Leading and Reading with Digital Citizenship

School:: Lake Park Elementary
Subject:: Language Arts
Teacher:: Kristin Merrill
Students Impacted:: 50
Grade:: 4
Date:: July 16, 2018

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Drs. Carl and Anne Angstrom - $169.51

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 50

I as a teacher am always looking for ways to implement digital citizenship with my students. I am always on the lookout for times where I as the teacher can teach them more responsibility with their technology. We live in a world where students are going to be online and using various forms of technology and they need to be taught how to do this safely just like they wll learn how to be safe in other academic settings like science labs or through organized athletics.

I want to empower students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world. These books have allowed me to provide a whole-community approach to digital citizenship that can then be applied in a daily English-Languages Arts lesson. The skills they are learning through these simple books are helping them be more informed, responsive and responsible citizens as they engage more and more with society.

These books approach issues like internet safety, stranger danger, cyber bulling and balancing screen time in fun, humorous ways that are age appropriate and engaging. The beautiful illustrations and relatable characters allow me to teach my 4th grade English standards alongside with other issues I feel passionate about.

Thank you to the donors who made it possible to grow our library of books in such a positive and powerful way!

grant photo

Original Grant Overview

Goal

Digital Citizenship is more than just a teaching tool; it is a way to prepare students for a world full of technology. Digital citizenship can be defined as the norms of appropriate, responsible technology use and it is something that our students should be learning even at the elementary age. Digital citizenship is also about students finding ways to connect and collaborate in ways they didn't even know were possible. By teaching digital citizenship to my students, I hope to create a positive class culture that supports safe and responsible technology use.

What will be done with my students

Last year we implemented the first "tech buddy" group at our school. Our 4th grade class was paired with a 1st grade class and they met monthly to complete challenges and tasks that involved technology. Some of the projects completed were Black History month videos, original Dr. Seuss animations and an interactive wall of Presidents. While the fourth grade students worked to model and teach the first grade students with the new technology, I would like to now implement a time where I as the teacher can teach them more responsibility with their technology.

Alongside our first grade technology buddies, I want to empower students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world. These books will help set the lessons by providing a whole-community approach to digital citizenship that can then be applied in a daily lesson.

Benefits to my students

If our students are to grow up to become informed, responsive, and responsible citizens, they need digital literacy skills to engage in society. Digital citizenship relies on digital literacy. It includes these values and behaviors: honesty, responsibility, and ethical approaches to accessing and using digital content. I believe technology is at its most powerful when students deeply understand it and use it in ways that enhance their individual learning, and creating digital citizenship is the way to achieve this.

Budget Narrative

The books requested are various picture books written for children spanning topics like bullying, authenticity of information, internet safety and 3D printing. I hope to read these throughout the year pair with our monthly lessons.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	The Fabulous Friend Machine by Nick Bland	$16.99
2	If You Give a Mouse an iPhone by Ann Droyd	$13.55
3	When Charlie McButton Lost Power by Suzanne Collins	$5.99
4	Once Upon a Time Online by David Beford	$19.84
5	Chicken Clicking by Jeanne Willis	$9.99
6	But It's Just a Game by Julia Cook	$9.99
7	The Technology Tail by Julia Cook	$8.76
8	But I Read It On the Internet by Toni Buzzeo	$13.80
9	Good Night Selfie by Scott Menchin	$11.60
10	Nerdy Birdy Tweets by Aaron Reynolds and Matt Davies	$12.00
11	Bully by Patricia Polloco	$14.50
12	Troll Stinks by Jeanne Willis	$14.50
13	Peter and Pablo the Printer by by Jeffrey Ito and Ann Morozova	$18.00
	Total:	$169.51

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