Stop and Reflect
- Since a blog represents an online forum for sharing ideas or experiences with others and may be interactive, it has many potential applications. Can you think of a way you might use a blog in your classroom or care setting?
- Do you think there might be potential privacy issues associated with blogging about the children in your care or classroom? How might such issues be addressed?
Teachers can now use many forms of technology to connect families with the classroom and the curriculum (Grant & Ray, 2010). Ebooks, like the one you’re reading now, show how technology is expanding our ability to provide remote access to learning materials. Of course teachers must follow school or program policies to protect privacy and restrict public access to online applications. Some programs are also creating policies regarding family and staff use of social networking sites (National Coalition of Campus Child Development Centers Listserve Communications, March, 2012).
The level of technological support will likely vary by setting. But to the extent that such applications are available, any or all of the following can be used to link home and school:
- Newsletters (see example in Figure 5.3) can include descriptions of activities; features on children, families, and teachers; favorite stories and songs; upcoming events; classroom recipes; and much more.
- Classroom or program websites can include both permanent and time-sensitive information (see annotated list of websites at the end of this chapter).
- Blogs (see list at end of chapter for free online blogging sites).
- Email distribution list to families in addition to individual communications.
- Text or instant-messaging for real-time announcements.
- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social networking applications to connect with families and connect them to one another.