School Bells – Current Affairs – Grade 1 – Week 30
I am really eager to hear what these young scholars have to say about the responsible use of cell phones. They always amaze me with their ability to both listen and question in a way which is not possible for many first graders.
The children are arriving now.
Me: Good morning class.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: No cookies today but next week I promise. I am eager to hear what you and your families think about the responsible use of cell phones. I know that a couple of you have phones that you are to use only for emergencies.
Perhaps we need to start by sharing what we think the word responsible means. Who wants to share?
Sam: Should I get the dictionary Uncle Jim?
Me: That would be great Sam.
Sam gets the Oxford dictionary from the desk.
Sam: Uncle Jim, is it r-e-s-p-o-n-a-b-l-e?
Me: Close Sam. Let’s try re – spon – si – ble.
Sam: Here it is Uncle Jim.
Me: Great. I will write the definition on the white board.
1. Having an obligation to do something or having control over or care for someone as part of one’s job or role.
Sam: Like I am responsible for making my bed.
Me: Very good Sam.
2. Having to report to (a superior) and be answerable to them for one’s action.
Sue: Is that like doing our homework Mr. Jim?
Me: Excellent Sue. So, all of you are responsible for getting your homework done and coming to class prepared.
3. Being the primary cause of something and so be able to be blamed or credited for it.
Sofia: I was responsible for spilling the milk this morning Mr., Jim.
Me: That is great example. Thanks, Sofia. When we use the word responsible in regards to cell phones what do we mean?
Steve: Someone keeps saying bad things about my brother on his phone.
Me: So someone is leaving unkind messages on his phone?
Steve: Yes. He says that the teacher told him that this is cider bull?
(I suppress a smile.)
Me: I think you mean cyber bullying. That is when someone uses a phone, computer, or an iPad to say something unkind and often untrue about someone. Here let me write that on the board under “Not responsible use of phones or computers.”
1. Cyber bulling.
What are some other things we should not do?
Tommy: My sister says that it was mean of me to take a picture of her when she was in pajamas and to try to send it to her boyfriend.
Me: Very good Tommy. How shall we word this? Let’s try.
2. Being unkind by making fun of and sharing it with others by the phone or computer.
What else?
Tara: In our family no one is allowed to bring a phone to the table when we are eating. We cannot bring a game to the table either. Even in other rooms if someone is talking we are not allowed to use or even look at our phone.
Me: That is great Tara. It sounds as if the goal is to make sure everyone in the family listens to what others have to say. Are there any exceptions Tara?
Tara: When grandpa was sick mom set the ringer on her phone so that we would know it was grandpa calling or sometimes mom is expecting a call from work which is important.
Me: Excellent Let me see if I can word this accurately.
3. Ignoring family members to talk to or text someone else except when someone is sick.
Ahmes: Once I used mom’s phone to call grandma in Egypt and told her mom and dad were being mean to me and not allowing me to play until I cleaned my room.
Me: So were they being mean?
Ahmes: No, I just did not want to clean my room.
Me: Very good Ahmes.
4. Calling someone and lying to try to get out of doing something one needs to do.
Sue: My old brother sent a private picture of himself to his girlfriend. Dad was very unhappy.
Me: Was that a picture when he does not have clothes on?
Sue: Yes. Dad says that was something private and not nice to send over the phone.
Me: I think that is called sexting.
5. Sexting
Sam: Grandma likes it when Paul or I call her just to talk but not if we call too early or too late.
Me; There are some really good uses of the phone. What are some other positive uses of the phone?
Tommy: If we are in trouble or someone is trying to hurt someone in the family.
Sofia: Calling for help if someone is sick.
Ahmes: Calling Uncle in Egypt to wish him happy birthday.
Sam: Looking up information.
Me: All those are very positive and responsible use of the phone or computer.
Steve: Sometimes when we are traveling I watch a movie or play a game. Mom and dad have to approve the game or the movie.
Me: You and your families have obviously talked a lot about this issue and all of you young scholars seem to understand that we need to think about how and why we are using the phone or the computer. I am very impressed. What I am hearing is that there are both good and bad uses of cell phones and computers.
Time is nearly up. Does anyone have a topic they want to talk about next week?
Tara: My parents will not let me play any games that they say are violent but all my friends get to play those games. They are nice people. What is wrong with playing those games?
Me: That is a great topic. Let me writing it out and then print it off for all of you to take home.
All of you did a terrific job. I am very proud of you.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Tara, would you hand out the assignment please as everyone leaves?
Class: Bye Mr. Jim.
Me: Goodbye. Have a terrific week.
