication

Another focus of a digital citizenship curriculum should be relationships and communication. How we communicate online with one another is important to developing and maintaining relationships through digital communication. Assuring tone, inflection, and meaning are not misconstrued through email, texts, and other forms of digital communication will be an ongoing skill that students will work on and develop throughout their education and beyond.

Cyberbullying and Digital drama

It’s well known that Cyberbullying has become a serious problem that many schools are dealing with on a regular basis. It’s not only an abundant issue with more than 37% of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 reporting being bullied online, but the consequences can be destructive.

Young people who experience cyberbullying are at a much higher risk of self-harm and suicidal behaviors than those who don’t. Teaching students how to recognize cyberbullying and what to do if they experience or observe it is a fundamental part of an impactful digital citizenship curriculum in combination with strict zero-tolerance policies.

Digital Footprints and Reputation

Another key aspect of digital citizenship is understanding that everything posted online is permanent. Even if you delete messages or posts, there is still a digital record of all communications. Also, your digital footprint is directly correlated with your reputation. Anything you post online about yourself and what you are doing or anything you post about others including comments, pictures, and other forms of content, can resurface years later and harm your reputation.

All students should understand that their digital footprint can have consequences down the road that they could never have imagined, especially if they participate in cyberbullying and other forms of online harassment.

Creative Credit, Copyright, and Plagiarism

Creative credit, copyright, and plagiarism are topics that have come into focus in recent years, especially with the development of AI programs like ChatGPT. Students should understand the basics of why it is important to give creative credit to originators, what copyright is and how it works, as well as how plagiarism is fundamentally wrong, even as society is introducing the use of AI into more arenas.

Conclusion

As more and more young people are getting online at earlier ages, many would argue that from as early as kindergarten, we should at least be introduced to some ideas of digital citizenship. Then, once students start reaching the age of middle school and they are preparing to be more active online, schools should introduce curricula to help students navigate the digital world in a way that is safe and constructive.

About the Author:
Ryan Harris is a copywriter focused on eLearning and the digital transitions going on in the education realm. Before turning to writing full time, Ryan worked for five years as a teacher in Tulsa and then spent six years overseeing product development at many successful Edtech companies, including 2U, EPAM, and NovoEd.

Every child needs to be taught about the value of money, along with providing them with proper guidance on saving money as a student, and school is the best place to begin.  The earlier children understand how they can save money, the earlier they can begin building the foundations of their finances.

If you teach students how to save money while they are still in school, it would provide them with a path to the right direction in the future.

That being said, budgeting, financial literacy and money management are not exactly interesting to hear.

Partly why schools do not opt for teaching elementary students how to budget is due to the fact that it is a dry concept that is not likely to be of any interest to the students, and that they will not grasp it at this stage.

However, we have curated some incredibly interesting and creative methods to teach students how to save money.

Teaching students about saving money: why is it important?

The value of money and budgeting are indeed something that everyone needs to understand at some point in their life, but why is it so important to start this early?

Well, for one, teaching kids about frugality and similar techniques prepares them for the future. Building up a thorough understanding on saving money while they are children will strengthen their chances to achieve financial stability in the future.

They will eventually be heading to a university for higher studies in the future, and these skills would help them efficiently manage their budget and avoid going over when they are on their own.

How to teach students about money saving

1.   Assign a Clear Jar for the Class

Although a piggy bank works as well, you should instead opt to use a clear jar to promote savings for the students.

The reason for specifically using a clear jar is that it will provide kids with a visual. Being able to notice the progress they are making on savings is a great way to keep them motivated to the cause, and once they notice the jar filling up, they will want to save even more.

2.   Introduce them to coupons

When teaching your students about ways to save money as a student, show them the power of coupon codes.

Budgeting is an important aspect of money management, and redeeming discount codes can help stay within the budget.

Introduce them to coupon websites with printable coupons that are home to excellent savings from numerous different companies.  This will help them save up even when they go to the movies or decide to grab a bite to eat.  Coupons will make them aware of discounts that will help them budget more efficiently in the future.

3.   Set a Goal

It is essential to encourage students to come up with a savings goal like a unique gift they are wanting, when teaching them the value of money and saving.

