Thing #5 Facebook and Twitter

I feel very comfortable with this thing since I have been on facebook for a couple of years. I have not used twitter much, but I am familiar with the concept. Twitter makes me apprehensive because I am not a fan of these short messages. I feel misunderstandings are more likely to occur and grammar is sacrificed. My uncle, a senior partner of a manhattan law firm, taught me the importance of using proper English to gain respect of others. I was required to read and use Strunk and White like a bible as it pertains to correct grammar. I am worried today's students will not realize the importance of correct grammar and their writing will suffer. I do like the idea of using Twitter during meetings to ask a subtle question to a presenter. Maybe I am getting old because I feel Twitter is a "slang machine".

I have used Facebook in many ways both professionally and personally. I use it to keep up with the important events in SBISD as well as my church. I have also gotten back in touch with friends and colleagues from the past. There are many applications I have used for specific subject matter for my classroom. I learned more about Norway during multi-cultural awareness week, found information about weather, used an interesting word game to learn new vocabulary, etc.

I think it is important to use Facebook and Twitter to relate to today's student. This is the way they communicate. Writing a letter and sending it through the mail is not the way of today's youth. My students give me credibility when I can converse with them in subjects such as using Facebook and Twitter which in turn makes them more likely to demonstrate respect and focus in the classroom.