Websites in the Classroom

Websites in the classroom are essential to daily instruction. There are so many wonderful reasons for integrating technology into the curriculum. Classroom websites can assist learners with communication, social, and functional skills. I feel that by having them children will be more willing as well as motivated to learn new and exciting things. Classroom management and participation may also increase significantly in a more positive way. Every school should consider allowing teachers to have a website for their class.

Websites in the classroom can eventually bridge the gap between home/school communications. Parents will remain up to date with curriculum, events, activities, etc. Maintaining a website takes a significant amount of time; however, keeping it current will be not only benefit the student, but the parent and teacher as well. In no way should a classroom website be confused with a parent/teacher conference. I believe that a parent/teacher conference should remain face to face for a more intimate relationship. Discussing grades, strategies, areas of strength and concern, may be a little overwhelming for a parent if conveyed over the internet. Having a website will give the parent an overview of what their child is learning daily, whereas a parent/teacher conference will give a parent a general idea of how their child is progressing in all academic and social areas.

This week I had the pleasure of creating my very own website using Google sites. The instructions were reader friendly and it was very easy to navigate through the page. What I adored the most about this website is there weren’t too many unnecessary icons and boxes which made the content extremely comprehensive especially the set up for a new page along with the editing of a page. I would definitely recommend using Google sites to begin a classroom website because of the accessibility.

Below you will find two websites that pertain to using classroom websites.

http://technological-teaching-aids.suite101.com/article.cfm/guidelines_to_create_a_classroom_website “Guidelines to Create a Classroom Website,” has five important steps to take when creating or revising a classroom website.

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/689 “Using a Classroom Webpage to Communicate with Parents,” informs us of how Kathleen Eveliegh, a first grade teacher effectively use her classroom webpage to interact with parents.