Natalie writes: “Last year was my first year teaching middle school English, and while I loved it overall, it seemed like every day I was policing some kind of drama that unfolded on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat. This year I want to incorporate a unit on social media to try to kick some of that behavior to the curb. Does anyone have any suggestions for fun activities or lessons?”
Natalie, we commend you for trying to tackle the many issues that can derive from kids playing and interacting online. Students’ online behavior occupies a tricky space for teachers because much of it takes place outside of school, but the consequences can definitely trickle into your teaching day.
Below, we’ve gathered some of our favorite suggestions from our Facebook fans for teaching students how to be nicer to one another online. We’d love to hear more advice in the comments too, so please leave any you have there!