Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Educational Horizons
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^KRISTIN MAGETTE
group because we believe there are valuable opportunities there for the "I upload newsletters, pictures, and even
taking. We can: QuickTime videos from our room," said
Use social media, video, and blogs as teaching tools; Topil, who has been teaching for 32 years. "I
Teach students safe and courteous online behavior; use events to help our busy families know
Communicate with parents through the real-time, content-rich format what activities are coming up. This year, my
that social media provides; and students told me that their parents wished
they could see what a school day looked like,
Allow and encourage others to support our efforts, celebrate our
so we posted photos of our daily schedule
successes, grieve our losses, and sometimes even challenge us to
do better. in action. I was very impressed that my little
1st graders had these conversations with
Our district's leaders are the first to admit that jumping into the social media
their parents!"
pool as a professional can be nerve-wracking at times. To help overcome the
She acknowledged, however, that Facebook
risks, we use a simple set of procedures and policies designed to boost our
can't be the only communications tool
teachers' confidence and help them navigate any challenges that may arise
for teachers.
online. Links to these documents are available at www.eudoraschools.org/
staffsocialmedia. "I have parents who choose not to participate
in social media, and we have families without
We are proud of the number of teachers who have embraced social media for
Internet," she said. "I still send home
their work in the schools, and we are excited to share a small handful of the
paper notes and use email, and each year
success stories. Read on to see what our teachers are doing and how social
is different."
media can add an extra level of engagement to your classroom. For more
examples, visit www.eudoraschools.org/socialmedia. Keeping up with the different
communication tools can sometimes be
daily posted
We daily scheduleschedule
in action.
photos in of action. our communication with parents. I feel like we
are one big, happy family!"
6
EDUCATIONAL HORIZONS II DECEMBER 2013/JANUARY 2014
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KYLE STADALMAN, 5th grade
Each afternoon, followers of Kyle Stadalman's
5th-grade Facebook page are treated to an update
RYAN JACOBS, 7th grade social studies
of the day's activities at school, courtesy of a
student writer. Not only do these updates help Teaching middle school social studies, Ryan Jacobs just
wants to be seen. He uses Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter
students practice summarization skills, they also
in his classroom to share class announcements, due dates,
empower parents to ask specific questions about
their child's day. projects - and to ask for parent help or volunteers.
The use of student photos on Facebook can raise "No matter what, it's impossible to get 100% buy-in," said
concerns, but Stadalman, who has been teaching Jacobs, a fifth-year teacher. "And it's usually the kids and
parents who you want to be in contact with who either
for eight years, has gained parents' trust that he
don't have the resources to participate in social media or
takes student privacy seriously.
who simply ignore getting involved. Sometimes a simple
"I reassure parents that I'm in complete control
personal email or phone call is just the best way to connect."
of the page and that nothing would be visible
without my approval," he said.
7
EDHORIZONS.ORG
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