When I taught, I sent home a weekly newsletter. As we all know, papers sent home do not always arrive at home. A web page would be a good method to eliminate the possibility of "lost" updates. For me, writing an update on the web would take about the same amount of time as writing a newsletter and coping. When I return to the classroom, I will use a class web page.
The expanding use of the iPod and the possibilities are endless for the modern classroom. My only concern is expense. With the current economic crisis and the financial burden school districts are facing, I'm not sure iPods would be practical or easy to justify with the public. I hope it doesn't become an "affluent/poor" district issue. All children, regardless of background, would benefit from the daily use of iPods.
Audio books are great. We used books on tape years ago. It's a wonderful tool for students.
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of using a class web page to connect with students and parents outside of school. I think this will definitely be one of the first things that I implement into my first classroom. Families are on the Internet so often nowadays that it seems like a natural transition to create web pages from your old weekly newsletters. Parents would be able to access the pages twenty-four hours a day, which is an advantage for parents who have busy schedules. Convenience is key! I also think the web page would be a source of pride for students. I’m sure they would enjoy seeing classroom photos and summaries of daily activities online. I’ve heard of many teachers using classroom web pages, and very rarely do I hear anything negative about them!