Social Media and Parental Presence

facebook (Photo credit: sitmonkeysupreme)

This past week I  watched a very sad indictment of the "Sextortion of Amanda Todd" being aired on CBC The Fifth Estate, to commemorate the anniversary of Amanda's death.  I was horrified to hear how twelve and thirteen year old teens are sharing lewd images of themselves on group blogging and webcam sites.  I was even more than horrified to see how online predators could take advantage of such students,  and blackmail them into sharing more revealing images.  This tragedy exemplifies some insidious dangers inherent with image sharing sites,  such as SnapChat and Instagram, and with private chat rooms.   Media literacy is not the topic on display, and images provoke more than just fear, or isolation, they can provoke students to suicide.

This brought to mind many ways as parents we need to be involved in our students' "online time"?

You will often hear students saying that the time they spend alone on their computers is private and they have the "rights" to not share their online behaviour.  Not only are cases of cyber bullying on the increase,  many are not being reported for fear of reprisal.  Often the RCMP cannot respond to complaints in time,  due to the nature of time sensitive issues regarding the Internet.

So what can we as parents/teachers do in this situation?

• Help our students gain awareness of maintaining appropriate digital citizenship, about creating a digital footprint, empowering them with rules and behaviour for fostering online friends.
• Consider and decide how your family may choose to monitor online and offline conversations.  Teens are often awake late into the night when lights go out. 
• Encourage loving relationship with your developing teen,  that includes lots of openness to discuss all kinds of  topics.
• Discuss and encourage safe digital citizenship such as those found in moderated sites like our school Ning.
• Discuss and apply safe strategies around online activities in group Skype/webcam/google hangout chats if there are no moderators. 
• Discuss why there are age restrictions set by social media sites.  As a parent you know your child's emotional maturity and ability to communicate responsibly.  You may choose to wait until your student is 13 or older before establishing a social network profile.
• Pray for your students to imbibe wisdom in relationship, and in sharing personal information and healthy self esteem.

My prayer is that as a community we can be accountable for all of our students, and that together we can partner with you as parents to help keep our students safe.


For information on sites which can help you deal with bullying and preventative education go here.  To watch a great powerpoint with good discussion topics go here

Related articles

• Amanda Todd, sextortion and cyberbullying: Ask the experts
• More Parents Push for a Social Media Contract
• "Do You Know Where Your Children Are....Online?" Why parents need to create social media accounts and friend their children.
• Parents just don't understand: Apps and teenagers
• How To Fight Cyberbullying

Digibraians Unite!

Gone are the days when librarians enjoyed the tight lipped, over controlled persona,  where students and parents feared your presence and eagle eye!

In the quiet dungeon of such library tombs the sound of the date stamp as it thundered onto your book was quite frightening!  Worse than that, losing a book was a life sentence!

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Welcome to the age of the "Digibrarian" where literacy is not limited to taking out a hard cover book and returning it on said due date.  Instead the role of teacher librarian, media specialist, or as we now call it "Digibrarian",  has taken the bull by the horns and entered the twenty first century leading the literacy highway.

Digital literacy may encompass many skills which require superb multi-tasking, from : financial literacy; reading literacy; physical literacy; ed tech literacy; art and music literacy; project based learning and inquiry learning.  The list goes on…. and the "Digibrarian" rises to the fore with new and wonderful #makerspaces!  To see all the #libraryawesomeness check out this  infographic!

In our learning commons Digibrarians  may be found:

•  creating techie tools/bibliographies for patrons, 
• sharing the joy of  e books, audio books, 
• creating presentations on digital citizenship,  and social media, 
• creating havens like Ning to encourage students to learn about social media and digital citizenship
• helping students refine the research process using tools that fit their learning style  
• creating a myriad of techie and literacy events to highlight and promote the learning commons.  
• reading and role modelling literacy  
• supporting a nurturing and welcoming space for all students 
• shipping materials to patrons all over the province and beyond
• writing and editing resources for patrons in the form of kits and supplements.
• Correlating curriculum.
• blogging and creating websites 
• teaching how to use academic databases and Google
• curating on different media outlets and sharing to social media
• leading  

 To help Google; curators of the Internet otherwise known as Digibrarians are here to save the Day!

