STEAM Education’s goal is to bring FUNctional Literacy to all!
STEAM provides an avenue for formally teaching the inter-relationships of how subjects relate in real-life. STEAM-style education can be enjoyably and meaningfully delivered in more engaging and deeply embedding ways within the already well-established realm of education.
“I can see numerous applications for the Bluebee Pals line, from offering comforting reading companions to providing students with easy to use technology that encourages creative play and interest in advanced megatronics at the same time.”
– Georgette Yakman, Founder of STEAM.edu
STEAM Education’s goal is to bring FUNctional Literacy to all!
STEAM provides an avenue for formally teaching the inter-relationships of how subjects relate in real-life. STEAM-style education can be enjoyably and meaningfully delivered in more engaging and deeply embedding ways within the already well-established realm of education.
“I can see numerous applications for the Bluebee Pals line, from offering comforting reading companions to providing students with easy to use technology that encourages creative play and interest in advanced megatronics at the same time.”
– Georgette Yakman, Founder of STEAM.edu
STEAM is a way to teach how all things relate to each other, in school and in life. It’s more fun than traditional learning styles and makes more sense to all types of learners because it is based on the natural ways that people learn and are interested in things.
App Compatibilities
A NEW Interactive Educational Learning Tool Companion
Developmental Stages & Apps with Bluebee Pals
by Jo Booth (Teachers with Apps)
Apps for Bluebee Pals Ages 1-2
Children at this age are just beginning to discover the world around them. 1-2 year olds learn by observation and imitation. They respond well to social praise and attention. Using the Bluebee Pals is more about the interactions between you and your child playing with the Bluebee together, than the actual app itself. Selecting apps can be tricky. Staying with developmental expectations as well as interest areas of the child is essential. Some girls or boys may desire playing with math or alphabet themes and others may not. Follow your child’s lead, but also try to expand their repertoire a bit by gently introducing a new theme. The attention span of a 2 year old is approximately 2-4 minutes, so you do not want anything with long narratives. It is more important that the focus be on social interaction, chances to build vocabulary, and learn sequences to daily routines rather than academic progress. In fact, many children at this age delight in sticking their fingers in the Bluebee’s mouth and feeling him/or her speak. Mouths are an important source of information. Children recognize this and wish to explore it. In addition, kids need that grounding of daily routines to feel safe and secure.
Apps for Bluebee Pals Ages 3-5
3-4 year olds have an increased attention span of 3-12 minutes, and an insatiable thirst for learning. They sometimes confuse fantasy with reality in their world where ANYTHING is possible, and that is what makes Bluebee such a trusted pal. Because of their increased vocabulary, they can understand and retain more complex material, and story narratives can be longer. They will still need an adult initially to learn the sequences of an app, but more importantly need that adult to acknowledge and share their accomplishments throughout play. This may also be a time to start introducing a stylus for creative play to not only introduce tool use, but to help develop eye hand coordination and the muscles of the hand. Starting with drag/swipe items, following pathways, tracing shapes, etc. helps them identify a target and manipulate it into something tremendous! Song and Movement apps or Music Playlists are especially valuable and fun – where kids must wait and listen to follow directions. Continue to allow your child to take the lead, and you will teach them to be a life long learner!
Apps for Bluebee Pals Ages 5-7
Using Bluebee Pals with 5-6 year olds is a joy. Kids of this age are beginning to understand how things work, and may need a time out from their busy schedules. Bluebee can be that trusted friend, who is there without judgment, to read a story and provide cuddles to just chill out for a bit. Simple games, stories, and apps that help them think creatively will prepare them well for school. Using apps that are a little more challenging of their emerging fine motor and language skills, and that display family and school routines are a great way to enhance academic progress. In addition, apps that have a narrative for building fine motor skills and using a stylus can be refined to begin writing their name or sight words more precisely. Having your child record themselves reading a story and playing it back through Bluebee will be absolutely thrilling for Grandma and Grandpop as well as younger siblings.
