Students don't need to know about social media at this point -- it isn't age appropriate.

we were all taught the "social media" of our time in early elementary school.

effective social behavior could be modeled at a young age.

I've seen their Padlet wall of questions, witnessed the delivery of tadpoles, and watched a young boy read to his amphibian friend -- all through Twitter.

provides an amazingly detailed view of life in a connected classroom.

to engage in the cultivation of their own Personal Learning Networks (PLNs). Her students not only learn, but also share their learning with a broader community. Whether through whole-group Twitter activities and Skype, calls or individual KidBlogs, these students recognize that there are connections to be made beyond their Ontario classroom -- all while working on their reading, writing, communication and collaboration.

Social media enables the creation of meaningful connections.

By empowering her students with the use of social media, Kristin Ziemke connects them to a global audience and introduces them to the complex communication required to be effective digital citizens.

paper could be the best teaching tool.

To teach the concept of posting and commenting, the students created physical blogs on bulletin boards in the hallway of the school.

focus on the writing process within a familiar context,

Students gained experience with posting, tagging and commenting without any of the concerns often associated with "being online."

what's important is that we introduce all children to social media in appropriate and meaningful ways, regardless of their age, such that they can connect to a global audience and develop as empowered, networked learners.