A Word of Caution . . .

 Social Media!!!!!!!!!

So I've included two photos here, the left in from my Instagram, where I'm posting for a larger group of people, where as the the on the right is a Snap Chat picture, which is going to a more selective group of friends. 

Social media is going to be how your students are going to live their lives. They will be connected to each other through their social media platforms. Their friendship highs and lows will be lived there.

But you, as the teacher, don't have to be left out of the conversation. You can actually use social media in your class. . . .  Let me repeat that; YOU CAN USE SOCIAL MEDIA IN YOUR CLASS!

You can connect your class with hashtags or #. These weird little symbols which used to be referred to as the pound sign or the number sign, connects the internet together. Instagram (which is the most used social media for kids today) now allows you to follow #hashtags. You can create a classroom hashtag or use educational ones that already exist. This can allow your class to feel more connected, but it can also connect your class to the world.


                                    But there's a word of caution to this tale . . .  Social media matters, what you put out on the internet matters. Every picture you send, every comment you make leaves your possession and enters the great wide world on information. Our job is to help our students realize that there are potential long term consequences, while recognizing that social media is a vital aspect of their life.