Tech in Elementary
Our elementary school students have ample access to technology and spend time every week expanding their tech skills.
We believe in "developmentally appropriate" use of technology. That means students use technology in different ways and at different levels depending on their age.
Preschool
Children in our threeschool, preschool and young fives classrooms spend less than an hour a week in "screen time." Research has shown that too much "screen time" has been linked to obesity, irregular sleep, behavioral problems, increased risk for attention problems in children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 1-2 hours of screen time per day. That includes TV, videos, video games, time spent on smart phones and computers/iPads. Children who spend more than 1-2 hours of screen time per day do not typically spend as much time in active, imaginative play.
At the same time, some of the recent development in touch technology and mobile devices have allowed us to integrate technology into our academic activities in ways we couldn't have dreamed of just a few years ago. In preschool, we use iPads. iPads are great for younger children because they don't require the writing skills and tech savvy that computers can require. They are intuitive and extremely easy for students to use. Our favorite apps do things like help children practice writing letters, encourage kids to match sounds with letters and provide students a chance to be creative in a brand new way!
Elementary
In kindergarten-fifth grade, students have regular technology instruction as well as opportunity to incorporate technology into regular classwork. While we don't provide one-to-one laptops or iPads to our elementary students, we do have "tech carts" with enough of each device for a full classroom to use at any given time. Plus, we have a fully-equipped media center for formal tech instruction. Kids come to the media center in groups and learn programs like Keynote, iMovie, Open Office, etc. It's always surprising to parents when their child comes home for the first time and announces they made a "Keynote presentation" at school!
In addition to learning how technology works, students in elementary school are taught how to type on a keyboard. As technology continues to evolve, typing remains an important skill.
iPads in the Classroom
We embrace developmentally appropriate use of technology at Zeeland Christian - including iPads in the classroom. In 2012, every classroom at ZCS will have access to iPads. While we do not provide an iPad to every student, we provide ample opportunities for their use when it will help enahnce the curriculum. In preschool, we have iPad centers with 5-6 iPads in each classroom. We believe iPads are a wonderful addition to our technology toolbox. However, we do not think every elementary school student needs 24-hour access to an iPad in order to receive the benefits that the technology provides. Technology changes every single day and we expect to see our technology program to continue to evolve as well. Please feel free to ask questions or give suggestions if you see more ways we can integrate technology at ZCS!
Middle School at ZCS
You notice we call this space between 6th-8th grades "Middle School." Not "Junior High." That's because middle schoolers aren't junior high schoolers. They are kids in the middle of drastic changes throughout their bodies that are reflected in how they think, how they act and how they learn. At Zeeland Christian Middle School, our teaching staff embraces this unique phase of life and enjoys leading their students through it.
One of the most unique aspects of ZCMS is the way we help kids make good choices. We do not have ZERO HOURS or DETENTION or any of the discipline tactics most parents grew up with. Instead, the teachers rely on creating relationships with students and guiding them along the way. What happens if a student makes a poor choice? Then, they experience the natural consequences of their actions. Yes, it's more work for the staff. But we believe strongly that punishment alone will not help our students grow into the people God created them to be. If you'd like to learn more about "natural consequences" and some of the tactics we use, we recommend reading the book, "Love & Logic."