According to Verizon, Hispanic student success in the classroom depends more and more on broadband access for downloading classroom assignments, researching topics and interacting with teachers.
"In today's classroom, the Internet is no longer viewed as a luxury but more as a necessity to excel in academics," said Jeff McFarland, director of multicultural marketing for Verizon Communications. "Our goal at Verizon is to empower Hispanics by helping bridge the gap between education and technology."
For parents who want to be sure their children have a safe and enjoyable broadband experience, Verizon suggestions they follow these back-to-school tips:
Monitor the computer
Keep your computer in a common area of the house where adults can easily check on the child's online activity. Periodically review the browser's "history" feature to see a list of Web sites your child recently visited.
Talk to your child about the Internet
Discuss the information your child can find on the Internet that will help them with their homework or help them better understand a topic they are having problem with at school. Verizon also suggests helpful websites for academic research include: www.math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org, www.encarta.com and www.yourhomework.com.
Help with homework
Sit beside your young children during homework activities but let them attempt the work first. If you see that they're doing something inaccurately, ask them questions to help them think it through. For older children, parents should review assignments and papers both before they're turned in and after they're graded.
For more information, check out the Hispanic PRWire press release Verizon's Back-to-School Tip: Broadband Use Helps Children Succeed.
