School of Thought

On eBook Publishing and Young Creative Writing Students
Synikka Lofton, Upper School teacher

The way students engage with creative writing is a dynamic, gradually evolving process. With recent innovations in technology, writing students are visiting the libraries less and are opting to use their personal computers, laptops, iPads, cell phones, and netbooks, instead of writing on paper.  Moreover, some creative writing students view writing in a notebook as a waste of time, and even consider notebooks irrelevant to the writing process.  For this new generation of writing students, keeping notebooks and writing with pens are archaic ways of documenting their experiences. Yet, it is still essential that students learn the craftsmanship of writing. How do educators combat or adapt to this rising tide of technology and its influence on student writers? How do we excite kids about reading and writing when technology has given them innovations, like the iPad, to play with?  As educators, we owe it to our students to teach them a basic appreciation of writing, which means combining conventional methods   with the latest technological advances.

Tips for Helping Your Child with Organizational Skills
Dana Bender, Lower School Director

Just as a painter needs the right tools (such as a paint brush and paint) and basic skills (such as how to prep the walls, put on a primer coat, and finally a final coat) to properly paint a room; children need the right tools and basic skills to be organized.  We often hear: “I forgot my book.”  “I lost my binder.” “I didn’t print out my homework.”  “Can I borrow a pen?”  By developing good organizational skills, children can be more successful in school and in life.