Family Resources
>>Download the Sharing Educational Resources with Families Information Packet (pdf)
What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?
Open Educational Resources (OER) are online resources that are open and free for teachers and families to use to help students/children achieve and learn. OER can provide families with activities and ideas to help their children learn or reinforce at home the concepts they are learning in school. There are lots of websites to help families to support the emotion, physical, and academic growth of their child.
Why are OER Important?
OER come in a variety of formats. Some may come in game form to help a child better understand a concept or it may be a video, lesson plan or idea for a family activity. These resources can help families join in creative learning activities with their child, and make learning a family affair!
There are also resources available to better inform families about such challenges as cyber-bullying, internet safety, and so forth.
What are some Sites that Provide Support and Resources for Families?
Some of the exciting and helpful websites we have identified that can support families can be found in the categories below:
Adult Education
Education Planner
http://www.educationplanner.org/education_planner/default.asp
A one-stop career and college planning website.
Maine Learning Technology Initiative
http://www.maine.gov/mlti/parent/
This Maine.gov site has links to the Department of Labor and other Adult Education and Career resources.
General
Ed.gov: Parents
http://www2.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml
This site has many resources for families to support their childrens' education.
Family Education
http://www.familyeducation.com/home/
Helps parents get involved in education.
Maine Parent Federation
http://www.mpf.org
The Maine Parent Federation, Inc. is a statewide private non-profit organization that provides information, advocacy, education, and training to parents and professionals to benefit all children. They promote individual aspirations and community inclusion for people with disabilities. In existence since 1984, MPF is physically located in Augusta Maine, but assistance is available on a statewide basis.
National PTA
http://www.pta.org/
Online home of the national PTA.
Thinkfinity: Parents & Kids
http://www.thinkfinity.org/parents-and-kids
This site is full of fun educational activities for families to do together!
Technology
Article: Online Bullies Pull Schools Into the Fray
http://tinyurl.com/267ka2d
by Jan Hoffman The New York Times June 27, 2010
Common Sense Media
http://www.maine.gov/mlti/csm/
"MLTI is excited to announce a new partnership with Common Sense Media, a national nonprofit organization that helps families and educators teach kids how to be safe and smart in today’s media driven world."
I Keep Safe.org
http://www.ikeepsafe.org/PRC/
As parents, we want our children to be safe and responsible while using technology. We will have succeeded when each child can recognize and minimize the three main risks associated with all connected technology (i.e., iPods, instant messaging, chat, computer games, game consoles, cell phones, text messaging, webcams).
Report: Promote Internet safety, but don't scare students
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/06/07/online-safety-report-discourages-scare-tactics/
Scare tactics do little to encourage students to stay safe while using social networking, text messaging and other technology-based communication methods, according to a report by a federal task force. The report recommended that educators use programs that model safe and appropriate online behavior and use social media as part of classroom instruction. "Unless new media are used in schools and within families, youth are on their own in figuring out the ethics, social norms, and civil behaviors that enable good citizenship in the online part of their media use and lives," the report said.
Technology Tips for Parents
http://www.nmsa.org/moya/PlanYourCelebration/PRResources/TechnologyTips/tabid/1200/Default.aspx
"More than ever before, today's kids need their parents to help them acquire the skills to use time wisely. Technology has opened many doors to vast amounts of information, social networks around the world, and new career development opportunities. Parents can help kids be selective in using technology for learning as well as for entertainment purposes by modeling lifelong learning skills and monitoring their kids' use of software and the Internet. In order to do this, parents need to be technology savvy."
Technology and Young Children: What Parents Should Know
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/technology.young.p.k12.2.html
Teens and Technology
http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/teens-today/teens-and-technology/default.aspx
This crash course in the most popular communication tools used by teens today offers guidance and advice to help parents monitor their teen's activities on these devices.
The Power to Learn: Technology Resources for Parents
http://www.powertolearn.com/articles/technology_resources_for_parents/index.shtml
Video
Digital Cameras in School
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4jxj1abL8Q&feature=channel
Interactive Whiteboards: Involving Children
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUVbv6mwUxg&feature=related
Balsall Common: Using Technology to Inform Parents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy61sO6254E
Click - A Parent's Guide to Technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv0ftd1hUCg
Click's Guide to Using Facebook
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P76Yc-euvns&feature=related
Click's Guide to Cyber-Safety
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxz2mEBtU1s&feature=related
