The decision to get your child a cellphone is a very important one. There are many reasons why it’s a good idea and just as many reasons why it’s a bad idea.

After reading a few articles on the topic I thought I’d share my thoughts and analyze the articles.

Is Your Kid Ready for a Cellphone? (Mashable)

Questions to Ask Yourself

To make your own assessment ask yourself these questions -– if you can answer ‘yes’ to all four, the time might be right for your child to own her own phone:

1. Does your child need the phone to stay connected with you or for emergency situations?

2. Does your child understand and respect the time and usage limits you have placed on other things like television and video game playing?

3. Does your child understand what types of apps are okay to download and how to surf the Internet safely?

4. Does your child know how to use the phone safely and appropriately? Do they know who and who not to communicate with? What they should and shouldn’t share online? What sorts of words and pictures not to send?

How Old Should Your Kids Be Before They Get a Cellphone? (Choremonster)

Twice as many children have cell phones now as in 2004. Most teens — 85% of those aged 14 to 17 — have cell phones. So do 69% of 11-14 year olds and 31% of kids aged 8-10, according to a 2010 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

7 Best Cellphones for Kids (Mashable)

Prepaid or pay-as-you-go plans are key. In addition to major carriers, companies like Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile specialize in prepaid, no-contract plans, which are ideal (and cheap) options if you’re just looking to stay in touch.

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Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

This episode of The Wired Homeschool is brought to you by proXPN. proXPN is a virtual private network that allows you to use the internet the way it should be: anonymously and without oversight! You don’t need to worry about being snooped on when you’re using the free wi-fi at your favorite coffee shop or the library. For 20% off your new account, go to visit proXPN and use the coupon code WHOMES to sign up for a premium account today. If you’re not satisfied with your new proXPN Premium Account you can cancel within 7 days for a full refund.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit

While I’m on hiatus over the month of July, I’ll be presenting encore episodes of the most popular podcasts from this year. I hope you enjoy these.

Comics and graphic novels are often seen by some parents as childish and a waste of time. Finding quality comics with good stories and educational value can take some searching. This week’s podcast is an interview with comic book writer and fellow podcaster Ben Avery.

Complete show notes can be found in the original post.

Like what you see? Connect socially!

Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

Follow @wiredhs

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Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

This episode of The Wired Homeschool is brought to you by proXPN. proXPN is a virtual private network that allows you to use the internet the way it should be: anonymously and without oversight! You don’t need to worry about being snooped on when you’re using the free wi-fi at your favorite coffee shop or the library. For 20% off your new account, go to visit proXPN and use the coupon code WHOMES to sign up for a premium account today. If you’re not satisfied with your new proXPN Premium Account you can cancel within 7 days for a full refund.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

While I’m on hiatus over the month of July, I’ll be presenting encore episodes of the most popular podcasts from this year. I hope you enjoy these.

If I say The Ramen Noodle you probably think about dried noodles that you boil and then season with flavorful packets of salt and other goodness. To some, however, Daniel J. Lewis is The Ramen Noodle, host of the clean-comedy podcast of the same name.

The Ramen Noodle is just one of the many entertaining and educational podcasts hosted by Daniel over at Noodle.mx, his podcasting network. There you can find a podcast that will probably tickle your taste buds. It won’t be the same as real ramen but it’s pretty close.

The complete show notes for this episode can be found in the original post.

Like what you see? Connect socially!

Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

Follow @wiredhs

// Follow @jwilkers

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Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

This episode of The Wired Homeschool is brought to you by proXPN. proXPN is a virtual private network that allows you to use the internet the way it should be: anonymously and without oversight! You don’t need to worry about being snooped on when you’re using the free wi-fi at your favorite coffee shop or the library. For 20% off your new account, go to visit proXPN and use the coupon code WHOMES to sign up for a premium account today. If you’re not satisfied with your new proXPN Premium Account you can cancel within 7 days for a full refund.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

While I’m on hiatus over the month of July, I’ll be presenting encore episodes of the most popular podcasts from this year. I hope you enjoy these.