For a complete list of all our suggested apps, please visit bluebeepals.com/#apps
Developmental Stages & Apps with Bluebee Pals by Jo Booth (Teachers with Apps)
Apps for Bluebee Pals Ages 1-2
Children at this age are just beginning to discover the world around them. 1-2 year olds learn by observation and imitation. They respond well to social praise and attention. Using the Bluebee Pals is more about the interactions between you and your child playing with the Bluebee together, than the actual app itself. Selecting apps can be tricky. Staying with developmental expectations as well as interest areas of the child is essential. Some girls or boys may desire playing with math or alphabet themes and others may not. Follow your child’s lead, but also try to expand their repertoire a bit by gently introducing a new theme. The attention span of a 2 year old is approximately 2-4 minutes, so you do not want anything with long narratives. It is more important that the focus be on social interaction, chances to build vocabulary, and learn sequences to daily routines rather than academic progress. In fact, many children at this age delight in sticking their fingers in the Bluebee’s mouth and feeling him/or her speak. Mouths are an important source of information. Children recognize this and wish to explore it. In addition, kids need that grounding of daily routines to feel safe and secure.
Apps for Bluebee Pals Ages 3-5
3-4 year olds have an increased attention span of 3-12 minutes, and an insatiable thirst for learning. They sometimes confuse fantasy with reality in their world where ANYTHING is possible, and that is what makes Bluebee such a trusted pal. Because of their increased vocabulary, they can understand and retain more complex material, and story narratives can be longer. They will still need an adult initially to learn the sequences of an app, but more importantly need that adult to acknowledge and share their accomplishments throughout play. This may also be a time to start introducing a stylus for creative play to not only introduce tool use, but to help develop eye hand coordination and the muscles of the hand. Starting with drag/swipe items, following pathways, tracing shapes, etc. helps them identify a target and manipulate it into something tremendous! Song and Movement apps or Music Playlists are especially valuable and fun – where kids must wait and listen to follow directions. Continue to allow your child to take the lead, and you will teach them to be a life long learner!
Apps for Bluebee Pals Ages 5-7
Using Bluebee Pals with 5-6 year olds is a joy. Kids of this age are beginning to understand how things work, and may need a time out from their busy schedules. Bluebee can be that trusted friend, who is there without judgment, to read a story and provide cuddles to just chill out for a bit. Simple games, stories, and apps that help them think creatively will prepare them well for school. Using apps that are a little more challenging of their emerging fine motor and language skills, and that display family and school routines are a great way to enhance academic progress. In addition, apps that have a narrative for building fine motor skills and using a stylus can be refined to begin writing their name or sight words more precisely. Having your child record themselves reading a story and playing it back through Bluebee will be absolutely thrilling for Grandma and Grandpop as well as younger siblings.
For a complete list of all our suggested apps, please visit bluebeepals.com/#apps
Testimonials
Parents & Professionals
“I wanted to let you know that on Friday, my daughter, Emily was home sick so I brought her the Bluebee Bear. She LOVED it! She was so thrilled when she was able to connect him to Amadeus (her current favorite movie) and even started to dance with him. You should know that she was so thrilled when we connected him to her touchchat app and I plan to show her ABA therapist! Finally, you should know that Emily never really connected with dolls or stuffed animals, and has been sleeping with him every night. “
– Kathryn Lavin, MSW | Executive Director
National AblePlay and Lekotek Center
Testimonials
“I wanted to let you know that on Friday, my daughter, Emily was home sick so I brought her the Bluebee Bear. She LOVED it! She was so thrilled when she was able to connect him to Amadeus (her current favorite movie) and even started to dance with him. You should know that she was so thrilled when we connected him to her touchchat app and I plan to show her ABA therapist! Finally, you should know that Emily never really connected with dolls or stuffed animals, and has been sleeping with him every night. “
– Kathryn Lavin, MSW | Executive Director
National AblePlay and Lekotek Center