develop a positive mobile mental health in the first weeks of school by discussing their ideas on cell phone use, setting up a stoplight management system, and establishing a class contract

Build a digital citizenship curriculum that includes mobile device use.

Ask your students questions such as:

• What do you like to do on your cell phone and why? (If they don’t have one, what would they like to do?)
• What are the most popular apps and websites you use?
• What do you think are inappropriate ways that cell phones have been used?
• What is poor cell phone etiquette? Why?
• How can cell phones help you learn?
• How can cell phones distract from your learning?
• How do you feel about your cell phone and the activities you do on your phone?
• What should teachers know about your cell phone use that you worry we do not understand?
• Do you know how to use your cell phone to gather information, to collaborate on academic projects, to evaluate websites?
• How can we work together to create a positive mobile mental health?

Using a Stoplight Management Approach

Post a red button on the classroom door:  the cell phone parking lot.
Post a yellow button on the classroom door
Post a green button on the classroom door

Establishing a Class Contract: Ask them to brainstorm consequences and write them into a class contract.