Lesson Plan: Silicon Valley Nannies: Phone Police for Kids
II. While Reading Activities
Word Inference
- Silicon Valley |ˌsɪlɪkən ˈvæli| noun-a name given to an area between San Jose and Palo Alto in Santa Clara County, California, noted for its computing and electronics industries.
- stringent |ˈstrinjənt| adjective- (of regulations, requirements, or conditions) strict, precise, and exacting: California’s air pollution guidelines are stringent.
- allure |əˈlo͝or| noun-the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating: people for whom gold holds no allure.
- consensus |kənˈsensəs|noun [usually in singular]-general agreement: a consensus of opinion among judges | [as modifier] : a consensus view.
- panic |ˈpanik| noun-sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior: she hit him in panic | [in singular] : he ran to the library in a blind panic.
- glue |ɡlo͞o| verb (glues, gluing or glueing, glued) [with object] (be glued to) informal be paying very close attention to (something, especially a television or computer screen): I was glued to the television when the Olympics were on.
- aggressive |əˈɡresiv| adjective-pursuing one’s aims and interests forcefully, sometimes unduly so: an aggressive businessman.
- perceived |pərˈsēv| verb [with object] interpret or look on (someone or something) in a particular way; regard as: if Guy does not perceive himself as disabled, nobody else should
- self-appointed |ˈˌself əˈpoin(t)id| adjective [attributive]having assumed a position or role without the endorsement of others: self-appointed experts.
- reckoning |ˈrek(ə)niNG| noun-the avenging or punishing of past mistakes or misdeeds: the fear of being brought to reckoning | there will be a terrible reckoning.
Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
Reading Comprehension
We’re writing work agreements up in a different way to cover screen and tech use, said Julie Swales, who runs the Elizabeth Rose Agency, a high-end firm that staffs nannies and house managers for families in the region. Typically now, the nanny is not allowed to use her phone for any private use.
GRAMMAR: Prepositions
The posts follow a pattern: A parent will take a photo of a child accompanied by an adult who is perceived to be not paying enough attention, upload it to one of the private social networks like San Francisco’s Main Street Mamas, home to thousands of members, and ask: “Is this your nanny?”
:
