How much should you share?

My students usually know:

My wife name.
My cat's names and many details about their personalities.
The city I live in.
Where I went to college.
That I was in the Air Force and usually what I did there.
My favorite rock bands.
Why I ride my bike to school.
My favorite things to do - concerts, traveling, cycling.

Never once have I thought that I shared too much. I'm actually FB friends with a few parents of former students and also have never worried that I share too much with them.

 

They usually know about my cats (their names and I have shown pictures) and where I went to school.

When I got engaged 2 years ago - I didn't tell the kids but many of the girls noticed my engagement ring and asked if I got engaged and I told them I did.

This year I was going to be out for a few days before break for my wedding and I told the kids why I was going to be out. And when I came back I told them my new name.

I had one section of 6th grade and I grew to love them - it might have had something to do with the fact that the rest of my classes were crazy 8th graders! I showed them 2 or 3 wedding pictures at the end of the year.

 

similarly as per my perception you shouldn't share much with your students as the details may get misused if you shared, be careful with anything you share.

 

My students know my first name (on my ID card), the town I live in, the state I'm originally from if it comes up, and how old my kids are. They don't know their names. I don't think they've asked my age, LOL! I guess they also know a few of my favorite foods, little things like that.

 

well my daughter needs to stay in touch with friends she's made during pageants. Nothing wrong with that. It's not like she's chatting with a 60-year-old man Lol.

 

Yet.

 

How old was your daughter when your avatar was taken...six?

 

Oops, sorry...I thought she was your daughter. But I see this photo was taken in 2005 so she couldn't be your little girl. I was going to say...eek! Some creepy mother or photographer gave that little girl cleavage. People are twisted!

 

Your daughter doesn't need to do anything except play, learn, read, sleep, and grow.

Why on earth can't YOU keep in touch with her "pageant friends"? Are you that obtuse that you don't understand the dangers of letting young children have an online social media presence?

Not to mention, it is 100% against Facebook policy.

 

I wish our IDs and the kids' schedules and report cards didn't have our first names on them. I would like just first initial, last name. That's how private I am!
But I tell the kids where I went to school, the colleges family members attended, the state where I grew up, other "educational" things. I share very little about my kids except the fact that they exist, their colleges, and a few pictures. For pictures, only a family portrait and then pictures of the kids at college.
Mostly, I talk about my dog, hobbies, favorite books and poems--that kind of thing.

 

How'd you figure that out?

 

My students know:
-my educational background
-I'm married (and my husband, bc he helps with chaperoning, etc.)
-that I'm an animal lover (I incorporate pet pictures when I teach a certain poem)
-that I'm a sports fan
-that i LOVE scary movies. this is a fun thing that we have in common and often, on random Fridays I'll ask them for recommendations. They like when I recommend a movie to them or when I actually watch one that they suggest.

 

I'm confused about the FB thing. I thought there was an age minimum of 13. There are other sites that are designed for younger kids with greater safety nets in place.

Back on topic, I've had students thank me for taking a couple of minutes on each Monday to mention what I did over the weekend and what's going on in my life. It gives them some insight into the person they don't see (remember, I teach via distance learning) but who communicates with them. Knowing me better increases accountability.

 

That you know of. One of her 'friends' may have a pic of a child on there, but really be an older man. Please make sure that she's extra careful.

cat~I have a neighbor who is going into the 4th grade this year. I noticed that when it showed that the other day was her bday, her age was 22.....she's not. It's easy for kids to lie about their age on facebook.

 

Adults, too stg. That's the bigger problem.

I'm willing to wager that every single mom of a child who ended up chatting with a creepy 60 year old man claimed the exact same thing.

Parenting is a hard balance sometimes. But I'll choose the safety of my kids over the "need" of a young child to be on facebook every time.