Blog Posts - Kletke Tech Resources

ComputerScience.org: The Ultimate STEM Resource Guide for Kids

11/12/2020

STEM—which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math—is a crucial piece of the educational experience. Biologist Judith Ramaley coined the acronym in 2001 for the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) as the organization began ramping up programs to promote STEM subjects in American schools.

As the country rolled into the 21st century, student STEM achievements in the U.S. lagged behind those in other countries. Naturally, the NSF sought solutions for improving STEM programs in schools. After a 2005 report noted a strong connection between economic privilege and STEM achievement, the NSF and other organizations began working to close this gap and make STEM resources more widely available.

A strong STEM foundation opens doors to a variety of educational options and lucrative, fulfilling career opportunities.

THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS (BLS) PROJECTS OCCUPATIONS FOR MATH-RELATED PROFESSIONALS, SUCH AS ACTUARIES AND STATISTICIANS, TO GROW BY 26% FROM 2018 TO 2028, FAR FASTER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE GROWTH RATE FOR ALL OCCUPATIONS.

Parents may struggle to provide home-based learning in STEM for kids. This page presents top online resources in each STEM subject, plus a list of 150 courses, websites, activities, and competitions arranged by grade level.

Note: The above comes directly from their website. A representative of their organization reached out to me asking if I would provide this information to our teachers, students and families. I am pleased to be able to make this information available. Click here to read more!

Safety Detectives: Parents' Guide for Safe YouTube and Internet Streaming for Kids

11/12/2020

You work hard to keep your children safe from so many different dangers, but every day they are exposed to countless threats online. Predators, disturbing content, identity theft attempts, and other things you wouldn’t let them experience in real life are all waiting for them.

Shockingly, 1 in 5 U.S. teenagers say they have been approached in a sexual way by strangers online; only 25% told their parents.

As a parent, that’s terrifying.

Young people have access to a nearly infinite pool of content thanks to websites like YouTube and Reddit. Worse, the Internet, the rise of smartphones, and the culture of social media allow us to access these things from anywhere. No matter what you think of it or how much you know about it, platforms like YouTube are changing how children are growing up...

Note: The above comes directly from their website. The marketing assistant for Safety Detectives reached out to me regarding this resource. I am glad to be able to send it on to our school parents. Click here to read more.

Personal Note: This material is a fantastic reminder of parental responsibilities and ideas to keep your kids safe. Please read.

Claire Mitchell: Fun Science Experiments For Children to Try at Home

11/11/2020

With access to school limited by the coronavirus lockdown restrictions, children need lots of things to do at home. While there’s important ‘school stuff’ they still need to learn, there’s surely room for some fun too! So why not combine fun and education and try out our 15 Fun Science experiments?
My name is Claire Mitchell, mother of two, keen author and lover of anything to do with science. My family really enjoyed these home science experiments and we’re sure you will too!

Note: The above comes directly from Mrs. Mitchell's webpage. She approached me asking if I would be willing to share. I am glad to do so. Click here to learn more.

Tim Elmore: How to Stop Being a Control Freak with Your Kids

7/7/2020

I just spoke to Sharon, a mom who is now teaching her three kids at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first few days were novel and even fun. The adrenaline that flows from doing something new had kicked in. Now, it’s a different story. Sharon told me recently her biggest struggle is wanting to control everything. I can see her point. Wouldn’t it be nice to:

Control their attitudes?
Control their effort in school?
Control their ambition for studies?
Control their maturity levels?

Many people admit to being a control freak when I ask audiences to respond to the question. In fact, the number of people who raise their hands to acknowledge their desire for control is growing. More and more people wish they had more control over the situations and people in their life. A growing body of research suggests it isn’t limited to a certain temperament anymore. Most of us want it. It’s actually a form of perfectionism. “A new study published in Psychological Bulletin demonstrates that perfectionism is increasing over time: Today’s youth are more demanding of others, and they are more demanding of themselves. They also feel like other people (e.g., parents) are more demanding of them,” says U.C. Berkeley....

Note: The above comes directly from their website. Click here to read more.

TKSST: The Art of Georgia O’Keeffe (and how to see more and care less)

7/1/2020

Feeling disconnected from creating art within classical conventions, artist Georgia O’Keeffe began experimenting with abstract drawings that defied easy classification. Using the shapes and rhythms of nature to capture her internal world, these experiments became the cornerstone of the movement known as American Modernism.

