Language Arts | Writing a summary
Writing a summary is an important skill that students will use throughout their academic careers. In addition, summarizing improves reading skills as students pick out the main ideas of a reading; it also helps with vocabulary skills as students paraphrase a reading, altering the vocabulary and grammar as they do so.
Four rules for writing a good summary:
1. Include the important ideas from the text
2. Put ideas in your own words
3. Leave out little details and repeated information
4. Use the text structure of the text
This week Writing Challenge, our class is reading the short book: "Not too cold for a polar bear" by Kitty Colton. Their mission is to follow the 4 rules above when writing their summaries on their journals.
New study shows that excessive screen time linked to preschool learning delays
Many children start school inadequately prepared to learn; electronic devices a factor, according to UCalgary study
By Heath McCoy, Faculty of Arts
One in four Canadian children are starting their school years inadequately prepared for learning and a newly published study led by the University of Calgary shows that excessive screen time is a key contributor to this growing problem.
“Is too much screen time a culprit in creating these disparities in learning? Likely, yes,” says Dr. Sheri Madigan, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary, and member of the Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI) at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), lead author of the release.
“Our study shows that preschool kids who get too much screen time, on video games, internet-connected devices, television screens, and other digital mediums are among those showing delays and deficits in learning by the time they enter school at the age of five.”
As for the parents who have already fallen into the pitfalls of too much screen time for their young children, Madigan stresses they need not despair.
“Children’s brains are developing over the course of childhood and beyond, so there’s time to make changes,” says Madigan. “Creating that family media plan can be a step in the right direction.”
She adds: “Technology is deeply entrenched in modern-day lives. Taking family-based steps to engage with technology in positive ways may be crucial to ensuring success for our children who are growing up in the digital age.”
Click here To read the full report!
By Heath McCoy, Faculty of Arts
“Is too much screen time a culprit in creating these disparities in learning? Likely, yes,” says Dr. Sheri Madigan, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary, and member of the Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI) at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), lead author of the release.
“Our study shows that preschool kids who get too much screen time, on video games, internet-connected devices, television screens, and other digital mediums are among those showing delays and deficits in learning by the time they enter school at the age of five.”
As for the parents who have already fallen into the pitfalls of too much screen time for their young children, Madigan stresses they need not despair.
“Children’s brains are developing over the course of childhood and beyond, so there’s time to make changes,” says Madigan. “Creating that family media plan can be a step in the right direction.”
She adds: “Technology is deeply entrenched in modern-day lives. Taking family-based steps to engage with technology in positive ways may be crucial to ensuring success for our children who are growing up in the digital age.”
Click here To read the full report!
Important dates:
Thursday | January 31 - Report Cards go home
Friday | February 1 - No classes - Non-Instructional Day
Friday | February 1 - No classes - Non-Instructional Day
Tuesday | February 12 - Canadiana Musical Theatre Co is performing Pier 21 at our school
Wednesday | February 13 - Studio Bell Field Trip
Thursday & Friday | February 14 & 15 - Calgary City Teachers' Convention (NO School for students)
Monday | February 18 - Alberta Family Day (NO School)
