ePals

Dear Parents,

I’m pleased to let you know that our class will be participating in ePals Global Community, the world's largest network of K-12 classrooms.  On ePals, as a class, we can safely connect and collaborate with classrooms in more than 200 countries and territories.  We will be using ePals to increase global awareness, teach digital skills, and to develop collaborative-learning skills.  Many teachers find individual ePals for their students, allowing them to form global friendships.  ePals also offers amazing student opportunities, including:

·      participation in Smithsonian Institution events and contests,

·      writing opportunities, such as being part of a Global Student Blog Team; and

·      access to award-winning student magazines such as Cricket and Cobblestone.

I’d like to assure you that ePals is a very safe online community.  All student email goes through me – their teacher.  I view and approve each message before it goes to your child, and each message that your child writes before it goes to his/her ePal.  Also, all online activities on ePals (forums, media galleries, blogs, wikis) are reviewed by ePals moderators, who verify that no private information is shared, no inappropriate language used. ePals doesn’t rely merely on filters.  This extra level of safety is indicative of the safety and security of this site.

ePals is accessible 24/7 from any computer. Students have their own log on information, and can connect, share content, access homework, participate in discussions and receive class information from any computer, anytime.  All of our participation on ePals (and your too, should you desire—they offer parent accounts) is free.

We are participating in the Jump into ePal Class which is moderated by a staff member at ePals and has connected us with classes from London, California, Canada, Florida, India and New Jersey.  Our pals around the world are all in fourth or fifth grade.  We will share discussion with all of these classrooms and our email pals are in Mrs. Hoskins class from London.

If you have any questions, please contact me. 

Thank you,

Mrs. HIll