This document provides information for parents on how to become a "connected parent" through using social media platforms like Twitter, Pinterest, and Edmodo. It discusses what each platform is used for, how parents can create accounts, find relevant hashtags and groups to follow, and tips for getting started. Specific advice is given on creating a Twitter presence, including following 10 educators per week and joining discussion groups. Pinterest is presented as a way for parents to find activities for kids and school subject help. Edmodo is framed as a platform for communicating with teachers about assignments and grades.

1. Becoming a “Connect Parent”
Elissa Malespina - South Orange Middle School Library Media Specialist
@SOMSlibrary
http://pinterest.com/somslibrary/

2. What is a "Connected Parent"?
Not This

3. Twitter

4. What is Twitter?
Micro-Blogging (140 Characters)
Powerful social-networking service
Professional Learning Network

5. Who uses twitter??
It is not just celebrities a lot educators do to

6. from: Jeff Bradbury Teachercast.net

7. Twitter is now the fastest growing social platform
Membership # increased 40% between Q2 and Q4 in 2012
Over 485 million account holder 288 million active
More than half share images
About 40% us DM feature regulary
Most people use Twitter to share and connect with people
rather than join events and brands -edudemic article
Interesting Facts

8. ●81% of users follow less than 100
people
●42% of Twitter users are between 30-50
years old
●Males: More work related Tweets
●Females: More likely to use it to keep in
touch with friends
Twitter Fun Facts

10. Twitter Lingo

11. @
One of Most Important Symbols!

12. The Hashtag
#

13. Retweet vs. Modified Tweet
RT - MT

14. DMDirect Message

15. Twitter: Step 1
www.twitter.com
Name/Email
Bio and Photo

17. http://vimeo.com/47414789
Do NOT become an
EGG!!

18. Follow
Find people similar interests
Look through their followers and see if
any of them are interesting
Find a hashtag to follow

19. Make sure to Read and React
If you see something interesting,
Retweet it (RT)
Share links, ideas, ask questions,
answer questions
Become part of the social
conversation

20. Twitter Chats

21. Why chat???
Meet People with similar interests
Learn about a topic
Build an audience

22. Chats
Best resource to find chat times and a list of tons of
chats: http://cybraryman.com/chats.html
Chats to follow:
#ptchat Parent Teacher Chat - Wed 9pm
#tck - Parents of Special Needs Students Sunday 9pm
#nagc Gifted Children Chat Thursday 9pm
Hashtags to use:
#earlyed
#parents
#parenting

23. Twitter Tips
Use a recognizable Twitter
handle
Dress for an interview, not a
block party
Use your Twitter bio to help
others
Always introduce
yourself
Let your followers know
when you will be
chatting
Engage with others ...
make friends
Be Social ... remember
to give Thanks

24. Twitter Regiment - From Brad
Currie @bcurrie5
Month #1
●Log on to Twitter and consume twice a week for about twenty minutes at a clip.
●Follow ten new educators every week.
Month #2
●Continue month #1 regiment and……
●Tweet out links, articles, ideas, videos, and resources
Month #3
●Continue month #1 and month #2 regiment plus………
●Join a discussion group such as #satchat #ntchat #ptchat #edchat #sschat #iaedchat
Month #4
●Continue month #1, month #2, and month #3 regiment plus…….
●Promote the importance of expanding your personal learning network with peers
●Model all that is great with Twitter and other web based PD
Month #5
●Continue month #1, month #2, month #3, month #4 regiment plus……….
●Integrate Twitter in the classroom or school setting as a way to engage students, promote
student and staff achievements, and keep school stakeholders informed

25. Get into the Twitter MINDSET
M is for MOBILE
I is for INSPIRATIONAL
N is for NETWORKING
D is for DIFFERENTIATED PD
S is for SHARING
E is for EASY
T is for TIME BY MELISSA BUTLER

27. Pinterest

28. Good Intro Video For Pinterest

29. What is Pinterest?
Pinboard
Image Based
Organizational Tool
Think of it as a place to store all those
magazine articles you use to cut out

30. Over 12 Million People use Pinterest making it
the 3rd largest social media site
Who uses Pinterest

32. My Pinterest Page

33. Adding a Pin it Button
http://about.pinterest.com/goodies/

34. Uses for Parents
How to Boards
Activities for Kids
Extra help in different subjects
Possibilities Endless

35. Edmodo

36. What is Edmodo?

37. 1. Parents should create a Parent account, not a student or teacher account.
2. In order to create an account, parents will need their unique parent code. This is not the same as
a group code, which is what students use to create an account. (See the below FAQ for
information on where to retrieve the parent code)
3. Parents only need one parent code, regardless of whether their student has multiple teachers using
Edmodo. Once their parent account is created, they will be able to see all of their student’s classes from that
account.
4. Parents only need one account at all times. Parents can add multiple students to one account, or remove
students if necessary.
5. Parents of younger children who are asked to create a student account for their child only need to create one
account. The child/student will use the same account for all their classes and throughout all their years in school.
The same rule applies for parent accounts- one account is used year after year, until your student/child
graduates.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I get a parent code and create my account?
Parent codes can be retrieved from one of two places:
● Your student/child: On the homepage of your student’s Edmodo account, the parent code is located on the right
panel.
● Your student’s teacher: The teacher can retrieve parent codes from their “members” page and distribute them to
parents.
Do I need a parent code for each class my student is in?
No. Once you create your parent account, you will be able to see assignments, grades, etc. for all your student’s
classes.
5 Tips to Help Parents Get Started

38. Good Edmodo Parent Tutorial

39. Twitter at a PLN Livebinder
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?
id=520798

40. Pinterest Livebinder
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=561796

41. Twitter: @SOMSlibrary
Pinterest: http://pinterest.
com/somslibrary/

42. Jeff Bradbury @ Teachercast.net http:
//teachercast.net
Special Thanks for
allowing me to use parts
of his presentation on
Twitter