Written March 29, 2017
I am really eager to hear what these young scholars have to say about the responsible use of cell phones. They always amaze me with their ability to both listen and question in a way which is not possible for many first graders.
The children are arriving now.
Me: Good morning class.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: No cookies today but next week I promise. I am eager to hear what you and your families think about the responsible use of cell phones. I know that a couple of you have phones that you are to use only for emergencies.
Perhaps we need to start by sharing what we think the word responsible means. Who wants to share?
Sam: Should I get the dictionary Uncle Jim?
Me: That would be great Sam.
Sam gets the Oxford dictionary from the desk.
Sam: Uncle Jim, is it r-e-s-p-o-n-a-b-l-e?
Me: Close Sam. Let’s try re – spon – si – ble.
Sam: Here it is Uncle Jim.
Me: Great. I will write the definition on the white board.
1. Having an obligation to do something or having control over or care for someone as part of one’s job or role.
Sam: Like I am responsible for making my bed.
Me: Very good Sam.
2. Having to report to (a superior) and be answerable to them for one’s action.
Sue: Is that like doing our homework Mr. Jim?
Me: Excellent Sue. So, all of you are responsible for getting your homework done and coming to class prepared.
3. Being the primary cause of something and so be able to be blamed or credited for it.
Sofia: I was responsible for spilling the milk this morning Mr., Jim.
Me: That is great example. Thanks, Sofia. When we use the word responsible in regards to cell phones what do we mean?
Steve: Someone keeps saying bad things about my brother on his phone.
Me: So someone is leaving unkind messages on his phone?
Steve: Yes. He says that the teacher told him that this is cider bull?
(I suppress a smile.)
Me: I think you mean cyber bullying. That is when someone uses a phone, computer, or an iPad to say something unkind and often untrue about someone. Here let me write that on the board under “Not responsible use of phones or computers.”
1. Cyber bulling.
What are some other things we should not do?
Tommy: My sister says that it was mean of me to take a picture of her when she was in pajamas and to try to send it to her boyfriend.
Me: Very good Tommy. How shall we word this? Let’s try.
2. Being unkind by making fun of and sharing it with others by the phone or computer.
What else?
Tara: In our family no one is allowed to bring a phone to the table when we are eating. We cannot bring a game to the table either. Even in other rooms if someone is talking we are not allowed to use or even look at our phone.
Me: That is great Tara. It sounds as if the goal is to make sure everyone in the family listens to what others have to say. Are there any exceptions Tara?
Tara: When grandpa was sick mom set the ringer on her phone so that we would know it was grandpa calling or sometimes mom is expecting a call from work which is important.
Me: Excellent Let me see if I can word this accurately.
3. Ignoring family members to talk to or text someone else except when someone is sick.
Ahmes: Once I used mom’s phone to call grandma in Egypt and told her mom and dad were being mean to me and not allowing me to play until I cleaned my room.
Me: So were they being mean?
Ahmes: No, I just did not want to clean my room.
Me: Very good Ahmes.
4. Calling someone and lying to try to get out of doing something one needs to do.
Sue: My old brother sent a private picture of himself to his girlfriend. Dad was very unhappy.
Me: Was that a picture when he does not have clothes on?
Sue: Yes. Dad says that was something private and not nice to send over the phone.
Me: I think that is called sexting.
5. Sexting
Sam: Grandma likes it when Paul or I call her just to talk but not if we call too early or too late.
Me; There are some really good uses of the phone. What are some other positive uses of the phone?
Tommy: If we are in trouble or someone is trying to hurt someone in the family.
Sofia: Calling for help if someone is sick.
Ahmes: Calling Uncle in Egypt to wish him happy birthday.
Sam: Looking up information.
Me: All those are very positive and responsible use of the phone or computer.
Steve: Sometimes when we are traveling I watch a movie or play a game. Mom and dad have to approve the game or the movie.
Me: You and your families have obviously talked a lot about this issue and all of you young scholars seem to understand that we need to think about how and why we are using the phone or the computer. I am very impressed. What I am hearing is that there are both good and bad uses of cell phones and computers.
Time is nearly up. Does anyone have a topic they want to talk about next week?
Tara: My parents will not let me play any games that they say are violent but all my friends get to play those games. They are nice people. What is wrong with playing those games?
Me: That is a great topic. Let me writing it out and then print it off for all of you to take home.
All of you did a terrific job. I am very proud of you.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Tara, would you hand out the assignment please as everyone leaves?
Class: Bye Mr. Jim.
Me: Goodbye. Have a terrific week.
Written March 29, 2017
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