Gen X...text me and we can talk

Blogger. Tweeting. Are you kidding me?  Who is this person? If you have told me a week ago I would be doing this I would have told you that you were crazy. Like eating a tide pod crazy. I loved going on #comments4kids on twitter and seeing all the great, creative, fun things that are kids and teachers are doing out there. Yes, I can very much recall a time before the internet, cell phones, heck even CD’s. Making a mix tape was the coolest thing ever, specially when you did it when recording a song off the radio. So being able look at a book with hand drawn pictures that 5 year old’s from Singapore did a voice over reading the text, and provide them encouragement and feedback is incredible.

The second half of class where we used the six photos as a strategy for creative writing was creative and engaging. I could see how this could be used as a prompt in writing classes, and if the pictures were related to a science o history subject covered in class, for an assessment. I feel like I am really behind in my understanding of social media, but also will not be putting myself out there. Some of my hesitancy is because I do not know how to use the technology, and mostly because I do not want my information out there. Having had personal experiences with my children inappropriately using social media, I look forward to learning about how we can help students understand the permanent ramifications of their actions in a controlled environment. The example given with google docs was great and I hope to hear more of these tomorrow. I am still on the fence about having a Facebook account, even if only for the purpose of self-protection. I understand that having a positive profile out there is a way to proactively combat any negative biases or preconceptions kids, or their parents may have, but I guess I also go back to the idea of talking with people to get to know them. Yes, I am also one of those X Gen people where I will not answer the phone if I do not know who is calling. Leave me a message and I will respond. Better yet, send me a text first and I will let you know if it is a good time to talk. Life is busy, and a lot of times it may not be a good time to chat. This way I know that I can give you my full attention.