Digibrarian Hero!
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Please add all the extra missions you do as a "Digibrarian"?  I am sure I have left out a ton!
Blessings
Pippa

Josh Garrels - Pilot Me (from "The Sea In Between")

My new best inspiration of the week.  I absolutely love this song.  Morning worship wake up and shine! Thanks Kevin Gourley for sharing on our music polling competition on the Ning. Thanks Josh Garrels and Pilot Me.

Increasing literacy with your E or Audio books!

Never has literacy been so immediate and gratifying!  Never has an iPad, Sony, Nexus e reader or even your laptop seemed so inviting!!  Oh wonders to have the blessings of e reading/listening at your fingertips.  So the purpose of this post (as you may have realized) is to encourage you to try out some of our audio books;)  Now you might say well isn't that a bit like cheating?  Horrors!!  Reading and/or listening critically to the content, and then making connections with the heart, is the reason we enjoy books.

If you have not enjoyed the advantages of audio books, here are a few reasons why you need to partake...

• Audiobooks can take students to the next reading level, introducing advanced vocabulary, whilst modelling higher level reading.  Statistics have shown that students who listen to more advanced literature will have an improved vocabulary as a result, and will recognize the words on the page faster if they have heard it before.
• They may introduce new genres, and help Dyslexic students understand the nuance of humour.
• They may help students understand in-congruencies in dialects/language like works on Shakespeare.
• Provide a space for multi-age students and family to bond together over the joy of reading classics like Charlotte's Web, or Oliver Twist.
• Audiobooks provide a bridge not only for struggling readers, but also for gifted readers. 
• Audiobooks are a wonderful tool for listening pleasure in the car, on the way to a soccer game, or on a family holiday.

So please check out some of these amazing audio books on our e library with HCS E learning commons. We will even loan you an e reader.  If you don't know how to access e books in our e library please contact me and I will lead you to the best pickings!  Blessings on your reading/listening journey!

Here are a few of my favourites taken from our e library,  (images derived from HCS Overdrive library):

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Art for the analytics!

After watching this video I have a much better understanding about the purpose of art history!  Who knew that so many deductive skills were involved in creating an art story.  For more on this site check this link.

Summer Reads

Summer has brought sunshine and more sunshine,  awesome family time, and the opportunity for reading and quiet contemplation.  What a blessing!  Thank you God for Overdrive and e libraries which make reading accessible and simple!

 I  enjoy leadership books, biographies, and fiction,  which may inspire my thinking for the new school year.  Generally I love a book with a good message, as it leaves me reflecting about where I can improve in small and big things.

This summer I have really enjoyed some of the following books:

Square Peg by Todd Rose (amazing biography about a gifted student who falls through the cracks to rise again!)

Wild by Cheryl Strayed (After doing my camino I am hooked on hiking/travel stories that imbibe adventure and survival.  This one was all about the strength of the human spirit)

Living in the Abundance of God by John Osteen (Great reminders about living from a narrative of gratitude and counting your blessings)

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (poignant story of an elderly gent who goes on his own primitive camino in England to search his soul and find forgiveness)

The Good and Beautiful Life :  Putting on the Character of Christ by James Bryan Smith.  I really enjoyed his first book The Good and Beautiful God, which we used as a bible study and found much joy in refuting some of the baggage we have learned over the years.  I love the soul training and biblical messages the book imparts on your mind and heart.  Having an open heart as to why we may get angry, lust, worry and judge are all part of this great read!

Great By Choice by Jim Collins (Inspiring read on how simple folk who work hard, and create a lasting plan will sustain in a competitive environment,  even one that is chaotic!)

The Power of Many by Meg Whitman CEO of E Bay.   (Loved this book as the common elements in her version of leadership are trust, authenticity and good ethics) 

Linchpin by Seth Godin (Just started reading this one!)

What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell (Just started reading this one, but I love his books!)

As I plan for my year ahead I will hopefully remember many of these great leaders' thoughts and anecdotes.  Thoughtfulness, innovation, hard work, connecting in a trusting environment,  and how to validate my colleagues will be playing on my mind;)  What about you?  Have you read any great books this summer?  I would love to glean some good reads from you! 

Many blessings for a wonderful start to the school year in September!
Pippa

Creativity requires TIME

Zibiri to Pamploma!

