If you are at teacher, it is absolutely essential that you check out all that is available for you on Twitter. Currently, my students are doing a research project on the positives and negatives of social media. While helping them through this process, we have together discovered the many ways that Twitter can be used both as a classroom tool and as a method of professional development.
It seems that throughout the course of this year, Twitter has exploded in popularity amongst my 8th grade students. I’m amazed at how many of them have created accounts within this school year. I’ve always believed that teachers reach students best by utilizing methods of communication that they are familiar with. So…..I have branched out and created a classroom Twitter account and I’m LOVING it! Twitter is a fantastic way to communicate with students because:
They can follow YOU but YOU don’t have to follow them.
Communication is instant and immediate
They can quickly ask questions about assignments
You can have a conversation with them after school hours using hashtags
I’ve only had a classroom Twitter account (separate from my personal account) for about a week, but so far, I have been able to try different ways of using it such as:
Re-tweeting interesting tweets related to our curriculum from other sources
Sending out video links and asking them to respond
Previewing material for the next day
Sending out homework reminders
Reminding and encouraging kids to check out our class blog and to comment on postings
Giving out extra credit related to an assignment handed out that day
Taking pictures of places my husband and I go or things we see that relate to the curriculum
Not only have I created a classroom Twitter account (you can see it on the side of my blog), but using my personal account, I had discovered that professional development is EVERYWHERE for teachers. There is a whole world of resources at my fingertips streaming all day long. I don’t know why it has taken me this long to discover such an incredible resource! Below are some resources that I have found helpful. I would also LOVE to know how you are incorporating social media in your classroom….
Tweeting Your Students? – check out the following links:
60 Inspiring Examples of Twitter in the Classroom
CNN Video: Twitter Has Place in Classroom
I would recommend following:
@robertleebrewer – This guy is my personal coach on how to create blog (and he doesn’t even know it!). He has some fantastic posts that help me as I become a writer and an explorer of social media.
@kmcilhagga – She has a fantastic blog of unique and creative teaching ideas. I love reading her tweets!
@ListsOfNote – Tweets interesting lists from history to present day
@LettersOfNote – Tweets historical letters (I’ve used his stuff many times in my Georgia history class)
The following tweet great articles and information regarding teaching:
Teaching Reflections 