Mary Manz Simon's Blog, page 25

Collaboration is in

If your child’s school follows the traditional calendar, it’s almost time for the fall one-on-one meeting.

But don’t be surprised if other parents show up at your scheduled time. Group parent-teacher conferences are trending.

You and other parents will leave the classroom with games and activities designed to reinforce classroom learning. Your child will still bring home the usual report card.

The group conference format is designed to increase collaboration with the classroom teacher and other parents. A bonus benefit is that group meetings reduce the time demand on teachers.

As an educator, I strongly support parent-teacher communication – after all, I even made home visits to my students! – but I’m not convinced group conferences will increase student learning.

Better than IRL

Research shows that some tweens and teens have discovered something that’s more fun than face time with friends: VR video chats.

The technology is developing so quickly, that social networks are moving forward with virtual reality. Users can now connect with others through personalized avatars in entertainment environments or fun destinations. (Meet you in Hollywood!)

But I’ll take IRL (in real life) any day.

Halloween Enthusiasts Unite

I don’t know whether it was the candy, home decor or costume industry which sold the idea, but there’s no doubt: Halloween is for all ages.

Although data shows most Halloween revelers are younger than 45, more than 200 million people of all ages will celebrate. Festivities begin this weekend.

The trick or treating age has risen to include young teens, but that’s not the only up-aging: nearly half of those over-65 are involved in the holiday in some way.

Junior wearables

Wearables haven’t taken the world by storm- yet- but they are big news in the preschool crowd.

Our five year old grandson has a $5 version that tracks how many steps he takes and shows the time.

It’s amazing how fast knock-offs of the real thing down-age when they hit the market.

Family time Halloween

Which family in your neighborhood will win the social media competition?

As retailers race to the bottom this weekend, cutting prices on Halloween costumes, families are creating original costumes that are Instagram-worthy. One of the trends this year: parents and kids dressing around a unified theme.

This shift toward Halloween becoming an all-family event will hopefully result in fewer gory masks and costumes than we’ve seen in recent years.

The sharing landscape

Statistics about social media continue to change at what one consumer expert described as “whiplash speed.”

But the biggest news isn’t about the growing numbers on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter.

The important fact is under the surface: social media has shortened our attention span.

Keeping up with what’s trending on a daily basis is barely relevant. A thought, insight or concept seems only as good as the most recent social media post.

I’m relieved to see that some of today’s content go “out” as quickly as it comes “in,” but at today’s frenetic pace, I wonder what lasting values we’ll embrace for the long-term.

Halloween DIY

By spending less than $10 at a local thrift store, our grandson recently “dressed the part” for his oral presentation on Steve Jobs.

That same type of DIY thinking will drive the creation of many costumes this Halloween. In an effort to be unique, kids will wear costumes they put together by themselves.

Using a mix and match approach, children will add accessories and items they borrow, find or buy inexpensively.

Perfect mom?

An image of the “perfect mom” has plagued generations of moms.

Unfortunately, that’s still true, even though a majority of moms believe achieving that ideal is impossible.

In recent research, 9 out of 10 moms feel pressured to be “perfect.”

And how is perfection defined?

The perfect mom always puts her family first and is a good role model.

That’s a nice goal to target, but we need to view ourselves through the lens of real life.

Transparent parenting

Have you noticed the seemingly increased number of ads that feature family settings?

And not only that, but commercials online and on TV that show home scenes that are far from perfect?

It appears the concept of the “picture perfect” family is gone. That’s good, because the reality of occasional chaos and disorder is easier to relate to. However, it’s still interesting how unfiltered glimpses of family life have become more common.

The shopping dance

If I mentally push back, I can remember when grocery shopping was simple.

Yogurt fit on a single shelf. There was one type of lettuce and it came on a head. I only shopped at one store.

Remember?

Now, we constantly balance quality vs. price as we zip between Aldi and Walmart on the bargain end and Whole Foods on the “nicer” end.

Families might be eating healthier, but shopping is more complicated…and kids still only eat mac and cheese.