Ode to the Newsletter

This past week in class we discussed the idea of creating and utilizing a newsletter in our own classroom.  Are newsletters important? Are newsletters useful? Is it hard to even make one? The good news is that the brief answers to these three questions are yes, yes, and no.

The classroom newsletter is an informal way to update/remind parents, guardians, and the children what has happened that past week, what will happen in the immediate future, and any other interesting information that is going on in their classroom.  The newsletter can relay information to parents that the children simply forgot to tell them (because we all know that sometimes, children just simply 'forget' to tell us things).  Since it comes directly from the teacher's fingertips, the parents or guardians are sure to be able to rely on the information given.  Most parents are incredibly involved in their child's education, so they actually do appreciate the update every so often.  The most important question over all are whether they are useful or not.  Yes.  Do parents what to know what their children are doing? Yes. Do parents want to be reminded of what is coming up? Yes they do.  Do parents want to know about where their child spends 6 hours a day? Yes, they definitely do.   Newsletters answer questions for parents without the constant emails or phone calls to the teacher every day or week.  Newsletters help parents remember, because they need help too.

Not all newsletters are created equal and not all newsletters have to be the same.  The beauty about newsletters is that anyone and everyone can make one.  Sure, you might have someone that is incredibly technological savvy create one, but it does not take immense skill to do so.  Over the summer I work at a day camp and am required to write a newsletter every Thursday to send home with the children on Friday.  My summer newsletters are simply, contain only a few pictures and are only 1 page long.  We tell the parents what the group will be doing that following week and any reminders of special events.  We also tell the parents what we did the past week and in addition remind parents of simple things like lunch, water, and sneakers.  My summer newsletters is simple and not incredibly aesthetically appealing, but it got the job done.  Creating my newsletter for this class has opened new doors of wonder.  From beautiful Fall templates to starting from scratch, anything can be achieved.  It is the imagination of the individual to create their own newsletter with their own preference.  Creating a newsletter for myself is not difficult.  I believe I am part of the demographic who is not afraid of computers and can navigate any sort of technological item in front of me.  I know that creating a newsletter for the assignment will take a copious amount of time, but I am willing to sit there and create something interesting and appealing to prepare myself for the future.

Technology and the Newest Generation

Although many might disagree, I believe that my generation (ages 18-30) were the "testers" and "first wide-spread users" of modern day technology. Although most technology is an improved spin-off of older and currently outdated...machinery...the generation I currently and will always be affiliated with helped start the momentum of present and future products that will come out on the market.

But has anyone realized the newest generation in the classroom and how they work with new technology? We all had to learn how to use products. We all had to become familiar with the lingo and logistics and hardware and software and every other type of "ware" out there. But these children just seem to know how to use it from the get-go. And how? Are the children in utero taught how to use it so when they pop out you can shove an I-Pod in their hands and they know how to find the artist and song they want a.s.a.p? Are the invisible gamma, x, uv, micro, and etc rays invading their minds with technology before they are born?

I say this because as I walk into the classroom tomorrow, I expect every child to know how to use the Smart Board that their classroom will have. I expect every child know how to use a computer better than my parents' generation. I expect every child to bring in some sort of electronic during the school and get it taken away from them because you aren't supposed to bring electronics to school. And I know I will not be disappointed.

This past semester I had second graders. They were the light of my life. And they all knew how to use a Smart Board better than me (but not for long...I'm still older and still a littttttleeee bit smarter).  It was incredible that these children knew the ins and outs of the newest school technology and they didn't really get to handle it everyday (even though they used it with the teacher). It was simply remarkable. I couldn't imagine trying to teach an adult how to use technology; often they seem stuck in the older, slower and outdated ways of operation (even though there is nothing wrong with it).  My generation and the younger ones strive on quickness and efficiency. We strive for  better and faster equipment for our knowledge.  And this is not a bash on any one older than me, its just simply working with adults and working with children, that I notice a large and growing divide. Children and young adults are ready to tackle the newest $500 software, my uncle wishes he still had a Polaroid camera. It might be cool, just outdated.

But "technology in the classroom" is a phrase that will never become outdated.