Last year I sold my Kindle Fire in order to buy an iPad. Originally, I intended to buy a refurbished iPad 3 because it was cheaper than a new iPad 2 and still came with the same warranty as a brand new iPad. The Apple store online was out of the refurbished iPad 3 so I headed down to the local Apple Store on my lunch break to have a look at the iPad Mini, not intending to buy it at all.

When I picked up the iPad Mini I knew immediately that this was the tablet for me. Compared to the full-sized iPads in the store, the iPad Mini feels like a feather in your hands.

The complete show notes for this episode can be found in the original post.

Like what you see? Connect socially!

Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

Follow @wiredhs

// Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

This episode of The Wired Homeschool is brought to you by proXPN. proXPN is a virtual private network that allows you to use the internet the way it should be: anonymously and without oversight! You don’t need to worry about being snooped on when you’re using the free wi-fi at your favorite coffee shop or the library. For 20% off your new account, go to visit proXPN and use the coupon code WHOMES to sign up for a premium account today. If you’re not satisfied with your new proXPN Premium Account you can cancel within 7 days for a full refund.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

I’ve got a mixed bag this week in the podcast.

First up is some listener feedback from a review in iTunes. Scott left a great review of the podcast. I hope you will too!

I also review the book Learning in the 21st Century: How to Connect, Collaborate, and Create. It’s the book I should have written! Homeschoolers who want to enhance their kids education with technology will find practical and solid advice for integrating technological tools in their curriculum.

Why are games good for learning? – Games are fun and they can be educational. Even games that aren’t geared towards education can benefit people.

Make Movie Magic at an Apple Retail Store – Are you looking for a creative outlet for your techy kids this summer? Why not send them to camp at a local Apple Retail Store?

Filtering Now Available in Covenant Eyes for iPhone – With the addition of filtering, parents can now provide comprehensive internet protection for their children. Not only will you get the award-winning reporting service provided by Covenant Eyes but you’ll also get a browser that filters unsafe content.

7.5 Million Kids Under 12 Using Facebook – If you have a teenager in your house, more than likely he or she has a Facebook account. It is the most popular social media network in the world and the second most popular website behind Google.

Math Mathews Makes Multiplication an Adventure – Getting your kids to practice multiplication tables can sometimes be a chore. Finding a way to make it fun and exciting can sometimes be difficult. With Math Mathews your kids will not only practice their multiplication facts but also have fun playing an excellent game.

I will be taking a hiatus in July. There will still be “best of” podcasts released every week. I’m going to take a month to recharge and do some planning.

Like what you see? Connect socially!

Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

Follow @wiredhs

// Follow @jwilkers

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Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

This episode of The Wired Homeschool is brought to you by proXPN.

This week I focus primarily on iOS features. You’ll hear tips for speeding up your device, a review of AppCertain, and some features coming to iOS 7 that will interest homeschoolers and parents concerned about Internet safety.

Parental Controls Added to Safari in iOS 7 – Due out in the fall of this year, iOS 7 will feature long-awaited parental controls for their Safari browser. It remains to be seen what kind of controls will be implemented but I’m sure there will be leaks over the next few months from developers about the new feature.

Best Tips to Speed Up Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod – Is your iPad, iPhone, or iPod running a little sluggish? Here’s a few things you can do to improve the performance of your device.

App Certain – Get notifications emailed to you every time an app is installed on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Create an AppCertain account, easily install a security profile on the device you’d like to monitor, and we’ll email you simple and enlightening reports of every app that gets downloaded.

Like what you see? Connect socially!

Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

Follow @wiredhs

// Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

Convention Report

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to speak at the Downstate LEAH convention. I was so blessed by the staff and attendees while there and also realized that my speaking skills could use some improvement! I was nervous at time and sometimes felt unprepared.

I wasn’t just speaking, I got the opportunity to attend one other workshop (it was supposed to be two listen to the podcast to hear that story) addressing the Common Core and how it affects homeschoolers in NY. While we shouldn’t be worried about the standards imposed by Common Core there are some other issues that we raised that I think homeschoolers will want to consider.

