The document discusses two websites that would be useful in a social studies classroom: Parentella and Teaching Digital History. Parentella is an online social network designed to strengthen communication between parents and teachers. It allows teachers and parents to share class news, homework, and documents. Both teachers and parents find it useful. Teaching Digital History is an online community for social studies teachers to share ideas and resources, including historical photos, videos, and lesson plans. Lessons include the topic, tools to use, related media, and feedback from other teachers. It provides a variety of free media and tools to engage students. Both sites were cited as having potential to increase engagement for students and strengthen the home-school

1. Sources to use in a Social Studies Classroom Created by Michella Joseph Friday, April 22, 2011; EDLD 5362-8011

2. Parentella 1st Website to use in classroom Friday, April 22, 2011 2

3. Parentella Our mission is to strengthen the home-school tie by encouraging parent teacher communication. http://www.parentella.com/ Used to create and strengthen teacher – parent communication Middle School parents and teachers usually do not have communication until it is too late This network will have both parties start the school year with open communication Friday, April 22, 2011 3 http://www.parentella.com/

4. Parentella – Teacher Perspective “Teachers can share class news, homework, important notes, alerts, documents, and links.” “Teachers can also use it in the classroom with students.” “They can choose to post content in the parent group or the student group or both to enhance classroom interaction.” Friday, April 22, 2011 4 http://www.parentella.com/

5. Parentella – Parent Perspective “Parents can ask questions, share information, and ideas.” “It’s an online social network for parents that enhances parent teacher communication and collaboration.” “We also have tools to help with parental involvement and engagement in schools.” Friday, April 22, 2011 5 http://www.parentella.com/

6. Why use Parentella? Parentella is a user friendly website. Parents with varying degrees of computer knowledge can easily navigate through the website. Teacher-Parent communication is vital to student success “When parents and teachers work together, a child has a team of adults who are committed to bringing out his best.” (Ramirez, 2006) Friday, April 22, 2011 6 http://www.parentella.com/

7. Impact on Professional Practice Friday, April 22, 2011 http://www.parentella.com/ 7 Using this site I can: Increase communication with parents Create a network for parents with students in the same class Allow parents to take a more active role in their student’s education Allow students to communicate with the teacher and/or parents outside the classroom Demonstrate to student’s that they have a network that cares for them and their success

8. Teaching Digital History 2nd Website to use in classroom Friday, April 22, 2011 8

9. Teaching Digital History http://teachingdigitalhistory.ning.com/ This community is focused on ideas and resources for teaching social studies using digital historical resources This community is an interconnected blog created for social studies teachers by social studies teachers With this blog in particular the “readers can reply easily and participate in a discussion in which they share knowledge and reflect on the topic” (Pitler, et al. 55) Friday, April 22, 2011 9 http://teachingdigitalhistory.nig.com/

10. Teaching Digital History All resources are categorized by historical topics Resources include photos, videos, and blogs Each blog includes lesson topic, tools to use in each lesson, videos or pictures related to each lesson, and feedback from others who have taught the lesson Friday, April 22, 2011 10 http://teachingdigitalhistory.ning.com/

11. Why use Teaching Digital History? This website has a variety of tools available for use such as videos, pictures, links to other sites Tools are free and easy to use Input on lessons that work or don’t work are readily available Diverse forms of media that will capture and captivate students attention Friday, April 22, 2011 11 http://teachingdigitalhistory.ning.com/

12. Impact on Professional Practice Using this site I can: Use a variety of mediums to introduce topics or teach lessons Make history “come to life” for the students Turn a “boring” subject for students into an exciting experience for them Slowly creating a 21st century, technology capable, student centered classroom Introduce topics to students and have them create blogs, wikis, lessons that are engaging Friday, April 22, 2011 12 http://teachingdigitalhistory.ning.com/

13. Resources used in PowerPoint Friday, April 22, 2011 13

14. Resources Friday, April 22, 2011 14 Parentella - Online Social Network for Parents in Collaboration with Teachers. (n.d.). Parentella - Online Social Network for Parents in Collaboration with Teachers. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://www.parentella.com/ Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works . Alexandria: ASCD.

15. Resources Friday, April 22, 2011 15 Ramirez, L. (n.d.). Parent Teacher Communication and How It Benefits the Child. Parenting Magazine Offers Parenting Advice and Insights about Child Development. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://www.parenting-child-development.com/parent-teacher.html Teaching Digital History - ...using documents, images, maps and online tools. (n.d.). Teaching Digital History - ...using documents, images, maps and online tools. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://teachingdigitalhistory.ning.com/