This provides them with a purpose to keep in mind, which influences their dedication towards saving up. Students are more likely to add money into their savings more frequently if they know what they are working towards.

Once they have decided on their savings goal, provide them with guidance on how they can divide their goal into smaller subtasks that are easier to accomplish.

For instance, if a student’s savings goal is to gather enough for a $40 game when they earn a $20 weekly allowance, instruct them to divide the goal into 4 weeks, saving up $10 every week.

4.   Offer Them Incentives

Saving money can become quite frustrating for young students, who are impatient to spend it all as soon as possible. To avoid students burning through their savings, you can motivate them by offering incentives.

As a teacher, there is a lot you can do to make sure that your students are pumped up to save up! For instance, you can set a monthly competition between the students and promise extra marks or any other reward to the child that saves the most.

Final Words

You cannot teach kids dry concepts the same way you can teach adults. However, following this guide will provide you with some fun ways to get the value of saving up and budgeting across without losing their interest.

Fractions are a fundamental aspect of math that all children should learn early on.  Not only does understanding fractions form the basis for more advanced concepts like ratios, percentages, and algebra, which children should learn as they get older. Learning about these concepts also helps in everyday situations.

For instance, knowing how many pieces a cake can be divided into can be helpful to determine how large a cake should be baked. Fractions are also necessary for working out money and times, such as understanding the value of a quarter of a dollar or knowing what half an hour means.

There are all sorts of things that children need to learn as they grow older, which is why it’s a good idea to introduce kids to the concept of fractions from an early age.

Furthermore, knowing how to work with fractions fosters logical thinking and problem-solving skills. It also encourages kids to think about numbers relationally rather than just in isolation.

It’s far more than math alone. It’s about preparing kids for the realistic application of mathematics in real-life situations.

Thankfully, there are a number of online resources that make understanding fractions fun and simple for kids. However, some are better than others.

Therefore, you should take note of the seven following reputable sites. One of them is sure to be the ideal platform for your kids to understand fractions.

1.   Smartick

Let’s begin with one of the best online resources that help kids to learn math in a fun and simple manner.

Smartick is a world-class online math and coding platform for children between the ages of four and fourteen. On the site, kids can learn things like multiplying fractions with ease.

Furthermore, Smartick’s novel approach to education, in which kids study for only fifteen minutes each day and engage in interactive tutorials and guided exercises without help from parents, strengthens the children’s self-confidence, as well as knowledge, to help them develop a positive attitude toward math.

Also, Smartick uses artificial intelligence to design personalized sessions for each child, allowing them to stay motivated and learn at their own pace.

2.   Math Games

Math Games is an interactive website where kids, from pre-kindergarten age to Grade 8, can learn a variety of math skills.

Children in some grades have the opportunity to learn about fractions through fun games. They can learn things like identifying the fractions of shapes, adding and subtracting two fractions, and identifying them up to tenths.

3.   CoolMath4Kids

A variety of fun fraction-related activities for kids can be found on the online CoolMath4Kids platform. Children, up to Grade 8, can learn the basics about what fractions actually are. They can also learn specifics, such as improper, equivalent, and simplifying fractions.

4.   SplashLearn

Another engaging site for kids’ math activities, which includes fraction exercises, is SplashLearn. The site makes learning fractions effortless, entertaining, and engaging, through a variety of games.

Children will be able to grasp the concept of fractions in various ways, such as understanding them as portions of a whole unit, through number lines, and by partitioning numbers into identical segments.

5.   Math Is Fun

The Math Is Fun website simplifies math for kids and makes the process enjoyable. It includes a lot of basic information on fractions, such as how to add, subtract, and divide fractions.

6.   AdaptedMind Math

AdaptedMind Math offers math lessons that are tailored for kids of different ages, including fun and simple lessons about fractions. Youngsters can learn about things like mixed numbers, decimals, and adding and subtracting fractions.

7.   Sheppard Software

Lastly, Sheppard Software is an interactive learning site that makes learning fun and simple for children. It includes a section dedicated to fractions.

Kids will particularly enjoy playing the fun fractions number line game Animal Rescue!, which helps children to learn about concept through number lines and adorable cartoon animals!