…and O’Keeffe has since become known as the mother of American Modernism, an artistic movement that “shared a desire to challenge the realist traditions that dominated art education.” The art of Georgia O’Keeffe and how to see more and care less is a TED-Ed lesson by Iseult Gillespie. The animation was directed by Lisa LaBracio....

Note: The above comes directly from their website. Click here to learn more!

TKSST: Why are Glasswing Butterfly Wings Clear?

6/26/2020

Glasswing butterflies aren’t made of glass, but their transparent wings help them blend with their surroundings, protecting them from predators. This Deep Look episode from KQED takes the time to observe the life cycle of glasswing butterflies (Greta oto), as well as the special nanopillars responsible for their non-reflecting wings.
While camouflage is common in nature, actual attempts at invisibility are rare. “Glasswings excel at being dull, and that helps them hide in plain sight.”
File this video under biomimicry....

Note: The above comes directly from their website. Click here to learn more!

Common Sense Media: How to Set Parental Controls on Netflix

6/24/2020

From reboots to originals, Netflix is full of entertainment for kids. Of course, it also has tons of age-inappropriate shows that kids could easily stumble across. Netflix updated its parental controls in April 2020, giving parents the ability to PIN-protect each user profile. This ensures kids can only access their own profile and can't change the content restrictions.
You can enable a few parental controls through the Netflix app but you get more options by going through your account on a web browser. Parental controls are just one way to help your kid learn to make appropriate choices and manage screen time independently. They work best with conversation about why you're restricting access. Here's how to set parental controls on Netflix:...

Note: The above comes directly from their website. Click here to read more!

YouTube: The Wanamaker Organ - Inside the World's Largest Operating Musical Instrument

6/22/2020

Most Philadelphians don’t realize that the largest working musical instrument in the world is built into one of the city’s landmarks, the former John Wanamaker department store, now Macy’s, at 13th and Market streets. The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ at Macy’s is a 7-story-high contraption bigger than most people’s houses, even rich people’s. The vast maze of 26,677 pipes and baffles and bellows and wires and wooden stairways lies hidden behind what many of us have always thought was the Wanamaker Organ.

Note: The above comes directly from their YouTube video description. Click here to learn more.

StickerYou.com

6/19/2020

About StickerYou
StickerYou was created to empower businesses and individuals to make the best custom die-cut sticky products - whether it be for their marketing or personal expression. We enable you to make what matters stick!

Any Shape StickerYou’s die-cut technology allows customers to create any shape without any constraints. StickerYou can produce images that contour to the shape of the image (die-cut) or create standard shapes, such as rectangles, squares, or circles.
Any Size StickerYou is able to customize the size of your art to your exact request. Whether you want a simple 4inch x 4inch design or a 4.1inch x 3.9inch design, StickerYou guarantees the product to be cut within 0.1 inches of your specifications.
Any Quantity

StickerYou produces custom products using digital printers/cutters mixed with our proprietary technology. This enables you to order quantities as low as 1 (no really!) or up to 10,000. For higher quantities, we can offer you a custom quote. The benefit is you only pay for the quantity that you need!

Note: The above directly from their website. Click here to learn more!

Personal Note: I learned of this and other similar sites from my grand daughter who regularly purchases stickers to put on her high school Chromebook. I created, ordered and received "Permanent" stickers to put on our school Chromebooks for student distribution. Fantastic quality and super easy creation and order process. I can see parents, students, and teachers getting excited about this site.

Review Geek: Can Keyboard Wrist Rests Prevent Carpal Tunnel? Are They Worth Using?

6/19/2020

People who spend their days typing might notice some stiffness or tingling in their wrists. These are early warning signs of carpal tunnel—the great boogeyman of all who work at a computer. And while wrist rests can reduce your chance of wrist injury, are they really as helpful as people say?

Wrist Rests Are Helpful, Sort ofWhat causes carpal tunnel syndrome? According to the NIH, it’s usually the result of long-term wrist injury. The tissues in your wrists slowly swell up after years of neglect, getting so irritated that they press your median nerve, causing pain and tingling....

Note: The above comes directly from their website. Click here to read more!