November 25, 2013

Dear English 8R Parents,

Over the next two months, English 8R students who are working towards an “A” are required to read Bystander

by James Preller and participate in three Twitter book chats regarding the text. This letter is to give you more

information about the project and to address internet safety.

Twitter is a micro-blogging tool that is designed to allow acquaintances to stay in touch with each other. Twitter

was originally intended as a social networking tool, but it is quickly growing into a wide variety of applications.

For example, if you have a Twitter account, you might send a post (called a tweet). Your friends who also have

Twitter accounts can sign up to “follow” you. When you send a tweet, all of your followers get a notice either via

text message to their cellular device or to a desktop computer program.

Besides the social aspects of Twitter, there are many possibilities. Businesses have made Twitter accounts to

alert customers to sales. Celebrities have made accounts to keep their fans up to date. Radio stations & DJs have

made Twitter accounts to allow listeners to send in questions, comments, or to discuss the topics on the show.

So, what does this have to do with middle school English? In world of education technology, Twitter is a hot

topic. Many teachers are trying to integrate this technology into their classroom in different ways. One of my

personal passions is to explore and work with emerging technologies, so I am using Twitter to help make my

classroom better.

For this project I would like the students to create a Twitter account that they would use for school purposes

only. Three times between December and January, students will access Twitter to participate in a Twitter chat.

They will answer and raise questions about topics addressed in the book Bystander by using the hashtag

#RMSBystander.

Students will understand that they can partake in social media for educational purposes, and they will learn to

practice positive digital citizenship behavior.

The other application we will be using is called EDMODO (www.edmodo.com). It is a secure educational

network that the students can share reflections and ideas about the book. Edmodo is closed to the public.

Please email me any questions or concerns that you may have.

Sincerely,

Michele L. Haiken, Ed.D.

haikenm@ryeschools.org

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Please complete this tear slip and have your son/daughter return it to me by December 4, 2013.

I have read this letter and give my son/daughter permission to participate in the project.

_____________________________________ ______________________________________

Name of Student Signature of Parent