Social Media and LHS Students – Do’s and Don’ts

I will be honest, I am going to pretend to be an expert for today. I do not use all forms of social media; however I have some…facebook (that kids don’t use anymore), twitter, youtube, and instagram. My oldest child uses instagram, youtube, and texting. What I would like to reference today are some pros and cons to some social media. Some parents cringe at the idea of social media, while others don’t monitor it at all and allow all forms. The answer lies in the middle, and I hope to share with you some great ways it can be used and some apps to avoid.
#1 – I love twitter. I find most of the professional articles I read there. My education colleagues from all over the country post some great stuff. The key for me is following the right ones. This is my professional development tool. So parents, try it out! See how it works and how it can work for you.
It can do many of those things for students as well. They can follow potential colleges, SAT question of the day, follow # on certain AP courses, etc. Yes they will socialize as well. But if you have twitter, you can follow them.
#2 AVOID and DELETE Snapchat. This app is widely known across the globe as “the sexting app”. Students think what they have shared in word or photo immediately disappears, FALSE! Easily screen shotted and saved. If you need an app that deletes what you say you probably shouldn’t be saying it.
#3 Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn. This is a great place to learn social media basics and tell your story. It is easily monitored and has great potential to teach online responsibility. LinkedIn also has a great feature of University pages, that allow your student to interact with people at the University your student may be interested in attending.
#4 Ask.fm and Qooh.me – DELETE. These sites in general allow you to receive and ask anonymous questions. This can be a feeding ground for social drama, harassment, and bullying. Keep your kids off these apps.
#5 Media devices have become a valuable tool in education, they certainly are not going away. We have amazing teachers here at LHS that use these devices and apps. We have teachers that use social media to communicate and educate. Our Lakeside Journalism class communicates news via twitter and youtube. I use this blog, twiiter, and facebook to keep our parents and community informed.

Best advice I can give on social media is to read about them and use them before you allow them. Teach proper use of social media, monitor it to ensure wise decisions, but don’t close the door to what it can offer your students and you as a learning and connection tool.

GET READY FOR SCHOOL!!!!

#1 SLEEP
It is very important that our students start to stabilize their sleep cycle. Remember at Lakeside High School we start at 7:30 AM!!!
I strongly suggest a tiered approach, start by going to bed 10-20 minutes earlier for the few days and work from there. The flip side is you need to start waking up that much earlier. Each student will have a different patter based on how late they are currently staying up. DO NOT try to do it all in one day. Help yourself or your student out and force some sleep time adjustments.
#2 Mental toughness
Many students have truly taken the summer off. To come back to school and to be on high alert academically for 6 hours will be tough. Get them reading! Ask them questions about what they are reading. Talk about the current events and their implications worldwide, get their opinions. Watch some documentaries and discuss the history and historical significance of the events. Basically start getting their minds turned on!
#3 Stamina
Get them out and active. If your student is sleeping in – to wake up and play video games, they will have a rough start to school. Go on family walks or hikes, make them ride their bikes, sign up for a 5K run with them, or take them to the gym with you. Get there body in motion.
Stabilize the sleeping to school hours, activate their mind, and have them physically ready = you will have a great start to the school year.
See you soon
Mr. Osborn