QuickLinks (More Resources for You to Check Out!)

Photo Credit: http://abcey.com/blog

           As I was creating my blog about Twitter in the classroom, several blogs and websites were helpful to me when thinking about using Twitter with my students.  For more exploration of the use of Twitter in your classroom, you might want explore the following sites:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/14062777/Twitter-Handbook-for-Teachers

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/introducing-social-media-lower-elementary-beth-holland

http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/insights/578-tips-for-teachers-to-use-twitter-in-elementary-classrooms

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/08/what-teachers-need-to-know-about-using.html

http://www.teachhub.com/50-ways-use-twitter-classroom

http://www.essentialschools.org/resources/451

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/02/a-must-have-guide-on-using-twitter-in.html

Who Should You Follow?

Photo Credit: http://www.globalenvision.org/2013/11/11/twitter-and-international-development-who-follow-and-why

           After exploring how Twitter is used in the various classrooms, I learned the importance of being specific in choosing who your classroom account will follow.  This way, you can make sure your Twitter feed is not clogged with useless tweets that will not be of interest or benefit to your students.  I suggest the following ideas about who to follow:

-Other classrooms in your school

-Other classrooms of the same grade level in different schools

-Favorite authors and illustrators

-Artists

-Field trip locations/organizations

-News networks for kids, Weather stations

-Museums

-Community Service Organizations

Examples of Ways I Will Use Twitter This Year

Photo Credit: http://www.teachthought.com/social-media/60-ways-to-use-twitter-in-the-classroom-by-category/

           You can use Twitter for a variety of purposes in your own classroom.  The great thing is that you can be creative and use it within all aspects of your curriculum.  The possibilities are endless!

Here are some of my ideas for using Twitter this year in the classroom:

-Using Twitter as a platform for continuous reading and writing

-Tweeting daily about new discoveries in Kindergarten

-Allowing Twitter to be a place where students “journal” thoughts and opinions

-Using Twitter as a way for students to communicate with their parents about school

-During our “Around the World” study, following classrooms from different countries.

-Communicating with various authors

-Gathering support for community service projects through student voice

-Communicating with farms about the life cycle of chicks during our egg hatching project

-Allow students to reflect on daily work

-Live tweet from field trips

-Tweeting thoughts from our class pet hamster

-Writing in small group centers with a teacher

-Learning how to respond to others

-Having a "Tweeter" as a weekly job in the classroom

Talking to Parents About Twitter in the Classroom

Photo Credit: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/sites/default/files/headers/collection/nt_comm_families.jpg?1312958970


           Along with making sure that your students understand internet safety, communicating with parents about your purposes of using social media in the classroom is another key to a successful 21^st Century classroom.  Parents might be hesitant about their children using Twitter, so you must explain your goals clearly.  For my classroom, I will explain that Twitter is being used as a tool to develop students’ literacy skills and allowing them to express their voice to the outside world.  A letter to parents informing them of the ways that you will keep your students safe will benefit you and your families.  Things to include in your letter:

-Why you will be using Twitter in the classroom

-How Twitter relates to teaching literacy to young students

-How you will be using Twitter with your students (specific projects)

-What will be discussed with your students about Twitter

-Exact details of the way that the one classroom account will be used by students under direct supervision of the teacher.

-The privacy settings of your classroom Twitter account- who will follow your account and who will your account be following.

Net-Equitte

When doing anything online, it is important that you inform students about how to stay safe!

           I like using the website www.netsmartz.org to help teach my students about safety on the internet.  Students in all grades at my school are introduced to NetSmartz.  They have a variety of videos, activities, and ideas for educators to teach students to stay safe on the internet.   Having open, honest discussions with students about privacy, safety, and manners online is key to making a safe 21^st Century classroom. 

Beginning to Set Up the Twitter Environment in The Young Classroom

Photo Credit: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/collection/more-printables/printables-prek-k


           After days of exploring Twitter with your students, brainstorm some things that they might want to Tweet about to show others what they are learning.  Talk about giving others a "glimpse" into their classroom.

START SMALL! Explain to students that they will be creating a Tweet to post on our Twitter Wall (outside of the classroom on a bulletin board).   

           In her blog, Beth Holland, from EdTech explains that starting on paper “allows the teacher to focus on the writing process within a familiar context, while providing students with the broader audience of the school community. Students gained experience with posting, tagging and commenting without any of the concerns often associated with ‘being online’” (http://www.edutopia.org/blog/introducing-social-media-lower-elementary-beth-holland).

           I suggest continuing to practice on paper over and over again.  Students at this age are just simply learning the process of writing.  Practicing writing in the form of a Tweet is a super way to incorporate pop culture in teaching literacy.  Students are learning the importance of writing to communicate and spread ideas, as well as the importance of reading what others write too.  Post student “Tweets” on paper so that they can be read by others in the school community.

           Beth explains that, “what's important is that we introduce all children to social media in appropriate and meaningful ways, regardless of their age, such that they can connect to a global audience and develop as empowered, networked learners” (http://www.edutopia.org/blog/introducing-social-media-lower-elementary-beth-holland).


           Once you feel that students are comfortable tweeting on paper,  you can decide when to move to actual Tweeting from your class account.  At this age, I would suggest a certain routine to follow when Tweeting from the class account.  For me, I will allow certain times of the day to be times when students can come to me for a "Tweet approval".  The student must verify that their tweet can be typed on the class account and the student will ALWAYS tweet with a teacher.  You may also Tweeting with a teacher through center time too.  It is important that the teacher is there for support and help when the students are tweeting online. 

###Hashtag Talk: When you are working on a project with the entire class, have students help decide on a hashtag to keep all of the information easily accessible.  You could allow students to come up with hashtags and vote for the hashtag that would go at the end of each student's tweet.