Evidence Based Posting: 5/7

Importance of Classroom Websites and Parental Involvement

Classroom homepages can provide a variety benefits for students and the classroom teacher. Above all, classroom websites can teach students the importance of technology in education and motivate them to take an active approach in their learning.

Perhaps one of the most important reason for creating a classroom homepage is because classroom websites can help communication with teachers, parents, students, the community and even the world. From my experience, most teachers find it extremely important to build a link between home and school. I believe that parental involvement is vital to a students success. Classroom websites do a great deal to strengthen that link between home and school. Classroom websites can also be used as a tool for communicating with parents through an email link.

Homework assignments, exams and school events can be accessed by the click of a mouse.
It's a great way for parents to see what is going on in their child's class and even see their work published.

Something that many people may not think about is that classroom websites are also great tools for those students who have some learning disabilities like ADHD or dyslexia. These disabilities can prevent students from accurately copying down assignments. In these situations students and parents need not worry, as they can double check the assignments while at home on the classroom website.

Parents also need not worry about their child's safety on the Internet. Steps should be taken to make sure that every student is safe. For example, a password for students and parents could be set up and teachers should know that students first and last names should never be next to the child's picture.

Classroom websites are excellent for so many reasons, but I think one of the most beneficial is that they can really help bridge a link between home and school.

Leu, Donald, Leu, Deborah, and Coiro, Julie. "Teaching with the Internet K-12: New Literacies for New Times" Norwood: Christopher Gordon Publishers Inc., 2004.