We were psyched to get going on this 26.5 km stretch,  which would take us to one of the most historic cities in Spain,  and also one of the oldest and prettiest! It is also known for the running of the bulls!

My feet were a little sore this morning and I had to wrap a blister that had formed,  but other than that we were good to go after a good night's sleep in our private Albergie!  We had enjoyed a wonderful evening, and met some interesting French, Dutch and American folk.  I had learned some new words in Spanish and used some of my rusty French!  We teamed up with a friend from Arizona called Jean who was walking on his own, and started our day in sunshine and cool, crisp,  mountain air.  On the way we encountered fragrant Lilac trees, cows and horses in pastures, and on the last stretch some road walking which was not too great for the blisters!  I was envious that my buddy Nic had no foot problems,  although her hips had given her a little problem the day before on the descent.

On entering Arre we stopped for a cafe con leche and rested our weary feet before making the last 7 kms into Pamplona.  We had plans to stay at a German Albergie,  but to our dismay it was fully booked,  and after a detour we made our way up to the fortress where the old section of Pamplona beckoned the weary travelers.  Finally at 4 pm we found the municipal Albergie where we could rest amidst what seemed to be hundreds of other pilgrims!  Note to self "Do not stay in such large municipal Albergies!"  Twenty six kilometers of walking had us extremely hungry.  We settled for a walk around the beautiful town resplendent with neo-classical architecture, and then a Cerveza and pilgrim menu to restore some sanity!

Lovely paved roads winding down into the city!

Only 13 more Kms to the outskirts of Pamplona or Arre!

Beautiful homes along the way!

Still chilly but sunny!  A most perfect day to walk!

Pit stop for Pizza or Tapanade!

Pilgrim Jean from Arizona.

Rolling green hills everywhere!

Outskirts of Pamplona entering Arre.

Praying for a cafe con leche!

The Palacio Uranga in Burlada, possibly with some design influence by the Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudí.

Town hall and plaza!

Research Skills 2013 Homeschool Workshop

Here is my recent workshop on research skills and digital citizenship, at the Tradex Convention Centre in Abbotsford June 2013.

Research Skills 101 Homeschooling Convention June 2013 Tradex Lower Mainland by Pippa Davies

Camino in 2 weeks!

After a glorious two weeks in northern Spain walking parts of the Camino De Santiago,  I am home resting my weary feet,  and appreciating my comfortable bed and family.  It was hard leaving beautiful Spain and the memories created with my friend Nic, but I hope these images will tell their own story, one shared by many other pilgrims who complete the 850 km pilgrimage, from the Pyrenees in France to the coastline of Spain.  This trip was something I had wanted to do ever since turning 50, and although I did not have enough time to complete all 850 km's, the blessings and spiritual journey along the way were profound!  Please note I used my iPhone 5 camera,  so the pictures were not perfect, but it sure came in handy for internet, and easy access along the way. 


The immense beauty of mountains, rivers, villages, churches and community along the way, builds to an intensity at the end point of Compostela de Santiago, where all pilgrims complete their journey and receive their certificate if they have walked the official last 100 kms.  Pilgrims from all over the world then attend mass in the stunning cathedral/basilica in Compostela, and if they are lucky will experience the spiritual blessing of the Botaparfumerie. 

Our journey began in Vancouver via London, Barcelona, and then on to Roncesvalles in the foothills of the Pyrenees.    Neither my buddy Nic nor myself had done any hard training for this walk, but we did meet once a week for a longer walk to get our legs and backs stronger whilst carrying a backpack.  We had no idea that we had packed too much for our journey,  and discovered all too quickly that walking with over 20 pounds was way too much!  As you can see in the beginning we had huge backpacks! 

Arriving in Barcelona we were overwhelmed at the beautiful architecture,  and radial symmetry in the city which seemed to ensconce old and new in a wonderful sublime reality.  Community thrives at the heart of each city, town and village,  as cars are rejected for pedestrian walkways and plazas,  and families meet to drink cafe con leche, and catch up on the day's events.

