Are your students a part of the social media community?
Having taught 7th grade for the past seven years, I've had very few students who were not a part of social media. They all seem to have instagram, facebook, twitter, or some other form of social media.
What about you? Do you participate in the social media community? I do.
Every year one of the first things I tell my students is that yes I have an instagram account and yes I have a facebook account. But no I will not be "friends" with you or allow you to follow me.
My students have always understood this. They still try to friend me or request to follow me. But they understand that for me it is part of being a professional.
My accounts are set to private. If students try to look up my pages the only things they will be able to see are my name and my profile picture.
There is nothing on any of my accounts that I wouldn't share with my students. I'm not posting inappropriate pictures or badmouthing my school.
However, for me I feel like I need a line between being me and being Mrs. Weaver. I need some separation.
I've also watched multiple teachers be fired for inappropriate conduct with students. Though I know I would never do anything like that, I don't want to risk anything being misinterpreted.
Though I have worked with other teachers who are friends with their students on facebook, I've never been in the minority. Those teachers who allow it have been few and far between.
However, at my new school I believe I will be in the minority. It is a very small and close knit community. I have already received and declined requests from students and their parents and I haven't even met them yet.
My coworkers accept these requests. That's fine for them. I do not judge them. But it is something I'm not comfortable with.
I've thought about creating an instagram or facebook as Mrs. Weaver just for my students but I don't think I would ever keep up with it.
What is your take on social media? Are you friends with your students? Why or why not? Is this even allowed by your administration?
I'm not looking to start a debate. I believe we all need to decide for ourselves. I'm simply curious as to what your take is on the issue.
What about you? Do you participate in the social media community? I do.
Every year one of the first things I tell my students is that yes I have an instagram account and yes I have a facebook account. But no I will not be "friends" with you or allow you to follow me.
My students have always understood this. They still try to friend me or request to follow me. But they understand that for me it is part of being a professional.
My accounts are set to private. If students try to look up my pages the only things they will be able to see are my name and my profile picture.
There is nothing on any of my accounts that I wouldn't share with my students. I'm not posting inappropriate pictures or badmouthing my school.
However, for me I feel like I need a line between being me and being Mrs. Weaver. I need some separation.
I've also watched multiple teachers be fired for inappropriate conduct with students. Though I know I would never do anything like that, I don't want to risk anything being misinterpreted.
Though I have worked with other teachers who are friends with their students on facebook, I've never been in the minority. Those teachers who allow it have been few and far between.
However, at my new school I believe I will be in the minority. It is a very small and close knit community. I have already received and declined requests from students and their parents and I haven't even met them yet.
My coworkers accept these requests. That's fine for them. I do not judge them. But it is something I'm not comfortable with.
I've thought about creating an instagram or facebook as Mrs. Weaver just for my students but I don't think I would ever keep up with it.
What is your take on social media? Are you friends with your students? Why or why not? Is this even allowed by your administration?
I'm not looking to start a debate. I believe we all need to decide for ourselves. I'm simply curious as to what your take is on the issue.
