MOCO Middle School Parents: What kind, if any, computer did your MS student use at home?

[Anonymous]

Wondering whether we should invest in a second home computer for our kids as they enter middle school next year and year after (currently we have one home computer that is shared and in a common room). Do you find that your middle school MOCO student has had a lot of homework that requires a computer? Do most middle school kids have their own computer? Do they need a PC or will a Mac work?

TIA

[Anonymous]

We have a PC and a laptop. They are both used by my MS kids..they prefer the laptop. I don't think it matters what kind.

[Anonymous]

I hve two middle schoolers and they drive us nuts using our computers! I finally broke down and got them each an inexpensive laptop. It saved my sanity.

[Anonymous]

Definitely buy each a cheap laptop or netbook. Also, get them in the habit of using the cloud to save work. No more forgotten hw assignments, projects, etc.

[Anonymous]

We bought a new computer for the whole family when dd entered sixth grade. We are now getting used to the idea of buying a new computer just for her so that I don't have to share with her. We have a PC but I am going to get her an iMac because that's what she prefers using at school. I decided against the laptop mostly because I don't think it is good for her posture or her eyesight. I'm hoping the bigger screen and control over the proper distance between her eyes and the screen will help. She is ok with not having a laptop. that might happen in high school - let's see.

[Anonymous]

I bought mine a refurbished Chrome for $120. It has lasted years and is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We bought a new computer for the whole family when dd entered sixth grade. We are now getting used to the idea of buying a new computer just for her so that I don't have to share with her. We have a PC but I am going to get her an iMac because that's what she prefers using at school. I decided against the laptop mostly because I don't think it is good for her posture or her eyesight. I'm hoping the bigger screen and control over the proper distance between her eyes and the screen will help. She is ok with not having a laptop. that might happen in high school - let's see.

OP here -- what grade is she in now? Just wondering how long the sharing lasted before you decided she needed her own. Was that because sharing became untenable or because she earned the responsibility of having her own?

[Anonymous]

We have 2 laptops, but kids both prefer to use my mac. Which means that sometimes 3 of us need/want the computer at the same time.

Just bought one of them a raspberry pi so he can build his own computer this summer. Hoping that will alleviate some of the computer issues. All computers stay in public areas.

One thing in terms of whoever mentioned the cloud -- that has a false sense of security. My kids got into the habit of saving their work on a flash drive on a lanyard. That goes with them everywhere. Eliminates the security hazards of the cloud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering whether we should invest in a second home computer for our kids as they enter middle school next year and year after (currently we have one home computer that is shared and in a common room). Do you find that your middle school MOCO student has had a lot of homework that requires a computer? Do most middle school kids have their own computer? Do they need a PC or will a Mac work?

TIA

We have a home computer (mac) that DS uses, while DH and I use our laptops. DD who is a sophomore has her own laptop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a new computer for the whole family when dd entered sixth grade. We are now getting used to the idea of buying a new computer just for her so that I don't have to share with her. We have a PC but I am going to get her an iMac because that's what she prefers using at school. I decided against the laptop mostly because I don't think it is good for her posture or her eyesight. I'm hoping the bigger screen and control over the proper distance between her eyes and the screen will help. She is ok with not having a laptop. that might happen in high school - let's see.

OP here -- what grade is she in now? Just wondering how long the sharing lasted before you decided she needed her own. Was that because sharing became untenable or because she earned the responsibility of having her own?

I had to laugh when I read your question! It lasted a year! She is in a magnet program so that might have something to do with it - a lot of projects and papers. Anyway, we are getting ready to buy our second computer in twelve months. I am not comfortable with a laptop for her. I think the IMac will be better (ergonomically and for her eyes) and I don't want her disappearing into her room with a laptop. When she is in high school, we can revisit the laptop. Both computers will be in the study so we can hopefully keep an eye on what she is doing. She did not actually ask us for one but it was getting difficult for us to share - there were days when I could not get on the computer until she was in bed. I also got the impression that all the other kids have their own computers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: My kids got into the habit of saving their work on a flash drive on a lanyard. That goes with them everywhere. Eliminates the security hazards of the cloud.

Brilliant -- thanks for a great idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a new computer for the whole family when dd entered sixth grade. We are now getting used to the idea of buying a new computer just for her so that I don't have to share with her. We have a PC but I am going to get her an iMac because that's what she prefers using at school. I decided against the laptop mostly because I don't think it is good for her posture or her eyesight. I'm hoping the bigger screen and control over the proper distance between her eyes and the screen will help. She is ok with not having a laptop. that might happen in high school - let's see.

OP here -- what grade is she in now? Just wondering how long the sharing lasted before you decided she needed her own. Was that because sharing became untenable or because she earned the responsibility of having her own?

I had to laugh when I read your question! It lasted a year! She is in a magnet program so that might have something to do with it - a lot of projects and papers. Anyway, we are getting ready to buy our second computer in twelve months. I am not comfortable with a laptop for her. I think the IMac will be better (ergonomically and for her eyes) and I don't want her disappearing into her room with a laptop. When she is in high school, we can revisit the laptop. Both computers will be in the study so we can hopefully keep an eye on what she is doing. She did not actually ask us for one but it was getting difficult for us to share - there were days when I could not get on the computer until she was in bed. I also got the impression that all the other kids have their own computers.

Thanks for coming back and sharing -- I think we will just go ahead and start with buying one for DC and not sharing. Now, for parental controls… Will start another topic.

-OP

[Anonymous]

Both kids have new laptops. One kid is in ES another in HS. HS kid got his first laptop in MS.


I now feel that kids should have access to computers at home from the time they are in ES. They should also use a typing software as soon as they start learning their ABCs. My ES kid types fast but still does not know the finger placements.

[Anonymous]

Fairly common MS student problems with flash drives:
leaving it in a media center or computer lab machine at the end of class, when student returns, it is gone.
losing it on the way to school or between classes. At least once a week, I found a flash drive on the floor outside my classroom.
for whatever reason, the school machines won't read the flash drive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering whether we should invest in a second home computer for our kids as they enter middle school next year and year after (currently we have one home computer that is shared and in a common room). Do you find that your middle school MOCO student has had a lot of homework that requires a computer? Do most middle school kids have their own computer? Do they need a PC or will a Mac work?

TIA

We got a laptop for each kid, one in MS and one in HS. For the HS kid, there have been times he needed to do work when we were going away and it was really helpful that DC could bring the computer with them

Also, 4 people working in the same room is god awful. Everyone has different work habits. That is why we only do laptops.

MS kids do have projects that require the computer. (Research and papers) Also, since all assigments are on line (EDline) they can can check when assigments or tests are coming up as well as their grades.