After a day's sightseeing we caught the train to Pamplona, and met our first pilgrims en route to Roncesvalles by taxi.  We were so excited to get started,  but there was a lot to take in in the small town and monastery of Roncesvallez.  We were to experience our first Alberghie, our first mass in the cathedral,  and enjoy hospitality in the first pilgrim restaurant along the way.  Our first night I was transported back to my youth with hostels, sharing bunk beds, and friendship with strangers, all unified by a common cause- a pilgrimage across Spain started by the apostle Mark from the Bible.

 I would become immune to sleep deprivation, weary limbs, and outdoor temperatures as the way beckoned me to explore deep within.  At that first mass I experienced God saying being still and take in all that you observe, including the blessings,  and you will start to understand your Camino.  The next morning I learned my first lesson about being observant, when I fell straight from the patio onto the ground before I even started my walk.  Nic and I both had a good laugh at my splattered body on the ground and then it was onwards to start our trail.  We were to look for the yellow Jacobian
signs that would become our beacons to lead us along the way. 

Pilgrim signs.

Arriving in Zubiri that first day our bodies were exhausted,  and our backs sore as we contemplated how to lose that extra weight.  Out went any incidentals like makeup, ablutions, spare clothing,

and finally we could walk without strain.  Vanity and extra clothes were not required on the way.  I would live in two sets of clothing and enjoy the simplicity.  The Leki poles really came in handy for stabilizing our weight.

The natural and man made beauty of old Roman bridges, churches, cobbled roads and pilgrim sights including the comedic Stop sign kept us motivated as we examined the reasons we were doing this trip.  I was hoping to hear stories and see some of the blessings I had read about in Paul Coelho's book  The Pilgrimage,  and in the movie The Way.  I knew this was a lot to ask when only doing a small section of the trail.  Yet we were already hearing encouraging and moving stories from other pilgrims, as we sat around the communal tables at dinner, and enjoyed our pilgrim menu.  I was meeting people from all over the world, and loving the camaraderie so quickly established.  It did not matter which denomination you represented.   Everyone was identified by their pilgrim shell and common goal; to reach Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of St James were buried in the Basilica

Zubiri to Pamplona will be shared next week.  Thanks for reading my journey.  God bless you!

Planning on Walking the Camino!

With great trepidation and excitement,  my friend Nic and I start our shortened version of the Camino de Santiago today in Spain.  Spring has really welcomed Vancouver this week with gorgeous sunshine, but I cannot wait to see the foothills of the Pyrenees in Spain,  where we start our journey in Roncesvalles.

My hubby John is the hiking expert, owning a mountaineering store, in Surrey BC , so as you can imagine I did not have far to go for my supplies.  Here is a short packing list we have devised, with his loving care!

• Sleeping bag and insert camping sheet
• Backpack 30 l.  Osprey.
• Leki walking poles.
• Pillow case (stuff with vest)
• Hiking Boots.  Love my Teva's.
• Flip flops for evenings.
• Runners in case of blisters.
• Med kit- including blister kit, Melatonin, Ibuprofen (lots of aches and pains), Facial wipes (lots as can double on the walk for emergency situations;), sterile wipes, small tube antibiotic ointment.
• Ablutions- comb, sun screen, camping soap x2, small bottles for shampoo and conditioner, sample size toothpaste and toothbrush. Snik lip balm.
• Cutlery- small camping bottle, plastic spoon and knife to eat along the way.  Swiss army knife with all the little attachments one needs.  
• Compass, pedometer, tiny notebook/pen, dictionary app on Iphone, plus charger and adaptor for Europe.  Cell phone plan.  Google Translate app or small dictionary.
• Wicker based clothing made from Bamboo- one long sheet and one short sleeve shirt.  Two Lululemon shirts (built in bra).  Short shorts and longer cut off shorts easy dry and one long sleeve easy dry shirt to keep sun off arms.  Fleece sweater and vest,  and goretex raincoat, rainpants and wide brim hat. Leggings for wearing underneath rain pants if cold.
• Two changes of underwear.  Oh No!
• Three pairs of hiking socks- one thin, two thick.
• Compression bags to squish all resources into tiny balls.
• Waterproof inserts to protect objects in backpack if rains.
• Tatonka money belt to carry cash/wallet underneath shirt.
• Water sac to attach to backpack. Ultima Replenisher for hydration.
• Sunglasses and a good book to read.  Of course!
• Prayers!!

I will try and keep you updated along the journey!=)
Until then Buen Camino!