App Review – Skip Math: Skip Counting Games

Description

Skip Math is a “Doodle Jump” style game in which a boy or girl character jumps from platform to platform trying not to fall. Unlike “Doodle Jump,” however, children playing Skip Math must land on the platform that correlates to the correct number. For example, when counting by fours you must land on 4, then 8, then 12, etc. The movement, music, hopping character and they actually hear the counting as they jump all contribute to the entertainment value of the game, and means your child will be learning while having fun.

Skip counting is a fundamental skill in the development of fluency in calculation, number sense and establishing a solid foundation for learning multiplication and division. Skip counting requires and in turn develops fluency in mental computation.

Features:

– Players can take a picture of their own faces to put on the character they choose.

– They can pick their “level” (you can skip-count by numbers 2-11) so the game becomes more challenging as your child improves.

– A tracker lets the player how far he went at the end of each game, so he can try to improve his score in the next round.

– Audio: As each number is number selected, it is said aloud so players hear the counting as they jump.

– The game can also be played in multi-player Bluetooth mode (Game Center Required).

Review

Skip Math is the first math game by Justin Holladay at MathFileFolderGames.com aimed at elementary school students. Until now, Justin’s apps have been for middle school students (something I’m grateful for) but I think he’ll be successful with this app for the younger crowd.

In Skip Math, players must guide their character up the screen while landing on the correct number in the sequence (2,4,6,8…). Landing on the correct number gets you farther up the screen while landing on the wrong number causes you character to break through the platform and fall. Every time you land a number it’s said aloud.

Players guide their character by tilting their device which moves the character left or right. You can even jump from one side of the screen to the other. Speaking of the character, your kids can take a picture of themselves and place it on the character giving a little personal flair to the game.

What I Liked

If you have competitive kids in your house Skip Math will keep them busy for a long time, even if they’ve mastered skip-counting. Earning a higher score can sometimes be a great motivating factor for children and that’s sure to help keep their attention with this game. Being able to pick a difficulty level rather than having to play through levels is nice too. If your child is struggling with skip-counting by seven, just select level 7 and you’re off! No having to play through any previous levels.

What Could Be Improved

There are a couple of things I would add to this game that relates mostly to game-play. First,

This week is another “rough-draft” of one of the talks I’ll be giving at the Downstate LEAH convention. It’s a little shorter than last week’s because I don’t want to give away the farm on this one. I think you’ll still enjoy it.

Speaking Schedule

Downstate LEAH Convention

June 8th, 2013 – First Baptist Church of Patchogue, NY

Workshop Topics:

Technobabble: Talking, Tips, and Tools for Responsible Internet Use

Is There an App For That? Homeschooling with Technology in the 21st Century

Like what you see? Connect socially!

Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

Follow @wiredhs

// Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

How do you make sure your kids use the Internet responsibly? I’ll answer that question today with a “rough-draft” of my workshop topic for the downstate LEAH conference in 2 weeks.

Listen in as I discuss how to talk to your kids about the Internet and give you some tools and tips to help you along the way.

Speaking Schedule

Downstate LEAH Convention

June 8th, 2013 – First Baptist Church of Patchogue, NY

Workshop Topics:

Technobabble: Talking, Tips, and Tools for Responsible Internet Use

Is There an App For That? Homeschooling with Technology in the 21st Century

Like what you see? Connect socially!

Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

Follow @wiredhs

// Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

Covenant Eyes announced filtering for iOS devices; iPads can be used by homeschoolers for more than just educational apps; and free language apps will help you parler français.

Speaking Schedule

Downstate LEAH Convention

June 8th, 2013 – First Baptist Church of Patchogue, NY

Workshop Topics:

Technobabble: Talking, Tips, and Tools for Responsible Internet Use

Is There an App For That? Homeschooling with Technology in the 21st Century

Let’s Connect!

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* Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes.

* Like on Facebook

* Email [email protected]

* Follow @wiredhs

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* Follow @jwilkers

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Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com