I've debated getting a "GoodReads" account for quite a while now. In theory, I love the idea. I'd get to share what I'm reading, see what my friends are currently loving, and keep track of the all the titles that I can't wait to read. It's like a dream website for book lovers everywhere! In reality, I know that I rarely check my home email because my school email occasionally overwhelms me. Some of my Facebook friends think I've fallen of the face of the Earth because of my lack of activity, and my Google Readers account currently has 35 new blog posts that I'm yet to read. As you can see, technology in my social life is sometimes non-existent, so I've been hesitant to add one more account to update. In the end, I decided to take the plunge and join GoodReads. While I'm still developing my personal page, the benefits are already obvious. I'm stoked about the perks of being a GoodRead member, because it's like writing to all my favorite book friends about books.
The advantages for my students will allow them to grow tremendously as readers also. GoodReads gives them an opportunity to join a community of readers, who are just as excited about books as they are. The website also encourages many of the same things I do in my classroom, like keeping track of finished books and books on the "someday list." Talking about books is also highly valued on GoodReads. The problem with this tool is that almost anyone can be a member on the website, and even though we teach the importance of digital safety, mistakes can still occur. Because of this, I think it would be best to get parent permission before students join the site. Testing it out with a small group of students may also be a good idea to see how it would work in the classroom. GoodReads is full of classroom potential, but I think educators will need to make it work for their students and classroom on their own.
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