4th grade teacher with MySpace for students only

Question

I recently started teaching in the 4th grade. I teach in Florida, so we are allowed to have MySpace accounts. I have a personal MySpace account on private that I use for my family, college, and high school friends. I have had students already requesting to be my friend and they haven't even had their first day of class. My question is would it be inappropriate for me to have a strictly student MySpace page where I can communicate with parents and students if I need to or they need to. I have already given the parents my personal cell # and email, so should I give them another way to communicate with me? If I decide to create an account I will inform both students and parents. Thanks

Answer 1

well if you feel a TON r requesting yes u could make a seprate ( key word sperate) myspace where the parents well feel it is for good purposes and will take you serisouly.

♥

Answer 2

You shouldn't have given them your personal communication varieties. You are going to be overwhelmed with phone calls and emails. I think you should definetely have the MySpace, so that you can keep strict communication.

Answer 3

As long as the student MySpace page stays professional, I see nothing against it.

Answer 4

I believe you have to legally be 13 to have a MySpace account, so most 4th graders wouldn't qualify.  Your district should have some web space if you wanted to put up a site for your students and parents to access.  

Answer 5

Personally, I don't think that would be a good idea. You have already given them your email address and cell phone number and I think that is enough.

Answer 6

Yea I guess it would be okay. But before you do it, you absolutely have to ask the principal or the board of education, and contact all the student's parents to make sure they don't mind if their kids have a myspace.

Answer 7

that can be good i guess and its best to a one different from you personal one but why would a 4th grader need a myspace they aren't even old enough to have one yet

Answer 8

i do not think 4th grades, their parents, and their teacher should have a myspace for "professional" use. thats what e-mail is for. i could go on for a long about this, but im not gonna waste the time

Answer 9

I think you should definitely create a separate account for students only. It will gain their trust and insight, and they'll feel more like they can confide in you and have a connection more on their level (what kid isn't on Myspace nowadays). I think it could be a creative tool for you as a teacher, and since it's become such a big part of kids' lives today, why not take advantage of it?

Go for it!

Answer 10

well yea that would be great because we had a school website were we went to see grades and even email the teachers questions so i think that it would really help especially if some students didn't go to school that day or they just don't get a question and need your help. so go for it  

Answer 11

You shouldn't. It's a really bad place for 4th graders to be on.  

Answer 12

Well alot of kids go on mysapce so yah i would

Answer 13

That would be a big NO.  per myspace user agreement>>>>

  Eligibility. Use of the MySpace Services and registration to be a Member for the MySpace Services (“Membership”) is void where prohibited.  By using the MySpace Services, you represent and warrant that (a) all registration information you submit is truthful and accurate; (b) you will maintain the accuracy of such information; (c) you are 14 years of age or older; and (d) your use of the MySpace Services does not violate any applicable law or regulation.  Your profile may be deleted and your Membership may be terminated without warning, if we believe that you are under 14 years of age, if we believe that you are under 18 years of age and you represent yourself as 18 or older, or if we believe you are over 18 and represent yourself as under 18.

Fourth graders are not 14 > unless they've been held back a considerable number of years.

Answer 14

Did you ever hear that familiarity breeds contempt. You need to distance to some degree from parents, students and sometimes fellow teachers.  

Answer 15

Thats probably not a good idea..4th graders shouldn't really have myspaces anyways..just stick with the email and phone calls

Answer 16

i think its a great idea... i have teachers that have a personal face book and one for there students.

Answer 17

i dont think its a good idea at all.

they already have ur cell and email wat more could they want.

Answer 18

I think it would be kind of inappropriate and unprofessional.  Stick to email.

Answer 19

Children under 13 are generally not allowed on most websites like that (in fact, I thought MySpace didn't allow anyone under 18). By connecting with them on MySpace, you are condoning them faking their age on the internet. You can make an account for the parents, but it really bothers me that 4th graders are using MySpace.

Answer 20

ehh i dont think you should, i think email and phone is enough. i mean if its like a college class or sumthign than ok but idk idont thikn 4th grade is neccesary

Answer 21

Yes, just keep it private.

Answer 22

no. my teacher tried that and got in alot of trouble .

it didnt work....

just email & cell number will work fine.

Help me :D

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

Answer 23

Good question. I;m 25 and finished with college last year. I really don't see anything wrong with it, minded everything stays within it bounds, But I would check with the school before hand, as you don;t want it to come back and haunt you later on, given to what's happened on the news in past years where some teacher and coaches crossed that line. I just wouldn;t want you to lose your job or anything because of it.

Or another way to go about it would be to check with the students parents and see how they feel about it.

Answer 24

one of my freshman teachers did this because she felt that it would be easier for students to communicate with her if they had problems or wouldn't be in class some day. I think that it is helpful way to connect with your students but you shouldn't put any of your personal information on it, have it be very basic, and use a school or professional picture.