First Full Week of Netbooks

Wow!  An entire week of netbooks, along with digital citizenship testing!  Students seem to be getting used to carrying their netbooks around school.  Many of them are showing great responsibility by carrying their netbooks in their cases in the halls, closing the lids when moving across a room, and making sure that pictures and music that are on their netbooks are obtained legally and are school-appropriate.  We are just about ready to send the netbooks home.  Are you ready for them?

• Have you set aside a spot in your house for the netbook to charge each night?
• Have you found a good spot where the netbook can be used to complete homework? 
• Have you purchased a flash drive to save work so it isn't lost?
• Have you talked as a family about the rules for using the netbook at home?
• When can the netbook be used?
• Where can it be used?
• How long can it be used?
• Who will have access to the netbook? (Should be student and parents/guardians only)
• Where will the netbook be kept when it isn't being used?  Will it be safe from younger siblings or animals if the middle schooler isn't there?
• Have you purchased insurance in case of loss, theft, vandalism, intentional damage?

Students are ready.  When they see me in the hall, they say, "Mrs. Piacentini, when are we getting to take the netbooks home?"  We are hoping that it will be some time this week.  Make sure your home is ready!